Factors Influencing Students' Academic Performance At Arab Sopen University: The Case Of Oman

Abstract

Students are an important asset for higher education institutions, and it is crucial to increase student retention and reduce dropout. Low academic performance and high dropout rates are complex and multi-faceted problems that have far-reaching implications for all stakeholders, including society, educational institutions, government, and, most importantly, the economy. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that affect academic performance at Arab Open University, Oman. The study distributed an online questionnaire to students and collected 516 samples. Key factors identified include teaching methods, family income and support, time and stress management, attendance, ethnicity, past academic performance, continuous assessment grades, e-learning activities, and accommodation. The findings reveal strong positive correlations between teaching methods, attendance, and continuous assessment grades with students' Grade Point Average (GPA) across various GPA categories. Time management and e-learning activities show significant impacts in specific GPA ranges. Other factors such as ethnicity, past grades, and accommodation demonstrate varying levels of influence, while family income exhibits a weaker correlation. The study emphasizes the importance of these factors in guiding educators and policymakers to enhance academic outcomes by prioritizing interventions in areas with the greatest impact.