Assessment of key determinants in academic quality and their inter-dependencies between private and public heis in Ghana Kodi Richard1, Kumar K.M. Sharath2 1University of Education, Winneba P. O. Box 25, Winneba. 2Faculty of Management and Commerce, M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, University House, New BEL Road, Bengaluru - 560054KarnatakaIndia. *Corresponding Author E-mail: lou4rich@gmail.com
Online published on 11 February, 2021. Abstract The objective of this research was to identify and analyze key determinants of academic quality in public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) by measuring student perceptions of quality of service in academia. This work aims to examine the directions of research in order to develop a modified performance appraisal framework for HEIs in the Ghana context. Students as primary clients of HEIs have a key role to play in identifying key determinants of academic service quality. Students' perception of academic service quality in both private and public HEIs has been critically analyzed through the deployment of quantitative empiric studies. The two-tail P value of the Mann-Witney test was used to conclude that there is a statistically significant difference between the groups (Private and Public Higher Education Institutions). The Mann-Whitney test compared the mean ranks for the groups as well as the mean difference test. If the assumption of identically shaped distributions was noted, a small P value from the Mann-Whitney test led to the conclusion that the difference between the medians was statistically significant. The data for the study was collected using a self-developed questionnaire modeled on the SERQUAL and HESQUAL models. The study revealed that private HEIs had a high overall score on responsiveness and delivery, professionalism and staff quality-empathy, cleanliness of facilities, assurance and communication. This explains that these private HEIs are constantly challenged to balance stakeholder demands and government requirements in an environment where there is a shortage of qualified instructors, poor infrastructure, underfunding and a bias in the regulatory environment. On the other hand, public HEI students' perception of the teaching process scored a high average for lecturers to be innovative in delivery, research-oriented and to communicate well with students. The response of public HEI students reflects the high level of teacher qualifications in public HEIs compared to private HEIs in Ghana. Top Keywords Higher Education Institutions, SERQUAL, HESQUAL, Descriptive Survey Design. Top |