The Effect of Industrial Work Experience on Student in Tertiary Institution (Case Study of Federal Polytechnic Oko in Anambra State)
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of the study is to:
- find out whether students who participate in SOWES receive any practical job training.
- find out whether the experience gained during SIWES is useful in their future career.
- Determine whether SIWES help to generate a pool of indigenous trainee manpower for like federal poly Oko.
- Investigate whether SIWES is responsible for some students dropping to work rather than going back to school in Oko.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
In order to carry out this research work effectively, investigations were made into related works done on this topic. Although not much has been written on the topic.
However, there are related works done by some indigenous and foreign authors that fairly related to this problem.
The information gathered are grouped into following headings:-
- Students industrial work experience scheme as a means of practical job training.
- providing manpower through SIWES.
- SIWES and students experiences of practical knowledge in the use and maintenance of machines and equipment.
SIWES AS A MEANS OF PRACTICAL JOB TRAINING.
According to Okoye et al (1992), the world is fast advancing in science, technology and industralization.
Nigeria cannot be left out in this jet age endeavour. They stressed that acquisition of skills and experiences no doubt is the key to industrialization. Since we cannot given what we do not possess, students industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) is one of the programme designed by the federal government as an aid to the acceleration of our pace of industrialization and technological growth.
Aghenwono (1992) revealed that the scheme known as SIWES offers the opportunity for the students to utilize some of their academic knowledge and skills in a real life industrial job environment which should be related and appropriate to his academic discipline. The SIWES programme helps the students to have a practical knowledge of what they have been taught in the school. This is so because the tertiary institutions today teach more of theory than practical.
Haris also made it known in his research that the method of on-the-job training was first used in engineering where a cooperative relationship between the industries in the state and the university was involved in giving students practical on the job training. Under this plan or scheme, students were to spend alternative periods at study and in the college of engineering and at work in the jobs. The objectives was to have students learn through apprenticeship using the industries as extension of laboratories of the school. The scheme was heaving oriented towards vocational adoption. It was envisaged by Haris that the inter-wearing of theory and practice would no doubt bring about a better innovation and better skillful training of technical men.
Evans states that it would be highly unusual if any employee whatever his educational experience, his skill of training may be to walk into the plant gate or the office door and be ready to work without some additional industrial training.
Some graduates showed dislike over long periods of orientation and training and express the belief that such industry over did the orientation and training and this post-pone the opportunity for valuable practical work.
Experience gained in industry in their course of learning is enormous. There is no doubt some truth in this thinking because the graduates of today are far better educated than were their counterparts of thirty –five years ago. Thus, the problems usually associated with the orientation and training programme as seen some years ago are not being encountered any more.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
DESIGN OF THE STUDY
This chapter focuses on the various research techniques and methods used by the researcher in carrying out her study.
AREA OF THE STUDY
The study of the effect of Industrial Work Experience on students in tertiary institutions in Anambra State is restricted to the department of secretarial Administration of Federal Polytechnic Oko.
POPULATION
The population of this study consisted of five hundred (500) HND students of department of secretarial Administration in Federal Polytechnic Oko.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
This chapter presents the analysis of the data collected on the basis of which findings were made and conclusions drawn.
RESEARCH QUESTION I:
Did you do industrial training before your Higher National Diploma programme?
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND FINDINGS
This chapter covers the summary of findings, conclusion and recommendations.
SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS
The findings revealed that about 80% of the respondents believed that the effect of students industrial work experience cannot be over emphasized because the students participates in the programme indicates that the content of the programme is highly rewarding to the extent that they receive practical job training in industry and commerce.
It has also revealed that the students who participate in students industrial work experience (SIWES) programme were exposed to methods of handling equipment and machinery and that the job given to them in their industrial training (IT) is related to their future career.
Furthermore, it was observed through the research that students industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) helps to generate a pool of trained manpower for our indigenous industries.
