Effect of Industrial Training Scheme on the Training of Office Managers

EFFECT OF INDUSTRIAL TRAINING SCHEME ON THE TRAINING OF OFFICE MANAGERS IN SELECTED TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN SOUTH EAST ZONE OF NIGERIA

In this chapter, relevant literature related to the present study were under the following headings.

• The aims and objectives of Industrial Training.
• The benefits derived from Industrial Training programme.
• The causes of poor implementation of Industrial Training programme.
• The remedies to the poor implementation of the programme.
• Summary of Literature Review.

2.1    The Aims and Objectives of Industrial Training.

The growing concern among our industrialists that graduates of our institutions of Higher learning lack adequate practical background studies preparatory for employment in industries, led to the formation of Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) by ITF in 1993/1994 (Information and Guideline for SIWES, 2002).  Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has as one of its key functions; to work as cooperative entity with industry and commerce where students in institutions of higher learning can undertake mid-career work experience attachment in industries which are compatible with students’ area of study (Okorie 2002, in Asikadi 2003).

The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is a skill training programme designed to expose and prepare students of Agriculture, Engineering, Technology, Environmental, Science, Medical Sciences and Pure and Applied Science for the industrial work situation which they likely to meet after graduation.  Duration of SIWES is four(4) months in Polytechnic at the end of NDI and one year at the end of NDII, four(4) months in College of Education at the end of NCEII and six(6) months in the Universities at the end of 300 or 400, 500 levels depending on the discipline (Information and Guideline for SIWES, 2002).

The aims and objectives of industrial training scheme was designed to assist managerial students acquire the much needed on the job practical experience.  Some of the practical experience include; planning, organizing, directing, controlling and coordinating the operations of organizations and major departments or programs.  All these are involved in industrial training scheme which was designed to effect practice in our industrial and commercial activities.

The aims of Office Technology and Management department in undergoing industrial training is to avail themselves with the opportunities of industrial exposure in their own discipline during the course of their study.  The acquired exposure will enable trainees to fit more easily into real industrial sitting after the training.

The objectives of SIWES among others include;

1. To provide an avenue for students in institutions of higher learning to acquire industrial skills and experience in their approved course of study.
2. To prepare students for the industrial works situation which they are likely to meet after graduation.
3. To make transition from school to the world of work easier and enhance students’ contacts for later job placement.
4. To expose students to work methods and techniques in handling equipment and machinery not available in their institutions.
5. To provide students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge in real work situation thereby bridging the gap between theory and practices.
6. To enlist and strengthen employers’ involvement in the entire educational process and prepare students for employment in Industry and Commerce (Information and Guideline for SIWES, 2002).

The objectives also is for the students to know the technology in use because technology is the mastery and utilization of manufacturing and industrial methods, systematic application of knowledge to practical tasks in industry i.e. computer, electronic typewriter, telecommunication etc.

It helps the students to be perfects of the standard he has attained.  As Mafe (2009) stated “Industrial training officials want the students to learn the skills that will help to perfect them in the area of discipline especially students that are offering practical course like Office Technology and Management” etc.  The industrial training scheme is relevant by Okafor (2000) based in such area as;

• To help all managerial students despite their level to acquire the basic skill in dealing with the necessary functions that will affect their educational career in future.
• Industrial Training will help the trainer to understand the intellectual capacity of each student and therefore devote more time to develop the acquired skill from that student.

Gomez F.A. ACSR stated that industrial training programme helps the managerial students despite their level to be a very good sociology practitioner to manage the office with professional dexterity to be accessible to all within and outside the organization.

Mbanefo, (1995), stated that “training prepares the potential managers that will work in any organization as Personnel Managers in giving orientation to their potential Secretaries”.

Okafor (1993), opined “Industrial Training attempts to identify the various objectives of management programmes of some Nigeria higher institutions and to examine how those programme objectives are being achieved”.

2.2    Benefits Derived from Industrial Training Programme

Industrial Training is an act of giving teaching and practice to a student in order to bring to a desired standard of behaviour, efficiency or physical condition in place of work.  Any student especially managerial students that undergo such training, whether four(4) months or one year industrial training have benefited many skills, knowledge etc that will help him/her to face any challenges in labour market.  According to Ifeanacho and Egbue, 1997);

• This training helps to expose students to different methods of works and how to handle some equipment in an organization.
• Industrial Training Scheme also helps some private and public establishments to train and prepare students in order to be perfect in their career.
• Industrial Training gives the provision of training facilities for training of Managers.
• It also helps other personnel to conduct research in the training of industry and commerce.

Taylor (1983), suggested that “broad purpose of SIWES is to help students to take their first steps journey through his life career with pleasure and confidence and so prepare the students who have benefited from SIWES opportunity pass on the next and the student will be ready and eager to accept the challenge of learning skills in their career”.