Influencing_Factors_on_College_Choise

Table of Content Table of Content 1 1.0 Introduction 2 2.0 Methodology 4 3.0 Results 6 4.0 Discussion 8 4.1 J1 - What Factors Influence High School Students in Choosing Cram School in Thailand 8 4.2 J2 – Who And What Influences Choice Of University' Student and University Perceptions. 8 4.3 J3 – The Determinants of the Choice of Universities by Foreign Business Students in South Africa 8 4.4 Analysis 9 References 10 1.0 Introduction Nowadays level of education is the most important thing all over the world. It goes without saying that every parent wants that their children get high-quality knowledge, graduated from the prestigious university moreover, to get high-paying job in the future. That’s why we carried out a thorough research and analysis of several journals directly related to our problem. The main objective of our research to compare the J1, J2 and J3 which are the journals from different countries devoted to the problem related to higher education and also try to find something in common. So, in J1 describes problem with low level of education in the schools in Thailand. It comes as no surprise that parents do not trust the system of education and sending their children to “Cram schools” which can prepare them to pass exams. That’s one of the why “Cram schools” play the important role in education system of the Thailand. According to the Office of the Private Education Commission, there were 1,243 cram schools across the country in 2009, an increase from 1,078 cram schools in 2007, 325 of which are located in Bangkok while the remaining 918 are in the provinces. Student’s satisfaction is the ultimate goal of the “Cram schools” because customer satisfaction affects customers’ trust and their upcoming action intention. On the other hand J2 tells how universities trying to attract students to choose their university, who and what influences the choice of university by students. One task of higher education marketers is to communicate to prospective students the benefits of enrolling. There is a perception among higher education marketers that the traditional means of communication, such as brochures and college fairs, are giving way to newer social media methods, including websites, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc. A survey was conducted from the students to find out which sources of information or on whose opinion they rely when choosing a university. This research examines data from students who rated the influence of various sources of information on their decision to enroll at a university. The research also considers data from a survey of university employees who predicted the responses of students. So, in J3 tells about the situation in South Africa in higher education. During the last years the finance minister allocates significant resources in education, particularly in higher education. There are 23 public universities in South Africa. The number of graduates produced annually by South African Universities has been steadily growing, from 74 000 in 1994 to more than 127 000 in 2007(IEASA, 2008). The number of international students enrolled specifically at South Africa’s higher institutions, has grown dramatically since 1994. According to Higher Education South Africa (HESA, 2010), in 1999 there was over 100% increase in international students taking the total from 17,129 in 1998 to 34,770 in 1999. By 2009, international numbers had grown to 60,586. Over this period the average increase in international student participation has been 13% per annum (HESA, 2010). About a quarter of these international students are postgraduates. They try to create all conditions for the students especially for foreigners as their main aim to attract as many international students each year. For this purpose as a survey of students to identify the main criteria for selecting students of universities of South Africa for a full understanding of the whole situation and the implementation of such policies in universities, because the growing competition for foreign students in other countries of Africa, in Europe, USA, Canada, New Zealand, etc. So, based on the analysis of the J1, J2 and J3 we can see the common aim of that although they devoted to a little bit different topics. 2.0 Methodology Research methodology is the key part for each of the three journals. Despite the fact that all journals were written by different people with different opinion and research methods, all of them are linked to a common goal – use gathered information to give reliable information. Using different research methods gives us possibility to compare them and analyze wisely. Let us say that questionnaire method used in J1 was used very wisely because of participants’ number. There were 198 junior high school students and 198 senior high school students, giving us 396 participants in total; it can give us objective opinion about reliability of information. Instead of putting open-ended questions or closed questions, they decided to use ranking questions in their survey, specifically, 5-level Likert scale to determine unimportant as Level 1 and important as Level 5. Advantages of Likert scale are – easier to understand, especially for junior high school students. It is very handful for researchers, because it can save them a lot of time for interviewers. On the other hand, disadvantage of Likert scale is – only few options given and respondents may not be fully agreed with them. Student data, used in J2 research, were collected using paper survey. Author of research created list of items based on his own estimation. Only 20% of whole survey was related to research, other part was about other projects and was unrelated to survey. Survey was given to only 20 respondents. They were asked to complete it and give it back while field interviewer was waiting until they finish. Respondents were chosen by interviewers based on their own amenity. All responses were anonymous. No ICs or other identity materials were taken, so respondents could answer survey more confidently. Advantages of such survey – respondents could ask interviewers if any part of survey was unclear, respondents were sure that nobody will ask them why they chose this or that parts of survey, so they chose answers wisely and very confidently. Disadvantages of survey – respondents were