Mixed Research Approach Research Articles

Challenges Facing Students with Special Needs During the Transition from Primary Special Schools to Public Secondary Schools in Morogoro Municipality

The study aimed at investigating the challenges that students with special needs face during the transition from primary special schools to public secondary schools in Morogoro Municipality. The research was conducted in Morogoro Municipality and employed a cross-sectional research design alongside a mixed research approach. The target population included regular teachers and those specializing in special needs education within the municipality. The study sampled 155 respondents, comprising 131 regular teachers and 24 specialized teachers. Data collection was by means of questionnaires and interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The study reveals major challenges for students with disabilities transitioning to public secondary schools, such as inadequate teacher training, insufficient curriculum adaptation, and limited support systems, compounded by social stigma, financial constraints, and inadequate preparation. To enhance the educational experience for students with disabilities, it is essential to implement comprehensive teacher training on inclusive strategies, adapt curricula to diverse learning needs, and establish robust orientation programs. Increasing funding for assistive technologies, combating social stigma with anti-bullying policies, and improving peer support networks and accessible transportation will further support these students’ integration and development and consequently enhance learning

Partisan Impacts and Determinants for Internationalization of Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Products

<i>Background</i>: The pharmaceutical and related commodities manufacturing industry in Ethiopia is long-lived because the country is well-endowed with basic raw materials and local ownership and to some extent with machinery and technological know-how. The pharmaceutical industry, both globally and in Africa, encounters challenges in internationalizing products. In Ethiopia, challenges like regulatory complexities and limited government support hinder international market access for pharmaceutical products. This aim is to explore the barriers and understand why Ethiopian pharmaceuticals struggle to enter global markets. <i>Method</i>: The study adopted a mixed research approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative methods. It focuses on 15 pharmaceutical industries in Ethiopia, particularly those in Addis Ababa and the Oromia Special Zone, using probability and none probability sampling technique. The total study participants involved in the quantitative and qualitative studies were 373 and 15, respectively. Data collection comprises questionnaires, key informant interviews, and observation checklists, supplemented by secondary data from official and theoretical sources. Ethical considerations underscore obtaining verbal consent and ensuring confidentiality. Analysis entails descriptive statistics and qualitative synthesis, with numerical analysis conducted using STATA 14.1 software. <i>Results</i>: Out of the expected 384 study participants, 373 (97.13%) participated in our study, while the entire group of participants proposed in the qualitative study (15) also participated in this study. Key findings include resource constraints, regulatory issues, and biased perceptions against local products, hindering their global recognition. While strong political commitment and effective policy enforcement at the top government level are crucial, inadequate collaboration across government tiers undermines these efforts. Despite existing policies, inadequate implementation and procedural guidance diminish industry interest. There's uncertainty about government support for local pharmaceutical production, with persistent challenges like resource shortages and policy inconsistencies impeding progress. Perceptions vary on the effectiveness of policies promoting local production, and concerns about taxation issues impact the industry. Nevertheless, most respondents’ express confidence in the quality of domestically produced pharmaceuticals. <i>Conclusion</i>: Despite crucial government commitment, weak collaboration across levels impedes progress. Respondents note deficient policy implementation and doubt government support. Persistent issues like resource shortages persist, along with taxation concerns, despite locally produced products being perceived as equal in quality. To advance, better policy implementation, regulatory harmony, financial support, infrastructure enhancement, increased awareness, and improved collaboration are essential.

The Impact of Academic Qualifications and Professional Training on Procurement Staff Performance in Tanzania: A Case Study of Morogoro Referral Hospital

This study investigates the crucial role of academic qualifications and professional training in enhancing procurement staff performance at Morogoro Referral Hospital, focusing on their impact across various procurement activities. The study utilizes a mixed research approach and a case study research design. The target population of the study comprised of individuals who are involved in procurement activities at Morogoro Referral Hospital. The sample size was 67 respondents selected through convenience and purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected by using questionnaire and interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data is examined through thematic analysis. The study highlights the essential role of academic qualifications and professional training in boosting procurement staff performance, noting broad agreement on their benefits for foundational knowledge and critical skills such as supply chain management and negotiation. Despite varying levels of agreement on areas like supplier evaluation and risk mitigation, the overall positive impact is clear. It is recommended that organizations invest in targeted training programs to address performance gaps, particularly in risk mitigation and supplier evaluation, and ensure ongoing updates to keep staff current with regulations, technology, and best practices. This approach will enhance procurement efficiency and effectiveness, supporting organizational success.

