STUDENTS INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME (SIWES)

Message from the Director

My brilliant students, I warmly welcome you to the Directorate of Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).

 SIWES is a skill’s development programme initiated by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in 1973, to bridge the gap between theory and practice by providing a platform to apply knowledge learnt in school to real-work-life-situation, provide an avenue for students to acquire industrial skills for worthwhile experience during their course of study. SIWES is particularly targeted at some fields of study, such as: engineering, science, agriculture, technology and other professional educational programmes.

 The Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme is a part of the approved Benchmark for Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) for some degree programmes at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). The ITF in collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National Council for Colleges of Education (NCCE) are responsible for the structure and operational framework of the scheme. Other stake holders of the SIWES include: The Federal Government of Nigeria, students, employers of labour and institutions of higher learning.

 In the West sub-region, the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is the first full-fledged university that operates an exclusively open and distance learning (ODL) mode of education (Ojo and Olakulehin, 2015). Our University focuses mainly on open and distance teaching and learning system, and delivers its courses via print in conjunction with information and communication technology (ICT), where and when applicable. We operate through the study centres, which remain the beehive of educational activities, as they serve as an interface between the University and all its students.  The study centres are the fulcrum through which academic activities revolves in our University. At the moment, we have a total of one hundred and three study centres in our nation, special and community study centres inclusive. The SIWES Desk Officers are the representatives of the Directorate at the study centres and they would guide you through, to ensure that you have a rewarding experience, without hitches.

 There will be an orientation programme for all undergraduates intending to undertake SIWES as a course during their programme of study. Attendance at this event is compulsory for such students prior to undertaking industrial attachment. At this orientation, the Industrial Training Fund, which is the regulatory body for all SIWES activities in tertiary institutions, is expected to deliver speeches to you, providing insights on what you stand to benefit during your attachment. A stipend is given by ITF to all students that have successfully completed their exercises on the scheme, in the three programmes funded by ITF for our University. These programmes are: B.Sc. Computer Science, B.Sc. Agricultural Sciences and B.Sc. (Ed.) Business Education.

 Nevertheless, the benefits of SIWES to students far outweigh any monetary considerations.

 As part of our efforts to ensure a hitch-free experience, the Directorate of SIWES, through the approval of our Vice-Chancellor, and in collaboration with the Directorate of Learning Content Management System, developed the SIWES Administration System (SAS), also known as the SIWES platform. This platform has been deployed since September, 2019.

 The SIWES platform is expected to accomplish the following:

• ease and facilitate the generation of Master List – a comprehensive list of students expected to participate in SIWES in a given year
• provide the placement List – a list of students with the specific places they have been accepted for their SIWES attachments
• effectively access, monitor and increase wider supervisory reach of students wherever they are undertaking the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme
• The platform is also designed to augment the present system of registering, monitoring, supervising and reporting SIWES related activities.

While wishing you a rewarding experience, I urge you to take the opportunity provided by SIWES to learn and practise skills, which would make you employable in the labour market. It would also guide you towards becoming an employer of labour yourself, after your programme of study in our National Open University of Nigeria.

Best wishes!

 Joy Eyisi

Professor of English

Director, SIWES

Brief History of the Directorate

• The Governing Council of the University, at its 26th Regular Meeting held on 21st March, 2012 approved the establishment of a functional Directorate for SIWES in the University. Considering the stage of development of the Open and Distance Learning (ODL), a centralized rather than a decentralized model has been adopted.
• The Board of Study of the Directorate comprises the Director as Chairperson, all senior staff of the Directorate, all faculties that participate in SIWES, the Bursar and the Director, Learners’ Support Services.
• The current Director is Joy Eyisi, a Professor of English, who took over from Professor Sam O. Smah.
• Previous directors are: Professor Isaac Butswat, who is the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Dr. Ifidon Oyakilomen and the Late Professor Afolabi Adebanjo, the Pioneer Director.

Vision and Mission of the Directorate

Our vision is to be regarded as the foremost Directorate in the University that helps in bridging the gap between knowledge/theory and practice.

Our mission is to provide and promote acquisition of skills in industry or commerce with a view to generating a pool of indigenous manpower through the Open and Distance Learning system.

Services and Activities

Key functions of NOUN SIWES Directorate include:

• Supervising students on SIWES: This task is jointly carried out with the representatives of participating faculties.
• Submission of Master and Placement lists to SIWES coordinating Agencies (NUC and ITF). This list is made up of the three ITF funded programmes, namely: B.Sc. Computer Science, B.Sc.Agric. Extension Management and B.Sc. (Ed) Business Education.
• Processing of students’ log books and reports upon completion of SIWES.
• Identify placement opportunities for intending SIWES students 
  and other SIWES related functions.

Staff Members