chosen by field researchers, basing on their personal preferences, which can cause disinformation or information being of the same type. Also there’s a high chance that respondents were in a hurry, and they just answered all questions anyhow. Researchers who made survey in J3 used quantitative research methodology. As a data collection place they used Alice Campus of University of Fort Hare. This decision can be explained by high concentration of international business students, whom this research was focused on. Survey was focused on international business students for 2011 academic year. Nearly 304 respondents participated in survey. Survey was held using the non-probability sampling method. Even if number of respondents was about 304, only 200 questionnaires were distributed. All questionnaires were distributed to each respondent personally but completed without any help from interviewer. Questionnaires themselves were made using 5-level Likert scale which is ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Speaking of advantages of this research type, advantages are - easier to understand and to produce questionnaires themselves. Disadvantages – few options to choose from, not being fully agreed with given options. Research in J1 – is very reliable method. Number of respondents and type of survey gives a good presentation of cram schools. Having same research method in J3, makes it also very reliable method. At the same time paper survey method that was applied in J2 cannot be as reliable as in J1 or J3. As it was mentioned in J2, only 20% of whole survey was somehow related to research that was held. Also only 20 respondents were asked to pass J2 survey, respondents were chosen by researchers at their own convenience. Because of that, research became very subjective which has its own pros over J1’s research method. But J2’s method cannot be a good point in choosing education place. J3 research methodology, comparing to J1 and J2 research methodologies, has a lot of references to different sources, so we can also compare those sources. Comparing J1, J2 and J3, J1 and J3 are more informative and reliable than J2. J2 is less informative than two other journals, but it is more users friendly. 3.0 Results After analyzing three research journals with all included tables and supplemented data, which were conducted in the USA, Thailand and South Africa, general tendencies can be observed. It is represented as the group of various factors that affects the choice of higher education in greater or lesser extent. Each of journals has its own pattern and specifics, but there are common features among it as well, and it will be clearly shown through general analysis. The J1 clearly shows the percentage and range of all factors that influence choice of the cram school by both junior and senior high school students in Thailand. Firstly, the main reason for taking classes in the cram school is tendency to enhance understanding of their lessons for the junior as well as senior high school students (27.6 % and 32.7% respectively), whereas the smallest amount of students forced by their parents or guardians only with 3% for the juniors and 1 % for seniors. Secondly, journal survey clearly shows two classes of people that made the biggest impact on decision making. They are parents or guardians and students themselves with approximately 35% and 33% from both groups of student respectively. On the other hand, Internet assists students in school choice at the least extend (less than 4 % in each category). Finally, it can be seen that two main factors that students consider as the most important for decision making are teaching and learning factor and place factor. Generally speaking, results of the research in The USA, which represented in J2, shows that almost all high-ranked places are given to personal sources of information. To be more precise, influence of mother, father, other family members and friends are the most significant for students, its means more than 3.5 from 4 possible points. In addition, University faculty, staff or coach makes the greatest impact as well as visit to campus (influence rating numbered as 3.85 and 3.81 respectively from 4-point scale) and represent main sources of information for schoolchildren. In fact, some factors, which can be combined into group of non-personal sources, make minimal influence on prospective students and stay in the bottom of the ranking. Non-personal sources include paper mail and e-mail from University, social networks (Facebook, MySpace, YouTube), University and other websites, its influence rating fluctuates from 2.70 to 2.99 point from 4 possible. After analyzing J3 with all included tables and data, there is no doubt that financial factors plays the most important role in university selection among foreign students in South Africa. A good illustration of this is that financial assistance became determinant with the highest mean, 4.92 from 5 possible points. Furthermore, it also takes the higher place as a rotated factor for motivation, including financial assistance and fees costs and stays as the factor with the highest mean value (4.82 on a five point Likert scale). Opposite, the lowest mean rate was amounted for the flexible study modes category, with the mean 2.86 and it even has been liquidated as suggested by Leech, Barrett and Morgan (2005) because its factor loadings lower than 0.3. The social determinant is placed in the bottom with 3.67 mean, including such points as sport activities, student clubs and social life on campus. Thus, there is an obvious link between all three journals, which illustrates some common and different points. Looking first at the people who surround and take part in the future student decision making, it is obviously that their impact is the strongest. It can be clearly shown through all three journals, because the parents or friends influence are the most affecting factor in J1 and J2, moreover it takes second top place in J3. Another factor is financial, that can be considered as ambiguous, because it affects students in choice of further education in totally different ways according to the J1, J2 and J3. For instance, for people from J1 price factor plays almost the most insignificant part, whereas J3 presents absolutely opposite results and places financial assistance on the top of the rating. However, there are no mentions about fees and its effect if J2 at all. Eventually, non-personal characteristics and new media sources such as internet, various social networks and emails, was accepted as the most unimportant determinants, and influence at the least extend on prospective students in university choice. 