The Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is the accepted skill training programme which forms part of the approved minimum academic standard in the various degree programmes for all the Nigerian tertiary levels of education. It is designed to expose and prepare students of Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Technology, Colleges of Education and Colleges of Agriculture for the industrial work situation they are likely to meet after graduation. The scheme also affords students the opportunity of familiarizing themselves with the needed experience in handling equipment and machinery that are usually not available in their institutions.
The Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) was established when industrialists raised an alarm that graduates of institutions of higher learning lacked adequate practical background studies preparatory for employment in industries. Employers were of the opinion that the theoretical education in Higher Institutions was not responsive to the needs of the employers of labour. Based on this report, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) designed, established and introduced SIWES in 1973 to bridge the gap existing between theory and practice of Engineering, Technology, Sciences, Agriculture, Medical, Management and other professional and educational programmes in Nigerian tertiary institutions. It was also designed to safeguard the areas and workers in industries as well as other organizations.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Several positive changes and achievements have been experienced and recorded in the SIWES Unit. Some of them are highlighted below:
Industrial Training Fund Rumuokwuta Area Office packaged a workshop to address the Negative Leadership and Team Building Style in the workplace for improved organizational productivity from 5th to 7th April 2022, with objectives to build formidable and functional teams, assess and manage emotions of team members, examine the role of leadership in team success, promote innovation and creativity in teams and apply positive leadership skills at work. Topics covered were: Leadership and Management, Effective Team Building and Team Work, Leadership Styles, Innovative Leadership, Leadership and Motivation, Managing Difficult People and Emotional Intelligence. The Acting Director SIWES and five Departmental Coordinators were sponsored by the University to attend the workshop
University Management approved the proposal of SIWES Registration Fee from Two Thousand (N2,000.00) Naira only to Five Thousand (N5,000.00) Naira only with effect from 2021/2022 Academic Session.
Renovation of the SIWES Unit building in June, 2020 by the current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nlerum Sunday Okogbule.
The Unit has been rendered more visible with two sign posts mounted in front of the SIWES building. Although the same building is being shared with Advancement and Linkages Centre, it is, however, believed that with time, SIWES Unit will duly occupy a building of its own.
So many programmes have been put in place by ITF, the Coordinating body of SIWES. It is expected that with such training on ground, the Unit will make tremendous achievements and will contribute towards the advancement of Management, Leadership, Science and Technology. The following training and workshop programmes were attended by the staff of SIWES Unit and SIWES Coordinators:
– SIWES in Perspective
– Strategies for Effective Management and Administration of SIWES
– Personal Effectiveness
In every quarter of each year, Zonal Directors/Coordinators’ meeting for all stakeholders take place to discuss the challenges confronting SIWES and proffer workable solutions. It is an avenue where progress reports are received from stakeholders and same is collated and forwarded to ITF Headquarters for information and further necessary action. All stakeholders who attend the meeting have a common agenda which is to ensure that SIWES continues to remain relevant and beneficial to students. In 2021 and 2022, the SIWES Zonal Meetings held on the following dates and places:
At end of the Industrial Training of six months, students present their technical reports and submit same along with their Logbooks to their Departmental Coordinators for evaluation. These documents are further submitted to the SIWES Unit for compilation and verification by the Industrial Training Fund. The last verification exercise, that of 2020 SIWES Students’ Logbooks, was carried out on 29th July, 2021. Two thousand, four hundred and fifty-nine (2,459) Logbooks were verified by ITF Officials from Headquarters.
2020 Students’ Allowances were paid towards the end of the 2021.
Supervisory Allowances for 2019 and 2020 (1st 50%) was paid to University on July 16, 2021.
Dr. Boma Isabella Dambo was born on 21st September, 1965. She comes from Opobo Town in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. She holds a B.Sc. degree in Business Education (Management) (1985) from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, M.Ed. in Curriculum Studies and Educational Technology (1991) from the University of Port Harcourt and a PhD in Educational Technology (2009) from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.
