Records Management among the Academics in Technological Epoch. A case study of Bingham University Karu

Abstract

Management of records has become imperative to everyone who creates and keeps records for evidence or academic purposes. In this technological age, the modality for managing our records has taken a new dimension from the orthodox methods. The academics can no longer survive and grow without evidence of academic achievements, teaching records, research works, and other academic activities. Details of all these form parts of the records they keep and manage. The objectives of this study are; to identify the types of records kept by the academics, examine the management of records in terms of; Appraisal, description and arrangement, preservation, to identify the challenges encountered in the management of records, etc. The study carefully reviewed all related empirical studies and the findings of the study revealed that most records held by the academics are administrative records. Survey research was adopted in carrying out this study, a questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection and the data collected were analyzed using simple frequency and tabulated in bar chart. In appraising records; scholarly, research, and information values are mostly considered. It was also found that the majority of the respondents have a slight knowledge of records management ideology and, also maintained some of their records in paper and some in electronic formats. Many of the respondents have never acquired training on records management. Lots of management challenges bewildered the respondents but opined for some solutions. In conclusion, the study made some recommendations i.e. often maintaining records in electronic format for easy management and staff training considering the importance to records in the life of academics.