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CONCLUSION AND REFERENCE OF STUDENTS’ INDUSTRIAL WORK-EXPERIENCE SCHEME (SIWES)

CONCLUSION AND REFERENCE OF STUDENTS’ INDUSTRIAL WORK-EXPERIENCE SCHEME (SIWES)

The scientific, engineering and technological community constitutes one of the most precious resources and assets of any nation. They are the creators of change and innovation which drive the world today. Consequently, a developing nation like Nigeria needs to pay attention to the processes (education and training) involved in the formation of science, engineering and technology (SET) graduates for the economy.

However, SET graduates from Nigerian Universities are often criticized by employers for lacking practical orientations, skills and competencies even though they are considered to be academically equal to their counterparts in other parts of the world with respect to theoretical grounding in the particular subject area.

The lack of possession of relevant production skills (RPSs) by SET graduates is a manifestation of the over-emphasis placed on the educational component (theory) to the detriment of the training component (hands-on experience) in the formation of SET graduates

This paper, therefore, focused on the importance and complementary role of training in the formation of competent and productive technical manpower for the economy and national development. Specifically, the paper appraised the effectiveness of the Students Industrial Work-Experience Scheme (SIWES) in the formation of technical manpower in general and in the professional development of chemical engineers.

While it is agreed by all SIWES stakeholders that the scheme has contributed a great deal in improving the quality of technical skills available to the economy, the appraisal of the effectiveness of SIWES indicates that there are many areas and aspect of the scheme which need revamping in order to fully harness its potentials for enhancing rapid technological and economic development.
Therefore, several suggestions and recommendations have been proposed in the paper which are aimed at improving the implementation of SIWES in line with the tenets and principles of cooperative education or work-integrated learning.

With respect to Chemical Engineering, the paper posits that SIWES cannot be a replacement or substitute for a well-structured professional training. Consequently, the supervised Industrial Training Scheme in Engineering (SITSIE) put in place by COREN could be adopted as a format for professional training of chemical engineers.

REFERENCES
1. Allen, C. R. quoted in Craig, R. L. (1987). Training and Development Handbook, 3rd. ed. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp. 10.
2. COREN (1991). Supervised Industrial Training Scheme in Engineering (SITSIE). Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria.
3. Enrich, N. P. (1985). Corporate Classrooms.The Carneige Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Princeton, N. J., pp 26 – 32.
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8. ITF (2004b). Directory of Organisations that Accept students on Industrial Attachment. Industrial Training Fund, Jos, Nigeria.
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11. Kwake, Prof. quoted in Mordell, D. L. and J. F. Coales (1983). A Proposal for the Developing Commonwealth. The Need for Engineers and Technicians and How to Meet It Effectively and Efficiently. Commonwealth Secretariat, London.
12. Mafe, O. A. T. (1991). Students Industrial Work-Experience Scheme (SIWES), 1973 – 1991: An Appraisal of Its Effectiveness and Efficiency. COREN-CODET Workshop on “Future of Engineering Education in Nigeria”. ASCON, Badagry, Nigeria.
13. Mafe, O. A. T. (1997). Harnessing the Potentials of the Students’ Industrial Work-Experience Scheme (SIWES) for National Development. First National Workshop on University SIWES for SIWES Coordinators, National Universities Commission, Abuja.
14. Mafe, O. A. T (2002). A Framework for Engineering Manpower Development in Nigeria. Conference Proceedings, National Engineering Conference on “Engineering Education and Practice in Nigeria”, Nigerian Society of Engineers. pp. 108 – 124.
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18. Mafe, O. A. T. (2005a). Modalities for Smooth Implementation of Single Stretch Attachment Mode for SIWES. National Training Workshop for SIWES Coordinators in Nigerian Universities, National Universities Commission, Abuja, Nigeria.
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20. Mafe, O. A. T. (2006). Payment of Allowances to SIWES Participants: An Appraisal of Alternative Modalities. 10th Biennal SIWES National Conference, Industrial Training Fund, Confluence Hotel, Lokoja.
21. Mafe, O. A. T. (2009). Guide to Successful Participation in SIWES. Panaf Publishing Inc., Abuja and Lagos.
22. Miller, V. A. in Craig, R. L. (1987). History of Training. Training and Development Handbook, 3rd ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, pp. 3-18.
23. National Universities Commission (2004). Labour Market Expectations of Nigerian Graduates: Report of National Needs Assessment Surveys. NUC, Abuja.
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25. The Institution of Chemical Engineers (1974). Guide to Membership of the Institution of Chemical Engineers. The Institution of Chemical Engineers, London.
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27. World Bank and Nigerian Institute for Social and Economic Research (2000). Labour Market Prospects for University Graduates in Nigeria, NISER, Ibadan.


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