Key indicators of student success at a tertiary institution : a case study of CTI education group's accounting programmes

Abstract

Linking access with success in South African higher education has become vital. There is a clear necessity to identify and rigorously research factors contributing to student success that are within the institutions sphere of influence so that institutional policies and practices can be intentionally aligned and designed to create conducive conditions for student success This study documents the key indicators of student success based on a sample of BComm Accounting students enrolled at CTI Education group (MGI)/Durban Campus from 2009 to 2011.

Using data collected from 54 students enrolled in the three groups, this study investigates whether or not matriculation aggregate scores as well as selected individual matric subject scores (including Mathematics proficiency, English language proficiency and Accounting) and demographic information (such as gender, race, socio-economic status, and first-generational status) are key indicators of success for students enrolled in BComm Accounting at CTI Education group/Durban Campus from 2009 to 2011.

Qualitative and quantitative data have been collected and incorporated into the econometric model. Qualitative data such as gender, ethnicity and parent level of education have been used as dummy variables and were analysed using either Pearson or Spearman’s correlation tests. Due to the disparity in performance of students, the researcher sought to use the descriptive econometric model. The data (qualitative and quantitative) have been analysed using mostly descriptive methods and to a less extent the Ordinary Least Squares through Stata software. The findings of this study show that: • In all three samples average matric score proved to be a significant indicator of student academic success at the end of the first-year; • In all three samples, the first step of the model (Gender, ethnicity and first generational of students) did not explain a significant amount of the percentage of student academic success at the end of the first-year for the three cohorts; • From 2009 to 2011, the overall results suggested a significant difference between students who lived close to campus and those who travelled a long distance to campus; • In all three samples the Age variable did not explain a significant correlation between the variable Age and student academic success at the end of the first-year.