Study of the factors that determine students' decision to pursue the MBA degree: a case of the university of Nairobi

Abstract

The human resource is generally acclaimed as the most valuable resource. This is because it is through the human resources that a company can make the most telling contribution to its competitive edge and ultimately, its bottom - line profitability and the realisation of its objectives. Employees can make a difference to the overall success of their organizations through improving their skills at work. Furthermore, employers find that management is an important component in their organizations if set objectives have to be achieved. In an attempt to improve their competence, employees can aim at obtaining various academic qualifications. The MBA degree is becoming increasingly recognised as a 'must have' for those aiming at moving up the corporate ladder. Of those institutions offering this degree in Kenya, The University of Nairobi has consistently recorded high enrolments for this degree since it's inception in 1972 and more so, since the introduction of the part -time programme in 1998. A cursory look at the students registered for the programme shows that they are .drawn from a wide spectrum of disciplines that are not necessarily business oriented. (V) This is in spite of the fact that the University of Nairobi offers a wide variety of Postgraduate degrees from which students can choose. It is these salient features characterizing the MBA degree offered at the University of Nairobi that prompted this study. The research participant included students pursuing the MBA degree in both the part - time and full-time programmes and was aimed at establishing what factors influence students' decision to pursue the MBA degree. The research considered both full and part-time students as a homogenous population of approximately 921 students. Stratified Random Sampling based on the areas of specialization was used to obtain a proportional representation of the population. Data was collected using a questionnaire in which a four-point Likert's Scale ranging from 'Very important' to 'indifferent was used to rank the key factors under study. Data was analysed by the use of percentages, tables and charts. Finally, the key factors were condensed by the use of SPSS to determine the most important factors considered by students in choosing to pursue MBA. The study found out that the significant factors prompting students to pursue the MBA degree included personal development, a desire to achieve a personal goal and to improve their academic qualifications. Other important factors were job related. These included development of management skills and abilities, acquiring new knowledge in an area of specialization, seeking a qualification that would lead to a promotion in the current job and job security. Lack of employment and the threat of retrenchment in an increasingly competitive business environment were yet other reasons that were driving many people back to the classroom to acquire this important qualification. On the basis of the finding mentioned, the study reveals a need to conduct similar studies that would have a much wider scope given that this was a case study that considered only the University Of Nairobi. The need to train managers m the key managerial roles cannot be overemphasized. This is because it IS through their expert guidance that organizations thrive and grow.