ABSTRACT
Facilities management can be regarded as the process of planning, implementing, maintaining and accounting for the appropriate physical spaces and services for an organization while simultaneously seeking to reduce the organisation’s total cost. This led to the consideration of the application of facilities management in school hostels with a case study of University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos. Research into the management of school hostels in Nigeria universities has been on the front burner in recent times as steady growth in the student population in tertiary institutions which has created the need for expansion in infrastructures including accommodation facilities. The aim of this research study was to examine the application of facilities management in school hostels with the objectives in examining the challenges in the facilities management of school hostels in the case study and the likely scenarios of maintenance in the management of school hostels in the case studies. A survey was conducted and data collection was done with the use of sample questionnaires administered to managers and students in the hostels used as case studies and the findings shows the operational factors that affects the provision of facilities in students’ hall of residence and presents the development of the operational framework for satisfaction in institutional halls of residence in the University of Lagos (UNILAG) which is the case study of this research. This research study presents a series of guidelines for use by facilities managers for the provision of good facilities. This will therefore be a framework for use by the authorities in charge of the facilities, the students in the halls of residence as well as the school in general. Finally, the research recommends various solutions in improving the school hostels with the application of facilities management that students and the facilities managers must be aware of the benefits of keeping the environment clean to make the facilities presents be in a good working condition always and students who live in residence halls will be held financially liable for restoration or replacement of facilities/items damaged or destroyed as the result of a fire and/or safety violation for which they are responsible.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Table of contents v
Abstract vii
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study 1
1.2 Statement of the problem 5
1.3 Research questions 6
1.3
Aim and objectives of the study 6
1.5
Significance of the study 7
1.6
Scope of the study 7
1.7 Limitation of study 7
1.8
Definition of terms 8
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Introduction 9
2.1 Facility management
nature and components 12
2.1.1 Facility management components 14
2.1.2 Major facilities in school hostels 15
2.1.3 Functions of Facility Management 16
2.2 Student
housing facilities 18
2.3
Estate Surveyors and Valuers as facility managers 19
2.4 International
Facilities Management Association (IFMA) 21
2.4.1 IFMA responsibility 22
2.5 Advantages of Applying Facilities Management 23
2.6 How Information Technology can be applied to
facility 23
Management in institutional organizations
2.6.1 Other computer applications/ packages that can
be applied 38
To
facility management
2.7 The need for facility management in Nigeria 39
CHAPTER
THREE
RESEARCH METHODS
3.1 Introduction 41
3.2
Research area 41
3.3
Study population 42
3.4 Sample frame 42
3.5 Sample size 44
3.6 Research
design 44
3.7 Questionnaire design 45
3.8 Administration and collection of data
instrument 46
3.9 Data
analysis and interpretation of scores 46
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
4.1 Introduction 47
4.2 Presentation of data 47
4.3 Frequency tables for the facilities manager 47
4.4 Frequency tables for the students 51
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary of
Findings 55
5.2 Conclusion 55
5.3 Recommendations 55
REFERENCES 58
APPENDIX 60
(QUESTIONNAIRE)
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO
THE STUDY
Facilities management can
be regarded as the process of planning, implementing, maintaining and
accounting for the appropriate physical spaces and services for an organization
while simultaneously seeking to reduce the organisation’s total cost. It
involves the day to day administration and control of manpower of all the
support services necessary to maintain business and allow for the achievement
of corporate goals. Facilities management entails continued re-orientation of
working space and environment, systems and services to support core operations
and process of an organisation in order to achieve strategic objectives of the
concerned organisation. It emphasises the management of peripheral services to
allow the in-house manager to concentrate on core operations and processes. The
facility manager’s broad education and training in construction, design,
economics, law, technology and management, position him strongly to assimilate
information technology and use it to broaden the scope of his profession and
deepen the extent of his traditional services.
According to Okoh (2004), Nigeria has
the biggest university system in sub-Saharan Africa with 114 accredited
tertiary institutions. Nigerian universities have experienced a significant
rise in student enrolments over the past decades. However, the surge in
students has not been matched by a corresponding growth in student
accommodation and the available ones have not been properly managed. Figures
from the National Universities Commission show that the provision of student
housing is less than 30% of demand. The vast majority of students live in
privately rented accommodation.
Bulks of “first generation”
universities in Nigeria have stopped funding student accommodation. Many of the
newer universities have taken the private sector participation route, although
the quality of accommodation varies widely. The student enrolment in tertiary
institutions is growing at an average of 12% per annum and the provision of new
purpose-built student housing is limited. This in itself creates opportunities
for the development of student housing in many cities in Nigeria.
Akpan (2000) suggests that developers
could partner with universities in build-operate-transfer arrangements on new
accommodation. There are also opportunities for better management of existing
accommodation. “While the majority of institutions may be reluctant to give up
control, the deteriorating condition of the majority of university-owned halls
of residence indicates the need to manage these assets in a different way.”
Student accommodation should also have a strong focus on innovation and
sustainability. “Developers need to be innovative in their approach to design,
supplying functional accommodation, which incorporates the basic needs of
students and provides additional facilities and services including laundry,
internet services, relatively constant electricity, water supply, shuttle
services, etc. The university community should be at the forefront of
sustainability issues; this should be reflected in development and management
(FRN, 2008).”
