NAME: FAKEYE, KEHINDE AYOKUNLE

MAT.NO: 13/ENG04/014
DEPARTMENT: ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS
ENGINEERING
ASSIGNMENT
CHALLENGES/LIMITATIONS ENCOUNTERED DURING
SIWES AND HOW THEY CAN BE ADDRESSED.
These were the common difficulties experienced during the SIWES program, below are some of
the challenges encountered;

1 .Problem of getting a Placement

Firstly, getting a placement is the first and the most difficult challenge encountered by students
during SIWES. Some companies have a policy that they do not accept students for industrial
training even if they do, they take just few students like in my case, I was the only student that
was taken thereby making my the only IT student the company on deck. Others make students go
through rigorous process before they can be accepted and for other companies, the student must
be very close to someone in high authority to be granted a place. For reasons best known to
them, they are reluctant in accepting students for industrial training. Sometimes, the process is
like one is applying for a job. This should not be so because the students need to learn for them
and for the society.

During the proposed excursion, the authorities of the place to be visited should be asked the
reason for this difficulty and they should be made to understand the stress involved and convince
them to at least view these issues and address them as this will go a long way in helping the IT
students.

2. The Welfare of the trainee

In most cases, Students on industrial training are not taken care of properly which isnt so good
for the students, Some companies do not provide personal protection equipment making student
sort for them on their own. Feeding and transportation is also not provided. Some of the students
spend time finding a place to stay and they have to rent houses and come from far distances.

The industrial training program for such is expensive and this can affect the learning experience.
During the excursion, the company visited should be informed about the danger of this action
and should be advised to pay attention to their interns by providing all things necessary and
ensure that they are comfortable with their condition.

3. Ill-treat of Students

Sometimes, the students are being taken advantage of during their industrial training. Instead of
them being taught how work is done, they are used as laborers. They are asked to lift heavy
objects, sent on errands, clean environment and do things that are unrelated to the purpose of the
program. Some of the workers are lazy and they use the students to get out of their job by asking
them to do things that they have little or no experience about which is really not good.

During the excursion, this issue should be addressed in the industry to be visited. The industry
should be made to know the harm of this action and be encouraged to help the students achieve
the purpose of the program.

4. Student Restriction

During the program, student may not get a complete feel of what goes on in the industry because
of some restrictions, they may not be allowed to operate the machines or even take pictures of
the process that goes on. The only way they learn is from observation and asking questions.
Some companies may not even let students enter the field because they may get seriously injured
and since the companys health insurance does not cover them, they may be left on their own and
also because they are scared of a student damaging their equipment.

During the excursion, it should be ensured that restrictions be minimal with adequate supervision
so that students will learn how things reallywork in the industry. This should also be suggested to
the company or industry that is to be visited so that future SIWES student can get same
opportunity.
SOLUTION TO CHALLENGES

Finally, companies should be advised to employ a reasonable amount of many IT students as this
will enable the students to relate with not just the staffs of the company but also with their fellow
IT peers, as this will go a long way in boosting the efficiency of the company. Unlike in my case,
I was the only IT student being employed, so I wasnt all that free with the staffs why because
they were all older than me and as such there was a limit to our relationship. Having other
students goes a long in motivating student to all learn and work together.

HOW EXCURSION WILL HELP REDUCE PROBLEM

The excursion if done before the SIWES program will help reduce the gap in communication
between students and technical staffs as they would have already been exposed to some technical
terms and also give students a little experience on some complex equipments present in the
industry.

The excursion when carried out after the excursion will also serve as a platform for students who
were unable to gain placement in a company which relates to their course of study, to be
exposed to as much technical and real life experience as much as possible.

Also the excursion will provide an avenue for students to relate to the staff of the organisation
and hence enhance their network of working engineers and technicians to assist with SIWES
attachment.