Abstract:
Over the past few decades, universities all over the world have been experiencing
new paradigms in the way they handle and manage students’ information due to
the proliferation of ICTs and its applications such as web-based student
information systems. With the adoption of such systems as the Online Student
Information System (OSIS) in academic institutions, the experience is that it has
now become easy to harness and fast track all students’ records in one centralized
database via the internet technology. While the benefits of OSIS seem to be
cerebrated, it has been a hustle for most universities in Africa to completely go
digital in their operations due poor ICT infrastructures that seem to be prevalent
in the region. In Malawi, a social survey was conducted with the aim of assessing
the Mzuzu University Student Online Management System (SOMS) from the
perceptive of students. The study applied the principles of both qualitative and
quantitative research approaches. The principal data collection methods were
questionnaires and follow up interviews. The study population was made up of
third year students in the Faculty of Information Science and Communications
and the Director of ICT services at Mzuzu University. The quantitative data
collected were analysed and presented using Microsoft Excel Package. Thematic
analysis technique was used to analyse the data collected through interviews. The
study revealed that Mzuzu University SOMS has one prime service which is online
registration and admissions, with online examination results access, student
profile and finance as add-ons. The system benefits students as it has cut the time
spent during registration periods in every new semester. Students faced the
following major challenges when using the system; server loads as more students
concurrently use the system, high cost of internet data bundles and charges, lack
of system regular updates and high cost of password recovery. The study
recommends that the university through the ICT Directorate should consider
addressing the various issues impeding the effective use of the system amongst
the student community