Tutors’ Perspectives on their Ability to Create Conducive Social Learning Environment for Students with Visual Impairments at Teachers’ Colleges in Morogoro Region

This study focused on determining tutors’ perspectives on their ability to create conducive social learning environments for students with visual impairments at teachers’ colleges in Morogoro Region. A descriptive survey research design and mixed research approach were adopted. The target population included tutors and heads of departments from both colleges. A sample size of 121 respondents was used. Data collection involved questionnaires for tutors, semi-structured interviews for heads of departments, and document reviews for contextual insight. Validity and reliability were ensured through peer reviews and pilot study. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject. The findings indicate a widespread perception of inadequacy among tutors in promoting interaction, observational learning, imitation, and providing clear demonstrations tailored to visually impaired students. These challenges highlight an urgent need for targeted training, specialized instructional strategies, and resource allocation to better support these students and enhance their educational experiences.

Constraints of English Teaching Proficiency on Students’ Mastery of English Language Skills in Community Secondary Schools in Morogoro District Council

This study focused on investigating the Constraints of English teaching proficiency on students’ mastery of English language skills in community secondary schools in Morogoro District Council. The study used case study research design and mixed research approach. The targeted populations in this study were ward education officers, School head masters, English teachers, and students from 5 rural community secondary schools in Morogoro district council. Sample size for this study was 130 respondents. Purposive sampling technique was applied in selecting Ward education officers and school head masters and simple random sampling technique was used in selection of students and English teachers. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The findings emphasize that low teaching proficiency is a significant factor contributing to poor student performance in community secondary schools. The overuse of code switching, although aimed at aiding comprehension, may negatively impact students’ English language development. Improving teachers’ proficiency is crucial for enhancing students’ communication skills and overall academic performance. The results emphasize the need for targeted professional development to address teaching deficiencies and support better educational outcomes. To address these challenges, educational institutions should invest in professional development programs that enhance teachers’ English proficiency and reduce code switching. Regular assessments of teaching effectiveness and the integration of language support tools will further improve instructional quality and boost students’ academic performance

Factors Affecting the Adoption of Electronic Procurement Systems in Public Institutions in Tanzania: Evidence from Tanzania Prisons in Morogoro Municipal

The study investigated the factors affecting the adoption of electronic procurement systems in public institutions in Tanzania, evidence from Tanzania Prisons in Morogoro Municipal. A survey research design and mixed research approach were utilized. The target population included procurement employees in Tanzania public institutions represented by Kingolwira Prison, Mkonowa Mara Prison, Kihonda Prison, and Remand Prison in Morogoro Municipal Municipality. The study involved 52 respondents. Purposive sampling technique wase used in selection of respondents where all respondents with knowledge on electronic procurement systems were used. Data was gathered through questionnaires with likert scale statements and analysed using descriptive statistics. In addition to that, data deduction techniques whereby conclusions were made by logically reasoning from general principles or theories to specific instances or outcomes based on the available data. User opinions on e- procurement adoption in Tanzanian public institutions highlight significant concerns about technological infrastructure, including hardware availability, software support, and internet reliability. While many acknowledge benefits such as reduced paperwork and enhanced efficiency, opinions vary on its effectiveness in reducing lead times and corruption. Security remains a critical issue, with mixed views on data accessibility and sharing safety. Overall, addressing infrastructure challenges and security concerns is crucial to ensuring successful implementation and broader user acceptance of e- procurement systems.

Perceptions on the Influence of English Language Proficiency on Students’ Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools in Rorya District Council

This study examines perceptions of the influence of English language proficiency on students' academic performance in Public Secondary Schools in Rorya District, Tanzania. The study utilizes a mixed research approach and descriptive survey design. The study targeted DSEO, Heads of Schools, teachers, and students, with a sample of 61 respondents selected through stratified and random sampling methods. Primary and secondary data were gathered via interviews and questionnaires, ensuring the study's validity and reliability. Ethical considerations, including voluntary participation and confidentiality, were rigorously upheld. The findings reveal that effective school-based English programs, such as debates and speech activities, enhance students' language skills and academic performance. Additionally, consistent and dedicated teaching of English contributes positively to students' comprehension and achievements. The study underscores the critical role of English proficiency in educational outcomes and recommends expanding English language programs, regular teacher training, and interactive learning methods to improve academic results

