Determining the Impact of Active Learning Strategies on Success Rate in Higher Education
Oluwaseun Peter Bamidele 
& Innocent Zitha
Issue: Vol.6 No. 9 2025 Article 12 pp. 869 – 889
DOI : https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.20256912 | Published online 29th September, 2025.
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
For decades, lecturers have been dedicated to exploring innovative methods that enhance student learning and foster academic success. This commitment to continuous improvement creates a dynamic and engaging educational environment. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of active learning on student performance in higher education. This study was conducted at the University of Venda’s Department of Food Science and Technology, part of the Faculty of Science, Engineering, and Agriculture. In this mixed-methods study, participants took part in in-depth interviews to discuss their experiences, perspectives, and challenges related to the implementation and participation in active learning. The participant group consisted of 5 males and 10 females. Data collection tools included a questionnaire, a tape recorder, and a notebook. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data. The findings demonstrate that the teaching strategies employed by the instructors significantly highlight the effectiveness of active learning in higher education. Moreover, the results emphasise the importance of regularly evaluating student performance in each module. It was also evident that a passing grade does not necessarily indicate student satisfaction with the lectures or practical components of the course. Consequently, these findings contribute meaningfully to academic discourse and provide practical implications for instructors, aiding them in developing more effective teaching strategies.
Keywords: Student Engagement, Active Learning, Decontextualised Environment, Pedagogical Methodology, Assessment, Satisfaction.
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Dr. Peter Oluwaseun Bamidele is a senior lecturer in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Venda in South Africa. His work focuses on a variety of topics within food science, including Functional foods: He researches and develops foods with health benefits beyond basic nutrition, often utilising indigenous crops. Encapsulation of bioactive compounds: This involves protecting and delivering beneficial compounds (like vitamins or antioxidants) within food products. Starch chemistry and extrusion cooking: He studies how starches behave and how to use extrusion technology to process and create new food products. Food processing and preservation: His research also examines methods to process foods to improve their nutritional value and extend their shelf life. Dr Bamidele is also an editor for several prominent academic journals, including Food Chemistry and the International Journal of Food Science and Technology. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and his research often centres on underutilised crops like Bambara groundnut to address issues like malnutrition and food security in Africa.
Mr. Innocent Zitha is a lecturer and researcher specialising in English Academic Literacy at the School of Languages within the Faculty of Humanities at North-West University. With over five years of experience in Higher Education, I have developed a strong commitment to enhancing students’ academic writing and critical thinking skills. My work focuses on equipping students with the necessary tools to navigate academic discourse effectively. Over the course of my career, I have authored and co-authored a total of 18 research papers and three book chapters, all published in reputable peer-reviewed journals. These publications reflect my ongoing research interests and contributions to the field of academic literacy, demonstrating my engagement with current trends and challenges in higher education. Through my teaching and research, I aim to foster a deeper understanding of English language proficiency and its importance in academic success.
Bamidele, Oluwaseun Peter, and Innocent Zitha. “Determining the Impact of active learning strategies on success rate in Higher Education.” Journal of Education and Learning Technology 6, no. 9 (2025): 869 – 889. https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.20256912.
© 2025 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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