Effect of Population on Quality of Accomodation (Case Study Sample)

CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This chapter highlights the following: the background of the study, statement of the problem, objectives, research questions, scope, justification, and the conceptual framework of the study.
1.1 Background of the Study
In the advent of increasing population of students in tertiary education around the globe student accommodation has become one of the serious problems faced by tertiary institutions in developing countries context (Sharma, 2012), (Centre for Global Education, 2002). In many countries, especially in developing countries, the governments have been the main provider of student accommodation for public tertiary institutions. Due to limited government resources, governments in developing countries are unable to meet the accommodation demand sufficiently for all public higher institutions.
In Kenya, the higher education enrolments have been rising by around 40% annually for the past five years, while real subsidies have increased by 4% to 5% over the period. According to government figures, the number of students in public universities was 143,000 last year, up from 101,000 the previous year .Educationists have warned that absorbing a much larger number of students would backfire if not accompanied by a commensurate rise in funding to enable institutions to expand educational and boarding infrastructure and hire extra tutors. Numerous studies have attempted to study the impact of high population on academic performance however; studies on the impact of high population on quality of accommodation are unknown.
Numerous scientific papers have already attempted to define quality, and most of the authors agree that it is not possible to arrive at a correct and unambiguous definition (Macukow, 2000). However, following are number of common quality definitions: “the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfills requirements (ISO 9000: 2005); “Conformance to requirements” (Crosby, 1979); “Fitness for Use”, (Juran & Gryna, 1988); “the total composite product and service characteristics of marketing” (Feigenbaum, 1983); “a predictability degree of uniformity and dependability at low cost and suited to the market” (Deming, 1986); Value to some person (Weinberg, 1994). “The characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs”, American Society of Quality; "Products and services that meet or exceed customers' expectations", (Kano, 1884). Japanese companies find the old suggestion of quality, “the degree of conformance to a standard”, too narrow and, consequently, have started to use a new definition of quality of “customer satisfaction” (Wayne, 1983). Basic parameters of quality were grouped into three areas: quality of design; quality of conformance; and quality of performance (Wildrick et al, 2002). Quality is multi-dimensional concept and different definitions are appropriate under different circumstances (Viswanadhan, 2006). Harvey and Knight (1996) stated that Quality can be viewed as exceptional, as perfection (or consistency), as fitness for purpose, as value for money and as transformative.
1.1.1 Concept of Population
The negative (Malthusian) perception of population growth receives ample representation in the literature; see (Meadows et al, 1972) and (Ehrlich, 1990). Similarly, in neoclassical growth and capital resource models, population growth is not favorable for development. The Malthusian theory categorically states that population grows at a geometrical rate while resources grow at an arithmetical rates see (Thomas Malthus, 1798).
1.1.2 Maseno University
Maseno University is a university based in Maseno, near Kisumu, It is a fully government accredited university, enacted by an Act of Parliament in 1991. In the year 2000, Maseno University received enactment to be a fully-fledged university. It is one of the seven public universities in Kenya
It has over ten thousand students pursuing various programs offered in the University's campuses. The university is in Maseno Township along Kisumu-Busia road, some 25 km from Kisumu City and 400 km west of Nairobi. It has two campuses: the Kisumu and the main campus. The main campus is along Kisumu-Busia road, while the Kisumu campus is located in Kisumu City.
The quantity and distribution of population of students in Maseno University affects the demand for quality services. Thus, in order to respond to and plan for future populations of students, the general plan, including the framework and accommodation elements carried out by Maseno University include forecasts of the student population. Since the projections help in planning the infrastructure and level of service required to support the future population, actual growth in excess of the projections can lead to deficiencies. These deficiencies have a significant effect on the population and quality services.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Holding other factors constant, an increase in population can be interpreted in economic sense to mean an increase in demand. Such an increase calls for further expansion to meet the increasing needs.
In our area of study, there has been an increase in population of students evident by the double intake in the academic year 2011/2012 where the university admitted students twice within the same academic year. The first intake was in September 2011 that had 1834 students and the other intake in January 2012 had 1759 students. Thereafter the number of students has been increasing year after year. This has increased the demand for accommodation and thus the need to build more hostels.
Most higher learning institutions are experiencing such a challenge, where there are an increasing number of students but no investment in accommodation to match the increasing number of students, which has led to accommodation problems and hence reduced quality of available accommodation. The delays in putting up more hostels may be due to inadequacy in financial resources, corruption, and mismanagement of funds.
The research main aim was to examine effect of high students’ population on the quality of accommodation. This issue had to be researched, as quality accommodation is a basic requirement to all students.
1.3 Research Objectives
1.3.1 Main Objective
The main objective of carrying out the research was to determine effect of high population of students on quality of hostel accommodation in Maseno University.
1.3.2 Specific objectives
Based on the main objective above, the research was undertaken to specifically achieve the objectives as follows:
To determine extent of growth patterns
To determine the effect of growth patterns on quality of accommodation
1.4 Research Questions
In order to investigate the issues mentioned above, the following research questions were put forward
What are the students’ growth patterns in Maseno University?
Does high population of students in Maseno University affect the quality of accommodation?
Are the available resources in Maseno University enough to cater for increasing number of students?
1.5 Scope of the Study
The study focused on the effect of students’ population on the quality of accommodation. The population consisted growth patterns, number of students and conflicts while quality included serviceability, reliability and conformance features.
The study was done in Maseno University in Kisumu county of Kenya between June and August 2015.
1.6 Justification of the Study
This study helped us to determine whether high population of students had an effect on the quality of accommodation in Maseno University. This study was important as it reflected on the sharing of available resources among the students. Private investors’ benefited in that they got opportunities to build hostels for students creating self-employment for themselves and providing the necessities, which students require for learning, purposes. By undertaking this research, we aimed at helping the university improve the quality of the accommodation and increase the number of hostels for current and future purposes. The students would have conducive environment to stay and study where sharing of rooms would be narrowed down to 2 students per room.
1.7 Conceptual Framework
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE DEPENDENT VARIABLE
Population
number of students
growth
conflict
Quality
serviceability
reliability
conformance
political factors (government policies)
economic factors (interest rates, management)
social factors ( attitude of the administration and stakeholders)

INTERVENING VARIABLES
Source (Author, 2015)
Figure 1.1 conceptual framework of the study
In this proposed study, population of students was the independent variable with dimensions such as number of students, rate of growth and conflict, which influenced the dependent variable, quality of accommodation whose dimensions were conformance, serviceability and reliability. The intervening variables include attitude of people, government policies, interest rates, and management. Maseno University is public institution and hence liable to intervention by government in its implementation of policies.
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
The main aim of literature review is to give the researcher the background information about the topic under investigation. Past studies on this area have been reviewed in order to provide an insight on the topic, however most existing literature has not exhaustively shown a relationship between the two variables that is population and quality of accommodation.
2.1 Theoretical Literature
There are many theories relating to population and quality that have been postulated.