Information Technology for Educational Management at a Ugandan Public University

This article discusses the introduction of information and communication technology in educational management (ITEM) into the academic and financial administrative activities of Uganda’s oldest and largest university. This university has seen the relevance of ITEM especially in enhancing its efficiency and effectiveness in view of increased enrolment. Data used were collected through documentary analysis and thematic interviews. The interviews involved 17 respondents comprising two top managers, eleven deans and directors of faculties, schools or institutes and four administrative personnel knowledgeable about the academic and financial ITEM systems. Data were transcribed and emergent themes identified. The findings illuminate a mixture of optimistic expectations and lamentations to the ITEM systems that have been aimed at integrating the highly decentralized administrative structure in the university. These comprehensive ITEM systems have been a vendor-developed and donor-funded venture. Consequently, adopting the systems has in some instances been compounded by incompatibility to the existing administrative practices. In light of these findings, it is suggested that ITEM systems ought to be first piloted in a few units prior to university-wide deployment in this developing setting with its peculiarities. Besides, on-site ITEM development would more likely remedy the mismatch between ITEM systems and the administrative processes it is meant to support even though they are projects and time-bound.