Students’ Sustained Interest to Pursue Further Education in the Same Discipline: A Case of Students of Diploma in Library and Information Studies at Rongo University, Kenya

Abstract

The study focused on students’ sustained interest, which is the interest they initially had when they enrolled for Diploma in Library and Information Studies at Rongo University. The interest was sustained throughout the diploma course. The guiding question: Is interest to pursue studies in Library and Information Studies sustained beyond one’s graduation with Diploma in Library and Information Studies at Rongo University? The target population comprised 51 graduates of Diploma in Library and Information Studies for a period of three years (2021, 2022 and 2023). The 15 graduates of 2023 were sampled for the study. The study design was quantitative survey. The data was analysed by using simple percentages. The findings showed that 100% of graduates who responded are interested in degree studies in library and information science and 85.7% wished to study the same at Rongo University. Love for Rongo University and sustained interest to continue with the same course at degree level were authenticated. The findings have implications for the University which might be advantaged when it mounts courses in library science. More research can be undertaken for other courses in the University or elsewhere to ascertain their feasibilities and if there is sustained interest.