Information and Communication Technology Training Needs of Academic Staff in Universities: A Window into Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

This study determined the Information and Communication Technology training needs of academic staff in University of Jos, using the academics in the Faculty of Medical Sciences as a focal population. The study was guided by seven objectives. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The target population was all the 222 academics in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos. Since, the population (222) was manageable, there was no sampling. Hence, all the academics were adopted in the research. The research instrument adopted was questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using frequency counts and percentages. The findings of the study revealed among others that: the respondents have previous knowledge in the use of e-mail services; the type of training they received was through attending workshops; the training method they preferred was one to one instruction; the academics need training in Internet and online activities like browsing for materials for project writing, teaching and learning; incessant power failure was the major challenge the academic faced in the use of ICTs. However, it was recommended that: there is the need to expose these staff of the faculty to ICT training to enhance their skills in the use of ICTs. Efforts should also be made by the University management to look beyond development of programmes that merely focus on the training of academics in the operation of computers and ICT literacy per se but plans to work actively towards enabling Faculty of Medical Sciences academics to master ICT as an effective tool to improve teaching, research and learning in the university. The research therefore, conclude that the academics in Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, need training in the use of ICTs facilities especially, in the area of Internet and online activities.