She started her career with the Rivers State University (then Rivers State University of Science and Technology) Port Harcourt in 1987 as a Graduate Assistant and rose to the rank of Reader of Educational Technology in 2019. She is currently the Acting Director, Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) Unit which appointment took effect on January 6, 2020 and re-appointment with effect from April 1, 2021. In addition to her academic duties of teaching and research, within and outside Rivers State University, she is also involved in University Administration at Departmental, Faculty and Committee levels and has held the following positions: Acting Head of Department of Business Education (2010/2011), Departmental Coordinator, Postgraduate Programme (2012 – 2016), Departmental Coordinator, Centre for Continuing Education Programme (1997 – 2001, 2015 – 2016), Departmental Coordinator Sandwich Programme (2012 – 2016), Departmental Coordinator, Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (1987 – 2007), Departmental Project Coordinator (1992 – 2001). Departmental Examinations Officer (1987 – 1992), Departmental Students’ Adviser (1995 till date), Faculty Journal Launching Committee (1990), Faculty Examinations Results Sub-Committee (1991), Secretary Departmental Journal Committee (1993), Secretary Faculty Welfare Committee (1994 – 2000), Secretary Departmental Board Meetings (1987 – 2001), Member Senate Committee on Registration of Students’ Clubs/Associations (2006), Chairman Business Education Departmental Studio Commissioning Committee (2006), Chairman, Business Education Curriculum Review Committee (2010 – 2016), Member, Faculty of Technical and Science Education Conference Committee (2012), Faculty Representative, Faculty Board of Management Sciences (2002 – 2007 and 2012 – 2019), Faculty Representative, Senate Curriculum and Instruction Committee (2014 – 2017), Member, Business Education Postgraduate Programme Review Committee (2015), Acting Head of Department of Business Education, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State (Sabbatical) (2016 – 2018).
Dr. Dambo is a member of many professional bodies including Educational Media and Technology Association of Nigeria (EMTAN), Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Association of Business Educators of Nigeria (ABEN), Curriculum Organization of Nigeria (CON), CTA Web 2.0 and Social Media for Development Learning Opportunities, Association of Innovative Technology Integration in Education (AITIE), Forum of Academics for Educational Achievement and Initiative in Nigeria (FAFEAIN), International Society of Comparative Education, Science and Technology (ISCEST). She has to her credit 46 Journal papers, 8 Books, 1 Chapter in Book, 11 Refereed Published Conference Papers, and 2 Technical Reports. She has supervised a plethora of graduate and undergraduate researches including; 2 PhD Theses, 103 M.Ed. and M.Sc. Dissertations and 762 B.Sc. Projects.
Dr. Dambo is a committed Christian with the Baptist denomination. She ministers at the Teenagers’ Church and Associate Leader of the Lord’s Army House fellowship in Faith Baptist Church Port Harcourt. She is blessed with four children.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Biennial Conference – The 14th Biennial SIWES National Conference took place at the Nigerian Airforce Conference Centre, Abuja on Tuesday, 20th October, 2020. It involved academics, heads of higher institutions, captains of industry and technocrats. The Vice Chancellor and the Director SIWES Unit were in full attendance on Zoom as requested because of the COVID–19 regulations on social distancing. The 15th Biennial SIWES National Conference was also attend on zoom at the ITF Rumuokwuta Area Office in October. 2021.
PROSPECTS
In bridging the gap between theory and practice, SIWES has proffered opportunities for students to acquire industrial skills for work processes. The success of the scheme depends largely on the coordinated efforts of the Federal Government, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ministry of Education, the Industrial Training Fund, National Universities Commission, Tertiary Institutions, Employers of Labour and Students.
Essentially, improved morale, synergy, commitment and diligence are crucial to the scheme which is aimed at promoting the much-desired technological know-how for the advancement of the nation. This laudable scheme amongst others will surely develop the highly sought-after skilled labour force required to build an indigenous self-reliant economy envisaged for Nigeria.
Name | Rank | Area of Specialisation | |
---|---|---|---|
Boma Isabella Dambo | Ag. Director/ Reader | Educational Technology and Business Education | Dambo.boma@ust.edu.ng |
Ngozi Victor | Principal Executive Officer | Adult Education and Community Development. Computer Operations | ngoziglobal2@gmail.com |
Nkesi Stasi Amadi | Admin Officer II | Banking and Finance | nkesistasi8@gmail.com |
Peace Bienwi-Patrick | Higher Executive Officer | Accounting | Peacepatrick23@yahoo.com |
Oroma Goodluck Wechie | Casual Cleaner | Catering | oroma_goodluck79@yahoo.com |