INSTITUTIONAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS' ACADEMIC COMMITMENT IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between Institutional Management Practices and Postgraduate Students' Academic Commitment in Federal Universities in South-South Nigeria. It was guided by two research questions and tested two null hypotheses. A descriptive survey research design was employed, and the stratified sampling technique was used to select participants. The study population comprised 2,097 postgraduate students across six federal universities in South-South Nigeria. A sample of 600 postgraduate students was proportionately drawn from these institutions. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire titled "Institutional Management Practices and Postgraduate Students' Academic Commitment Questionnaire (IMPPSACQ)." Its validity was assessed by three experts in Educational Management and Measurement and Evaluation at the University of Calabar. The questionnaire was based on a 4-point Likert scale: Strongly Agree (SA), Agree (A), Disagree (D), and Strongly Disagree (SD), scored as 4, 3, 2, and 1, respectively. Reliability testing using Cronbach's Alpha produced indexes of 0.81 and 0.86. Data analysis involved mean and standard deviation to address the research questions, while Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Analysis tested the hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. Findings indicated a statistically significant relationship between leadership style, facility maintenance, and postgraduate students' academic commitment. The study concluded that effective institutional management practices, particularly participatory leadership and improved facility maintenance, significantly enhance postgraduate academic commitment. It recommended regular leadership training for administrators, emphasizing transformational and participatory leadership approaches to foster a supportive environment that motivates postgraduate students to remain committed to their academic pursuits