Overview of the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES)

The students industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) is a skills training programme designed to expose and prepare students of Universities, Polytechnics/Colleges of Technology/Colleges of Agriculture and Colleges of Education for the industrial work situation they are likely to meet after graduation. The scheme also affords students the opportunity of familiarizing and exposing themselves to the needed experience in handling equipment and machinery that are usually not available in their institutions. It is a cooperative industrial internship program that involves institutions of higher learning, industries, the Federal Government of Nigeria, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), and Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC).

The Students industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) Unit of the Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo, was established by the Vice Chancellor Distinguished Professor Oye Ibidapo Obe, FAS, FAEng, OFR in 2015 as an Industrial Coordinating Unit in the Office of the Vice Chancellor to cater for students on industrial attachment.

The foundation staff was six (6) that comprised of a Coordinator which is responsible to the Vice Chancellor for the day to day running of the affair of the office and for Administration, Coordination and Supervision of all of its activities. Other staff includes an Administrative Assistant, a Senior Data Entry Assistant, Clerical Officer, and Office Assistant.

The Objectives of the Scheme are to:

(i)  Provide avenues for students to acquire industrial skills and experience during their course of study.

(ii) Prepare students for industrial work situation they are likely to meet after graduation.

(iii) Expose students to work methods and techniques in handling equipment and machineries that may not be available in the university;

(iv) Provide students with the opportunities to apply their educational knowledge in real work situations, thereby bridging the gap between theory and practice.

(v) To make the transition from the schooling to world of work easier through enhancing students’ contact for later job placement.

Functions of FUNI SIWES Coordinating Unit

By the directive of National Universities Commission (NUC) and Industrial Training Fund (ITF), the Unit is mandated to carry out the following functions.

(i) Identify placement opportunities for students’ attachment with Employers.

(ii) Supervision of the students placed in the industries located within our ITF zone.

(iii) Processing of  students’ logbooks, ITF forms and industrial attachment  reports upon which is based on the Federal Government funding of supervision and  students’ allowances.

(iv) Fostering of close links between the university and industries participating in SIWES programme.

(v) Provision of advisory guidance to participating students on career employment opportunities.

(vi) Monitoring of compliance with the requirements of SIWES on the part of students in eligible disciplines as a condition for graduation.

(vii) Facilitation of the disbursement of the students’ allowance to deserving students through e-payment.

(vi) Apply job-specifications as prepared for all the accredited courses and award appropriate credit units in accordance with Federal Government minimum academic standard guidelines.

(viii) Organize orientation courses in collaboration with the ITF for their students.

List (By Faculty) of Disciplines Participating in SIWES in FUNAI