Application of Facilities Management in School Hostels (Case Studies of Moremi and New Hall Hostels in University of Lagos)
CHAPTER ONE
AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The aim of this research study is to examine the application of facilities management in school hostels with emphases to particular hostels in the University of Lagos. The following objectives will be useful in achieving the above aim:-
- to examine the challenges in the facilities management of school hostels in the case studies;
- to examine the likely scenarios of maintenance in the management of school hostels in the case studies;
- to find out ways by which facilities management challenges in Nigerian university hostel are curtailed by the facilities managers;
- To find out the present condition of services in the case study hostels;
- To find out which facilities management costs are being used in the case study hostels;
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
The increasing complexity in business organization in recent times has put a big task on the traditional structure of vertical integration in managing the core business operations and processes and the supportive services which are provided and managed in-house. Management response in this direction has also resulted in the separation of the management of these core business operations and processes from the, management of its facilities. Facilities represent an organization’s physical setting, support services and environmental conditions which must be used effectively to add value to business objectives, strategies’ and processes (Durodola, 2003). They include all buildings and fixed equipment such as warehouse, laboratories, auxiliaries’ etc. but excluding all productive and non-productive equipment.
In relation to properties, facilities are seen as the equipment that are for the comfort, enjoyment and protection of occupiers as well as those that ensure the economic useful life of the property. Examples of such facilities will include electric power generators, air conditioning systems, fire hydrants, lawn mowers, boreholes, fire alarms systems etc. Another aspect describes facilities as those identifiable items which constitutes the organization’s real or plant property having value as tangible assets. Facilities have become increasingly important in our rapidly changing business environment whereby organizations need greater flexibility, improved connectivity with their customers and better working conditions and more choice for employees all backed up by a quality environment. The concept, discipline and practice of facilities management are evolved to offer integrated workplace strategies and at the same time arrange the provision of serviced accommodation to meet these contemporary business needs. The new discipline called facilities management in Britain or facility management in America or FM in short was first conceived in the United States of America some twenty years ago and has since gained ground in the advanced countries of Europe, Japan and Australia.
According to Owen (1995); Facility management became recognized as an identifiable management concept in the state of the art of the eighties and has been practiced in the United Kingdom since about 1983. It is now enjoying a rapid spread in the developing countries of Africa including Nigeria. The proponent of facility management presents it as a coordinated and integrated approach to all problems of business and property management. Their detractors view it as a momentary incursion of a brief span into other disciplines.
The lack of awareness or recognition of facility management is further compounded by the fact that facility management is yet to clarify its scope and contents. A quick look into some definitions and expressions are;
Facility management is an interdisciplinary field primarily devoted to the maintenance and care of commercial or institutional buildings, such as hotels, resorts, schools, office complexes, sports arenas or convention centers. Duties may include the care of air conditioning, electric power, plumbing and lighting systems; cleaning; decoration; grounds keeping and security. Some or all of these duties can also be assisted by computer programs (Barret, 1995). These duties can be thought of as non-core or support services, because they are not the primary business (taken in the broadest sense of the word) of the owner organization.
Facility management also encompasses all that broad spectrum of services required to assure the built environment perform the functions for which a facility was designed and constructed. Operations and maintenance typically includes the day to day activities necessary for the building and its systems and equipment to perform their intended function.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter discusses the procedure and the methodology adopted in executing the survey and solving the research objectives of the study. It deals with research area, population of the study, research design, sample size, data collection and analysis.
RESEARCH AREA
The University of Lagos is one of Nigeria first generation universities founded by the federal government and is situated in Nigeria’s urban centre. The institution is provided with student accommodation facilities even though that was not the original intent. It was primarily conceived as a university expected to provide tuition to a non-residential student population. However factors like high rent, cost of transportation and traffic have led to a review of the policy by university administration. The University can only accommodate about 12,750 students (Extracted from the University of Lagos Official Website, 2015). The research was based on a higher institution of learning in Lagos state named University of Lagos. This is to be able to design, administer collect and analyse the questionnaire within the time-frame given for the research study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
INTRODUCTION
This Chapter discusses the data collected from questionnaires administered to the Students in the case study (University of Lagos) and also the Management in the case study. It also deals with presentation of results, which begins with frequency and descriptive tables of the variables in the drafted questionnaires administered.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
SUMMARY
This study shows the operational factors that affects the provision of facilities in students’ hall of residence and presents the development of the operational framework for satisfaction in institutional halls of residence in the University of Lagos (UNILAG) which is the case study of this research. The research study establishes that the facilities in institutional halls of residence in Unilag are good enough according to the combination of several factors and facilities considered. This research study provides for a better comprehension of the roles of facilities managers towards operating better facilities provision to the halls of residence in institutions.
CONCLUSION
This research study presents a series of guidelines for use by facilities managers for the provision of good facilities. This will therefore be a framework for use by the authorities in charge of the facilities, the students in the halls of residence as well as the school in general.
RECOMMENDATIONS
From the findings of this research study, the following are hereby recommending:
- Students and the facilities managers must be aware of the benefits of keeping the environment clean to make the facilities presents be in a good working condition always;
- Students who live in residence halls will be held financially liable for restoration or replacement of facilities/items damaged or destroyed as the result of a fire and/or safety violation for which they are responsible;
- Instruct students on the very real hazards of misuse of some of the facilities available in the halls of residence;
- Instruct students to keep clothing, draperies, and bedclothes away from lamps and other sources of heat or electricity;
- Block off fireplaces so that no type of burning can be done within them. (Fireplaces are sometimes found in older homes or other buildings which have been converted to residence halls) for emergence;
- The institution should develop parent and student guides about the facilities in the school, and distribute them to all parents or guardians and students;
- Students must be educated about the importance of day-to-day maintenance measures in residence halls and off-campus housing.
- Enlist Staff to Keep Dormitories Safe: The residential life department at each institution should be inspecting all student rooms to identify and check the facilities, in addition, The Residence hall manager should train resident advisors in their role in maintenance and should teach them how to identify hazards or violations in student rooms and throughout the building;
- Instruct students to look for and report worn or faulty facilities;
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