Service Quality of the Registrar’s Office of a Select Higher Educational Institution
Jonah C. Osalia | Leda C. Celis
Discipline: management studies
Abstract:
This research assesses the service quality of the Registrar’s Office in a selected higher education
institution in Victorias City by analyzing the differences between students’ expectations and their actual
perceptions. Despite the registrar’s essential role in delivering student services, limited recent research has
examined expectation–perception gaps using the SERVQUAL model, particularly within higher education
institutions in local contexts, creating a gap in understanding how well administrative offices meet student
needs. To address this gap, the study utilized the SERVQUAL model, focusing on five key dimensions of
service quality: tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. A descriptive, quantitative
research method was used, and data were collected from 349 student respondents via a structured survey.
The data were analyzed using the mean and standard deviation, and the Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-
Whitney U test. Findings revealed that students’ expectations were consistently high, while their perceptions
were also highly satisfactory, with discrepancies observed across all dimensions. Significant differences in
expectations and perceptions were found when grouped according to sex, course, and year level (p < .05).
In contrast, no significant differences emerged based on the type of services availed (p > .05). Furthermore,
an important relationship was identified between the levels of expectation and perception of service quality
(p > .05). While overall satisfaction was achieved, the small negative gaps across reliability, responsiveness,
assurance, and empathy—ranging from 0.00 to –0.05—indicate areas where service improvements can
further enhance the student experience. These findings underscore the importance of continuously
evaluating student services to improve satisfaction, support institutional goals, and foster a more responsive,
student-centered administrative environment.
References:
- Aga, M., & Safakli, O. V. (2023). Service quality assessment in higher education: An empirical application of SERVQUAL model. International Journal of Educational Management, 37(3), 469–483.
- Alamirew, G. D. (2024). Investigating quality service and student satisfaction in higher education institutions. Innovation and Entrepreneurship Journal, 6(3), 101–115. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-024-00422-3
- Alshammari, S. H., Al-Maliki, A., Al-Shehri, M., & Al-Hadhrami, A. (2024). Factors affecting continuous intention to use virtual classrooms: Integration of expectation confirmation model and information systems success model. Education and Information Technologies, 29(4), 3459–3480.
- Alemu, A. (2023). Assessing service quality in tertiary education using adapted SERVQUAL scale. Journal of Educational Administration and Policy, 13(2), 45–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2023.2259733
- Alfonso, S., Diniz, A., Deaño, M., Tellado, F., García-Señorán, M., & Conde, Á. (2020). Gender, planning, and academic expectations in first-year higher education students: Testing two alternative mediation models. Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica, 33, Article 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41155-020-00142-z
- Al-Kilidar, H., Rahman, S., & Khan, M. (2022). Service quality in higher education: The role of tangibles in shaping student satisfaction. Quality in Higher Education, 28(2), 156–170.
- Al-Kumaim, N. H., Alhazmi, A., Mohammed, F., Gazem, N., Shabbir, M. S., & Fazea, Y. (2021). Exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students’ learning life: An integrated conceptual motivational model for sustainable and healthy online learning. Sustainability, 13(5), 2546. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052546
- Ban, O. I., Hatos, R., Bugnar, N.-G., Sasu, D., Popa, A. L., & Foră, A.-F. (2024). Evaluation of the quality of higher education services by revised IPA in the perspective of digitization. Sustainability, 16(7), 3017. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16073017
- Biles, J., McAllister, M., Moyle, W., & Scott, A. (2022). Undergraduate nursing students’ course expectations versus experiences and satisfaction in a regional Australian university. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 17(1), 102–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2021.10.005
- Burke, K., & Fanshawe, M. (2024). Student perceptions of support for managing study in higher education according to internal and external locus of control. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 48(6), 785–801. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2024.2362843
- Chen, Q. (2023). The impact of college students’ perceived service quality on satisfaction and loyalty. Sage Open, 13(3), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231197505
- Cheng, X., Meng, L., & Shen, Y. (2023). Investigating students’ satisfaction with online collaborative learning based on expectation confirmation theory. Education and Information Technologies, 28(12), 12367–12389.
- Choi, J., Lee, J., & Kim, S. (2023). The moderating effect of gender on academic perceptions and engagement in higher education. Education Sciences, 13(2), 156. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13020156
- Dugenio-Nadela, C., Cañeda, D., Tirol, S., Samillano, J., Pantuan, D. J., Piañar, J., Tinapay, A., Casas, H. M., Cometa, R., Conson, S., Urot, M., Ancot, J., Nadela, R., Dugenio-Terol, I., Baluyot, A., Pevida, K., Olivar, J. I., & Decena, E. (2023). Service quality and students' satisfaction in higher education institutions. Journal of Human Resource and Sustainability Studies, 11, 858–870. https://doi.org/10.4236/jhrss.2023.114049
- Gao, H. L. (2020). Understanding the impact of administrative service quality on satisfaction and loyalty toward university students. Higher Education Research, 5(1), 25–30. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.her.20200501.15
- Hidalgo-Blanco, M. A., Puig-Llobet, M., Lluch-Canut, M. T., Guàrdia-Olmos, J., Moreno-Arroyo, C., & Amador-Campos, J. A. (2020). Expectations of nursing degree students: A longitudinal analysis. Nurse Education Today, 92, 104474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2020.104474
- Hoque, U. S., Akhter, N., Absar, N., Khandaker, M. U., & Al-Mamun, A. (2023). Assessing service quality using SERVQUAL model: An empirical study on some private universities in Bangladesh. Trends in Higher Education, 2(1), 255–269. https://doi.org/10.3390/higheredu2010013
- Pinquart, M., & Ebeling, M. (2020). Students’ expected and actual academic achievement – A meta-analysis. International Journal of Educational Research, 100, 101524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2019.101524
- Johnson, C., Gitay, R., Abdel-Salam, A.-S., BenSaid, A., Ismail, R., Al-Tameemi, R. A. N., Romanowski, M., Al Fakih, B. M. K., & Al Hazaa, K. (2022). Student support in higher education: Campus service utilization, impact, and challenges. Heliyon, 8(12), e12559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12559
- KFUMC [King Fahad University Medical City]. (2024). The measurement of the quality of educational services via the SERVQUAL model: Profiles differ by gender. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 13(40), Article.
