why students keep failing despite environments that emphasis on research

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Governance and Management in Higher Education
Email:tsholofelozig@gmail.com
TITLE
RESEARCH IN LIMKOKWING UNIVERSITY, BOTSWANA; why students continue to perform poorly despite the
environment that emphasises on research.
BY
TSHOLOFELO ZIGWA
The context of higher education has since changed due to globalisation. The new trends in
technology, mass media, business transactions, transport, communication and people has
brought the world into a global village. The shift that has been fashioned by the global village
that had since hit hard on the education system. These changes have been both positive and
negative considering the time phase required to adapt to the changes within each nation or
institution. However in a fast changing world, the need to keep pace with the whole universe
became an immediate intrusion which required nations and people to find measures to bridge
the gap and keep up with the rest of the world. Within the education system it meant that the
education body should look at issues of intergrating culture, social, political and economic
dimensions into the education system. By so doing the curriculum, academic structure and the
context of teaching and learning needed to be modified and unified and it could only be
possible through research. Research is a fundamental requirement in higher education in
effectively and efficiently transforming the knowledge and skills. Higher education institutions
are complex, some institutions are still carrying out some research to find solution to various
problems. Subjects or modules are still being modified, students are still being sent oversees to
study research, workshops and seminars are being held to edify people on research but
students still perform poorly despite learning environments that stresses on research. Essay
(2013) concur that educational research is vital in acquiring information that is truthful in

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regard to educational problems and solutions. Therefore, this paper discusses how research is
viewed at Limkokwing University Botswana and emphasises on why student`s performance
continue to decline despite all the effort made on research.
The role of research in higher education institutions cannot be underscored. Higher education
institutions are multifaceted. We have learners and instructors from diverse backgrounds;
culture, education, families, characters and religion. These people have different ways of doing
things, each instructor has their own personal teaching philosophy but in an academic institution
they are under one roof and they have to behave according to the organisational culture of such
institution. In an academic environment learning and teaching is a common goal. Limkokwing
University is a private institution established in Botswana that originates from Malaysia. The
institution prides itself of being a university of creativity and innovation. Innovation is the source
of wealth and prosperity, innovation requires people to carry out extensive research to create
new needs of innovation. Continuous improvements and initiative policies are being
implemented in creative institutions for greater competitivenes and intergration of the world
economy. Formulation of new idea requires extensive research, the innovation process to take
place it equires gathering of ideas to come up with the final product. Hencesaid, it is
conspicuous that an institution like Limkokwing University needs to do much to emphasise on
research.
Furthermore, Limkokwing University promotes research in learning and teaching. All student`s
assessments are designed in such a way that it requires students to carry out research. A typical
example can be seen on the assignment briefs and assignments marking criteria. It is often
stated the style of referencing and the number of reference materials students are expected to
use when doing assignments. It does not only end there, the assignments also states the
grading accumulated through referencing. This method endorse research bacause if student
don`t` comply with the rules or policy they are awarded a zero. In emphasises Gupta (2017)
when students engage in research they submit academic work that is of great quality and
standard. They gather facts and ideas that has current research findings, as a results they avoid
plagiarism of any kind. One may argue that in a creative and innovation institution research is
not vital, but research is important in all areas of academic level. At Limkokwing University,
research is viewed as an important platform of innovation and creativity. Research plays a
crucial role in genration of new ideas that would be used to come up with solutions to
innovation problem in the country. Innovation is a fuction of business which creates
opportunities and bestows existing resources for the future nation. Therefore, the students
through research are equipped to gather information on the latest trends in the creative
industry such as trends in fashion and design, multimedia, architecture and other various
innovation studies. Nnadi (2014) agrees that research is a profound requirement in innovation
and reativity. Nnadi (2014) highlights that; the production process of innovation requires
extensive research. In today`s era businesses must establish innovation and creativity in
enterpreneurship so that they can keep pace with the modern world. Therefore, the role of

