Factors influencing student enrolment in young universities: A case study in Zimbabwe

https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v5i4.2520
Published: Aug 13, 2025

Abstract:

Purpose: This study explored factors affecting students’ enrolment in young universities, focusing particularly on one young university in Zimbabwe. Young universities are experiencing enrolment challenges, which involve investigating the causal factors for sustainable development and operations of the universities.

Research methodology: The study adopted the interpretivist paradigm and used a combination of qualitative approaches for data collection and analysis within a case study design. The study’s sample comprised ten heads of department, one admissions registrar and forty-eight students purposively selected from a young university. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used to generate the data. The data were analyzed using a directed content analysis approach.

Results: The study revealed that students’ university enrolment is affected mainly by students’ experiences, career orientations, changes in high school graduate preferences, admissions process, transport, accommodation, programmes offered, competition in university education, social capital variables, government policy, cost of education, and disasters.

Conclusions: The revealed key stakeholders influencing students’ enrolment in young universities reflected strategies that can be used to increase students’ enrolment, chiefly public awareness, academic support, and student support services.

Limitations: While this study adopted a qualitative methodology, which can be a limiting factor in terms of inference, for further research, the study recommends the adoption of a quantitative method.

Contribution: This study recommends that universities strategically plan for student enrolment using a multi-stakeholder approach. The study also recommends that the government adequately fund university development and ensure that university education is affordable to everyone.

Keywords:
1. Enrolment
2. Factors
3. Students
4. University
5. Young Universities
6. Zimbabwean
Authors:
1 . Vitalis Basera
Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences, Mutare, Zimbabwe
2 . Simbabrashe Munikwa
Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe
View PDF
How to Cite
Basera, V., & Munikwa, S. (2025). Factors influencing student enrolment in young universities: A case study in Zimbabwe. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 5(4), 371–387. https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v5i4.2520
Download Citation
  1. Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
  2. BibTeX

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Issue & Section
Vol. 5 No. 4 (2025): August
Articles
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

References

    Adejimi, S., & Nzabalirwa, W. (2021). Students’ enrolment trend in the School of Education, College of Education, University of Rwanda. International Journal of Educational Research, 9(1), 17-27.

    Alemu, S. (2018). Meaning, Idea and History of University/Higher Education: Brief Literature Review. FIRE: Forum for International Research in Education, 4. doi:https://doi.org/10.32865/fire20184312

    Babbie, E. R. (2013). Social research counts: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

    Bartlett, K. R., Horwitz, S. K., Ipe, M., & Liu, Y. (2005). The Perceived Influence of Industry-Sponsored Credentials on the Recruitment Process in the Information Technology Industry: Employer and Employee Perspectives. Journal of Career and Technical Education, 21(2), 51-65. doi:https://doi.org/10.21061/jcte.v21i2.661

    Bertlett, K. R., Horwitz, S. K., Ipe, M., & Liu, Y. (2005). The Perceived Influenced of Industry Sponsored Credentials on theRecruitment Process in the Technology Industry: Employer and Employee Perspective. Journal of Career and Technical Education, 21(2), 51-65.

    Bigirimana, S., Chinzvende, J., & Masengu, R. (2016). Factors Affecting Students’enrolment Into The Executive Mba Programme At Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, 4(3), 663-675. doi:https://doi.org/10.5296/rbm.v2i1.6335

    B?shau, D., & Samkange, W. (2015). Causes of Low Student Enrolment At The Zimbabwe Open University’s Harare-Chitungwiza Region for The Period 2008-2013. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 16(2), 94-110. doi:https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.00843

    Bourdieu, P. (1986). The Forms of Capital Handbook of Theory and Research for the Sociology of Education.

    Chinyoka, A., & Mutambara, E. (2020). The challenges of revenue generation in state universities: The case of Zimbabwe. Cogent Social Sciences, 6(1), 1748477. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2020.1748477

    Coleman, J. S. (1988). Social Capital in the Creation of Human Capital. American Journal of Sociology, 94(1), 95-120. doi:https://doi.org/10.1086/228943

    Dube, S. P. (2019). Examining relations between educational policy and higher education students' access to industry in Zimbabwe. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University.

    Easterby-Smith, M., Valizade, D., Thorpe, R., & Jaspersen, L. J. (2021). Management And Business Research: Sage Publications.

