ASSESSMENT OF SIWES EXPERIENCE AMONG LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE STUDENTS IN NASARAWA STATE POLYTECHNIC

Abstract

This study is an appraisal of students’ industrial work experiences (SIWES) at Nasarawa State Polytechnic Lafia. It assessed the categories of institutions where students did their SIWES, to find out benefits derived by LIS students in SIWES, to find out benefits derived by LIS students in SIWES, to ascertain the challenges confronting the students during SIWES and as well as the possible remedies to overcome the challenges were identified. An evaluative design was used for the study with a population of 126 students. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire. In analysing the data, percentages, mean and frequency tables were used. The findings revealed that academic libraries, public libraries, special/research libraries, information centers, documentation centers and radio stations were some of the institutions where students had their industrial experience. The findings also revealed that one of the major benefits of SIWES was that it provided avenues for students to acquire practical skills and experience in their courses of study. The study further identified finance, transportation, accommodation, inadequate working tools and inadequate cooperation from employers to be some of the major challenges confronting students on SIWES. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the provision of monthly allowances during SIWES, provision of means of transportation and accommodation, provision of state-of-the-art working tools and as well as adequate cooperation from employers were identified as remedies to the aforementioned challenges.