A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF STUDENTS INDUSTRIAL WORKING EXPERIENCE SCHEME (SIWES) AND ITS BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

ABSTRACT: This study was carried out to critically evaluate students industrial working experience scheme (siwes) and its benefits and challenges in Nigerian universities using Rivers State University as a case study. Specifically, the study aimed at examining the benefits of SIWES to students of Rivers State University, investigate the challenges confronting SIWES in Rivers State University, and identify ways of curbing the challenges confronting SIWES in Rivers State University. The study anchored on the Skill Acquisition theory by Hubert and Stuart Dreyfus (1973), and Experiential Learning Theory by David Kolb (1984). The study employed the survey descriptive research design. Questionnaire was used for data collection which was raised against a five Likert scale of Strongly Agree(SA), Agree(A), Strongly Disagree(SD), Disagree(D) and Undecided(UN) with frequency tables and percentage. The hypothesis test was conducted using the Chi-Square statistical tool, (SPSS v.23). A total of 266 respondents were conveniently selected as sample size comprising of academic staffs and students of Rivers State University. Out of the 266 respondents, 259 responses were received and validated from the survey. From the responses obtained and analysed, the findings revealed that SIWES does benefit students of Rivers State University. The benefits of SIWES to students of Rivers State University according to the findings include providing an avenue for students in institutions of higher learning to acquire industrial skills and experience in their courses of study, preparing students for the work situation they are likely to come across after graduation, and exposes students to work methods and techniques in handling equipment and machinery that may not be available in the educational institutions. The findings also showed that there are challenges confronting SIWES in Rivers State University which includes; lack of collaboration between institutions and industries, lukewarm attitude by institutions and supervising agents, unwillingness of industries to accept the students for IT, student attitudes, and inadequacy of industries. On the basis of these findings, it was recommended that institutions should have a functional industrial attachment unit or SIWES directorate that should be adequately stated and funded to ensure effective operation of the scheme. The unit should see to the placement of students and ensure that they are placed in areas relevant to their courses to acquire the needed experiences. Also, employers should always delegate experienced staff to effectively train and supervise the students and their activities throughout the programme. Moreso, the government should make funds available to the accrediting agencies for the scheme.