School based inclusive mentoring within the scope of an experiential learning model (IEM) for teacher education

This research employed school-based Inclusive Experimental Monitoring (IEM) mentoring within the scope of Kolb's (1984) experiential learning model. This was used to support pre-service teachers, combined with their existing undergraduate education at a Turkish university. The study undertook a mixed research approach, using the pre- and post-test experimental group (n=11) and control group (n=11). Various quantitative and qualitative data collection tools were used, including a personal information form, scales, questionnaires, video recordings, and unstructured observation. The results indicate that IEM has several positive outcomes for self-efficacy in inclusive education and readiness for the teaching profession. However, the study did not find any substantial changes in attitudes towards individuals with special educational needs, despite some observed positive impacts. It is believed that integrating IEM into the entire undergraduate education process can lead to further development in this regard.

Assessing Creativity and User Experience in Immersive Virtual Reality with Cultural Heritage Learning

Virtual reality (VR) technology is widely used in the field of education and cultural heritage learning. However, few studies have focused on the impact on creativity regarding the use of different interaction modalities by users in cultural heritage learning. Furthermore, it is controversial whether VR can enhance user experience and learning outcomes. The study utilized a mixed research approach combining qualitative and quantitative methods, where qualitative data was collected using open-ended interviews, simultaneously quantitative data was collected using learning outcomes, intrinsic motivation, workload, self-report of creativity and expert assessments of creativity. A mixed research approach combining qualitative and quantitative methods was used; creativity self-reports were used to collect qualitative data, and learning outcomes, intrinsic motivation, and workload data were collected for the quantitative findings.90 university students were randomly assigned to the text group (TG), the video group (VG), and the immersive virtual reality group (IVRG), with 30 students in each group. The study assessed whether creativity, user experience and learning outcomes differed when using different interaction modalities in a cultural heritage context. The results demonstrated that the text interaction modality outperformed the other two groups in learning outcomes and expert assessments of creativity performance, while the IVRG performed better in self-report of creativity and user experience. In addition, participants in TG had higher workloads and poorer user experiences compared to the other two interaction modalities. This study encourages that different interaction modalities should be selected more appropriately depending on the purpose. The study found that interaction modalities creativity can be applied to digital cultural heritage and education and informs interaction design for the HCI community.

Investigating the changing land use patterns and their impacts on ecosystem in the Teesta River Basin

This study investigated the changing land use patterns and their impacts on ecosystem in the Teesta River Basin of northwestern Bangladesh. Although anthropocentric land use patterns, including agricultural land use, settlements, built areas, and waterbody loss, have been increasing in the Nilphamari district, by negatively affecting local ecosystems, they have not been identified by prior research. Limitations of contemporary literature motivated me to work on this crucial ground in the Teesta River Basin in Northwestern Bangladesh. This study applied a mixed research approach to identify the study objectives. Firstly, the land use and land cover (LULC) changes which occurred between 2000 and 2020 were detected using satellite imagery and supervised classification method. In addition to the detection of LULC changes, the study explored the people’s perceptions and experiences about the ecosystem changes resulted from the LULC changes over the last 20 years, conducting stakeholders’ consultations and household surveys utilizing a semi-structured questionnaire. The findings indicated that waterbodies in Nilphamari district have significantly decreased from 378 km2 in 2000 to 181 km2 in 2020. In the same way, the vegetation coverage has reduced 187 km2 between the years 2000 and 2020. On the contrary, agricultural lands (croplands) have increased from 595 km2 to 905 km2 and settlements have increased from 81 km2 to 206 km2 between the years 2000 and 2020. From the chi-square test, it was found a significant association between ecosystem change and biodiversity loss. It was further identified that waterbody decreases have significant impacts on aquatic ecosystems. The results of this study also indicated that due to the introduction of foreign tree species, local and native species have been significantly decreasing over the time. This study emphasizes the non-anthropocentric and inclusive land use policy implications for protecting life on land and preserving the aquatic ecosystem in Bangladesh.