    Education 5.0 and Vision 2030…re-configuring Zim university degrees. News. (2019). Retrieved from Harare.:

    Garwe, E. C. (2014). Quality assurance in higher education in Zimbabwe. Research in Higher Education Journal, 23, 10.

    Ghorbani, S., & Khanachah, S. N. (2021). Providing a framework for knowledge sharing in knowledge-based organizations according to social capital indicators. Annals of Management and Organization Research, 1(4), 271-284. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/amor.v1i4.490

    Guha, A. (1977). Brain drain Issue and Indicators on Brain?Drain. International migration, 15(1), 3-20. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2435.1977.tb00953.x

    Hsu, C.-c., Chen, S.-H., & Feng, X.-c. (2024). Analysis of Product Quality and Customer Satisfaction: A Case Study of the Automotive Parts Industry. International Journal of Financial, Accounting, and Management, 6(2), 245-259. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/ijfam.v6i2.2153

    Isnaini, I., Melisa, M., Rusdinal, R., & Gistituati, N. (2021). Principal’s Efforts to Change in Schools: A Case Study in Indonesia. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 1(4), 241-251. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v1i4.570

    Kayange, A. (2021). Crisis for higher education enrollment in Malawi. International Journal for Infonomics (IJI), 14(1), 2073-2081.

    Keche, K. (2021). Relevancy Of New Higher Education Approaches In “Second Republic Zimbabwe.”. Higher Education-New Approaches to Accreditation, Digitalization, and Globalization in the Age of Covid, 1-11. doi:https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99934

    Knowles, M. S., Holton, E., & Swanson, R. (2005). The adult learner: the definitive classic in adult education and human resource development (6th). Burlington, MA: Elsevier.

    Kothari, C. (2004). Research methodology: Methods and techniques. New Age International.

    Krueger, R. A. (2014). Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research: Sage publications.

    Kurasha, P. (2015). The Future of Higher Education in Zimbabwe: A Constantly Moving Target. Zimbabwe Journal of Educational Research, 27(2), 204-221.

    Matorevhu, A. (2023). Curriculum Innovation Implementation for Industrialization: A Case of Education 5.0 Pre-Service Science and Mathematics Teacher Preparation. Journal of Research in Instructional, 3(1), 69-86. doi:https://doi.org/10.30862/jri.v3i1.214

    Matsolo, M. J., Ningpuanyeh, W. C., & Susuman, A. S. (2018). Factors affecting the enrolment rate of students in higher education institutions in the Gauteng province, South Africa. Journal of Asian and African Studies, 53(1), 64-80. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0021909616657369

    MHTESTD. (n.d.). Universities. Retrieved from https://mhtestd.gov.zw/universities/

    Mlambo, A. S. (1997). The Economic Structural Adjustment Programme: The Case of Zimbabwe, 1990-1995: University of Zimbabwe Publications.

    Moses, K., Emily, G., & Kudzai, C. (2012). Ascending or Descending the Ladder? A View of Great Zimbabwe University Students on Higher Education as A Vehicle for Vertical Social Mobility. Journal of African Studies and Development, 4(5), 122. doi:https://doi.org/10.5897/jasd11.088

    Muya, C. N. (2004). A study of factors that lead to low enrolment of female students in undergraduate courses in the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University. University of Nairobi.

    Mwesigwa, D., Wahid, K. A., & Sohheng, N. (2021). A case study on the quality of healthcare in Uganda: Examining the effectiveness, safety, patient-centred and timeliness of district healthcare facilities.

    Ndlovu, M. E. (2013). Zimbabwe’s Educational Legacy from the 1980s: Was it All So Rosy?’. Kubatana. net, 21.

    Oketch, M. (2016). Financing Higher Education In Sub-Saharan Africa: Some Reflections And Implications For Sustainable Development. Higher Education, 72, 525-539. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-016-0044-6

    Rostila, M. (2011). The Facets of Social Capital. Journal for the theory of social behaviour, 41(3), 308-326. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5914.2010.00454.x

    Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research methods for business students. Person Education Limited.

    Sawyerr, A. (2004). Challenges facing African universities: Selected issues. African studies review, 47(1), 1-59. doi:https://doi.org/10.1017/s0002020600026986

    Sibanda, V., & Makwata, R. (2017). Zimbabwe Post Independence Economic Policies: A Critical Review. Germany: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing.

