CONSTRAINTS TO SUPERVISION OF POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH FOR QUALITY OUTPUT BY BUSINESS EDUCATORS IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN THE SOUTH-EAST, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study determined the Constraints to Supervision of Postgraduate Research for Quality Output by Business Educators in Public Universities in South-East, Nigeria. The specific objectives considered Supervisors-related and Students-related constraints to supervision of postgraduate research for quality output by Business Educators in public universities in South-East Nigeria. Population for the study was 78 Business Educators across the public universities in South-East Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted, using a questionnaire design with a 4-point Likert scale to elicit responses from the focus population. The standard deviation was used to determine the homogeneity or otherwise of the opinions of the respondents. The t-test was used to test the null hypotheses. Analysis was carried out using statistical packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The result revealed that supervisors-related constraints to supervision of postgraduate research have a significant effect on quality output by Business Educators in public universities in South-East Nigeria [t-stat=7.319, p<0.001]. Students-related constraints to supervision of postgraduate research have a significant effect on the quality of output by Business Educators in public universities in South-East Nigeria [t-stat=16.200, p<0.001]. The study concluded that improving postgraduate research quality in Business Education in public universities in South-East Nigeria requires a dual-focus approach: addressing supervisor-side bottlenecks while simultaneously strengthening student preparedness, responsibility, and research competence. The study recommended that University management and relevant regulatory bodies should set and enforce realistic supervision loads per supervisor, while students should be equipped with necessary skills for research procedures.