The Model for Application of Research Solution-Focused Andragogy in Higher Education: A Meta-Synthesis

Abstract

Higher education research in South Africa presents huge and complex problems that often inhibit timely throughput and leaving student exiting the learning space without the acquisition of the intended qualifications. Literature that tracked throughput progress at different South African institutions of higher learning between 2009 and 2016 found out that only 30 percent of students completed their studies. Further studies that investigated the cause of low postgraduate throughput at South African universities found out that research language, research teaching and research utility were core precursor to the problem currently experienced. This study was a qualitative meta-synthesis framed according to the PICO (Place, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome) whereby the best models for application to solve existing andragogic impediments were explored. Hundred and ten (110) articles were critically appraised for eligibility using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items in Systematic Review and Meta-analysis). Final articles that were included after rigorous critical appraisal and assessment for relevance were fifteen. Thematic analysis using COSTA QDA conducted through the cloud-based WebQDA software was used to analyses data and derived conclusions. The results found that the current methodologies used for teaching research seem to be inadequate due to the missing links such as research language in consumption is lacking. It was further revealed that most academics in institutions of higher learning are overloaded with more work. The researcher concluded that a new model of teaching research is necessary. This paper further introduces a sequential andragogy suitable for teaching research