With rapid changes taking place in the internal and external educational environment of universities, universities must reform their educational programs and administrative infrastructures to meet such social demands. As a result of decrease in enroll...
With rapid changes taking place in the internal and external educational environment of universities, universities must reform their educational programs and administrative infrastructures to meet such social demands. As a result of decrease in enrollment following year 2000, universities felt the risk of survival. Therefore, universities must be sensitive to the need and demands of education recipients. Universities must view students, who are the primary recipients of university education as subjects of service and must play the role of helping the students enter society and helping their future by providing education of better quality.
This study examined the need for improvement of service mind toward students. In addition, perception toward quality of service provided by universities was observed from a number of perspectives.
First, a questionnaire that was created based on PZB’s SERVQUAL theory was used for assessment of service quality Questions for university service evaluation were divided into four service areas of universities which include educational service, administrative service, physical environment service, and developmental possibilities of the university. Service quality assessment has the advantage of setting priorities in service elements that must be provided to students. Also, the relationship between service quality and attitude of students toward universities, service elements students consider important, and differences in service standard they want from universities were analyzed. Through the above process, setting of study questions and a study model were prepared, and after testing the hypothesis, the following conclusions were reached.
First, based on demographical variables, differences in perception toward satisfaction in service were found.
Significant differences were found based on school to which they belong, gender, and family income but no differences were found based on academic grade level. What should be noted is that according to previously conducted studies, based on gender variables, female students compared to male students have a higher perception toward behavioral intension (admission invitation, alumni association activities, donations, word of mouth), and reflected on such finding, it was found that there is a possibility that female students may display positive or negative attitude toward school based on their level of their satisfaction in service.
Second, when difference in level of expectation and importance in university services was observed based on variable, significant differences were found mainly based on the student’s family income level (financial standard) and students with lower income level showed higher expectation standard and level of importance in education and students of high income level had higher level of expectation in physical and administrative service areas.
Based on such differences, future studies that address expected income level after graduation will be needed.
Determining level of satisfaction in service, level of expectation, and level of importance based on demographical variables will not only serve as basic material for providing service customized for each variable but also, by universities providing student centered service, it can at the same time enhance students’ level of satisfaction and also enhance the service minds of university staff.
Third, in the relationship between level of satisfaction in university services and attitude of students toward university, a positive relationship was found for physical environment service and possibility of university development and based on that, universities will be able to produce positive attitude of students toward their school by fostering a physical environment the new generation of students will be satisfied with, such as convenience facilities within schools, improvement of lecture halls, and up to date learning materials and by presenting the present and the future image of the university to students so that they can have a positive visualization of possible development of the university.
Fourth, significant differences in level of expectation from university services and students’ attitude toward school based on service areas but they were highest in the area of possibility of university development followed by educational service, administrative service, and physical environment.
Last, the reason for evaluating and assessing service standard of universities is because it is survival strategy for accurately understanding how current universities are being evaluated by students.
Therefore, assessment and analysis must be followed by a process of enhancing service standards.
This is because it is a necessary element for changing the attitude of students toward their school into a more positive one. This will become the education that students will be satisfied with, and students’ satisfaction will enhance their sense of unity which will in turn allow students to increase social recognition and reputation of their school. Through it, improvement of school competitiveness will also be achieved.