Increasing Population of Students (Dissertation Introduction Sample)

1.1 Background To The Study .
In the advent of increasing population of students in tertiary education around the globe student accommodation has become one otf 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. As a result of limited government resources, governments in developing countries are unable to sufficiently meet the accommodation demand for all public higher institutions.
In Kenya 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 and Gryna, 1988); "the total composite product and service characteristics of marketing" (Feigenbaum); "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 viewedas exceptional, as perfection (or consistency), as fitness for purpose, asvalue for money and as transformative.
1.1.1 The concept of population
The negative (Malthusian) perception of population growth is well represented 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 2000 Maseno University was enacted 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 s...