Orientation Programme at the University of Education, Winneba Campus (Ghana): Perspectives of Second Year Undergraduate Students At The Faculty of Educational Studies

Abstract

This study explored the perspectives of second year undergraduate students at the Faculty of Educational Studies, University of Education, Winneba, (Ghana) on the orientation programme organised at first year (2015/2016 Academic year). Using a sequential explanatory mixed-method design, a structured questionnaire was administered to 290 second year undergraduate students selected through stratified sampling technique for the quantitative phase of the study. Also, 12 of the students, who were class representatives, were purposively selected and interviewed for the qualitative phase of the study. The quantitative data collected was analysed using means and standard deviations as well as simple frequencies and percentages. The interview data was used to clarify  the key quantitative results, when necessary. The study revealed that the orientation programme organised for the students was indoor nature. The students were of the view that there is the need for improvement in the orientation programme  to facilitate the adjustment of first year students to the University environment. The study concluded that the duration of the orientation programme was too short. Therefore, it was recommended that those who  organise the programme at the University should ensure that sufficient time is allocated to the programme so that the students could ask questions and seek clarifications on issues bordering their minds.

Keywords: university, orientation programme, undergraduate students, adjustment, transition