Students of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), will henceforth heave a sigh of relief as an e-ticketing platform designed to address their various complaints has been launched, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Olufemi Peters, has said.
Peters disclosed this on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 during the formal launching of e-ticketing platform at the university’s headquarters, Jabi, Abuja.
“Part of our schedule is innovation and this is one innovation. I’m happy that finally, today, we are resolving students’ complaints to challenges through a particular approach that will improve effectiveness and efficiency”, Peters stated.
According to him, e-ticketing is in tandem with the tenet of Open and Distance Learning (ODL), adding that it is “one of the kernels, one of the pillars of ODL, which is learner support services.”
He said that since students are not present “to lodge their complaints as is done in conventional universities where students could move to the departments to ask questions, we must make every effort to bridge distance between them (students) and the university.
“Therefore, the university must make every effort to bridge distance between where they lived and where we are. This is all the essence of what we are doing here today – bridging the gap, bridging the distance.”
Speaking further, he said: “we cannot reduce complaints of students but what we want to do is if they (students) have any complain we resolve it as quickly as possible so that they can be rest assured that the people that you are not seeing, they’re taken care of.”
The VC, who expressed optimism and satisfaction on the ability of agents and supervisors to deliver based on their trainings, also promised to give them the necessary support through further trainings with a view to perfecting the e-ticketing platform.
“I’m happy the Registrar is there. You cannot be transferring people from this unit anyhow because they have gone through trainings and they are familiar with the processes already. It will not happen.
“What it means is that we are going to structure it in such away that certain position becomes professional position in this university,” the VC stated.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Technology, Innovation & Research (TIR) as well as the moderator of the training, Prof. Monioluwa Olaniyi, who described the e-ticketing system as “landmark” and “very important,” added that the system is to ensure student complaint is brought to zero level.
While thanking other stakeholders for their contributions towards the success of the e-ticketing training-cum-launching, the DVC TIR said that “the e-ticketing system will address several challenges,” explaining that “we’ve arrived at a structure we believe it can work.”
On his part, the Deputy Director, Directorate of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Mr. Sule Onu, who co-ordinated the training, lauded the e-ticketing platform, adding that “this system will be integrated in all our delivery portals.”
Meanwhile, the Director, Management Information System (MIS), Dr. Greg, Onwodi, thanked the VC and the management of the university for their contributions towards the success of e-ticketing, saying that several innovations have been taking place in the Directorate of MIS.
It would be recalled that during the 2-day e-ticketing training workshop held for managers, desk officers between May 5-6, 2022 at the university headquarters in Abuja, the VC graciously provided 25 laptop computers for agents, supervisors and custom users for quality service delivery.
