Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES)
The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) was initiated in 1973 by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF). It is a tripartite programme involving the students, the Universities and Industries. It is funded by the Federal Government of Nigeria and jointly coordinated by the ITF and the National Universities Commission (NUC). It is a skill training programme designed to expose and prepare students of tertiary Institutions for the industrial work situation they are likely to meet after graduation. The scheme also affords the students the opportunity of familiarizing and exposing themselves to the needed experience in handling equipment and machinery.

Brief History of the SIWES Unit
The SIWES Unit was established in 1987 at the Ekiti State University (formerly Ondo State University) to essentially cater for SIWES needs of Faculty of Engineering students in the Departments of Civil, Electrical/Electronic and Mechanical Engineering (3 Departments). It was headed at inception by Late Dr. O. Ogunlade, the pioneer Industrial Training Officer. Table 1 shows details of past and current leadership of the SIWES Unit while Table 2 contains the list of current members of staff of the SIWES Unit, EKSU.
A General Information on the Frame Work, Object, Schedule and Services of the Department
The organization of the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) involves many stakeholders as follows:, Federal Government, ITF(SIWES Division), Supervisory/Regulatory Agencies i.e. NUC, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN) etc, University and Student Trainees. It is operated as a joint venture through the contributory activities of the stakeholders.
The objectives are:
- Provide an avenue for students in the Nigerian Universities to acquire industrial skills and experience in their course of study.
- Prepare students for work situations they are likely to meet after graduation.
- Expose students to work methods and techniques on handling equipment and machinery that may not be available in the universities.
- Make the transition from the university to the world of work easier and thus enhance students’ contacts for later job placement.
- Enlist and strengthen employers’ involvement in the entire educational process of preparing university graduates for employment in industries.
Schedules and Services of the Department
The organization and operation of the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is vested in the University SIWES Unit. This is the Unit that is responsible for the implementation of SIWES at the institutional level. It is the primary stakeholder that students relate with in order to ensure their successful participation in SIWES. In carrying out its assigned roles under the minimum national guide programme for supervised Industrial Training activities for approved SIWES Course, the SIWES Unit liaises with four other SIWES stakeholders namely, ITF, NUC, Employers and the students for effective and efficient operation.
The SIWES Unit ensures effective participation of the students in SIWES through the following activities:
- Registration of eligible students for Industrial Training (IT), compilation of Master List, display of the preliminary Master List and compilation of the final Master List.
- Identification of placement opportunities for students who are due for IT and issuance of introductory letters to employers.
- Organization of orientation programme in collaboration with the ITF to prepare students for Industrial Training.
- Deployment of students to the industry for work experience and distribution of training documents, preparation and distribution of supervision roasters to academic staff scheduled to visit students based on the placement list.
- Apply job specifications as prepared for all the accredited courses and award appropriate credit unit.
- Submit comprehensive report on the scheme to ITF through their supervising agencies on ITF Form 8A at the end of every year.
- Ensure payment of students and supervisory allowances and renders returns to the ITF during the SIWES Year.
- Resolving problems arising from Industrial Training during and after the training.
- Soliciting Industrial Training placements for students and as well job recruitments for final year students by businesses, industries, governments and service agencies depending upon the needs and qualifications.
- Fostering contacts between the University, Educational Institutions, Government Departments and Industries at necessary levels of cooperation on research collaborations as a result of feedbacks from industries
- Prepare and submit eight copies of Matriculation, Master and Payment Lists not later than 31st March of each SIWES Year to the ITF and NUC.
- Liaising with the ITF and NUC in resolving problems arising from the implementation of SIWES.
- Facilitation of monitoring visits to the institution by office of the ITF and NUC.
- Regular attendance at Biennial Conferences and Seminars on SIWES.
- Collection of logistic materials for administering the scheme.
- Organization of orientation programme for students in collaboration with ITF Area Office.
- Liaising with ITF with respect to staff supervisory allowances due to the institution.
- Regular attendance and participation in the SIWES Zonal Quarterly Meetings under the auspices of the ITF Area Office.
- Compilation and submission of students institutional payment list for log books vetting and payment.
