Examining School Culture Manifestations and Educational Engagement Among Tertiary Students

Abstract

Understanding culture poses a challenge for educators as individual cultural orientations influence every interaction. The purpose of this study is to investigate how school culture manifests itself and how it affects students' involvement in their education. Employing a descriptive inferential method, the study focused on tertiary students as respondents. Mean scores were used to evaluate the respondents’ perception of school culture. The findings suggest that the University's culture, characterized by elements such as school environment, student body, faculty, research, and community involvement, is operational and effective. Each college within the university exhibits a unique culture influenced by these components. Areas of strength and weakness were identified, highlighting the need for continuous improvement. The college fosters values of academic excellence and freedom, essential for student engagement in higher education. These results emphasize that learning transcends traditional classroom settings. Moderate agreement was observed among the four colleges regarding weak relationships in the five areas studied. Recommendations include the development of a strategic plan to enhance the university's competitiveness in the global arena.