Confidence level and school experiences of final year undergraduates of computer science in South-West Nigerian universities

This research explores the connection between the confidence level and university experiences of final year undergraduates of Computer Science across universities in the South-West region of Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted for this study and 450 final year undergraduates were proportionately selected for the investigation. Computational task self-confidence questionnaire (CTSCQ) was used for data collection which demonstrated a high reliability with a Cronbach's alpha (α) of 0.89. Statistical analysis, including mean, standard deviations, frequencies, percentages, and linear regression, revealed that the final year undergraduates exhibited moderate confidence in computational tasks, indicating potential for growth in self-efficacy. Additionally, a notable correlation was found between the students' university experiences and their confidence level, suggesting that integrating positive learning experiences - aligned with Bandura's self-efficacy theory - could boost both satisfaction and confidence. The study recommends inviting industry experts as guest lecturers, increasing hands-on training, and prioritising student learning experiences in curriculum development.