Entrepreneurship Education in International Context: Skills, Attitudes and Competencies

Entrepreneurship plays an important role in the economic development of the nations by driving innnovation, economic efficiency, and job creation. On the other hand, entrepreneurship education and international education seem to be an important antecedent for entrepreneurship intentions. In this context, universities and campuses have an important role in fostering entrepreneurial activities, namely extra curricular and curricular programs that empower young and nascent entrepreneurs to develop skills, attitudes and competencies that can later be applied to business creation. The main objective of this study is to present the extra curricular program, EXIT program, and confirm its impact on entrepreneurial skills, attitudes and competencies acquired or developed by students. This study employs a mixed research approach that includes both qualitative and quantitative methods. The results reveals that EXIT program effectively contributes to the development of various attributes associated with student resilience. It notably boosts critical thinking, creativity, initiative, problem-solving, proactivity, responsibility, cooperation, social responsibility, and a balanced mix of ambition, optimism, and realism. EXIT’s impact on student skills development underscores its substantial positive influence, especially in domains like teamwork and communication. Feedback from the focus group discussions attested to the overall positive reception of EXIT by participants. The program demonstrated its effectiveness in improving their entrepreneurial skills, facilitating multicultural experiences, and encouraging collaborative efforts.

The Impact of the 2022 Electoral Reform on the Credibility of the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria

Over the years, Nigeria has faced serious election fraud, leading many Nigerians to lose confidence in the electoral process. In 2022, the new Electoral Act was introduced, creating more opportunities for the integration of technologies like BVAS and IREV to improve voter accreditation, result transmission, and real-time election viewership for all stakeholders. This development was welcomed by many Nigerians who hoped the Act would restore voter confidence in the country. However, the outcome of the elections, particularly the presidential elections, indicated that the Act failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians. This study therefore examined the Electoral Act 2022 and the election credibility of the 2023 elections. It explored why the Act failed to mitigate insecurity and ensure effective transmission and viewing of election results, which are key to free and fair elections. Using a mixed research approach to data collection and analysis, the study drew on direct responses from voters and stakeholders, scholarly literature, media reports, and findings from election observer groups. The results indicate that while the Act provides a legal framework for stronger elections in Nigeria, it has not sufficiently ensured a free and fair election in the presidential polls. The study concludes that the Act alone cannot guarantee transparent elections due to poor implementation by stakeholders and certain grey areas in the Act that were exploited for election manipulation. The researcher recommends revisiting or strengthening these grey areas to prevent manipulation by elites and ensuring effective implementation by all stakeholders. Specifically, the study suggests the integration of technological advancements, such as blockchain for secure voting, electronic voting systems to enhance accessibility, geospatial technology for better logistics management, and secure mobile applications for real-time results transmission, to further bolster election credibility and transparency in Nigeria.

Factors Influencing Peri-Urban Land Development in Ethiopia: Evidences from Assosa City

Like other developing countries, Ethiopia has adopted its land administration system (LAS) based on socio-economic, environmental, and administrative circumstances to allocate and use the land. However, the two ineffective lines of urban and rural land tenure guidelines and legal frameworks play a surprising strategic role in access to land and peri-urban land development. Comprehensive land policies are prospects for today's peri-urban areas to become tomorrow's huge cities. This paper aims to investigate the factors influencing peri-urban land development in Assosa Town and indicate the design of effective LAS. A mixed research approach was employed, and data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. The sample respondents were selected using purposive sampling techniques and descriptive and inferential statistical data analysis methods were employed. The findings revealed that bifurcated and ineffective legal and institutional frameworks, limited public-private participation, and technical constraints adversely affect peri-urban land development. The dichotomized land use development has neglected urban fringe areas and contributed to the prevailing negative peri-urban land developments. Development resulted with limited access to serviced land and deprived of land development permit. <i>Following this, peri-urban landholders became a crucial contributor to the development of peri-urban land in a negative manner.</i> Almost all sampled households developed their land contrary to the legal frameworks and standards. The estimated results of the binary logit model indicate that several factors influence peri-urban land development, including sex, monthly household income, access to official land and land information, land disputes, the alternative land development tool, and institutional integration. It is recommended to have an all-in-one land policy and administration strategy to promote sustainable development in the study area and beyond.