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research to produce quality academic work and within the courses offered at Limkokwing
University cannot be undermined.
In addition, professionalism in the academic environment has been linked to people who have
qualifications of Masters and above, people who have rewritten some research papers or
published educational books. In agreement Gupata (2017) stresses that professional practice
would have a competitive edge if professional staff members work with research based
knowledge. Nowdays, professionals are hired with reference to research based practice. For
example at Limkokwing University lecturers have been compelled to write research papers
since it would be important to develop themselves and help with curriculum design in the
institution. Only lecturers with Masters Qualification are allowed to instruct and supervise
research students on dissertation.
Futhermore, Limkokwing University has measures that have been put in place to encourage
research. Staff members are persuaded and motivated to carry out research based teaching. An
educator is someone who does not stop learning. Time and again lecturers at Limkokwing
University are mandated to give students assignments that are current and that makes students
think. Lecturers are requested to gather the latest information on various topics within their
respective streams or fields. For example, lecturers should carry out research before they expect
students to do likewise. They should be famialiar with the changing business trends, the latest
technology, trends in the market and the political states of the nation. Lecturers are encouraged
also to develop themselves academically through further studies, trainings and publishing
papers. All these require extensive research. Recently the lecturers at Limkokwing University had
a mini workshop where lecturers were taken through the APA refrencing style which is a
recommended style for the institution. Students also are being offered tutorials periodically
through the internal library service emphasising on reference.
Moreover, Limkokwing University has various centers within the institution that promote
research. There is the E-libary which is fully equipped with computers that have internet for
research. There is also a libary within the institution that allows students and lecturers to carry
out extensive research. In addition, the book shop is available where students and lecturers
purchase books and other academic materials.
Policies on academic dishonesty have been embedded clearly on the student manual flyer for
sudents at Limkokwing University. Academic dishonesty is considered to be misconduct or
cheating that occurs as a result of plagiarism, fabrication of data, cheating during examinatins
and other academic deceptions. The penalty for plagiarism is a product of not acknowledging
the source of information used or submitted on student works. It is not only theory concepts
that are fabricated, also projects, oral or written or visual presentations are considered for
proper referencing. Students at Limkokwing University are made away of this policy and
penalties that follow suit. Therefore, lecturers are encourged to teach students about proper
research methods. This is possible because at the beginning of the first semester, all Limkokwing
University students across all modules have a module called ‘Introduction to research’. This

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module introduces students to the need and importance of research in high education and it is
done by all students. This came up from having revised the curriculum effectively and realised
that research is a fundamental requirement in higher education.
Henceforth, the administrative departments such as the Human Resources Departments carry
out research most often. Efforts made to improve the life of staff members within the
institution lies much on the hands of the Human Resource Department. The Human Resources
Department at Limkokwing University has responsibility of formulating strategies and workforce
policies or procedures. These workplace policies don`t emerge from nothing. It is a result of
effectual research. Research is a tool that the Human Resouce Department uses to evaluate and
invent practices and performances. With the information from research the Human Resource
personnel looks for the variation from the laws and company policies that would help them to
comply with legal regulations. Bamber, Bartram and Stanton (2017) agrees that research is
crucial within the Human Resource personnel, since the findings made by the department can be
used to enhance employee satisfaction, productivity, performance and help various decision
making and formulating of policies and procedures.
Moreover, there is the Quality Assurance department at Limkokwing University called ‘Academic
Quality Assurance (AQA)’. It is an internal office that looks at issues of internal analysis and
quality assessments standards. They look at issues of curriculum development, curriculum design,
academic programms, accreditation, moderation and other issues of quality assurance. AQA sets
policies, procedures and other quality assurance measures. Therefore, before they can make any
conclusions or draw any plans and write down policies they carry thorough research. They
research on the organisational culture, political impacts, the competitors, the needs of students
and the gaps in the academic environment. Through research this department is able to find out
new knowledge and innovation that is contemporary to the 21st century. The findings are then
embedded and incorporated within the programms as curriculum development. For example,
content and modules have changed overtime for the past years at Limkokwing University because
through research they have found out that some modules are outdated and no longer relevant to
the industry. Belash e`tal (2015) emphasises that Universities are facing challenges and pressures
of producing students that are demanded by the industry. Therefore, Universities need to carry
quality assurance research to find out products that can match the programms taught in
universities with the labour market demands. Finding these programms that match with the
industry needs would requires quality assurance department to carry out research and
benchmarking. Research is taken seriously within this department at Limkokwing University as it
contributes to the existing knowledge body.
As much as research is regarded as an effective tool of improvement in the academic milieu, it
remains a worrisome issue to the learners as they continue to perform poorly despite all the
efforts made that emphasise on research. What could be the problem, when we have policies
and measures put in place? Limkokwing University is faced with shortage of facilities for
research. There are few computers in the E-library and some of the books cannot be found in
the campus library. Gupta (2017) states that in Africa research facilities are in scarcity, even the

