Motivation to Graduate on Time: A Case Study in Malaysia

Today, postgraduate students' ability to graduate on time (GOT) has become a much-debated issue. In most cases, failure to GOT involves an array of factors. Nevertheless, identifying and having a good understanding of these factors that affect students' motivation towards GOT is of critical importance so that the necessary measures can be taken to address GOT. Hence, this study aimed to investigate factors affecting students' motivation towards GOT. This study employed a case study research design which involved 191 postgraduate students and 13 supervisors. Data were collected using both quantitative and qualitative research instruments. The findings revealed that first-year students' level of motivation towards GOT level is comparatively higher than their seniors. Secondly, both the first-year students' intrinsic and extrinsic motivation towards GOT level was significantly higher than students in subsequent semesters. Thirdly, the student and institutional factors predicted the motivation towards GOT level. Lastly, both the supervisors and students perceived that it was important for supervisors to be competent in conducting research besides monitoring students' progress, so that students were motivated to GOT. This study has also proposed a tracking online system called Hybrid Supervision to assist supervisors in monitoring and providing motivation to their postgraduate students to GOT.