Individual Characteristics and Social Learning Modelling Factors Influencing ICT Skills Development among Postgraduate Students at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Information communication technologies (ICT) offer opportunities to young people through guided education and skill acquisition, which in turn lead to youth's self-sustainability, and employment. Despite the immense contributions and benefits of ICT to economic development and reduction of unemployment, there is a little overarching investigation regarding the factors affecting ICT skills development among students in the University of Ibadan. This study investigates how individual characteristics and social learning modelling factors influence ICT skills development among postgraduate students in the University of Ibadan. The study adopted a survey research design. Data were collected from a sample of 398 postgraduate students. Frequency counts and percentages, Chi-square test, Spearman's rank correlation, and multiple linear regression were used for data analysis. Three research questions were answered and three hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that individual characteristics and social learning modelling factors jointly influenced the ICT skills development of postgraduate students (F (9, 388) = 9.488, P<0.05). The study showed that students recognise that ICT skills are required to succeed in today’s world and are deemed necessary for employment. The respondents expressed interest in developing ICT skills to boost their employability. They also felt that the university management is obligated to provide training on ICT skills. Based on this, the study recommends that educational institutions and the government should implement effective policies for students to acquire sufficient ICT skills. The study also recommends that ICT skills development programmes should be incorporated into academic programmes of universities in Nigeria. Keywords: Information and Communication Technology, Digital Literacy, ICT Complementary Skills, Nigeria, Postgraduate Students, Ibadan, University.