Policy Implementation of Credit Management at Selected South African Universities of Technology

The main objective of this chapter is to demonstrate the application of a mixed methods approach to investigate credit management practices at five selected South African Universities of Technology. The study is nested in a post-positivistic paradigm with empirical data comprising two sources. Firstly, a qualitative archival research document analysis was performed using the universities’ student credit management policies and annual audited financial statements, from which five themes were identified. Secondly, a survey was conducted with 1382 senior students completing a questionnaire. The quantitative study revealed that nine factors embrace the students’ perceptions of (i) their debt, (ii) their universities’ credit management policies, and (iii) their personal financial management. Furthermore, the chapter demonstrates how triangulation was applied to combine and interpret the qualitative and quantitative results. This study faced practical difficulties, such as obtaining ethical clearance and gatekeeping permission from each university, and data were collected just after the #FeesMustFall student-led movement. After completion of the study, a positive outflow was that the principal researcher initiated funding to assist students at two of the investigated universities.