Influence of Age and Education Level on the Choice of Higher Tourism Education at Moi University, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine how age and education level influenced the choice of higher education in tourism by students of Moi University, Eldoret. Kenya.  The objectives were: i) To determine how age affects the choice of higher education in tourism by students of Moi University and ii) to establish how education level affects the choice of higher education in tourism by students. Stratified sampling technique was used to sample 142 respondents for the study who were the students. Descriptive statistic was used to address the research objectives. From the study results on age, a majority of the respondents (95.1%) were of age bracket 18-25 years and this varied between the respondents (χ² =243.817, df=2, p<0.001). On education level, 73.2% of the respondents had bachelors level of education and this varied between the respondents (χ² =111.268, df=2, p<0.001). On choosing higher tourism education, 84.5% of the respondents said that they choose higher tourism education, while 15.5% would not (χ² = 67.634, df=1, p<0.001). On whether gender influenced the choice of education, 51.4% said it did not (χ² = 113, d = 1, p<0.737). 59.2% of the respondents mentioned that age influenced the choice of education and this varied between the respondents (χ² = 4.761, d = 1, p<0.029). On whether education level influenced the choice of tourism education, 83.8% of the respondents mentioned that education level influenced the choice of tourism education and and this varied between the respondents (χ² = 64.901, d = 1, p<0.001).  The first hypothesis that stated that ‘Age of the students does not influence the choice of higher tourism education’ was accepted (F=0.045, p< 0.832). The second hypothesis that stated that ‘Education level of the students does not influence the choice of higher tourism education’ was accepted (F=0.649, p< 0.007).

Keywords: Age, education level, tourism education, choice.