    Spearman, J. J., Rahim, M. M. A., Ghanayem, S. W., & Ljepava, N. (2016). Factors Influencing Student Enrollment and Choice Of University. Paper presented at the Proc. 35th Int. Bus. Res. Conf.

    van Klaveren, C., Kooiman, K., Cornelisz, I., & Meeter, M. (2019). The Higher Education Enrollment Decision: Feedback on Expected Study Success and Updating Behavior. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 12(1), 67-89. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/19345747.2018.1496501

    Welding, L. (Producer). (2024, June 2022). College Enrolment Challenges. Best Colleges. Retrieved from www.bestcolleges.com

    ZIMSTAT. (2021). Education Statistics Report 2018-2020. Retrieved from Harare, Zimbabwe: https://www.zimstat.co.zw

  1. Adejimi, S., & Nzabalirwa, W. (2021). Students’ enrolment trend in the School of Education, College of Education, University of Rwanda. International Journal of Educational Research, 9(1), 17-27.
  2. Alemu, S. (2018). Meaning, Idea and History of University/Higher Education: Brief Literature Review. FIRE: Forum for International Research in Education, 4. doi:https://doi.org/10.32865/fire20184312
  3. Babbie, E. R. (2013). Social research counts: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
  4. Bartlett, K. R., Horwitz, S. K., Ipe, M., & Liu, Y. (2005). The Perceived Influence of Industry-Sponsored Credentials on the Recruitment Process in the Information Technology Industry: Employer and Employee Perspectives. Journal of Career and Technical Education, 21(2), 51-65. doi:https://doi.org/10.21061/jcte.v21i2.661
  5. Bertlett, K. R., Horwitz, S. K., Ipe, M., & Liu, Y. (2005). The Perceived Influenced of Industry Sponsored Credentials on theRecruitment Process in the Technology Industry: Employer and Employee Perspective. Journal of Career and Technical Education, 21(2), 51-65.
  6. Bigirimana, S., Chinzvende, J., & Masengu, R. (2016). Factors Affecting Students’enrolment Into The Executive Mba Programme At Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, 4(3), 663-675. doi:https://doi.org/10.5296/rbm.v2i1.6335
  7. B?shau, D., & Samkange, W. (2015). Causes of Low Student Enrolment At The Zimbabwe Open University’s Harare-Chitungwiza Region for The Period 2008-2013. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 16(2), 94-110. doi:https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.00843
  8. Bourdieu, P. (1986). The Forms of Capital Handbook of Theory and Research for the Sociology of Education.
  9. Chinyoka, A., & Mutambara, E. (2020). The challenges of revenue generation in state universities: The case of Zimbabwe. Cogent Social Sciences, 6(1), 1748477. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2020.1748477
  10. Coleman, J. S. (1988). Social Capital in the Creation of Human Capital. American Journal of Sociology, 94(1), 95-120. doi:https://doi.org/10.1086/228943
  11. Dube, S. P. (2019). Examining relations between educational policy and higher education students' access to industry in Zimbabwe. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University.
  12. Easterby-Smith, M., Valizade, D., Thorpe, R., & Jaspersen, L. J. (2021). Management And Business Research: Sage Publications.
  13. Education 5.0 and Vision 2030…re-configuring Zim university degrees. News. (2019). Retrieved from Harare.:
  14. Garwe, E. C. (2014). Quality assurance in higher education in Zimbabwe. Research in Higher Education Journal, 23, 10.
  15. Ghorbani, S., & Khanachah, S. N. (2021). Providing a framework for knowledge sharing in knowledge-based organizations according to social capital indicators. Annals of Management and Organization Research, 1(4), 271-284. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/amor.v1i4.490
  16. Guha, A. (1977). Brain drain Issue and Indicators on Brain?Drain. International migration, 15(1), 3-20. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2435.1977.tb00953.x
  17. Hsu, C.-c., Chen, S.-H., & Feng, X.-c. (2024). Analysis of Product Quality and Customer Satisfaction: A Case Study of the Automotive Parts Industry. International Journal of Financial, Accounting, and Management, 6(2), 245-259. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/ijfam.v6i2.2153
