BUSINESS EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FUND (ITF) COLLABORATION FOR MANPOWER TRAINING THROUGH STUDENTS INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME (SIWES)

Abstract

Over the years, Industrial Training Fund (ITF) through her Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) has contributed immensely in manpower training in the country. This is mostly to students studying relevant courses that demand the training. The purpose of the study was to investigate into the collaboration of business education and ITF through their SIWES programme, regarding manpower training in the country. A survey research was used to carry out the study. A four point Likert-type rating scale was used to collect data for the study. The population comprises of all the students of tertiary institutionsthat are reading courses that enable them go for SIWES. A sample of 120 students was picked at random for the study from university, colleges of education and polytechnics. 40 of the respondents were randomly picked from each of the institutions. Based onthe responses gathered, it was discovered that there is a significant relationship between business education and ITF and also the SIWES programme embarked upon by ITF has tremendous effects on the students of business education. This has hitherto helped them in extracting various avenues that can make them become even self-reliant. This has also helped in developing skilled manpower in the country. It is also recommended that SIWES, Seminars and workshops programmes should be strengthened in business education to educate undergraduates and lecturers on institutions and industries collaboration.