MODERN TECHNOLOGIES FOR EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS OF OFFICE MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS IN RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

The study examined Modern Technologies for Employability Skills of Office Management and Technology Students in Rivers State Universities. Two (2) specific objectives, two research questions were posed and two corresponding null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 54 Office Management and Technology final year students in the 2020/2021 academic session and 22 Office Management Technology lecturers from Rivers State University and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, a total population of 76. This total served as a sample size and was purposively studied. The instrument for data collection was a self-structured 29 items questionnaire on a 4-point rating scale titled: Modern Technologies and Employability Skills of Office Management and Technology student (MTESOMTS). The instrument was face and content validated by three experts: two in the field of Business Education and one in Measurement and Evaluation all in the Faculty of Education, Rivers State University. The reliability was computed using Cronbach Alpha formula which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.87. The statistical tools used to answer the research question were the Mean and Standard Deviation while, t-test statistics was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study found out moderate extent of adequacy and utilization of modern technologies for teaching and learning by Office Management Technology Students for employability skill acquisition in Rivers State Universities. The researchers recommended amongst others that efforts of government and stakeholders in education should be intensified but findings revealed moderate adequacy of modern technologies for effective teaching and instructional delivery of Office management and technology courses in Rivers State Universities. The study also revealed adequate cognitive and practical or professional deliveries of lectures to Office management and technology students in Rivers State Universities to help them acquire employability skills. This could enable students secure employment and sustain it.

Keywords: Modern Technology, Employability Skills, Office Management and Technology Students.