4.0 Discussion 4.1 J1 - What Factors Influence High School Students in Choosing Cram School in Thailand Cram school is a specific school where the main idea is to prepare students for university’s entrance examinations within a short period of time. The results show that the main reason why parents want their children to attend such schools is to increase and consolidate existing knowledge. The second reason is an ease access of parents to the information regarding children success and failures, so that parents have a clear picture of children performance. This can be done directly from the magisterial staff. It is also reasonable to conclude that the quality of the service provided is essential. By providing an excellent education parents would most probably spread a positive word of mouth, which will bring a success to the school itself. 4.2 J2 – Who And What Influences Choice Of University' Student and University Perceptions. The purpose of this journal is to carefully describe and analyse which factors influence students’ decision on the choice of university. The journal outlines that students not only take into consideration parent’s advice but also the staff of university. Also, students tend to search for information and also opinion from other resources such as friends, relatives and lecturers. Getting information from different sources student can get more accurate information and also make a better decision by comparing with other alternatives. However, the study shows that students tend to give a priority in choosing university to parents and friends, as they would never advice something that is not beneficial for them. Another source of information that is very popular and easy to access is media. Media has changed a traditional way of searching for information as people nowadays can access any necessary data by just sitting at home. However, parents as well as students do not fully trust the information provided by media and prefer to get the information directly from university’s staff. 4.3 J3 – The Determinants of the Choice of Universities by Foreign Business Students in South Africa The journal carefully analyses and outlines the key determinants of the choice of universities by foreign students. A given journal shows criteria, which is more important for foreign students choosing a particular university. There are few criteria, which will be explained further. The first and the most important factor that was provided by students is a financial support from the host government. This means that students are expecting to get a financial help such as scholarships, grants or part time jobs in the campus. Since universities are also interested to get more customers, the university holders can support foreign students by giving discounts and other promotional packages. The next criterion is a quality of education provided as well as magisterial staff. Since the journal is about a choice of foreign students, universities have to hire local as well as international lectures in order to improve the quality of the education provided. Also one of the important factors in receiving good education is to ensure a proper lighting around university, especially to the nearest bus/train stations and parking to ensure safety of the students. 4.4 Analysis The main idea of the above mentioned three journals is based on choosing a particular university or school. Results of research have shown that the common criterion for all students entering a particular university or school is a quality of the service provided. All students are expecting certain level of quality from the university. This means that in order to attract more students the university and school holders need to provide the following elements such as latest innovative technologies in order to make studying life easier, also universities need to hire international lecturers to improve the quality of education and verify the way of teaching. The results of research find out that parents are interested in student life of its children. To satisfy parents’ expectations magisterial staff of schools has to continuously communicate with parents and update them with the performance of students. The next factor that has to be highlighted is advertising, the results showed that choosing a particular school students are more likely to get the information from close friends and relatives. Therefore, in order to get more customers by advertisements they need to come up with a new ways of advertising strategies to build a trust among future customers. Last but not least, financial support from the government as well as universities plays one of the important roles in achieving customers’ satisfaction. The results of research indicated that financial support would be very helpful for students. The results of research also show that students tend to consider a social life in the university, things such as social clubs, sport and any other activities. References Johnston, T. (2010) Who And What Influences Choice Of University' Student And University Perceptions.. American Journal of Business Education, Volume 3 Available at: http://attachment.fbsbx.com/file_download.php'id=607565025937039&eid=ASuZOUBr-lEaw_5MAwneu59DZTGSReZvNa-4Gj0FoweKlEShRRORF6hL0fjJl7RyQ9w&inline=1&ext=1362124372&hash=ASuVRd3BH_HUvs_H. Cynthia Mubaira, T. and Fatoki, O. (2009) The Determinants of the Choice of Universities by. Asian Journal of Business and Management Sciences, Vol. 1 (No. 8 ), Available at: http://attachment.fbsbx.com/file_download.php'id=332170616901686&eid=ASvx53GY8OWGIumMQ2OI8l2DeRCM1Tkfuf41NEjXzlG9f6RLMkmRSr5EXorFCB-3lDo&inline=1&ext=1362124540&hash=ASuGe491asnwGale. Napompech, K. (2011) What Factors Influence High School Students in Choosing Cram School in Thailand . International Conference on Business and Economics Research, Vol.16 Available at: http://attachment.fbsbx.com/file_download.php'id=214723565334237&eid=AStTc9OTqz-7VKOrKmiK1fgCUi-T9pp2tGfofdlYPD0az63cuHRz2YbgGMTwYG0MCfo&inline=1&ext=1362123422&hash=ASuDmR0SpLthsPlz.