Resource Management as a Performance Differentiator in Higher Education

Abstract

Resource management is a planning process leading to the allocation of resources such as money, technology, and people to achieve optimal organizational performance. Student-to-staff ratio and staff expenditure-to-student ratio are used as measures of academic resource distribution within a university setup. Thus, the study analysed student academic performance in relation to student-to-staff ratio and staff expenditure-to-student ratio. The study's methodological approach involved a quantitative cross-sectional descriptive research design, applying secondary quantitative data (2022 academic year) from the university. The study has demonstrated and supported the education hypothesis; student-to-staff ratio is negatively associated with student academic performance. Staff expenditure-to-student ratio is positively associated with student academic performance. There is a need to reduce the student-to-staff ratio to achieve improved student academic outcomes. Educational programmes need to adopt self-directed learning philosophy, so that staff expenditure-to-student ratios are reduced.