Issues in Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme and Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition among Home Economics Students in Tertiary Institutions in Anambra State

This paper focused on issues relating to Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) and entrepreneurial skills acquisition among Home Economics students in tertiary institutions in Anambra State. Specifically, it determined: new skills learnt by students during their SIWES experience; ways SIWES impacted on their entrepreneurial skill acquisition; challenges students faced during SIWES; and measures that will enhance SIWES programme. The study adopted survey design. Population was made up of 268 Home Economics students who have gone through SIWES experience from the three tertiary institutions that offer Home Economics in Anambra State. Questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. Findings include 17 skills learnt by the students through SIWES among which were skills in soap making, baking, catering, sewing and designing; seven ways SIWES impacted on the students entrepreneurial skill development. These include that it prepares students for employment; it exposes students to new work method. Fifteen challenges faced by Home Economics students during SIWES training were determined. These include finance, student placements as a result of non-acceptance of students by some establishments, inadequate supervision of trainees among others. Twenty-eight measures that could enhance SIWES among which are adequate payment of SIWES allowances, collaboration between institutions and industries and students should adhere to industries rules and regulations. Five recommendations for enhancing SIWES programme were made.