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infrastructure and financial aids required to make students beneficiaries of worldwide
knowledge and skills are at lowest access. Many times students have complained about
shortage of books of various fields at the Limkokwing University library but efforts to solve the
issue have since failed. Krutov and Iankovlen (1984) stress that higher education institutions are
supported by the whole system of research institutes, laboratories, observation and so on.
Furthermore, penalties are not being made firm when students had not followed the academic
dishonest policy. Despite the assessment criteria specifying research as a major requirement of
producing quality assignments, students still submit without referencing because they know
that no stiff penalty would be awarded to them. For example, you will find that for students
who are under-graduate and are not carrying any research would not be bothered to do
research or find any reasons to do research.
Another reason for poor academic performance of students despite emphasises on research is
lack of funding on research professions. Most of the students in Botswana cannot afford
education fees hence the government is helping with sponsorship. As such, there is need to
help students in local universities or individual students willing to carry out research with
financial aids or funding so they achieve research goals. Personally, I have written a couple of
research papers and have not since pubished them because I lack proper funding and direction
on publishing. The importance of research has to be taught to students, their parents or
guardians, the education support structures such as the government, private stakeholders,
institution`s partners and the whole education system.
The other issue is that, you will find that some Universities employ lecturers who are not
qualified trainers. Limkokwing University employ lecturers who juist graduated from the
University and most of them do not have Masters Qualification and have not carried any
research during their school days. In that sense quality is compromised. How do you expect
students to research when you as a lecturer have not done any research? Owolabi (2012) has
found out that teachers qualification has a create impact on student`s performance. Owolabi
(2012) holds that the teacher as the facilitator of knowledge has a great effect on the context of
information that the students learn. The need for experienced and skilled instructors nurtures
effective learning. Owolabi (2012) holds that the instructor is the major asset in ensuring quality
of learning the students has to acquire in higher institutions.
In a nutshell, a lot still has to be done to encourage and promote research in the academic
world. The economic state of the nation, politics, cultural exchange, population characteristics,
organisational changes, policies and regulations and education insights depend on the findings
of research to function profoundly. Gupta (2017) agrees that institutions can enhance the
significance of education through research and the demands in the market can be pursued
through research. For students to develop and produce quality they should engage in research
so that they bring up vastly competitive value to the academic world and the world at large.
Students should be exposed to research and made aware of the magnitude of research.
Research can help unravel problems that the nation is currently facing. Research can also help
enhance the academic life, motivate staff members and perk up the academic system.

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REFERENCE LIST
1. Belash e`tal. (2015). Research on University Education Quality Assurance:Methodology and Results of
Stakeholders’Satisfaction Monitoring, Available Online at;https://ac.els-
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[Accessed 03 September 2018]
2. Essays, UK. (2013). the Role and Importance of Educational Research Philosophy Essay. Retrieved from
https://www.ukessays.com/essays/philosophy/the-role-and-importance-of-educational-research-
philosophy-essay.php?vref=1
3. Gupta, P. (2017).Role and Need of Research in Higher Education, Available Online
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September 2018]
4. Krutov and Iankovlen (1984) Research in Higher Institution, Available Online at
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0379772840090404?journalCode=chee20[Accessed03
September 2018]
5. Nnadi, C. (2014). The role of creaitivity and innovation in business growth and sustainability, Available
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growth-and-sustainability-an-ideal-model-2162-6351.1000171.php?aid=28665 [Accessed 03
September 2018]
6. Owolabi, O.T. (2012). Effect of Teacher’s Qualification on the Performance of Senior Secondary School
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