Title: THE ROLE OF STUDENTS INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME IN BRIDGING THE GAPS IN EDUCATIONAL TRAINING AND SKILLS DEMAND IN NIGERIA.

Authors:
Okoli, T.O., Ejiofor, T.E., Ashang, M.U. & Ozieme, O.

Abstract: Abstract The study focused on the Role of Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) in bridging the gaps in educational training and skill demands in Nigeria. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were formulated to direct the study. The target population was 2,536 comprising 2, 500 TVET Lecturers from Tertiary Institutions and 36 Chief Executive Officers (CEO) from randomly selected industries. Sample size was 381 statistically determined using Yaro Yamane formula and selected by simple random sampling technique. Structured questionnaire items developed from related literature reviewed and face-validated by three experts were used for data collection. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha method and a co-efficient of 0.77 was obtained. Six research assistants helped to distribute and retrieve the copies of the questionnaire by hand at 100% return rate. With the help of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS), descriptive statistics were employed to answer the research questions while Independent sample ttest was used to test the null hypotheses at a probability of 0.05. The findings of the study revealed that the TVET institutions and the industries play significant role in bridging the gaps in educational training and skill demands in Nigeria. The role of institutions that could bridge the gaps to include: supervision of SIWES participating students. SIWES placement, prompt release of allowances for staff supervision, timely preparation of SIWES master list, adequate orientation programme for SIWES participating students, and timely submission of ITF documents while industries role in the provision of well-equipped training facilities to SIWES participating students, supervision of SIWES participating students, effective on-the-field evaluation of performances of SIWES students, and feedback role to institutions could help in bridging the gaps between educational training and skills demand in Nigeria. The study advocated synergetic roles between TVET institutions and the industries to bridge the gaps between educational training and skills demand in Nigeria. Keywords: Skills Demand, Educational Training, Bridging Gaps, SIWES roles, Nigeria.

Publication Date: 2018-12-06