TRENDS & EDUCATIONAL NEEDS IN POSTGRADUATES PROGRAMMES POST COVID-19

ABSTRACT

The trends and future needs of postgraduate programmes have recently been widely discussed across various disciplines of studies especially during and post pandemic. During this period, due to the life challenges posed by the pandemic such as unemployment and businesses closing, students have realised the importance of continuing their tertiary studies to a higher level. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to determine the relationship between demographic factors such as age, gender with variables such as willingness to study, study mode preferred, and study schedule preferred for the Postgraduate programmes. A total of 200 set of questionnaires were sent out and 139 questionnaires were returned and good for analysis. The data analysis method used was descriptive analysis and linear regression method was employed by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The results demonstrated that age has a significant relationship with the willingness to study postgraduate programmes, study mode preferred, and study schedule. This means that adult students tend to make the decision to continue their tertiary study. Meanwhile, it was found that there was no relationship between gender and the variables. By applying these results in practice, the organisations can plan and roll out strategically their postgraduate programmes strategies in accordance with the respondents' needs. © School of Engineering, Taylor's University.