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STUDENTS INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME (SIWES)
The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is a new Directorate under the Vice-Chancellor’s Office. It was established on 20th April, 2012
The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is a skills training programme designed to expose and prepare students of universities and other tertiary institutions for the Industrial Work situation they are likely to meet after graduation. It is also a planned and structured programme based on stated and specific career objectives which are geared towards developing the occupational competencies of participants (Mafe, 2009). Consequently, the SIWES programme is a compulsory graduation requirement for all Nigerian university students offering certain courses.
The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), is the accepted training programme, which is part of the approved Minimum Academic Standard in the various degree programmes for all Nigerian Universities. The scheme is aimed at bridging the existing gap between theory and practice of Sciences, Agriculture, Medical Sciences (including Nursing), Engineering and Technology, Management, and Information and Communication Technology and other professional educational programmes in the Nigerian tertiary institutions. It is aimed at exposing students to machines and equipment, professional work methods and ways of safeguarding the work areas and workers in industries, offices, laboratories, hospitals and other organizations.
Prior to establishing the Scheme, industrialists and other employers of labour felt concerned that graduates of Nigeria Universities were deficient in practical background studies preparatory for employment in Industries and other organizations. The employers thus concluded that the theoretical education being received in our higher institutions was not responsive to the needs of the employers of labour. Consequently, the rationale for initiating and designing the scheme by the Industrial Training Funds ITF, in 1973.
The scheme is a tripartite programme involving the students, the universities and the employers of labour. It is funded by the Federal Government and jointly coordinated by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the National Universities Commission (NUC).
- To provide an avenue for students in the Nigerian universities to acquire industrial skills and experience during their course of study;
- To prepare students for the work situation they are likely to meet after graduation;
- To expose the students to work methods and techniques in handling equipment and machinery that may not be available in their universities;
- To allow the transition phase from school to the world of working environment easier and facilitate students’ contact for later job placements;
- To provide students with an opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in real work situation thereby bridging the gap between theory and practice.