Okoh (2004) added that in the future,
the availability, quality and cost of student accommodation on offer will be a
vital component for universities to lure good quality students. The increasing
number of students in tertiary institutions in several Nigerian cities has
caused serious accommodation problems and campus hostels can no longer cope
with demand. Establishment of private hostels off-campus was initially
perceived as a solution but landlords have taken advantage of the high demand
by upping rentals and students are reeling under the financial burden. They
have turned to the government for help.
There has been steady growth in the
student population in tertiary institutions, most of which have been expanding
their teaching, administrative and research infrastructures. But no effort has
been made to provide more accommodation for students and staff.
This has allegedly been a deliberate
resource allocation policy, with tertiary institutions - at the regional and
national level - uninterested in committing funding to accommodation (Akpan,
1998).
Many tertiary institutions possess
large amounts of land on which student hostels could be built. But it is
claimed that private sector figures on university governing councils have
discouraged government investment in building campus residences. Critics say
that owners of houses and land near campuses made proposals to university
authorities to build cheap and affordable accommodation for students. According
to reliable sources, some university officials obtained bank loans to build
hostels that are operated under holdings whose owners are often their relatives
(Owen, 1993).
"The reason for this strange
policy is not far-fetched. Members of the property class who have invested in
the construction of these hostels would naturally want their investment to
yield dividends," explained Akpan (1998).
Today students are having a rough
time at the hands of hostel owners whose primary obsession has been alleged, is
to maximize profit with little concern for students' welfare. Students have
also complained about the absence of a learning environment in private hostels.
You get an impression that you are, at times, in a shopping mall when you enter
most private hostels in Nigeria universities (Ubong, 2001). A portion of these hostels
are transformed into mini markets with hawkers. At night and during the weekend
the hostels are very noisy and movements in and out of the hostels are not
restricted.
However, this research study will
provide an overview on applying facilities management in managing the school
hostels in Nigeria using selected University of Lagos Hostels as case studies.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE
PROBLEM
Research into the management of
school hostels in Nigeria universities has been on the front burner in recent
times as steady growth in the student population in tertiary institutions which
has created the need for expansion in infrastructures including accommodation
facilities. But no effort has been made to provide more accommodation for
students and staff. The problems of managing institutional halls of residence
ranges from financial implications, misuse of resources, lack of maintenance,
etc. This research study is seeking to find out if this situation is a
deliberate resource allocation policy, with tertiary institutions - at the
regional and national level - uninterested in committing funding to
accommodation even in the face of tremendous challenges faced by students due
to this poor scenario. The evolution of off-campus hostels occurred as a result
of poor management of the school owned hostels. This development has not been
able to eradicate the management challenges relating to school hostels. The
research study will however provide an analysis on the application of
facilities management, problems and prospects of managing school hostels in
Nigeria.
1.3
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
i.
What
are the problems in the management of school hostels in the case studies?
ii.
What
are the likely scenarios in the management of school hostels in the case
studies?
iii.
What
are the ways by which management challenges in Nigerian universities hostel are
curtailed by the facilities managers?
iv.
What
are the present condition of services in the case study?
v.
What
are the likely actions necessary for improved facilities management on
perceived key stakeholders?
1.4 AIM AND
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The aim of this research study is to
examine the application of facilities management in school hostels with
emphases to particular hostels in the University of Lagos. The following objectives will be useful in
achieving the above aim:-
i.
to
examine the challenges in the facilities management of school hostels in the
case studies;
ii.
to
examine the likely scenarios of maintenance in the management of school hostels
in the case studies;
iii.
to
find out ways by which facilities management challenges in Nigerian
universities hostel are curtailed by the facilities managers;
iv.
To
find out the present condition of services in the case study hostels;
v.
To
find out which facilities management costs are being used in the case study hostels;
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Findings from this study will
enlighten the general public on the state of the hostel accommodation in
Nigerian universities considering the problems and prospect. This study will encourage facility managers to emulate the
use of facility management information systems or the computer aided facility
management programs designed to ensure
that an organisation’s asset are fully
utilized at the lowest possible cost while providing benefit to every phase of
a building’s lifecycle. This research will also serve as a resource base
to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research
in this field subsequently, if applied, it will go to an extent to provide new
explanation to the topic.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE
STUDY
This study will cover the overview of
application of facilities management in managing school hostels in Nigeria
using the University of Lagos student hostels as the case studies which are
case studies of Moremi and New Hall hostels.
1.7 LIMITATION OF STUDY
Financial constraint- Insufficient
fund will tend to impede the efficiency of the research in sourcing for the
relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data
collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint- The research will
simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently
will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
1.8 DEFINITION OF
TERMS
Hostels: an
establishment which provides inexpensive food and lodging for a specific group
of people, such as students, workers.
Facility: Facility is the equipment that is for the comfort,
enjoyment and protection of the occupiers as well as those that ensure the
economic useful life of the property. Examples of such facility are; electric
power generators, fire-fighting facilities, etc.
Management: Management is the skill of directing human
activities and physical resources in the attainment of predetermined goals. It
is also regarded as a social process entailing responsibility for the effective
and economic planning and regulation of the operations of an enterprise in
fulfillment of a given purpose or task.
Facility Management: Facility management is the process which an
individual/organisation delivers and sustains support services in a quality
environment to meet strategic needs.
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