POSITIONING STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES IN THE NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA (NOUN) TO ENHANCE CUTTING EDGE OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING

This research paper examined the current state of student support services provided by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) across its 128 study centres in Nigeria. The study focused on only nine (9) study centres as a representative sample base located within the FCT, Lagos, Kogi, Edo and Delta States with three in each cluster of the three types of study centres in the system regular, special and community study centres. Staff and Students were engaged in the survey in each study centre through Focused Group Discussions (FGD), structured, unstructured interviews and questionnaires. Other stakeholders like the regulator- the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other relevant units in NOUN involved in providing student support services were also engaged in
the process. The methodology utilized the mixed method research design that involved survey and descriptive techniques and was both quantitative and qualitative. The findings were subjected to statistical analysis involving such tools as ANOVA descriptive tool for variance, t-test, chi-square, bar and pie charts. The findings revealed that there were weak links in the support services delivery value chain that has made these services not too effective. It was revealed that oversight from the regulator- the NUC has not been too strong in the area of enforcement and compliance that had further diminished overall operational effectiveness. The study recommended that the University along with relevant stakeholders like the regulator should urgently remedy the identified weak links
such as inadequate counselling services, inefficient admission and registration processes, poor internet connectivity affecting online facilitation and exam administration among others in order to improve institutional effectiveness and delivery of its ODL mandate that could lead to uptake by other ODL institutions.