Browsing by Author "MORAA, OLPHA"

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    THE ROLE OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN SCHOOLS IN FOSTERING SOCIAL INTEGRATION AND ENHANCING LEARNING OUTCOMES: A CASE OF GRETSA UNIVERSITY, THIKA SUB-COUNTY, KIAMBU COUNTY, KENYA.
    (Gretsa University, 2024-10) OMOLO, VICTOR; MORAA, OLPHA; MAKASI, PHYLLIS; ORONJE, ISAAC
    This study aimed to discuss the effects of cultural diversity on social integration and learning outcome among college students at Gretsa University in Thika in Kiambu County in Kenya. The university had a huge population of more than 1,000 diverse students, and so it formed an excellent context to talk about the role of cultural differences on the student experiences. The role of cultural diversity in higher education has been gaining more and more importance, and though it is accepted specifically with regard to its role in social integration and academic performance, there are still gaps in understanding the kinds and the extent of its impact. The purpose of the research is to study the way cultural diversity affects the social integration and learning outcomes based on the descriptive survey research design by conducting a survey with 90 surveyed participants. The specific objectives included assessing students' perceptions of cultural diversity in which 70% of respondents indicated the university manages cultural diversity while 20% indicated a lack of awareness and 10% were unsure about their existence , measuring the level of social integration in which 88.9% of the respondents agreed that cultural diversity positively impacts their social interactions , citing opportunities to form intercultural friendships and participate in multicultural activities while 11.1% disagreed by noting challenges like language barriers which may hind integration , and exploring the relationship between cultural diversity and academic success in which about 40% of respondents reported that cultural diversity enhances their academic experiences by exposing them to diverse perspectives while 30% of respondents stated that cultural diversity fosters active participation in class discussions and campus activities, enriching their learning their learning experience and building stronger social connections and 30% of respondents emphasized that exposure to diverse viewpoints improves their ability to analyze information critically and solve problems from multiple perspectives . According to the hypothesis of the study, it was possible to assume that the more culturally diverse a population is, the more socially integrated it is and the better its academic outcomes. To achieve these goals, the questionnaire was spread among 100 students, chosen by means of a simple random sampling method. Data analysis was performed in a descriptive and inferential statistics methodology to obtain trends and relations of variables and thematic analysis was used to obtain any qualitative aspects. The study was meant to contribute to the knowledge body of cultural diversity in higher education by contributing some practical suggestions that can be used to stimulate social integration learning experiences at Gretsa university.