DIGITALIZATION IN EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (EMIS): PERSPECTIVE OF ACADEMIC STAFF IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess digitalization in educational management information system (EMIS) based on the perspective of academic staff in public universities in Cross River State, Nigeria. Problems and prospects of EMIS was the focus. This study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of this study was made up of 2867 academic staff members across the two public universities (University of Calabar and University of Cross River State) all in Cross River State, Nigeria. To collect data for the study, the researchers randomly selected a sample of 1434 from the population of 2867 academic staff in the two universities. A questionnaire called ‘Perspective of Academic Staff of the Problems and Prospects of Digitalization in Educational Management Information System Questionnaire (PASPPDEMISQ)’ was the instrument used for data collection. Data collected were coded and analyzed using mean, standard deviation and frequency counts. It was found among others that, inadequate funding, ineffective  training programmes for  academic staff  members and students in the utilization of digital devices for teaching and learning,  resistance among many staff members to move towards digital operations, poor community members’ involvement in the provision of digital tools were the challenges of digitalization in EMIS. However, the findings indicated that, increase in automated processes in educational system, increase in access to education outside the traditional classroom setting, road map to global best practices, equipping educational institutions with high-quality software, promotion of information systems that provide access to educational resources among others, as the prospects of digitalization in EMIS. Arising from the results of the analysis, it was recommended that, university management should not relent in its effort toward addressing the problems associated with the digitalization of EMIS.