Students’ Perception about Quality of Distance Education at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana

Abstract

Student satisfaction assessment is vital in determining service quality at higher learning institutions. To remain competitive with other public and private higher education providers, it is important that the institution continuously acquire, maintain, build stronger relationships and assess the level of students’ satisfaction with regards to distance education. With the increasing number of higher education institutions in Ghana, universities are competing to attract more students. To achieve this goal, the universities are competing to provide services that will increase students’ satisfaction. This study measures the level of student satisfaction with current services offered by College of Distance Education (CoDE), University of Cape Coast and the relationship between service quality dimensions and students’ satisfaction. The descriptive survey design was used for the research. Simple random sampling and self administered questionnaire were utilized to obtain data from 300 students of CoDE, UCC within Upper East Region. Frequency, percentages, Mean and Correlation techniques were used to examine the level of students’ satisfaction and the relationship between students’ satisfaction and service quality.  Overall, students’ satisfaction level was high and results indicate strong relationships between students’ satisfaction and quality service delivered by CoDE, UCC.

Keywords: Service quality, higher education institutions, students’ satisfaction.