STRUCTURAL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN NIGERIA

Organizational function, processes and information technology networks are essential frameworks that provide the tools for retaining, packaging, reinforcing, and transferring knowledge in Nigerian public universities. These influence the performance of universities globally and locally in terms of knowledge generated through transmitting and conducting relevant research that translate into impactful innovation and development of the society. The fast eroding culture of exchange programs, processes and information technology networks of Nigerian public universities had resulted to poor performance. This is evident with close to near bottom position in the global universities ranking, lack of commitment by the government evidenced with low budgetary allocation to the Nigerian education sector which had affected quality of teaching, research output, and quality of service to the society. Therefore, the present study examines the effect of structural capital on the performance of public universities in Nigeria. This study employed cross-sectional survey research design with a total population of eight thousand, five hundred and eighty-nine (8,589). The sample size of 382 was selected out of which 95% responded. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed using descriptive and OLS regression analysis. The result of analysis revealed that structural capital is significantly related with research and teaching performance but insignificant with community performance. The study concluded that proper management of structural capital of Nigerian public universities promotes research performance and has potentials of improving the teaching performance of the universities. Therefore, the study recommends that university administrators and other stakeholders should create more awareness on the potentials of efficiently managing structural capital of their universities and emphasis should be placed on policies that will improve the quality and relevance of researches in Nigerian public universities. The study also recommends that Nigerian public universities should improve on policies of appointment of academic staff so as to employ qualified personnel.