Thesis Abstract

<p> Human resource management is fundamental to quality education delivery in<br>universities. This is due to the fact that for a university to deliver quality<br>education, its human resources must be effectively and efficiently managed.<br>However, there have been claims that universities are not delivering quality<br>education as a result of the ways in which they manage their human resources for<br>quality education delivery which were not yet known. The general purpose of this<br>study, therefore, was to investigate the human resource management practices for<br>quality education delivery in universities in South East Nigeria. Seven research<br>questions and four null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a<br>descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consisted of 831<br>subjects. This figure was made up of 677 heads of units that include 115 Deans,<br>501 Heads of Departments and 61 Directors; and also 154 Senior Administrative<br>Staff who are at the rank of Senior Assistant Registrar and above in the ten<br>universities in South East Nigeria. The entire population was used for the study<br>due to its manageable size. A 50-item questionnaire was the instrument developed<br>by the researcher and used to collect the required data for the study. The<br>instrument was validated by three experts and tested for reliability using Cronbach<br>Alpha method. The data collected from the respondents were analyzed using<br>means, standard deviations and t-test statistic. Some major findings of the study<br>were that job vacancies are neither determined through staff audit nor widely<br>advertised in the media, applicants for jobs are not duly invited for interview and<br>the most qualified applicants are not selected to fill vacant positions in the<br>university. Also, there is irregular in-service training programme for staff and<br>seminars are not regularly organized for staff, among others.<br>16<br>16 <br></p>

Thesis Overview

<p> </p><p><strong>INTRODUCTION</strong></p><p><strong>Background of the Study</strong></p><p>University is the highest level of every educational system and it is a major<br>vehicle for economic and social development. According to the Federal Republic<br>of Nigeria (2004), the mandate of the university is to teach and develop high level<br>relevant manpower, conduct research for development and provide community<br>service. Moreso, the vital role of the university in national development has been<br>highlighted. According to Onokerhoraya and Nwonye (1995), universities are<br>responsible for equipping individuals with the advanced knowledge and skills<br>needed for positions of responsibility in government, business and other<br>professions. This means that universities are expected to produce high level<br>manpower that can respond positively to the nation’s goals and aspirations.<br>The achievement of the above laudable goals of a university depends to a<br>large extent on availability of resources and their proper management. Hanson<br>(1995) defined a resource as simply whatever that can be used to perform an<br>educational function and realize an educational goal. To Adedeji (1998), resources<br>are the things invested into the educational system with a view to achieving<br>educational aims and objectives maximally and at a reduced cost.<br>Based on the above definitions, one can deduce that resources are the vital<br>inputs made into the educational system for the achievement of the specified<br>educational aims and objectives.</p> <br><p></p>