The Educational Services Provided to Students of the Enhanced Part-Time Programat Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University: A Developmental Evaluation Study
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the educational services provided to students of theenhanced Part-Time Program at Al-Imam Muhammed Ibn Saud Islamic University highlighting the most important means of developing these services. The researcher uses the descriptive documentary method as well as the descriptive survey method using the questionnaire as instrument in the survey study. The study sample consists of (310) male and female students.
The study reveals a number of findings. First, The Deanship of E-Learning and Distance Education undertakes a number of tasks and educational services amounting to more than 15 basic educational serviceswhich include several secondary tasks and services. Second, the number of live sessionswas 3899 during the second semester of the academic year 1433/1434 AH for 302 courses, run by 268 faculty. Third, the study sample participants are highly satisfied with the educational services as the weighted arithmetic mean of their responses shows and which is 3.55 out of 5.0. They are also highly satisfied with two educational services; namely, providing a statement of acceptance for students who need it, and the way a student registers for courses at the start of a new academic term. Fourth, the study sample participants are highly satisfied with 17 educational services, moderately satisfied with 9, and least satisfied with the services concerning self-assignments and field training.Fifth, the study sample participants strongly agree to the proposals for developing educational services, with an average of 3.93 out of 5.0. Sixth, the study sample participants strongly agree to 6 of the proposed means to develop educational services, including: notifying students of their mid-term results via SMS or e-mail, possibility of running live lectures from all smart devices, and increasing the number of approved courses in the summer term to include all levels. Seventh, there are no statistically significant differences in the responses of the sample participants according to the variables of level and gender. Eighth, there are statistically significant differences in the responses of the sample participants in regards to the variable of specialization in favor of the students of Shari`aCollege. The first theme is in favor of the students of Da`wahCollege, whereas there are no statistically significant differences in the responses of the sample study regarding the second theme concerning the means of developing educational services.
On the basis ofthese findings, the researcher presents a number of academic recommendations. The most significant of which is the need to maintain the performance level provided by the Deanship for male and female students in the area of educational services, which are 19, that have had high and very high satisfaction levels. Second, developing the 9 educational services that have not received a high satisfaction level. Finally, activating ways of developing educational services that received the support and approval of the sample population of the study.
