APPLICATION OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT IN SCHOOL HOSTELS

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APPLICATION OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT IN SCHOOL HOSTELS

ABSTRACT

Facilities management can be defined as the process of designing, implementing, maintaining, and accounting for an organization’s proper physical spaces and services while attempting to lower the organization’s total cost.This prompted the investigation of the use of facilities management in school hostels, using a case study of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos.

In recent times, research into the administration of school hostels in Nigerian universities has been on the front burner due to continual growth in the student population in tertiary institutions, which has produced the demand for infrastructural expansion, including residential facilities.

The purpose of this research study was to examine the application of facilities management in school hostels, with the goals of examining the challenges in school hostel facilities management in the case study and the likely scenarios of maintenance in school hostel management in the case studies.

The findings show the operational factors that affect the provision of facilities in students’ halls of residence and present the development of the operational framework for satisfaction in institutional halls of residence at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), which is the case study of this research.

This research study gives a set of guidelines for facilities managers to follow in order to provide good amenities. As a result, this will be a framework for use by the authorities in charge of the facilities,

the students in the residence halls, and the school in general. Finally, the research suggests several solutions for improving school hostels through the use of facilities management.

Students and facilities managers must be aware of the benefits of keeping the environment clean in order to keep the facilities in good working order at all times, and students who live in residence halls will be held financially liable for the restoration or replacement of facilities/items damaged or destroyed as a result of a fire.

CHAPITRE ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Facilities management can be defined as the process of designing, implementing, maintaining, and accounting for an organization’s proper physical spaces and services while attempting to lower the organization’s total cost. It entails the day-to-day administration and control of people for all support services required to keep the firm running and achieve corporate goals.

Facilities management comprises the continuous re-orientation of working space and environment, systems and services to support key activities and processes of an organisation in order to fulfil the concerned organization’s strategic objectives. It focuses peripheral service management so that the in-house manager can focus on core operations and processes.

The facility manager’s extensive education and training in building, design, economics, law, technology, and management positions him well to embrace information technology and use it to widen the scope of his profession and deepen the reach of his traditional services.

Nigeria, with 114 authorised academic institutions, is the largest university system in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to Okoh (2004). Over the last few decades, student enrollment at Nigerian universities has increased significantly. However, the increase in students has not been matched by an increase in student housing, and those that are available are poorly managed.

According to the National Universities Commission, the supply of student accommodation is less than 30% of the demand. The great majority of students reside in privately rented housing.

The majority of Nigeria’s “first generation” universities have discontinued sponsoring student housing. Many of the newer colleges have opted for private sector participation, albeit the quality of housing varies greatly.

Enrollment in higher schools is increasing at a rate of 12% per year on average, and the supply of new purpose-built student housing is restricted. This presents prospects for the building of student housing in numerous Nigerian cities.

According to Akpan (2000), developers and universities could collaborate on new housing through build-operate-transfer agreements. There are also chances to improve the management of existing housing.

“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 housing should also place a major emphasis on innovation and sustainability. “Developers must be innovative in their approach to design, providing functional housing that incorporates students’ basic needs while also providing additional facilities and services such as laundry,

internet services, relatively constant electricity, water supply, shuttle services, and so on.” “The university community should be at the forefront of sustainability issues, as evidenced by development and management (FRN, 2008).”

Okoh (2004) stated that in the future, the availability, quality, and pricing of student housing will be critical components for institutions to attract high-quality students.

The growing number of students enrolled in higher institutions in various Nigerian towns has created major accommodation issues, with campus hostels unable to meet demand.

The establishment of private off-campus hostels was once viewed as a solution, but landlords have taken advantage of the increasing demand by raising rents, leaving students in a financial bind. They have sought assistance from the government.

The student population in tertiary institutions has steadily increased, with the majority of them strengthening their teaching, administrative, and research infrastructures. However, no effort has been made to provide new housing for students and staff.

This is supposedly an intentional resource allocation policy, with tertiary institutions – both regional and national – unwilling to devote financing to housing (Akpan, 1998).

Many postsecondary universities have huge plots of land available for the construction of student hostels. However, it is argued that private sector representatives on university governing bodies have discouraged government investment in campus housing.

