Educational ERP solutions for Higher Institutions of Learning: With an Emphasis on Human Capital Management Component

Tibuhinda Ngonzi ,Andrew Jisaba

doi:10.7176/ikm/11-4-12

Abstract

This paper promotes for adoption of educational enterprise resource planning systems (ERP) in the higher institutions of learning (HIL). It suggests for consideration of human capital management (HCM) as a necessary component of such ERP solutions, extending the traditional Students Management Information Systems (SMIS) and standalone financial management modules in academia. The paper is an outcome of the study involving a situational analysis of the proposal stage for educational ERP implementation, conducted at a case university in Tanzania (name withheld in consideration of ethics). Using exploratory survey, the study sought to: establish a match between the university’s objectives and ERP solutions to justify for investment; understand the perception of the need among the key stakeholders; and understand the management’s readiness to adopt and support such an implementation. The paper uses a new concept of ‘extended Likert Scale’ tool for collection of ordinal and opinion based data. Among the findings is poor customer care as an undermining factor for the currently installed SMIS performance, and a gross need for electronic HCM services that are not available. The contributions the paper makes include: exposition of the technological capabilities required to improve on knowledge and HCM in universities as required in development as well as election of educational ERP packages. Keywords: Educational ERP, Higher Institutions of Learning, Human Capital Management, Extended Likert Scale DOI: 10.7176/IKM/11-4-12 Publication date: October 30 th 2021

Highlights

The UNESCO 2019 report indicates that the gross enrolment ratio in tertiary education which includes universities increased from 19% in 2000 to 38% in 2017 globally, with the female enrolment ratio exceeding the male ratio by 4 percentage points
The work of this paper was to motivate for the adoption of educational enterprise resource planning systems (ERP) in the higher institutions of learning
This comes from the observations from literature that higher institutions of learning tend to concentrate and end at the installation of Students’ management information systems which lack capabilities to handle knowledge and human capital management issues

Summary

Introduction

The UNESCO 2019 report indicates that the gross enrolment ratio in tertiary education which includes universities increased from 19% in 2000 to 38% in 2017 globally, with the female enrolment ratio exceeding the male ratio by 4 percentage points. With rapid growth rates in the 2000s, the report stipulates that the biggest increase in tertiary enrolment ratios is expected in middle-income countries, where it will reach 52% by 2030 (UNESCO, 2019). Universities in developing economies in Africa are experiencing a phenomenal outburst in enrolment as a result of demographic and economic factors. This outburst is accompanied with challenges related to heavy pressure on the carrying, administrative, infrastructural, human, and knowledge resources capacities

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Conclusion