The Mandate

The Directorate is tasked with coordinating the acquisition of Relevant Production Skills for students at the Federal University of Education, Zaria, and overseeing their Industrial Training. This effort aims to bridge the gap between classroom-based theoretical knowledge and practical experience in industry settings. The Directorate operates as a link between the Federal University of Education, Zaria with the National Universities Commission (NUC), which regulates SIWES, the SIWES Division of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), a Federal Government agency responsible for skill acquisition and funding, as well as the industries and organizations where students gain hands-on skills and experience during their Industrial Training.

SIWES is presently recognized as the primary program for closing the gap between theoretical education at tertiary institutions and the industrial practical skills needed in various deciplines, which are essential for Nigeria’s technological breakthrough and economic development.

The Industrial Training Fund’s Policy Document No. 1 of 1973 which established SIWES outlined the objectives of the scheme as to:

1. Provide an avenue for students in Institutions of higher learning to acquire Industrial skills and experience in their respective courses of study.
2. Prepare students for the Industrial Work situation they are likely to experience after graduation.
3. Expose students to work methods and techniques of handling equipment and machinery that may not be available in their Institutions.
4. Make the transition from school to the world of work easier and enhance students’ networks for later job placements.
5. Provide students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge to real work situations, thereby bridge the gap between theory and practice; and
6. Enlist and strengthen Employers’ involvement in the entire educational process; thereby preparing the students for employment in Industry and Commerce.

Innovation in SIWES Administration and Management
The SIWES Directorate In the 2022/2023 academic session besides supervision and signing of student logbooks, launched a digital transformation of its processes, beginning with the implementation of KoboCollect, an advanced online monitoring platform. This tool enables comprehensive supervision and real-time tracking of both staff and students in the SIWES program. Through KoboCollect, the Directorate can: Monitor supervisors' site visits and assessment schedules,Track student attendance and engagement at their assigned industries, Document and verify training progress using digital forms, Generate immediate compliance reports for program evaluation, Ensure quality control via systematic data collection, Maintain accurate records of all industrial training activities, and Promptly address any compliance issues. This technological approach enhances the supervision quality within SIWES, increases transparency, and supports adherence to program guidelines by all involved. It ensures that the standards of industrial training are upheld while streamlining administrative oversight. Additionally, the Directorate plans to move student SIWES enrollment fully online through the SIWES Portal.

Grading Logbooks
At the conclusion of the SIWES program, the logbooks provided to participating students are collected, reviewed, graded, and approved by the Departmental SIWES Coordinators before being submitted to the SIWES Directorate for ITF verification.

The SIWES Directorate,
The Federal University of Education, Zaria, only accepts properly endorsed logbooks along with duly signed ITF SCAF, Form 8, and other required documents at the end of the program for processing and submission to accredited ITF staff for verification.