- Leedy, P., & Ormrod, J. E. (2020). Practical research: Planning and design (12th ed.). Pearson.
- Mabeza, M. R. (2023). Students’ gendered expectations and evaluation of thesis advising skills and mentoring practices. Journal of Social Knowledge Education, 6(1), Article 1172. https://doi.org/10.37251/jske.v6i1.1172
- Modern Campus. (2022). How the role of the registrar has evolved: 5 Perspectives. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/4wjhkphh
- Nguyen, H. V., Vu, T. D., Saleem, M., & Yaseen, A. (2024). The influence of service quality on student satisfaction and student loyalty in Vietnam: The moderating role of the university image. Journal of Trade Science, 12(1), 37–59. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTS-12-2023-0032
- Nguyen, N., & LeBlanc, G. (2001). Image and reputation of higher education institutions in students’ retention decisions. International Journal of Educational Management, 15(6), 303–311. https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000005909
- Parasuraman, A., Zeithaml, V., & Berry, L. (1988). SERVQUAL: A multiple-item scale for measuring consumer perceptions of service quality. Journal of Retailing, 64(1), 12–40.
- Rizos, S., Sfakianaki, E., & Kakouris, A. (2022). Quality of administrative services in higher education. European Journal of Education and Management, 5(2), 115–128. https://doi.org/10.12973/eujem.5.2.115
- Seeram, E. (2019). Research methods: Correlational research. Radiologic Technology, 91(2), 176–179.
- Seitova, M., Temirbekova, Z., Kazykhankyzy, L., Khalmatova, Z., & Çelik, H. E. (2024). Perceived service quality and student satisfaction: A case study at Khoja Akhmet Yassawi University, Kazakhstan. Frontiers in Education, 9, 1492432. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1492432
- Siedlecki, S. (2020). Understanding descriptive research designs. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 34(1), 8–12. https://doi.org/10.1097/NUR.0000000000000493
- Sohail, M. S., & Hasan, M. (2021). Students' perceptions of service quality in Saudi universities: The SERVPERF model. Learning and Teaching in Higher Education: Gulf Perspectives, 18(1), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/LTHE-08-2020-0016
- Soria, K., & Stebleton, M. (2020). First-generation students’ academic engagement and perceptions of institutional support: Differences by gender. Journal of College Student Development, 61(6), 731–736. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2020.0067
- Stankovska, G. (2024). Service quality and student satisfaction in higher education. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 14(2), 112–120. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2024-0034
- Stokoe, M., Nordstokke, D., & Wilcox, G. (2024). First-year students’ perceptions of the transition to university: The role of informational, instrumental, and emotional support. International Journal of Research in Education and Science, 10(2), 377–393. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijres.3392
- Studiosity. (2023). 2023 Report reveals student gender disparities in perceived support from their college/university. Newswire Canada. https://tinyurl.com/mtfebbbd
- Supriyanto, A., Burhanuddin, B., Sunarni, S., Rochmawati, R., Ratri, D. K., & Bhayangkara, A. N. (2024). Academic service quality, student satisfaction, and loyalty: A study at higher education legal entities in Indonesia. TQM Journal. Advance Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-10-2023-0334
- Tan, A., Muskat, B., & Johns, R. (2019). The role of empathy in the service experience. Journal of Service Theory and Practice, 29(2), 142-164. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSTP-10-2018-0221
- Umar, M., Hasan, M. (2024). Predicting students’ satisfaction with academic services at a multicultural engineering university in Bangladesh: A multiple regression analysis. PLOS One, 19(4), e0309223. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0309223
- Yilmaz, R. (2020). Exploring the role of service quality, trust, and satisfaction in student loyalty: The case of higher education. Social Sciences, 9(2), 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci9020016
- Zadorozhna, I., Datskiv, O., & Shon, O. (2020). Exploring students’ expectations of the university course. Revista Românească pentru Educație Multidimensională, 12(1Sup1), 293–303. https://doi.org/10.18662/rrem/12.1sup1/236
- Ziberi, F., Dimitrovski, D., & Stankovska, G. (2024). Service quality and student satisfaction in higher education. BCES Conference Books, 22(4), 157–164.
Full Text:
Note: Kindly Login or Register to gain access to this article.
ISSN 2984-8385 (Online)
ISSN 2984-8288 (Print)