INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES AS A CORRELATION TO PROCEDURES FOR MANAGING DIGITAL INCLUSION FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN ENUGU STATE.

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between institutional policies and procedures for managing digital inclusion and their impact on enhancing teaching and learning in public universities in Enugu State. Two (2) research purposes, two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The design of the study was descriptive survey design. The population of the study was 199 Head of Departments from the three universities in Enugu State University of Science and Technology Enugu (ESUT) 88, UNEC 78 and Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) 33 and sample was the entire 199 head of departments from the same universities while the sampling technique were census and stratified random sampling techniques. The instrument adopted for data gathering was a self-designed 10 items scale titled ‘‘Institutional Policies and Procedures for Managing Digital Learning Questionnaire’’ (IPPMDI) and reliability coefficients of 0.82 was established which showed that the instrument was reliable. The research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while the hypotheses tested using z-test at 0.05 level of significance.. Despite the widespread recognition of digital inclusion’s importance, many institutions face challenges such as infrastructural deficits, policy gaps, and resistance to change, which hinder the attainment of effective teaching and learning outcomes. The findings indicate a significant positive correlation between well-articulated institutional policies and the effectiveness of procedural management for digital inclusion. The study emphasizes the need for robust policy frameworks, consistent implementation procedures, and stakeholder engagement to foster an inclusive digital learning environment. It further recommends that universities prioritize policy development, resource allocation, and continuous evaluation to improve the quality of teaching and learning through digital inclusion in Enugu State.