Adapting Leech’s Model to Explore Predictors of Successful Doctoral Student Completion in Makerere University: A Concept Paper

Abstract

Successful doctoral student completion (SDSC) is important to the individual student, the university and the general labour market. SDSC can make the student gain entry into rigorous research. The university can be assured of an increased number of future faculty who would keep the disciplines alive and the labour market will be assured of increased supply of a highly productive human resource. However, in Makerere, evidence of unsuccessful doctoral student completion is reported in terms of delayed doctoral student completion and low research publications by doctoral students. If such a trend continues, doctoral students, Makerere and the general labour market may be deprived of the benefits of successful doctoral student completers. Therefore, efforts have to be devoted to ensuring that doctoral students become successful completers. Thus, this paper discusses how the adaption of Leech’s model can be used to explore predictors of SDSC at Makerere University in an attempt to avert the situation. The paper has provided the concept of SDSC; the predictors of SDSC as per Leech’s model; and literature related to SDSC and the predictors as per this model. Lastly, a conclusion is offered with a hope that through this paper, doctoral students shall be helped to know some of the predictors of their successful completion. Academic Managers concerned with academic issues in Makerere University and perhaps other young universities would also be helped to review and improve their doctoral programs and create favourable environments at both micro and macro levels to help doctoral students emerge as successful completers.