Institutional Doctorate Supervision Practices Influencing trends in enrolment and Completion Rates in Doctorate Degree Programmes from selected Public Universities in Kenya

Abstract

Completing a doctorate degree on time is a multifaceted progression, influenced by many interplaying variables. This paper sought to establish how institutional doctorate supervision practices influence completion rates of doctorate programmes from selected public universities in Kenyan. The student-supervisor collaboration is a critical ingredient in doctorate programme studies. This is because when something goes wrong with either in course of their interaction, the ramification is experienced in the period studies take. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of student-supervisor interaction in doctorate degree programme from selected public universities in Kenya. The Involvement Theory and the Social Support theory were to reveal the reasons for low enrolment and completion rates of doctorates in selected Kenyan public universities. The mixed methods research design were utilised in the current study. Information was obtained from four purposively sampled universities using questionnaires, documentary analysis and interview schedules. Qualitative data was coded and then thematically analysed guided by the study objectives while quantitative data was analysed using percentages and graphs. The findings of the study would be useful for the university managements in understanding the student-supervisor relationship in doctorate programme studies. Furthermore, would also provide information to interested researchers in related topics in graduate studies. The findings of this research will be resourceful to university policy makers, administrators and lecturers to improve on institutional policy framework which could be used to enhance doctorate degree enrolment and completion in Kenyan public universities.