DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ANDROID-
BASED ONLINE CLEARANCE SYSTEM FOR
GRADUATING STUDENTS
ABSTRACT
An Android-based online clearance system is a research work that will help build an
effective information management for schools. It is aimed at developing a system for
making clearance after graduation. The designed android application will serve as a
more reliable and effective means of undertaking students clearance, remove all forms
of delay and stress as well as enable you understand the procedures involved as well
as how to do your clearance online. This project work made use of data collected from
the University, materials and journals from various authors and an android application
was developed to effectively achieve the aims of this project. In this project, the
implementation of the computer-based system was carried out using PHP, JAVA, SDK,
and MYSQL for the database. In conclusion, the work met all the objectives intended. It
is, however, recommended for use by all tertiary institutions.
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Clearance is a status granted individuals, typically members of the military, university
graduates and employees of governments and their contractors, allowing them access
to classified information, i.e. state secrets. The term "clearance” is also sometimes used
in private organizations that have a formal process to vet employees for access to
sensitive information. A clearance by itself is normally not sufficient to gain access; the
organization must determine that the cleared individual has a "need to know" the
information. No one is supposed to be granted access to classified information solely
because of rank or position, but once a clearance is obtained, access to certain
information or gain of freedom will be granted.
As many universities have choosing to pursue the dynamic educational options
available online. The advantages of e-learning are many. As people of all ages and
backgrounds become increasingly reliant on the internet for information, online learning
becomes more convenient and efficient here the need for an online clearance system.
The skills needed to access and comprehend information online are becoming
commonplace, and the flexibility of wireless computing means that any coffee shop,
airport or bedroom can become a classroom. Online courses, registrations, clearance
have few, if any scheduling restrictions, well-integrated learning resources and
competitive degree options, with an online clearance system.
The changing online college landscape now includes online clearance system,
traditional undergraduate and general studies programs. However, career learning is
still the most popular online training option.
1.2 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Caritas University, Amorji nike Enugu is a private University approved by the federal
Government of Nigeria on Dec 16 2004. It was officially opened on Jan 21, 2005 by the
Federal minister for education, Prof. Fabian Osuji. It is the second catholic university
founded by Rev. Fr. Prof E.M.P Edeh. The school is managed by the congregation of
Sisters of Jesus the Saviour, a religious congregation of nuns founded by him. The
school operates the faculty system and presently has four faculties; Engineering,
Environmental, Management and social sciences and natural science
In Universities like Redeemer's university Ede, there is need for automated method of
keeping data, more so a greater need for an online Android-Based clearance system.
This would go a long way in alleviating the various problems and stress involved in the
manual method of clearance. Moreover, the issue of delayed youth service as a result
of inability to complete the tedious manual process of clearance would be curtailed.
1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The processes of clearing students after their graduation requires that the students be
cleared in various departments and information units. Among which are:
Library fines and overdue or lost library materials from the University
Departmental Dues
Infirmary and bookstore charges
Residence hall damage charges
Return of athletic equipment
Student Union Fee
Bursary and all other charges
A good android or windows phone for easy access
For a graduating student to carry out his \ her clearance from all these departments, it
normally takes a lot of time and a lot of processes and delays in clearing the student for
youth service as well as collection of statement of result. Hence it became imperative
for an online android-based clearance system to eliminate the shortcomings of the
manual system in place.
1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The objective of this project includes:
To effectively and efficiently process students clearance using an android phone.
To provide a reliable and transparent system devoid of personal inclinations and
interest
To provide borderless access at any time.
To ensure prompt clearance
To alleviate the problems and stress of travelling and queuing up of students
during clearance.
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This research work is limited to clearance system for graduating students from Caritas
University. The android application developed will be carried out using JAVA, SDK, and
MYSQL to manage both the database and at the same time make the application
online.
1.6 LIMITATIONS
This project covers all aspect of online clearance system using Caritas
University as a case study. However, the following were the constraints:
Time constraints: Due to time constraint, the web – page developed covers only
clearance from various departments by the graduating students.
Financial constraints: It would cost a lot to develop a full web – based clearance
system.
Some documents were considered confidential and were not made available.
1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The project work will help in a good number of ways to ease the queuing system in the
university as the android-based online clearance system will help students to achieve
what ever they want to achieve without coming to the various offices for clearance.
Clear advantages of Internet information processing over those of traditional
manual system are higher yields. Online clearance system allows the users to
check their clearance status as whether they are in any way indebted to the
school, fill and submit their clearance form, and obtain their clearance letter from
registered emails. There are many other advantages of online clearance system
and some of them are listed below.
It saves a lot of time and stress to the students and the administrators.
It is very convenient to use it right from the bedroom, office or anywhere in the
world.
Information processing are very fast and delays can be avoided.
It is inexpensive to students and school management.
Help the school in reducing costs such as labor and stationary.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Android SDK: The Android SDK (software development kit) is a set of development
tools used to develop applications for Android platform. The Android SDK includes the
following: Required libraries, Debugger, An emulator, Relevant documentation for the
Android application program interfaces (APIs), Sample source code, Tutorials for the
Android OS
Computer Network: Computer Network is a system that connects two or
more computers together using a communication link.
Debugger: A debugger is a computer program used by programmers to test and debug
a target program. Debuggers may use instruction-set simulators, rather than running a
program directly on the processor to achieve a higher level of control over its execution.
Java: Java is a programming language that produces software for multiple platforms.
Android: Android is a mobile operating system developed by Google. It is used by
several smartphones and tablets. Examples include the Sony Xperia, the Samsung
Galaxy, and the Google Nexus One.
iOS: iOS is a mobile operating system developed by Apple. It was originally named the
iPhone OS, but was renamed to the iOS in June, 2009.
World Wide Web: World Wide Wed simply called www is the most
important tool of the Internet. It was created ion the late
1980s in Europe and was used limitedly in academic
cycle.
Clearance: Official certification of blamelessness, trustworthiness,
or suitability for graduation and issue of certificates in
degree course.
Databases: A systematically arranged collection of computer data,
structured so that it can be automatically retrieved or
manipulated. It is also called databank.
File Transfer: Any kind of computer file can be sent via the Internet
from one Internet user to another. Table of accounts on
spreadsheets, design by a graphic artists, music sound
files etc, can all be exchanged in this way.
Web Brower: This is a special kind of software that processes hypertext
make-up language (HTML) document. In other words, a
web browser is a computer program that interprets HTML
command to collect, arranged and display the parts of a
web page.
Web Site: A website is a collection of many interconnected web pages
organized by a specific college, organization company etc,
containing web pages (good and commodities) on the Internet.
Web site are stored on web servers. There are many web site and
thousand of HTML pages on each web site. A web site is a
treasure of information and entertainment.
Hyperlinks: Hyperlinks are highlighted words and phrase you find on web
documents that you can click on as to jump to some other
documents or Internet services.
Online: Connected via a computer attached to or available via a central
computer network.
Offline: Disconnected from computer network; describes a computer
terminal or peripheral device disconnected from a computer
network.
System: Set of computer components that is, an assembling of hardware,
software and peripherals functioning together.
Android App Home Page