An Empirical Research on the Practices of Education Management Information System (EMIS) in South West Showa Education Sectors

This study focused on the implementation of Educational Management Information System (EMIS) in South West Showa education sectors. An Education Management Information System (EMIS) is a system that collects, manages, and shares educational data within a national ministry or department of education. EMIS, as defined by UNESCO in 2018, is a system of operational processes utilizing digital technology to gather, analyze, and utilize data and information in education for various purposes such as management, planning, policy-making, and monitoring. A mixed research approach was used, with data collected through questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 24. The study involved the South West Showa education office management body and 6 Woredas education sectors. Challenges identified included lack of education indicators manual, qualified personnel, EMIS software user manual, relevant training, computer and printer shortages, high turnover in EMIS positions, and issues with data accuracy and reliability. Respondents highlighted problems such as insufficient ICT infrastructure, lack of IT competency, shortage of qualified staff, and poor coordination. The study concluded that EMIS faced various obstacles affecting its management, and recommendations were made to address these issues.

Determinants of Internal Audit Effectiveness in Local Government Authorities (LGAs): Evidence from Morogoro Region of Tanzania

This study examines the determinants of internal audit effectiveness in Local Government Authorities (LGAs), addressing the growing importance of robust Internal Audit Function (IAF) in public sector governance. The study employed the descriptive research design based on a mixed research approach integrating both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were collected from 45 purposively selected respondents with extensive auditing experience. A multiple linear regression model was used to assess the impact of these factors on internal audit effectiveness. The empirical results indicate that the four factors account for 65.7% of the variance in internal audit effectiveness, with IT utilization being the most significant contributor (R² = 0.657, Adjusted R² = 0.616). The ANOVA results further validate the model, showing a statistically significant F-statistic of 3.2976 with a p-value of 0.001, indicating the robustness of the findings. Top management support was found to be critical in fostering a culture of accountability, while the independence of internal audit ensures objectivity and unbiased assessments. IT utilization was identified as a key driver in enhancing the efficiency and reliability of audit processes. Finally, the competence of internal auditors was shown to significantly influence the quality and accuracy of audit outcomes. The study recommends the need for institutionalizing top management support, safeguarding auditor independence, advancing IT utilization, and promoting continuous professional development for auditors. These measures are essential for improving governance and accountability within LGAs, thereby contributing to more effective and reliable internal audit practices.

Evaluating Rural Land Administration Institutional Efficiency from Modern Land Administration Systems Perspective: In Case of Awi Zone, North-Western Ethiopia

This study is aimed to evaluate the institutional efficiency of rural land administration from the perspective of modern land administration systems in Awi zone Amhara region Ethiopia. The study employed a mixed research approach to evaluate the efficiency of rural land administration. Moreover, the study used various data collection tools such as questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussion, observation, and document review to acquire relevant data. The study pursued the influence of explanatory variables namely legal framework, digitalization, valuation and compensation, good governance, data quality, capacity building, and customer satisfaction on the efficiency of rural land administration. Furthermore, descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze quantitative data. Consequently, the study found that the legal framework and customer satisfaction are the most significant factors that affect the efficiency of rural land administration. However, the study finding revealed that lack of clear and uniform legislations and service delivery negatively affected the success of rural land administration. Thus, the prospects to assure efficient rural land administration are provision of unambiguous laws, delivering services impartially, and providing capacity-building training for experts are suggested as a vital to implement modern land administration systems to modern society.

Chaining Strategy and Word Recognition Development among Deaf Pupils in Tanzania

Despite chaining strategy being used in teaching deaf pupils in Tanzania, still deaf graduate with poor reading skills. Thus, there was the need of finding out the reasons for this stressing situation in the country. Basing on the theory of simple view of reading which highlights that reading comprehension is determined by word recognition ability and language comprehension ability, this study explored the contribution of chaining strategy in developing word recognition ability among deaf pupils in selected special primary schools in Tanzania. The study employed mixed research approach with a convergent research design, whereby, in-depth interview, observation, questionnaire and test were employed to collect data from teachers and deaf pupils respectively. A sample of 182 respondents that included 20 teachers and 162 deaf pupils was used. Data obtained were analysed through descriptive, simple linear regression and content analysis. The study revealed that the use of chaining strategy has significant contribution in developing word recognition ability among deaf pupils in Tanzania. This is because the strategy contributed much in building up major word recognition sub-skills among deaf such as, fingerspelling ability, ability to select specific word from the group of written words, abilities to match words with their corresponding signs, and ability to identify misspelled words. In-turn the subskills contributed to word recognition ability among deaf pupils. The study recommends the government to strengthen on in-service training among teachers for deaf as it will keep teachers updated as far as sign language is concern and on how to effectively apply chaining strategy

