Implementation and Usage of Management Information System for Academic Processes at Mount Kenya University, Rwanda

Abstract

The present study sought to find out how both staff and students of Mount Kenya University, Kigali, Rwanda used the management information system (MIS) to benefit from academic processes and how execution of academic processes affected by MIS functionalities. A case study research design was used. Sample size of 164 staffs and 354 students were obtained from target populations of 251 staffs and 3,072 students, respectively. The coordinator of information and communication technology and librarian were interviewed as well. Questionnaire and interview instruments were used to collect data using stratified random and purposive sampling, respectively. Quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (V.16.0) and presented using frequencies, percentages, weighted means, standard deviations and multiple regressions to determine the correlation between variables. Findings revealed that majority of both staff and students agreed that the MIS was helpful in registration and retrieval of information. It was also found that MIS reduced long queues for services as revealed by both staff (92.07%) and students (85.01%). Moreover, multiple regression analysis determined that R, the coefficient of correlation, was 0.97, signifying a very strong, positive, multiple correlation between the usage of the MIS by staff and the implementation of the university’s academic processes. The coefficient of determination R2 =0.955 indicated that 95.50% of the variability in execution of academic processes depended on stochastic model developed, whereas the remaining 4.50% was due to factors beyond the control of the study. On the other hand, R, the coefficient of correlation, was determined to be 0.901 also signifying a very strong, positive, multiple correlation between the usage of the MIS functionalities and the implementation of the university’s academic processes by students. Similarly, the coefficient of determination R2 =0.812 indicated that 81.20% of the variability in the implementation of academic processes depended on the stochastic model developed, whereas the remaining 18.80% was attributed to factors beyond the control of the study. The two coefficients of correlations were found to be significant at the 95% confidence level. Recommendations of the study included the provision of uninterrupted connectivity to the Internet as well as increase of the available bandwidth. This is because disruptions in connectivity to the Internet tended to inconvenience the MIS users. Provision of formal and informal training on MIS functionalities should also be offered more frequently to minimise inefficiencies in MIS usage. In addition, communication via MIS should be improved to make the system more interactive the individual use by posting timely notifications and providing the option for feedback, provision of an active electronic link to the library online public access catalogue and other informational services of the university such as the electronic newsletter, electronic prospectus, audio and video streaming of teaching and learning materials, including provision of downloads of electronic lecture notes as well as uploads of assignments in electronic form.