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Article Title: Cognition of Training Functionality as Organizational Challenge for Quality Assurance in Nigerian Learning Institutions
by Okechukwu Dominic, Nwankwo

Abstract:
The study investigated the quality assurance attributes of training being given in the Nigerian higher learning institutions. This was assessed by examining the cognition of training functionality vis-a-vis the ability to correlate the courses of study with their practical endeavours. The hypothesis tested in the study at P <.05 states that "development of the cognitive ability of trainees to correlate training to its practical endeavours has not been effectively achieved for the Nigerian leaning institutions". A total of 348 participants were systemically (intervally) sampled from a population of about 800 trainees (final-year students) of Anambra State University, Nigeria. The data which attained interval measurement were obtained from the participants' semester mini-examination (quiz) scores. The study assessed three areas of practical endeavours as creativity, community participation, and entrepreneurship. The participants were expected to identify for each area not less than 10 practical applications of their courses of study. Only the most significant and realistic points were scored for 10 marks for each area. The study had 2 x 3 factorial design and multivariate inferential analyses, supported by descriptive statistics. The results of the analyses showed that trainees from the Nigerian higher learning institutions achieved average cognition of the correlates between their courses of study and their practical endeavours. Interestingly, the female gender had better cognition of this assessment, though still resolving around the average. However, the cognition of the correlate between the courses of study and community participation was below average. The possible causes of the study's outcome could be attributed to poor training facilities, more conceptual training than practical training, possible incompetence of the trainers, trainees' unseriousness etc. It is therefore recommended for the training in the Nigeria learning institutions to be more functional-based than conceptual. The Nigerian learning institutions should also be well funded.

Keywords: cognition, training-functionality, organizational-challenge, quality-assurance, Nigeria, learning- institution

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