SECTION 1: QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS
4.1.4. Internet connectivity and access
4.1.4.2. Internet connection types
Various connection services can currently be used to connect homes, businesses, and organisations to the Internet. For access to the Internet in any educational venue, one must be equipped with an Internet connection either by means of a telephone or cable network and a modem, or via a direct connection. Many more evolved states of Internet connectivity are also being explored today, particularly wireless access through mobile technologies. This study investigated the types of Internet connections Unizul and DUT offer their students and staff. The aim was to understand how these two groups connect to the Internet, including the advantages and disadvantages of each particular type of connection.
4.1.4.2.1. Internet connection types used by students
Table 4.6: Internet connection types used by students
Internet connection types Unizul N=71 DUT N=133
Dial up/ regular modem 9 (13%) 5 (4%)
DSL (Digital subscriber Line) 1 (1%) -
ADSL (Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line) - 4 (3%)
Cable Modem Connection 11 (15%) 4 (3%)
Wireless 2 (3%) -
I don't know 45 (63%) 117 (88%)
Dial up, cable, wireless 1 (1%) -
Dial up & cable 1 (1%) -
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) - 1 (1%)
Institutional line - 1 (1%)
Dial up, wireless 2 (3%) -
Most of the students (45; 63%, Unizul and 117; 88%, DUT) did not know the connection type they used to gain access to the Internet. For this reason, evaluating whether or not they were satisfied with their Internet connection type was difficult. Nevertheless, 11 (15%) respondents from Unizul stated that they used cable modem access compared to 4 (3%) from DUT. There were 9 (13%) respondents from Unizul and 5 (4 %) from DUT who reportedly used dial-up connections. Inconsequential responses of less than 3% were recorded against other Internet connection types.
4.1.4.2.2. Internet connection types used by staff
Table 4.7: Internet connection types used by staff
Internet connection types Unizul N=11 DUT N=16
Dial up/ regular modem 2 (18%) -
DSL (Digital subscriber Line) - -
ADSL (Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line) 1 (9%) 3 (19%)
Cable Modem Connection 3 (27%) 6 (38%)
Wireless 1 (9%) -
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) 1 (9%) 1 (6%)
I don't know 2 (18%) 5 (31%)
Institutional line - 1(6%)
There were multiple responses to this question; some of the staff members had more than one type of Internet connection. The number of responses therefore does not tally with the responses obtained. Most staff members stated that they connected to the Internet using cable modem connections (3; 27%, Unizul and 6; 38%, DUT). Two (18%)
respondents reported connectivity using dial-up connections, while none had this form of access at DUT. As was the case in 4.4.4.1 with students, academics were not aware of the technical issues pertaining to their access to the Internet.
4.1.4.2.1. Students’ satisfaction with method of Internet/Web access
Table 4.8: Students’ satisfaction with method of Internet/web access
Method of access Are students satisfied?
N= 93 (Unizul) N = 87 (DUT)
Yes No Not sure
Unizul DUT Unizul DUT Unizul DUT Wired office terminal (desktop/ laptop) 12;60% 23;100% 7;35% - 1;5% - Wired computer lab, library/ info centre 21;37% 16;31% 32;56% 32;62% 4;7% 4; 7%
Wired home PC 6;86% 3;75% - 1;25% 1;14% -
Wired dormitory PC - - 1 - - -
Wired home & office PC 3;75% 1 1;25% - - -
Wireless office terminal 1 - - - - -
Wireless computer lab/ library/ info centre
- 4;100% - - - -
Wireless Home PC 1 3;100% - - - -
Wireless both home PC & office PC 1 - - - - -
Wireless dormitory PC - - - -
Mobile phone access 1 - - - - -
In general, students indicated that they were not satisfied with access through wired computer laboratories. Only 21 (37%) students from Unizul and 16 (31%) from DUT stated that they were content with this method of access. A large number of students (32;
56%, Unizul and 32; 62%, DUT) were unhappy. However, many students were content with wired office access, confirmed by 12 (60%) respondents from Unizul and all 23 (100%) from DUT. A moderate number from Unizul (7; 35%) said they were not satisfied and only 1 (5%) was not sure. In both institutions, it generally appears as though access to the Internet via wired office terminals is better or more efficient than other forms of access. Regrettably, most students are not beneficiaries of this improved access.
A small group had access through both wired office terminals and home PCs: 3 (75%) from Unizul were satisfied and 1 (25%) was not, and the one individual from DUT with this kind of access was satisfied. Other methods of access (such as wireless connections
or cell phone access) were not common, even though the respondents who used them appeared more satisfied.
The use of wireless access could benefit a lot of academic institutions. Two of the main advantages of wireless access are convenience and mobility; wireless networks allow users to access network resources from nearly any convenient location within their primary networking environment (home or office) or outside their normal work environment (airports, etc.). This is in tandem with the growing saturation of laptop computers and other handheld gadgets that provide online access and (unlike desktop computers) mobility. With wireless access, there are no phone lines, extra cords or external modems to get tangled up in. These features offer a lot of convenience in an academic setting, e.g. access in dormitories or outside in recreational areas (parks or playing fields), especially to students. The low use of wireless access reported in this study means that its numerous benefits are not being taken advantage of.
4.14.2.2. Staff members’ satisfaction with method of Internet/Web access
Table 4.9: Staff member’s satisfaction with their method of Internet/ Web access
Method of access Are staff members satisfied?
N= 11 (Unizul) N = 14 (DUT)
Yes No Not sure
Unizul DUT Unizul DUT Unizul DUT Wired office terminal (desktop/ laptop) 4;57% 9;90% 3; 43% 1;10% - - Wired computer lab, library/ info centre 1;100% 3;75% - 1;25% - -
Wired home PC 2;100% 1;20% - 2;40% - 2;40%
Wired dormitory PC - - - -
Wired home & office PC - - - -
Wireless office terminal - - - -
Wireless computer lab/ library/ info centre
- - 1;100% - - -
Wireless Home PC - - - -
Wireless both home PC & office PC - - - -
Wireless dormitory PC - - - -
Mobile phone access - - - -
As reflected in the table above, most of the academics interviewed in both institutions were satisfied with wired office access (4; 57% at Unizul, and a significantly larger
number at DUT: 9; 90%). All the academics from Unizul with home access (2; 100%) were content, while the majority at DUT were either unsure (2; 40%) or not satisfied (2;
40%). Other Internet connection types were not common. The latter are probably for private home use and most users were reportedly pleased with their performance.