Impact of Space Management on Core Business Activities in Public Universities in Akwa Ibom State

Abstract

Space is a resource that has been identified to be a major cost and operational concern in tertiary institutions, after personnel. Space management has been a major problem in Nigerian universities at the expense of the core business activities, including teaching, research, and community engagement. This paper has examined how space management has affected the core business operations in the two state-owned universities in Akwa Ibom State. The mixed-method (interviews, observations, analysis of documents) method was used. Their results demonstrated that the allocation of inefficient space, absence of digital tracking systems, and infrastructural shortfalls are the obstacles to the successful provision of academics. Nevertheless, there are a few adaptive measures like flexible working hours and transformation of open spaces into students learning spaces which are under practice. The proposed study suggests an institutional commitment towards long term space planning, stakeholder involvement and implementation of space management technology to streamline academic processes.