According to critics, owners of houses and property near campuses submitted offers to university officials to develop low and affordable housing for students. According to credible sources, several university officials got bank loans to construct hostels run by businesses whose owners are frequently relatives (Owen, 1993).

“The explanation behind this unusual policy is not far-fetched. Members of the property class who have invested in the development of these hostels will naturally desire their investment to pay profits,” Akpan (1998) observed.

Today’s students are suffering at the hands of hostel operators whose major goal, it is claimed, is to maximise profit with little regard for students’ welfare. Students have also expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of a learning environment in private hostels.

When you enter most private hostels in Nigerian institutions, you get the sense that you are in a shopping mall (Ubong, 2001). Some of these dormitories have been converted into tiny markets with hawkers. The hostels are particularly noisy at night and on weekends, and mobility in and out of the hostels is not controlled.

However, utilising selected University of Lagos Hostels as case studies, this research study will provide an overview of employing facilities management in managing school hostels in Nigeria.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In recent times, research into the administration of school hostels in Nigerian universities has been on the front burner due to continual growth in the student population in tertiary institutions, which has produced the demand for infrastructural expansion, including residential facilities.

However, no effort has been made to provide new housing for students and staff. The issues with operating institutional halls of residence range from financial ramifications to resource mismanagement to a lack of maintenance, among other things. This research study seeks to determine whether this is a deliberate resource allocation policy, with tertiary institutions

– at the regional and national levels – uninterested in committing funding to accommodation despite the tremendous challenges that students face as a result of this poor scenario. Poor administration of the school-owned hostels led to the creation of off-campus hostels. This advancement has not been able to eliminate the management issues associated with school hostels.

The research study, on the other hand, will provide an analysis of the application of facilities management, as well as the difficulties and opportunities of managing school hostels in Nigeria.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

 

i. In the case studies, what are the challenges in the management of school hostels?

 

ii. In the case studies, what are the most likely scenarios for school hostel management?

 

iii. How do facilities managers address management issues in Nigerian university hostels?

 

iii. What is the current state of the services in the case study?

 

v. What are the likely actions required for improved facility management on perceived key stakeholders?

 

1.4 PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this research is to look into the use of facilities management in school hostels, with a focus on specific hostels at the University of Lagos. The following goals will aid in reaching the stated goal:

i. investigate the issues in the facilities management of school hostels through case studies;

ii. to investigate the possible situations of maintenance in the administration of school hostels in case studies;

iii. to discover how facilities managers at Nigerian university hostels are addressing facilities management difficulties;

iii. To determine the current state of services in the case study hostels;

v. Determine which facilities management costs are incurred in the case study hostels;

 

1.5 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study’s findings would enlighten the general public on the situation of hostel accommodation in Nigerian colleges, taking into account the challenges and prospects.

This study will encourage facility managers to imitate the use of facility management information systems or computer-aided facility management programmes that are designed to ensure that an organization’s assets are fully utilised at the lowest possible cost while providing benefit to every phase of a building’s lifecycle.

This research will also serve as a resource for other academics and researchers interested in conducting additional research in this sector, and if implemented, it will go so far as to provide new explanations for the topic.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study will provide an overview of the application of facilities management in the management of school hostels in Nigeria, including case studies of Moremi and New Hall hostels at the University of Lagos.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE RESEARCH

Financial constraints- Inadequate funding will tend to hamper the efficiency of the research in finding relevant materials, literature, or information, as well as in the data gathering method (internet, questionnaire, and interview).

Time constraint- The research will conduct this investigation alongside other academic tasks. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

1.8 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

Hostels are places that offer cheap meals and housing to a certain group of people, such as students or workers.

The equipment that is for the comfort, enjoyment, and protection of the occupants, as well as those that assure the economic usable life of the property, are referred to as facilities. Electric power generators, fire-fighting facilities, and so forth are examples of such facilities.

Management is the skill of coordinating human activities and physical resources to achieve set goals. It is also viewed as a social process entailing responsibility for the effective and economical planning and regulation of an enterprise’s operations in order to satisfy a specific purpose or task.

Facility management is the process by which an individual or organisation offers and sustains support services in a quality environment in order to meet strategic goals.

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