Factors contributing to doctoral student attrition in higher education institutions in Namibia
Postgraduate student attrition remains a pressing global issue extensively investigated in academic research. Guided by Tinto’s student integration theory, this study explores factors driving high dropout rates among doctoral candidates at two Namibian universities. The investigation utilised purpo...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of the Free State
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Perspectives in Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/pie/article/view/7689 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849406646810312704 |
|---|---|
| author | Esther Nuuyoma Sing Nevensha Chika T Sehoole |
| author_facet | Esther Nuuyoma Sing Nevensha Chika T Sehoole |
| author_sort | Esther Nuuyoma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Postgraduate student attrition remains a pressing global issue extensively investigated in academic research. Guided by Tinto’s student integration theory, this study explores factors driving high dropout rates among doctoral candidates at two Namibian universities. The investigation utilised purposive and snowball sampling methods to recruit participants. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews involving 23 doctoral candidates enrolled between 2013 and 2019. Thematic analysis identified research supervision challenges such as inadequate support, delayed feedback, strained supervisory dynamics, and supervisors’ excessive workloads as critical barriers to degree completion. Compounding factors like competing personal, professional and familial obligations and financial constraints were found to impede academic progress substantially. Participants further identified perceived disengagement from policymakers, researchers and potential collaborators as exacerbating attrition risks. The study recommends targeted retention initiatives to mitigate dropout rates and foster degree persistence in response to these findings. The study warns that Namibia’s doctoral education system, evidenced by unsustainable attrition patterns, risks undermining national development goals outlined in its 2030 agenda unless coordinated institutional and governmental interventions are prioritised.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a6f6898e64b14ed18ec211b1fbbe86ca |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0258-2236 2519-593X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | University of the Free State |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Perspectives in Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-a6f6898e64b14ed18ec211b1fbbe86ca2025-08-20T03:36:18ZengUniversity of the Free StatePerspectives in Education0258-22362519-593X2025-08-0143310.38140/pie.v43i3.7689Factors contributing to doctoral student attrition in higher education institutions in NamibiaEsther Nuuyoma0Sing Nevensha1Chika T Sehoole2University of Pretoria, South AfricaUniversity of Pretoria, South AfricaUniversity of Pretoria, South Africa Postgraduate student attrition remains a pressing global issue extensively investigated in academic research. Guided by Tinto’s student integration theory, this study explores factors driving high dropout rates among doctoral candidates at two Namibian universities. The investigation utilised purposive and snowball sampling methods to recruit participants. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews involving 23 doctoral candidates enrolled between 2013 and 2019. Thematic analysis identified research supervision challenges such as inadequate support, delayed feedback, strained supervisory dynamics, and supervisors’ excessive workloads as critical barriers to degree completion. Compounding factors like competing personal, professional and familial obligations and financial constraints were found to impede academic progress substantially. Participants further identified perceived disengagement from policymakers, researchers and potential collaborators as exacerbating attrition risks. The study recommends targeted retention initiatives to mitigate dropout rates and foster degree persistence in response to these findings. The study warns that Namibia’s doctoral education system, evidenced by unsustainable attrition patterns, risks undermining national development goals outlined in its 2030 agenda unless coordinated institutional and governmental interventions are prioritised. http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/pie/article/view/7689Student attrition doctoral studiesdropoutpostgraduate supervision retention |
| spellingShingle | Esther Nuuyoma Sing Nevensha Chika T Sehoole Factors contributing to doctoral student attrition in higher education institutions in Namibia Perspectives in Education Student attrition doctoral studies dropout postgraduate supervision retention |
| title | Factors contributing to doctoral student attrition in higher education institutions in Namibia |
| title_full | Factors contributing to doctoral student attrition in higher education institutions in Namibia |
| title_fullStr | Factors contributing to doctoral student attrition in higher education institutions in Namibia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors contributing to doctoral student attrition in higher education institutions in Namibia |
| title_short | Factors contributing to doctoral student attrition in higher education institutions in Namibia |
| title_sort | factors contributing to doctoral student attrition in higher education institutions in namibia |
| topic | Student attrition doctoral studies dropout postgraduate supervision retention |
| url | http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/pie/article/view/7689 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT esthernuuyoma factorscontributingtodoctoralstudentattritioninhighereducationinstitutionsinnamibia AT singnevensha factorscontributingtodoctoralstudentattritioninhighereducationinstitutionsinnamibia AT chikatsehoole factorscontributingtodoctoralstudentattritioninhighereducationinstitutionsinnamibia |