  18. Isnaini, I., Melisa, M., Rusdinal, R., & Gistituati, N. (2021). Principal’s Efforts to Change in Schools: A Case Study in Indonesia. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 1(4), 241-251. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v1i4.570
  19. Kayange, A. (2021). Crisis for higher education enrollment in Malawi. International Journal for Infonomics (IJI), 14(1), 2073-2081.
  20. Keche, K. (2021). Relevancy Of New Higher Education Approaches In “Second Republic Zimbabwe.”. Higher Education-New Approaches to Accreditation, Digitalization, and Globalization in the Age of Covid, 1-11. doi:https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99934
  21. Knowles, M. S., Holton, E., & Swanson, R. (2005). The adult learner: the definitive classic in adult education and human resource development (6th). Burlington, MA: Elsevier.
  22. Kothari, C. (2004). Research methodology: Methods and techniques. New Age International.
  23. Krueger, R. A. (2014). Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research: Sage publications.
  24. Kurasha, P. (2015). The Future of Higher Education in Zimbabwe: A Constantly Moving Target. Zimbabwe Journal of Educational Research, 27(2), 204-221.
  25. Matorevhu, A. (2023). Curriculum Innovation Implementation for Industrialization: A Case of Education 5.0 Pre-Service Science and Mathematics Teacher Preparation. Journal of Research in Instructional, 3(1), 69-86. doi:https://doi.org/10.30862/jri.v3i1.214
  26. Matsolo, M. J., Ningpuanyeh, W. C., & Susuman, A. S. (2018). Factors affecting the enrolment rate of students in higher education institutions in the Gauteng province, South Africa. Journal of Asian and African Studies, 53(1), 64-80. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0021909616657369
  27. MHTESTD. (n.d.). Universities. Retrieved from https://mhtestd.gov.zw/universities/
  28. Mlambo, A. S. (1997). The Economic Structural Adjustment Programme: The Case of Zimbabwe, 1990-1995: University of Zimbabwe Publications.
  29. Moses, K., Emily, G., & Kudzai, C. (2012). Ascending or Descending the Ladder? A View of Great Zimbabwe University Students on Higher Education as A Vehicle for Vertical Social Mobility. Journal of African Studies and Development, 4(5), 122. doi:https://doi.org/10.5897/jasd11.088
  30. Muya, C. N. (2004). A study of factors that lead to low enrolment of female students in undergraduate courses in the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University. University of Nairobi.
  31. Mwesigwa, D., Wahid, K. A., & Sohheng, N. (2021). A case study on the quality of healthcare in Uganda: Examining the effectiveness, safety, patient-centred and timeliness of district healthcare facilities.
  32. Ndlovu, M. E. (2013). Zimbabwe’s Educational Legacy from the 1980s: Was it All So Rosy?’. Kubatana. net, 21.
  33. Oketch, M. (2016). Financing Higher Education In Sub-Saharan Africa: Some Reflections And Implications For Sustainable Development. Higher Education, 72, 525-539. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-016-0044-6
  34. Rostila, M. (2011). The Facets of Social Capital. Journal for the theory of social behaviour, 41(3), 308-326. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5914.2010.00454.x
  35. Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research methods for business students. Person Education Limited.
  36. Sawyerr, A. (2004). Challenges facing African universities: Selected issues. African studies review, 47(1), 1-59. doi:https://doi.org/10.1017/s0002020600026986
  37. Sibanda, V., & Makwata, R. (2017). Zimbabwe Post Independence Economic Policies: A Critical Review. Germany: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing.
  38. Spearman, J. J., Rahim, M. M. A., Ghanayem, S. W., & Ljepava, N. (2016). Factors Influencing Student Enrollment and Choice Of University. Paper presented at the Proc. 35th Int. Bus. Res. Conf.
  39. van Klaveren, C., Kooiman, K., Cornelisz, I., & Meeter, M. (2019). The Higher Education Enrollment Decision: Feedback on Expected Study Success and Updating Behavior. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 12(1), 67-89. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/19345747.2018.1496501
  40. Welding, L. (Producer). (2024, June 2022). College Enrolment Challenges. Best Colleges. Retrieved from www.bestcolleges.com
  41. ZIMSTAT. (2021). Education Statistics Report 2018-2020. Retrieved from Harare, Zimbabwe: https://www.zimstat.co.zw