It is a common cause in higher education that modules with high failure rates hinder students' academic progress, increase attrition and the risk of dropouts. As such, perpetual challenges related to bottleneck subjects or modules, which are courses that experience a high failure rate, continuously place students at a higher propensity to fail and serve as a barrier to progression for students. In an ever-evolving educational landscape, universities face the challenge of efficiently managing their resources and optimising academic programs to meet the demands of students and industry. The current paper focuses on the performance trend analysis of bottleneck modules at the University of Technology (UoT), aiming to identify trends and address the modules that consistently underperform at <50%. The study adopts a quantitative approach, utilising historical data on module pass rates and student performance from 2019 to 2023. Various statistical techniques, such as trend, correlation, and regression analysis, are employed to explore the trends and the relationship between module performance and student outcomes. The data is collected over a five-year period, enabling a comprehensive analysis of trends and patterns. The findings reveal significant variations in module performance across different departments and academic levels. Several modules are identified as consistent bottlenecks, negatively impacting student progression and completion rates. The analysis also highlights potential factors influencing module performance, including teaching methods and course structures. Based on the research outcomes, evidence-based recommendations are provided to the faculties to improve module performance and alleviate bottlenecks.

Authors:
Mashango Phillemon Sithole, Mangosuthu University of Technology, South Africa
Phiwayinkosi R Gumede, Mangosuthu University of Technology, South Africa

About the Presenter(s)
Mr Mashango Phillemon Sithole is is currently working at Mangosuthu University of Technology in South Africa

See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule

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