Records Management and Administrative Efficiency in Polytechnic Institutions: A Study of IMT Enugu

Effective records management is a foundational requirement for administrative efficiency in educational institutions, enabling evidence-based decision-making, regulatory compliance, institutional memory preservation, and responsive service delivery to students and stakeholders. This study examines the relationship between records management practices and administrative efficiency at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu. The research is anchored on the Records Continuum Model, which conceptualises records as dynamic, continuously managed assets that serve both current operational and long-term archival purposes within organisations. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised 412 administrative and registry staff, academic heads of department, and student affairs officers at IMT Enugu. Using purposive and stratified random sampling, a sample of 197 respondents was drawn. Data were gathered via structured questionnaires validated through content and face validity procedures, and analysed using regression analysis and Pearson correlation. Findings indicate that electronic records management systems, standardised filing procedures, and records retrieval speed are the dimensions most significantly associated with administrative efficiency. The results further reveal that departments utilising digital records management systems resolve student administrative queries 67 percent faster than those relying on manual paper-based systems. It is concluded that modernising records management infrastructure at IMT Enugu will yield measurable gains in administrative responsiveness and institutional effectiveness. The study recommends that IMT management invest in an integrated enterprise-wide digital records management system, train registry staff in electronic document handling, and establish a formal records retention and disposal policy aligned with regulatory requirements.

Keywords: Records management, administrative efficiency, polytechnic institutions, IMT Enugu, Records Continuum Model