Finally, it was also observed that students who participate in the SWES PROGRAMME gain insight into industrial routine operation thereby understanding the industry served in a better way.
CONCLUSIONS
The following conclusions were drawn based on the findings of the study and the researcher’s interpretations of the meaning
The students could perform better after graduation if they receive adequate work experience from the industries during their one-year industrial training.
If employers will accept and provide students with any available machines and equipment the students will be able to carry out their duties effectively
If proper orientations programme were organized for students before their commencements of the SIWES training, the students will not have any misconception about the programme.
Also if institutions should organize proper supervision of the students by assigning every supervisor to a group of students in a particular area, there will be a more effective work experience.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Following the findings and conclusion, recommendations were deemed necessary.
The industrial training fund (ITF) should make the students to understand the concept of SIWES so as to alleviate them from the misconception they have about the work experience programme. This should be done by organizing SIWES orientation programme for the students before their commencement of the industrial training. The ITF should realize the quality of work being performed by the secretarial students and Engineering students and therefore include their department in the eligible course funded by the ITF. The secretarial students should be given priority due to the delicate and confidential nature of their job
Employers should accept and provide students with facilities necessary for meaningful industrial experiences. This should be done by allowing students to manipulate delicate machines and tools during their training by the management if effective performance is to be expected. The equally helps to expose the students, enhancing their morale and performance. Efforts should be made to see that a situation where students are allowed to see and not allowed to use is prohibited.
Moreover, institution should be organize proper supervision and assign every supervisor to a number of students who are under going the training in one state or town. The supervisors will form time to time give the institutions feedback as regards the students performance and an evaluation report.
Furthermore, students on their own part should employ with the employer’s rules and regulation by being regular and punctual.
They should keep proper records of training activities and other assignment in the log book.
Finally, efforts should be made to study carefully, the objectives and relevance of SIWES in conjunction with the students needs, interests and aspirations (socially and academically) as future builders of the nations and the nation’s manpower requirements in order to cover up with a more meaningful educative plan.
LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
In the study, the researcher encountered some problems that delayed the completion of the project on time. The major factor was lack of resources materials. Most of the resources materials were not easily got
The researcher was also constrained by finance which also affected the depth of coverage of the variables researched.
Time was not also on the researcher’s side so because of this reasons, the researcher limits her scope of collecting information to the department of secretarial administration of federal polytechnic Oko Anambra state.
The researcher suggest that further research on the same topic should be carried out in our tertiary institutions especially in Federal Polytechnic Oko on THE EFFECTS OF INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE ON STUDENTS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.
The researcher also suggest that the students should be given proper orientation programme before the commencement of the SIWES training so that they will not have any misconception about the programme.
REFERENCES
- Aghenweho S. (1995) The problems of Training for industries. The observer Benin Thursday January 9
- Andrew P. et al (1980) Education, Training and the new vocationally, Lagos, Macmillan Nig. Publisher Ltd.
- Barry P.B (1985) Theory and Practical in the study of Adult Education, Ibadan
- Carr W. (1980) The gap between theory and practice. Journal of further and higher education London
- Chukwujekwu S.E (1991) Polytechnic in a structurally Adjusting Nigeria Economy An Unpublished seminar delivered on a pre-convocation lecture at Anambra state Polytechnic Oko.
- Davis R.C (1962) Curricular of the department of vocational education University of Nigeria Nsukka
- Halsey, A.N (1980) Education, Economy and Society New York McGraw Hill Book Coy Inc.
- Harris Chester W. (1960) Encyclopedia of Education Research 3rd Ed. New York The Macmillan Co.
- Hassan Ahmed (1991) Students Industrial Work Experience scheme in Human Resources Development in Nigeria Unpublished term paper
- Mee G and Witshine H. (1978) Structure and performance in Adult Education London Longman
- Mohammed, Dikko (1975) Industrial Training Fund Announcement. The Renaissance Enugu, Wednesday, June 11
