Modelling Technological Changes and Student Switching Behaviour of Selected Private University Students in a Developing Economy

Abstract This study discusses how technological changes affect student loyalty and retention in private universities in southwest Nigeria, where differences in technological arrangement and student flexibility to develop technologies obfuscate the forecast of student loyalty. This targets to model and analyse the influence of technological changes on student switching behaviour and loyalty by applying Markov Chain analysis, and provide a quantitative context that university supervisors and administrators can apply to forestall the impacts of technological changes and implement strategies that improve student loyalty and institutional stability at large. By Engaging Markov Chain analysis, the study observes the probabilistic transitions among various states of technological change and their impact on student loyalty metrics. Data was collected via surveys administered to 464 final-year students among three selected private universities. 455 valid responses were analysed to construct transition matrices which map out the likely pathways and consequences of technological changes on student loyalty. The study showed an important understanding of the undercurrents of technological change and its influence on student retention, fulfilment, and loyalty, offering a dynamic framework to model the effects of technological strategies on student engagement and retention, particularly in a developing economic context. The results propose that university supervisors and administrators should focus on attracting technological infrastructure and ensuring that technological changes support student prospects and foster bigger student loyalty and institutional stability which will secure a competitive edge in the progressing educational landscape.