AN EXAMINATION OF THE CAUSES OF STUDENTS-MANAGEMENT CONFLICTS IN UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES FROM 1999 TO 2009

Abstract

Effective conflict resolution demands that causes of conflicts should be known. University for Development Studies (UDS) over the years had been plagued by many students-management conflicts like other universities in Ghana.

This paper therefore examines the causes of those students-management con- flicts in UDS from 1999 to 2009. Questionnaires and interview guides were

the data collection tools employed and administered to 40 respondents who

were purposely selected in a case study design. Data were analyzed qualita- tively in narratives and with tables and graphs. The study identified a number

of causes of the conflicts which notably included: wide communication gap

between students and school management, delay in meeting students’ de- mand by school management, failure by school management to guarantee

security of lives and properties, inadequate facilities such as lecture rooms, laboratories and equipment and drastic and obnoxious rules and regulations. Other causes were: students being forced to pay special fees/hikes in students’ fees, the activities of campus secret cults and differences in the perception of

group and organizational objectives. This paper concluded that wide com- munication gaps between students and university management, infrastruc- tural deficiencies and leadership crises were the major drivers of the conflicts

in UDS from 1999 to 2009. The paper recommended that efforts be made to enhance communication at all levels of the University especially between students and management, involve students in decision making, improve students-management dialogues, provide adequate infrastructure and provide effective institutional leadership.