RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMPUTER LABORATORY AND LIBRARY RESOURCE FACILITY UTILIZATION AND EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS ACQUISITION AMONG UNDERGRADUATES OF BUSINESS EDUCATION IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between computer laboratory and library resource facility utilization and employability skills acquisition among undergraduates of Business Education in Anambra State. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance to guide the study. The study adopted a correlational research design. The study was carried out in Anambra State. The population of the study comprised 266 undergraduates of Business Education in Anambra State; 254 was used because of the number of questionnaires the researcher was able to collect. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire developed by the researcher. Face and construct validity of the instrument were established by three experts two from the Department of Vocational Education (Business Education) and one from the Department of Educational Foundation, Faculty of Education, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam. To determine reliability, a trial-test was conducted using Cronbach’s alpha. Internal consistency coefficients of 0.77 was obtained as an overall reliability Co-efficient, for section B, while section C was 0.72, indicating that the instrument was reliable. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient was used to analyze data for the study. The findings of the study revealed that computer laboratory facility and library resource facility enhances employability skills acquisition amongst undergraduates of Business Education in Anambra State. The study revealed that gender did not significantly influence the relationship between computer laboratory and library resource facility utilization and employability skills acquisition, indicating that both male and female students benefited from the effective utilization of computer laboratory and library resource facility utilization.  Based on the findings, the study concluded that effective utilization of computer laboratory and library resource facility utilization is a critical determinant of employability skills acquisition amongst undergraduates of Business Education in Anambra State. The study emphasized that the availability of facilities alone is insufficient unless such facilities are adequately utilized, properly maintained, and integrated into instructional delivery. The study recommended that tertiary institutions should prioritize the    provision, maintenance, and effective utilization of computer laboratories and library facility. Students should be encouraged to maximize available facilities to enhance their employability skills and improve their career prospects upon graduation. Finally, the study contributed to knowledge by providing empirical evidence that employability skills acquisition among Business Education undergraduates is not solely dependent on curriculum content but is significantly influenced by the effective utilization of institutional facilities.