How to Write Acceptable SIWES Reports - Nigeria Format

First, there is no one widely acceptable standard for a SIWES report. Each school's style or format may differ. This is why I will approach this article by reviewing some institutions' styles before I give you a much more widely acceptable standard.

Although the differences are not significant enough to warrant extensive research, I will ensure you understand, regardless of the style your school uses—whether they provide a template or allow you to structure it your own way. Not only that, I will explain parts of this report and what is required under each part.

What's a Typical SIWES Report?

A SIWES (Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme) report (or technical report) is a chaptered document prepared by students who have undergone an industrial training program as part of their academic curriculum. The report must reflect on the experiences, knowledge, and skills acquired by the student during their industrial training period.

A typical report has parts including:

1. Preliminary pages,
2. detailed intern’s role/responsibilities and daily activities,
3. discussion, analysis, and evaluation,
4. conclusion, limitations, and recommendations.

Understanding how to get these parts right is important to win the right score. And in case you don't know, reports are graded on how well written and presented. For example, Ajayi Crowther University, like many others, awards 25% marks for technical reports. So, for the rest of this writing, let's explore each part.

Preliminary Pages

These are the first pages before the main report. They include:

1. Title Page
2. Declaration
3. Letter of Certification
4. Acknowledgments
5. Abstract/Executive Summary (it summarizes the body of the report, outlining its scope, purpose, and major findings, highlighting the key conclusions and recommendations)
6. Table of Contents
7. List of Tables and Figures
8. Abbreviations and keywords.

1. Title Page: The title page typically includes the title of the report, the trainee's name and/or Matric number, the date, and any other relevant information such as the organization or institution the report is prepared for.

Example:

Title page

2. Declaration/Attestation: In the declaration section, the trainee declares that the work presented in the report is his or her own and that any sources used have been properly cited. It may also include a statement indicating that the work has yet to be submitted for any other qualification. Some institutions dedicate this page to the attestation by the supervisor instead.

Example of Declaration/Attestation

Example of Certification

SIWES certification page

3. Letter of Certification: The company issued a letter stating that the industrial training or work experience was completed. It certifies that the student has successfully completed the program and often provides details about the duration and nature of the training. This is section may not required in reports by many schools.

Example:

SIWES Letter of Certification

4. Acknowledgement: The acknowledgments section is where you express gratitude to individuals, organizations, or institutions that have contributed to your SIWES experience and report. This could include your supervisor, colleagues, the organization where you completed your training, your institution, and anyone else who provided support or assistance during your industrial training. Keep it concise but sincere.

Example

5. Abstract/Executive Summary: The abstract or executive summary provides a concise overview of your entire report. It should summarize the purpose of your SIWES, the activities you were involved in, the skills you acquired, major findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Aim to capture the essence of your report briefly and engagingly, enticing the reader to delve deeper into the details. This, like a few other parts, are not required by all schools in the technical report.

Example

6. Table of Contents: The table of contents provides a roadmap for navigating your report. It lists the main sections, subsections, and corresponding page numbers. Ensure that it accurately reflects the structure of your report, making it easy for readers to locate specific information.

Example

8. List of Tables and Figures: If your report includes tables, figures, charts, or any other visual aids, you should list these elements along with their respective page numbers. This allows readers to quickly locate specific tables or figures referenced in the text. Ensure the list is organized logically and follows any numbering conventions used in your report.

Example

List of Tables and Figures:

Table 1: Summary of Tasks Undertaken (Page 5)

Figure 1: Organizational Structure of Gloryfield Nig. Plc Page 7)

Table 2: Skills Development Matrix (Page 9)

Figure 2: Comparison of Internship Objectives with Achievements (Page 11)

9. Abbreviations and Keywords: Include a list of abbreviations used throughout your report along with their full meanings. This ensures clarity and helps readers understand any technical terms or acronyms you use. Additionally, provide a list of keywords relevant to your report's subject matter. These keywords can aid in indexing and searching your document, making it more accessible to readers.

1. SIWES: Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme
2. MG: Marafield Group
3. FUTMINA: Federal University of Technology Minna

Other Parts of the SIWES Report to Understand

Apart from the standard format that most institutions will use (with little variances here and there), there are more specific instructions that each trainee must adhere to. Such instructions might be given to you in the course of preparing or typing the report. For instance, some schools will be specific about the font type, font size, line spacing, and other formatting details.

Ajayi Crowther University instructed as follows, for instance:

10. Page Layout: The page layout for all pages should be as follows:

1. Left margin: 1½"
2. Right margin: 1"
3. Top margin: 1"
4. Bottom margin: 1"

Similarly, some institutions may have specific instructions regarding page numbering, binding, and design. However, where your school is silent about this, you may follow the standard below.

11. Page Numbering: Pages are numbered at the bottom center. Numbering starts from the second page since the title page is not numbered.

12. Spacing and Justification: All pages are single-sided. Text is double-spaced, except for long quotations and the bibliography (which are single-spaced). There is one blank line between a section heading and the text that follows it. The text must be right-justified.

13. Font Face and Size: Any easily readable font is acceptable. The font should be 12 points or larger. Generally, the same font must be used throughout the manuscript.

14. References: APA format should be used to cite references within the paper. If you name the author in your sentence, then follow the author’s name with the year in parentheses.

15. Appendix: Include any additional material that supports your report, such as detailed tables, figures, or documents relevant to your training.

16. Binding: The report should be spiral bound. The spiral binding must be there, preferably with a blue foil plastic cover.

17. Report Layout: The outline of the technical report chapters and sections is shown below:

TABLE OF CONTENT 

Title Page i 

Dedication ii 

Acknowledgment iii 

Table of Contents iv 

Abstract v 

CHAPTER ONE 

Introduction 

1.1 Background 

1.2 Objectives 

CHAPTER TWO 

2.1 Location and Brief History of the Establishment 

2.2 Objectives of Establishment 

2.3. Organisational Structure of the Establishment 

2.4. Organogram 

2.5. Departments/Units in the Establishment and their Functions 

CHAPTER THREE 

Report on Work Done and Experience Gained 

CHAPTER FOUR 

Experience Gained

 

CHAPTER FIVE 

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations 

5.1 Summary of attachment activities 

5.2 Challenges Encountered during the Industrial Training Programme 

5.3 Recommendations for Improvement of the Scheme

Conclusion

By following this structure, you can create a well-organized and comprehensive SIWES report. Pay attention to your institution’s specific requirements, as they may have unique guidelines regarding formatting and content. A meticulously prepared report not only showcases your industrial training experience but also demonstrates your ability to document and analyze your professional development effectively. This will contribute significantly to your final grade, reflecting the effort and learning you invested during your industrial training.

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