Factors Affecting Academic Performance of the Management Undergraduates: A Case Study from Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

Abstract

The students’ performance plays an important role in producing the best quality graduates who will become great leaders and manpower for the country thus responsible for the country’s economic and social development. A sample survey was conducted to collect data from 100 out of 317 final year undergraduates of Faculty of Management Studies of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka to investigate the factors affecting the academic performance of the undergraduates through a structured questionnaire using the convenience sampling method. This study investigates that how education level of parents or guardian, income level of parents or guardian, participation for extra curriculum activities, time allocation for self-studies per week, level of attendance, being a member of the union action committee, quality of the lecturers, usage of learning facilities, participation for professional courses, English language fluency, having fiancé or fiancée and place of residence effect on academic performance of the undergraduates. Pearson Chi- Square was used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that the educational level of parents, level of attendance, participation for professional courses, English language fluency and Learning facilities have a significantly impact on academic performance of the undergraduates. According to the findings, it can be suggested that the management undergraduates should make more efforts to improve the English language proficiency, follow professional courses related to their academic disciplines and the level of attendance for the lecturers must be improved to enhance their academic performance.