- Establishment and accreditation of SIWES Units in Institution under their jurisdiction.
- Accreditation of courses for approved SIWES Programme in the institution.
- Collaboration with the industry to ensure that students are accepted for industrial attachment.
- Liaising with employers in resolving problems arising from the scheme.
- Assigning industrial based supervisor for the students on attachment.
- Provision of welfare services to the students on attachment.
- Organization and co-ordination of supervisory visits to students on attachment with employers.
Requirements for the Mobilisation of Students for Industrial Training (IT)
Eligible Industrial Trainees are students pursing SIWES approved and National Universities Commission (NUC) accredited programmes and have satisfied the laid down academic requirements in their various departments. Approved names of eligible industrial trainees are usually sent to the SIWES Unit from various departments on request. The student has to satisfy the laid down academic requirements of their various departments at the time of embarking on SIWES. The Industrial Training normally holds in the Second Semester of an academic session.
Assessment and Monitoring
i Credit Units: Credit Units are attached to the SIWES Programme.
ii. Logbook:
a A student on SIWES is required to complete the log book daily as a record of actual industrial activity carried out.
b. The industry based supervisor is required to go through the log-book every week to authenticate the student’s report.
c. The industry based supervisor is expected to enforce discipline and ensure punctuality and good conduct of the trainee.
d. Institutional supervisor (Lecturer from the trainees department in the University) is required to visit at least twice to authenticate the students log book report and review the training programme in conjunction with the industry based supervisor.
e. Students also should take their log books to the ITF Area Office for authentication
f. Log-book, punctuality, general conduct and discipline during the SIWES account for 50% of SIWES score.
iii. Technical Report: This is a more specific write-up of the experimental procedure, techniques, use of equipment, interpretation of result and general presentation prepared by the student. This will be based on 30%.
iv. Viva voce: Following submission of the Technical Report, students would make oral presentation in their various Departments on the experience gained during the industrial training. This will constitute 20% of the assessment.
S/N | Name | Department |
1. | Dr OGUNLADE | Faculty of Agricultural Sciences |
2. | Engr IGWENAGWU, E. | Civil Engineering |
3. | Engr ADEBANJI, B. | Electrical/Electronic Engineering |
4. | Engr LAWAL | Mechanical Engineering |
5. | Mr OYEYEMI, A. O. | Biochemistry |
6. | Mr. AWOKUNMI, | Chemistry/Industrial Chemistry |
7. | Mr. EKONG, D.O. | Computer Science |
8. | Dr (Mrs) IDOWU | Zoology |
9. | Dr OWOLABI, J. T. | Geography and Planning Science/Environmental Management |
Unlike when the scheme at the early years only had to cater for tens of students in the Faculty of Engineering, today it now caters for averagely over 1200 students annually spread over the following Departments:
A. Faculty of Agricultural Science
- Agricultural Economics and Extension Services
- Animal and Production Health
- Crop Soil and Environmental Science
- Forestry Wild Life and Fisheries
B. Faculty of Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Electronic Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
C. Faculty of Science
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry/Industrial Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Geology
- Microbiology
- Zoology
- Science Laboratory Technology
D. Faculty of the Social Sciences
- Geography and Planning Science/Environmental Management
S/N | Name | Status |
1. | Dr. OKE O.L. | Coordinator |
2. | Mr. AKANMU, M. L. | SIWES Officer |
3. | Mrs KAYODE, A. M. | Typist |
4. | Mrs BOSEDE, O. S. | Clerical Officer |
5. | Mrs SODIQ, H. O. | Office Assistant |
At the moment, the scheme is under the Supervision of the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. However, over the years the SIWES programme has expanded and presently caters for students in the Faculties of Agricultural Sciences, Sciences and The Social Sciences and as well the Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (ISLT). Some Departments in the Faculty of Education have also expressed their interest in joining the SIWES scheme. Table 3 contains the list of SIWES Coordinators for each Department or Faculty as the case may be. The SIWES Unit office is located in the Old Faculty of Engineering Building, EKSU.
We are currently located in the Old Faculty of Engineering.
Contact – Email: [email protected]
Phone:+2348036288485