Appraising the role of students' industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) in developing employable skills: Nigerian higher education institutions' stakeholders' perspective

Purpose Despite several policies, studies have revealed that the unemployment rate among Nigerian Higher Education Institution (HEI) graduates is the highest on the continent. Evidence shows that a comprehensive, practice-based Students' Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) within HEIs' academic programmes may enhance the skills required for engagement, particularly in engineering, technology and environmental science. However, attempts to enhance skills development via SIWES within HEIs' programmes may be challenging. This study explored perceived issues in the implementation of SIWES in HEIs and proposed measures to improve its implementation, enhance employable skills and, by extension, advance the achievement of the SDGs. Design/methodology/approach The researchers employed a qualitative design and collected data from 48 eligible Nigerian participants via virtual interviews. They also used an investigative method to engage participants and conducted a thematic analysis to analyse the data. The study achieved saturation. Findings The research results show that an improved SIWES Scheme can develop HEIs students' employable skills. Poor incentives and delays in SIWES payments, inadequate sensitisation of SIWES students, inadequate placement of SIWES students, chronic institutional corruption, poor funding and poor collaboration between academia and industry were identified as hindrances to implementation, and measures were proposed to address them. Originality/value The adopted theories (Vygotsky and Piaget) support the framework for revamping the SIWES Scheme for engineering and technology, as well as environmental science, to align with best practices, develop graduates' employability skills and, by extension, improve the achievement of SDGs 3, 4, 8 and 9.