DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPUTER BASED INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR THE PROJECTION OF STUDENT’S ENROLMENT IN UNIVERSITIES

ABSTRACT

This work started with an extensive literacy research in an attempt to find out facts about the Nigerian Universities planning information system in conjunction with the functions of the computer equipment. This led to probing the history of National Universities Commission which provides the guidelines for the system, and also that of the computer machine, its development up to the suit where this aid of the equipment in different techniques were made. The computer equipment aids aid the planning system procedures with due reference to its mode of operation and its procedural functions were discussed, computer software of high flexibility was deviced to execute network analysis, using D-BASE, computer based planning information system is the name of this software package modular program design approach, D-BASE coding structures etc, were used to program development, it features an elaborate software package that is designed to simplify matters for the user by assisting him and providing information for decision making. This package accept, store and displays strings of symbols that are grouped in various ways. An organization cannot function without information; hence an information system is to the organization as what the nervous system is to the body. A lack of information (for good information) may seriously impair the effectiveness of an organization. This work is in the area of projection of student enrolment being one of the functions of the academic programme activity unit. The Enugu State University (ESUT) planning information system of the planning directorate was used as a model. Managing information generated were used for project control. This involves information gathering and data analysis on viz; (i)      University’s organigrams; (ii)     Schedule of duties of the concerned units.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The project work deals on computer based planning information system for the projection of student’s enrolment in universities with reference to Enugu State University of Science and Technology Enugu (ESUT). They deals with the system whereby the planning directorate of the university functions with computer bias. The objectives of the National Universities Commission, which was established in 1930’s by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Sokoto, is to offer qualitative education for every Nigerian child of school, growing age and reducing the incidence of unqualified universities. It is to cater for those who for some reasons, dropout of Education through complimentary approaches and ensure the acquisition of appropriate levels of literacy. The main target of the NUC programme in the Nigerian Universities which is very relevant for a good education background of students. The universities education system (UES) has a uniform procedure for registration and admission of qualified students as enumerated by the National universities Commission which is the aim of this work to look into the manual method of admission and registration to observe its attendant problems which will serve as basks for computerization of the registration system. The system design whereby computer is involved in providing accuracy in sharing of students, staff ratios, completence, effectiveness and reduced completion of time with avoidance of unauthorized access to a particular information. This system is designed with hope that all the Nigerian Universities with the same structure and design system as schedules by the NUC can use the proposed system with modifications in conversion codes and another area of need.

1.1     BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The background of the study is the Enugu State University of Science and Technology with reference to National Universities Commission Abuja; it was formed in September 30th 1973 by Enugu State Organization Committee, and is aimed of offering qualitative education for every Nigerian student and developing of the entire citizenry a strong consciousness for education and a strong commitment to its vigorous promotion and also reducing drastically the incidence of quack-universities.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

The major problem confronting the planning information system in Enugu State University of Science and Technology with reference to NUC Abuja, is problem of manual files keeping. The institution keeps student files manually (not computerized file) thus making it appear cumbersome and difficult to retrieval.Secondly, another contributory factor to the huge time-consumption is the manual production of the output through manual collection of data and manual manipulatory operation.  Another problem is lack of fund to carry out their assignment to the fulfillment. This with the above unco-operative attitudes of persons which hinder fast flow of information all make up for the problem definitions of the project discussion. Conclusively, the reports being generated from the current system is not adequate.

1.3   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aims and objectives of this work is improved management skill and the use of computer helps to reduce time wastage and manual works, hence it reduces the amount spent in such an assignment. As observed by promise etel Computer in Business (2003), “Computers extend human brain power; they are intelligent amplifiers and provides new dimensions in the time available for creative work”.

Also when the computerized system becomes operational it will;

– Permit on line-timely data storage and information retrieval;

– Reduce record and file redundancy or duplication inherent in the manual system;

-Increase the operational efficiency and accuracy of the school management; planning information.

– Generate consistent, accurate, timely and reliable reports of information for effective admission control towards proper management of the school.

To ensure that students personal problems are observed through interviews and reference to personal files.

However, it is also objected to provide computer files unlike in the current system (existing system) where ordinary manual office files are used resulting to, being very cumbersome; to prevent redundancy which results from repeating a record in two different files; to provide availability and accuracy of information, and to aim for overall project time reduction. Lastly, to eliminate the manual, error prone and delays associated with data processing-system.

1.4     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is significant in many respects. For instance, its finding will be useful to ESUT and other universities. To start with, it has been stated that one of the objectives of this study is to provide computer files unlike in the existing system (manual system) where files are kept manual. In doing this, there fore the researcher intends to expose all the problems inherent in the process of student files processing-enrollment. The study will therefore be beneficial to all the Nigerian universities that registered under National Universities Commission. Finally, the data and materials made available in this research will be beneficial to future researchers in computerized system, of student’s enrollment. The data, it generates will be a contribution to existing materials in computerized based planning information system for the projection of students enrolment in Universities reference to NUC.

1.5     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study is limited to the National Universities Commission with reference to ESUTECH. It includes registrations and the admission of students also with record keeping and access of the institution to develop a good information necessary to plan information curately and projects student enrollment. However, the scope is very vast. And because it will be very difficult for the researcher to locate all the institution management information board students enrollment (IMIBSE) around, such a tedious exercise placed much demand on the researcher. Consequently, its scope is limited to ESUTECH and covers the period and enrollments of different departments. In carrying out this study, the researcher encountered some problems which does not unable the researcher to carryout his researcher successfully. Thus, the available data are scare and were only accessible to the researcher after much effort have been made/secondly, to emback on an extensive research like this involves a considerable amount of financial.  However, this was not at the researcher’s disposal and so necessitated the limitation of the scope of the study.

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