INTRODUCTION TO SIWES(Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme) AND ITS IMPORTANCE

INTRODUCTION TO SIWES(Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme) AND ITS IMPORTANCE

1. ABOUT SIWES

SIWES stands for acronym for Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme.

 The Student Industrial Work-Experience Scheme (SIWES) is a planned and supervised training intervention based on stated and specific learning and career objectives, and geared towards developing the occupational competencies of the participants. It is a programme required to be undertaken by all students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria pursuing courses in “specialized engineering, technical, business, applied sciences and applied arts”. The federal government on 8^th October 1971 established the industrial training (ITF) in order to acquaint the students on the industrial work method. The SIWES which is a subsidiary formed in 1973 was initiated to improve the students’ technical abilities to expose them to industrial culture thereby getting the acquainted with the role to play towards the technological advancement of the nation. It creates an avenue on environment in which the students are being exposed to areas of their various disciplines which enhances their mental and creative minds in the aspects of technology and development.

 It creates an avenue on environment in which the students are being exposed to areas of their various disciplines which enhances their mental and creative minds in the aspects of technology and development. It is therefore a practical aspect of the academic work, which students may not be opportune to carry out throughout their stay in the higher institution.

1.1 IMPORTANCE AND OBJECTIVES OF SIWES

The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is the accepted skills training programme, which forms part of the approved minimum academic standards in the various degree programmes for all the Nigerian universities. It is an effort to bridge the gap existing between theory and practice of engineering and technology, science, agriculture, medial, management 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 safe-guarding the work area s and workers in industries and other organization.

1.2 OBJECTIVES OF SIWES

Specifically, the objectives of the students industrial work experience scheme are to:

          i.)   Prepare students for the work situation they are likely to meet  after graduation.

          ii.)     Provide an avenue for students in  the  Nigerian Universities  to  acquire industrial skills and experience in their  course of study.

          iii.)    Make the transition from the university to the  world  of  work easier, and thus enhance students contacts for later job  placements;

          iv.)   Enlist and strengthen employers’ involvement in the entire educational process of preparing university graduates for employment   in industry.

  

           v)  Provide students with an opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in real work situation, thereby bridging the gap between university work and actual practices; and        Expose students to work methods and techniques in handling equipment and machinery that may not be available in the universities.

 1.3 IMPORTANCE OF SIWES 

                i)  It provides students with an opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in real life situations.

          ii.)  It exposes students to more practical work methods and techniques.

          iii.)   It strengthens  links between  the employers, universities and industrial training fund (ITF) 

         iv). It also  prepares  the students  for the labor   market after  graduation.