Programme accreditation practices and challenges in university libraries: the case of Osun State University College of Humanities Library

Abstract

The Nigerian Universities Commission is empowered under the law to accredit academic programmes in Nigerian Universities based on stipulated standards and to ensure quality maintenance. This work documented the experience of the College of Humanities, Osun State University Library in its role as a major contributor to the success of accreditation exercises in the College for four different sessions, including a resources verification exercise, highlighting the successes recorded. The study specifically examines the practices and challenges of programme accreditation in the College Library. Some of the challenges to programme accreditation practice as identified by staff of the library are in e-library services provision, including unreliable Internet connectivity and too much dependency on University Information and Communications Technology (ICT) other challenges of the library including inadequate funding, poor power supply and shortage of staff. Suggestions to remedy the challenges to programme accreditation practices in the university library include, the need for improved funding in terms of budgetary allocation, need to enhance better internal quality assurance and ensuring early preparation for NUC programme accreditation exercise.