Rector Charges Students To Take SIWES Seriously
The Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Dayo Oladebeye has charged Students of the Polytechnic to take the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) seriously and develop an entrepreneurial spirit that will stand them out as good ambassadors of the Polytechnic.
The Rector gave the charge in his keynote address at the 2022 Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme Orientation programme for ND I students held at the Polytechnic Sports Complex on Wednesday, 26th January, 2022.
The Rector who was represented at the occasion by the Deputy Rector (Academics), Mr. Olusegun Dada noted that the SIWES programme was designed to expose and prepare students of Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Technology, Colleges of Agriculture and Education for Industrial Work situation which ;they are likely to meet after graduation. The work experience he stated became expedient in order to bridge the gap between classrooms theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the labour market.
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The Rector while charging the students to listen attentively and follow whatever information would be disseminated to them in order to ensure a successful and result-oriented SIWES, implored the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) officials to ensure what students that partake in the scheme receive their approved allowance adequately as a way of motivating them to work harder.
While thanking the ITF officials for coming and the coordinator of the Polytechnic’s Industrial Liaison Office and organizers of the orientation programme, the Rector called on ITF to partner with the Polytechnic in the area of Training and Manpower Development in order to achieve more in this area.
The Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Sunday Olajide in his address stated that SIWES is a skill-based training programme designed by the Federal Government to bridge the gap between the theoretical classroom work and the practical situation for all Engineering, Technology and Science students in Tertiary Institution in order to enhance the technical prowess of the students in real work situation.
Dr. Olajide who lamented the rate at which SIWES students are rejected by organisations despite the degree of canvassing done, called on government at all levels to synergise and enact laws that would make it compulsory for industries to see it as a necessity to train students through programmes like SIWES. The law, if enacted, Dr. Olajide opined, would enable Polytechnic education to achieve its objective and mandate in the area of wealth creation through the technical and vocational training.
While appreciating the Rector and the Management team for their support, and the ITF officials for their continuous support and sustained cooperation with the SIWES Unit of the Polytechnic, the Dean admonished the prospective SIWES students to approach the programme with utmost seriousness in order to build a strong entrepreneurial skill and also achieve high academic grade.
In his address to the SIWES students the Area Manager of SIWES, Mr. Gabriel Oladimeji noted that the essence of the programme was to sensitize students and expose tertiary institution students to the work situation they are likely to encounter in their various field.
Mr. Oladimeji advised the students to seek for work relevant to their field of study and be security conscious at all times because of the insecurity situation in the country.
Earlier in his courtesy call to the Rector with his team, the Area Manager of SIWES, Mr. G.S. Oladimeji thanked the Rector for the existing good relationship between ITF and the School and prayed that the relationship would continue for the effective execution of the project.
The Rector, while observing that students encounter a lot of problems observing their SIWES, called on government to come to their aid because according to him, the students need to be properly trained and practically oriented.
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