Assessing the Effectiveness of Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (siwes) in Enhancing Practical Skills Among Students in Ekiti State University

ABSTRACT
The Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) was introduced to bridge the
gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills acquisition among students in
Nigerian universities. This study assesses the effectiveness of SIWES in enhancing
practical skills among students at Ekiti State University. The research examines
students' experiences, the relevance of acquired skills to their field of study, and the
challenges faced during industrial training. The study adopted a descriptive survey
research design, type and the population for the study consisted of 120 Students who
have completed their SIWES programme. The sample size of 90 students was obtained
using stratified sampling technique. Data was collected from students through
structured questionnaires and analyzed using statistical tools. Findings reveal that
SIWES significantly contributes to students' hands-on experience, improves their
employability, and enhances their technical competencies. However, challenges such
as inadequate supervision, mismatch between placement and field of study, and limited
access to modern equipment hinder its full potential. The study recommends improved
industry-academic collaboration, better monitoring, and enhanced funding to maximize
SIWES' impact. These findings contribute to the discourse on improving practical skill
acquisition in Nigerian higher institutions.