ABSTRACT

The objective of teaching agriculture in the universities is to stimulate and sustain students’ interest in agriculture, acquire basic skills and knowledge and prepare them for an occupation in agriculture. The need to match theory with practice necessitated the setting up ofthe Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) by the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC). This study examined the effectiveness of students’ participation in SIWES programme of agricultural university students in Abia state, Nigeria. Specifically, the study identified the facilities available for the training; ascertained the perception of the students towards the training programme; identified the students’ level of participation; determined the students’ perceived satisfaction; determined the students’ perceived effectiveness/acquisition of competencies in the activities and identified the constraints that militate against the implementation of the programme. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to draw the study sample. Data were collected with the use of structured questionnaire and Focus Group discussion (FGD), and analysed with the use of simple descriptive and inferential statistics. Major findings ofthe study revealed that 71.87% ofthe facilities required in the animal section Agriculture, Umudike ■ (MOUAU); and 66.67% ofthe facilities in the animal section and 46.15% available in crop section in Abia State University (ABSU). The students in MOUAU had a perception mean score of x = 3.37 while in ABSU x - 3.26. The students participated highly in the training programme as seen in their mean score of x = 3.22 (MOUAU) and x = 2.78 (ABSU). The students’ perceived satisfaction level in the programme was high: mean score of (x = 2.70) for MOUAU and x = 2.74 for ABSU. The students in MOUAU moved from a moderate level of perceived competency (x = 2.08) before the training programme to a high level of perceived competency (x = 2.72) xi ■ and 46.87% in the crop section were available in Michael Okpara University of after the training programme. Those in ABSU had a mean score of x — 2.37 after against their mean score of x = 1.78 before the training. Both the trainers and the students their major constraint to the implementation of the programme. It was discovered that there was no positive relationship between the students’ perception and their participation in the programme and there is a significant difference in the perceived effectiveness/acquisition of competencies by the students before and after the training programme. The following recommendations are hereby made based on the findings of this research: facilities required for the training should be made available; In-service training should be made available for the trainers so as to enhance their skills and improve their technical know-how; funding of the programme should be improved; Motivational packages should from time to time made available to the trainers so as to uplift their morale to effectively train the students and finally, effective supervision of those who attach in other institutions for the completion ofthe training should be put in place. xii II identified low availability of facilities and equipment for the training programme.