ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF SIWES ON FOSTERING ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS AMONG TEXTILE DESIGN STUDENTS

Abstract

In recent times, the development of entrepreneurial skills among students has become essential in most developing countries, particularly in specialised fields like textile design. The Students' Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is a pivotal bridge connecting theoretical knowledge with practical application. Through an in-depth assessment of students' experiences, challenges, and achievements during SIWES programmes, this study assessed the impact of practical and hands-on learning on their entrepreneurial expertise. The study adopted a survey research design using a questionnaire as the data gathering tool. The population of the study are textile design students and graduates in selected schools in Southwest Nigeria. One hundred and forty-three (143) students were sampled using random sampling techniques while one hundred and four (104) graduates were sampled using snowball sampling techniques. The data collected was analysed quantitatively through descriptive analysis using frequency, percentage, and mean score. The result of the research revealed that SIWES plays a major role in the entrepreneurial development of textile students. It was recommended that tertiary institutions should increase their partnership with the industry to create opportunities to students to undergo their SIWES programmes without stress.