Date of Award

1984

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Higher Education Administration PhD

First Advisor

Bernard M. Lall

Second Advisor

Samuel T. Harris

Third Advisor

Robert G. Pierson

Abstract

Problem. The Republic of Rwanda granted the request of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to establish and operate a private university. Rwanda agreed to provide land and recognize degrees and diplomas. The church agreed to have its programs approved by the Ministry of Higher Education. This study was to identify and determine the potential goals of higher education in Rwanda that could serve as guidelines for the Adventist University of Central Africa.

Method. The population included all twenty-eight academic senate members, 110 faculty members, and 285 randomly selected students enrolled at the National University of Rwanda (1981-82 school year).

The data-gathering instrument used was the French version of the Institutional GoalsInventory.

Two statistical methods were used: descriptive analysis, and analysis of significance using the t-test for correlated samples, one-way analysis of variance, and the Scheffe a-posteriori test.

Summary of Major Findings. The major findings were as follows:

(1) All rating groups unanimously agreed that there was a discrepancy between "Is" and "Should Be" in each goalstatement and goal area.

(2) All unanimously agreed on the highest need priority-goalstatement in the following areas: Individual Development, Humanism/Altruism (top-ranking priority), Vocational Preparation, Advanced Training, Research, Meeting Local Needs, Democratic Governance, and Innovation.

(3) There was a significant difference between themeans of "Is" and "Should Be" goals in each of the fourteen goal areas and among theperceptions of the senate, faculty, and students.

Conclusions. It would appear from the consensus of discrepancies between "Is" and "Should Be" goals that the institution was in need of improvement.

These should provide an agenda for study of goals and programs for the Adventist University of Central Africa.

Recommendations. It is suggested that the Adventist University of Central Africa consider the following recommendations:

(1) Use this study as a framework for developing goalsand curricula;

(2) Determine the religious, intellectual, occupational, physical, and social goals consistent with the purposes of Adventist higher education;

(3) Direct goals to meet the needs of the Adventist society in francophone Africa

(4) Include representatives from local Adventist churches in the process of goal identification and determination of priorities

(5) Conduct a similar study at the conclusion of the first academic year, and thereafter at regular intervals to facilitate self-study and evaluation

(6) Undertake a study to assess continuing-education need for personal and professional development of the worker force of the church in francophone Africa.

Subject Area

Adventist University of Central Africa (Rwanda), Université nationale du Rwanda, Seventh-day Adventists--Education--Rwanda

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.32597/dissertations/209/

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