An Exploration Of Students’ Lived Experiences In Females’ Campus In Uganda

Abstract

The purpose of the transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the lived experience of female students in Islamic University in Uganda Females’ Campus (IUIU FC). A qualitative method was used specifically exhausting Moustakas’ methods, framework and data analysis guidelines, coupled with interviews and focused group discussions used Seidman’s three-interview process. Thus, the study was based upon the results of interviews of 12students from different under graduate courses in IUIU FC and three (3) focused group discussions who collaboratedovera period of fourmonths. It was important to capture this phenomenon, as it occurred within the university at a time of broad educational reform, strategic planning,uncertainty that would allow others to understand howstudents respond to the lived experiences to understand how their stay impacted on their learning and intended to increase on the students’ royalty in the university. This research examined the following objectives: (a) establish the challenges that students encounter while at IUIU FC (b)explain the factors that determine the choice to study at IUIU FC (c) to examine the policies of IUIU FC and (d) identify the benefits of studying in such environment. The fundamental textural-structural synthesis revealed six common themes aswell as a variety of sub-themes across all participants. Themes like; policies, social life, professionalism and reduced communication plus external circumstances as well as internal conditions they encountered.The insights from this study may inform management of the perception of students on university policies, policy implementers to accept amendments, address the challenges and forecast on where they want to see the university in future.