Assessment of Skills Acquired through Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme among Science and Technical College Students in Benue State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study assessed the skills acquired through the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) among science and technical college students in Benue State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to find out the technical, entrepreneurial, and employability skills students acquired through SIWES. The study was guided by three research questions. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study was 432 final-year students and 326 trade teachers of science and technical colleges in Benue State in the 2022/2023 academic session. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled “Skill Acquired through SIWES Questionnaire (SA-SIWES-Q). Data collected were analyzed using Mean and Standard Deviation to answer the research questions. The study found that Science and Technical College students acquired technical skills like skills for estimating the cost of work; skills for handling and using tools; and skills for selecting the right material for the right job among others. It was also found that through SIWES students acquire entrepreneurial skills such as innovative skills, planning skills, creativity skills, economic skills, skills for managing business firms, and financial management skills among others. The finding also revealed that SIWES enables students to acquire employability skills such as communication skills, problem-solving skills, skills for working under pressure, organizing skills, and interpersonal skills among others. The researchers recommended that SIWES be introduced in the curriculum of all educational programs that offer technical and science skills and that strict supervision be conducted.