Effect of using multimedia and dynamic classroom integrated instruction on grade 11 students’ biology academic achievement

This study investigated the effects of multimedia and dynamic classroom integrated instruction (DCII) on students' academic achievement in two biology topics, i.e., respiration and photosynthesis. A non-equivalent, quasi-experimental design with a mixed research approach was employed. A total of 94 secondary school students participated in the study. Data were collected using biology achievement tests, classroom observations, and focus group discussions. The data was analyzed using paired and independent sample t-tests, repeated measure analysis of variance, and thematic analysis. Using the Kuder Richardson −20 (KR-20) formula, the calculated reliability coefficient of the BAT was .78. The results revealed that in the pretest and posttests, there was a statistically significant difference in biology achievement within the experimental group (t 47 = −17.461, p = .000) and in the posttest between the comparison and the experimental group (t 92 = 5.39, p = .000). Multimedia and DCII is a crucial factor that significantly enhanced academic performance between pretest and posttest scores (time effect), regardless of learning style. Still, there is no significant score difference between the three learning style groups, irrespective of time, and does not interact with each other. In conclusion, multimedia and DCII address the needs of diversified classroom learners, create a more active learning environment, simplify complex content, make the classroom busy, buffer educational inequality between learners, and replace unpractical lab activities. Mainly for abstract content, implementing systematic multimedia-based pedagogy can enhance students’ achievement.

Barriers to achieving satisfactory dropped objects safety performance in the UK construction sector

In 1980 a deadly explosion occurred at a nuclear missile base precipitated by a dropped object. The potential for major catastrophe, an industry call to action and a research gap forms the rationale for this research into dropped objects. The aim of the research was to devise guidance to assist United Kingdom (UK) based construction sector companies to reduce the frequency of dropped object incidents. A mixed research approach that includes literature review, semi-structured interviews and case studies were used to achieve the purpose of this research. The trend data revealed that dropped object incident rates have remained flat in recent years. The quantitative incident reports and qualitative feedback from interviews concluded that design is a contributory factor in a significant number of incidents and possibly in many cases but more research with a larger quantitative research sample is required. The interviews and literature review revealed several useful recommendations to sector bodies, construction sector companies and for further academic research. Recommendations to Individual Construction Sector Companies are grouped into different themes including manage, eliminate and control. The main recommendations to regulators included ensuring that tool tethering and containers are marked and inspected in line with other lifting equipment. Industry bodies could consider liaising with the energy industry to develop a suitable general construction exclusion zone calculator. Initiatives to improve the design of Mast Climbing Work Platforms to provide integral storage and enclosure solutions could be initiated with the vendors of this equipment. Practitioners and companies could consider offsite construction as a strategic means to reduce the number of dropped objects and consider work scopes that could be executed at ground level rather than at height. Consideration could be given to the more commonly deployed off-site fabrication options such as façade panels and bathroom pods. During detailed design, companies could have a high focus on the mechanism of reducing fixings in facades using Building Information Modelling.There are a number of areas which can be investigated further such as the implications of offsite construction on dropped objects accidents when compared with traditional methods. The research findings hint that Business Information Modelling might be a useful tool to reduce dropped objects on construction sites especially related to facades.While there were several limitations of the research including a limited amount of quantitative data and availability of the specific interview group, the findings of the research will still be useful for the construction sector in the UK and overseas to improve safety performance in construction.

Striving for Quality Higher Education: The Quandaries of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance Directorate at the University for Development Studies

The study examined the quandaries of the Directorate of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance (DAPQA) of the University for Development Studies. The study adopted a mixed research approach using purposive sampling to select two staff members from the Directorate and fourteen DAPQA representatives from all the various schools and faculties in the university. The researchers personally administered the questionnaires and conducted the interviews. Descriptive statistics and frequencies were employed to analyze the quantitative data, while the qualitative data were transcribed and coded for easy identification. The study revealed that the directorate is faced with poor cooperation from the university's academic and non-academic staff. It also came to light that there were inadequate personnel and limited office space and funds to carry out their activities. The study, therefore, recommends recruiting qualified staff and continuing workshops for existing staff of the university to appreciate the role of DAPQA and the need to avail themselves whenever needed. Again, university management should organize in-service training for the staff of DAPQA and provide enough office space and funds to carry out its activities.