Pages: (170-183 )
Abstract
In the dynamic landscape of higher education, student retention has emerged as a critical concern for tertiary institutions worldwide. This paper therefore explored duty of care: An elixir for students’ retention in Nigerian tertiary institutions using a mixed-method research design. The sample comprised 412 students selected through the multistage sampling technique. A Likert-type questionnaire consisting of 24 items was used for data collection. Three hypotheses were formulated and tested using the simple linear regression analysis at .05 alpha level. Results revealed that physical safety (β = .227, t = 17.306, p < .05), academic support services (β = .196, t = 15.944, p < .05) and inclusive learning environment (β = .208, t = 16.250, p < .05) had a significant impact on students’ retention in Nigerian tertiary institutions. It was subsequently recommended, among others, that tertiary institutions should prioritize the improvement of physical safety on campus by implementing robust security measures, maintaining well-lit areas, ensuring functional emergency response systems and regularly assessing and addressing potential safety risks.
Keywords: Duty of care, students’ retention, tertiary institutions, students.,