Abstract:
The purpose of the study was to ascertain the availability and
utilization of Internet by graduate students of` the University of Cape Coast
(UCC) to facilitate their academic work. The descriptive survey was adopted
for the study. Out of a study population of 1140, a sample size of 382 was
selected but 321 respondents responded to the questions. The reliability test
for the pilot study yielded .721 Cronbach’s alphalevel. The statistical tools
used for the data analysis were frequencies, percentages, means and Mann
Whitney U test. Although the Internet was available and was distributed to the
graduate students at vantage points on the university campus by the Computer
Centre of the university, it was discovered that the Internet was unreliable and
not easily accessible by the graduate students. This was due to erratic
electricity power supply and very slow speed of the Internet. It was also found
out that the graduate students always use the university’s Internet to gather
information to write thesis and assignments and to send and receive e-mails.
Data from the interview conducted indicate that the state of the Internet
infrastructure at the UCC was not of its best quality. Most of the Internet
equipment was inadequate, obsolete and inefficient to meet the growing
demand of Internet at the UCC. The study concluded that the Internet was
available at the university and the graduate students were using it to enhance
their research based programs on campus. Management of the university
should raise enough funds through its alumni and private individuals to
procure state of the art Internet infrastructure for the university.
