SIWES, SWEP, IT, and Internship: What's the Duration?

One of the questions that come to mind when preparing for your SIWES, IT, or internship is the duration it will take. How many weeks, months, or years will you be engaged in SIWES, IT, or internship?

This post aims to answer this question through reviews of available literature.

University SIWES Lasts for Six (6) Months

All available data indicate a 24-week SIWES period for any university trainee, equating to a 6-month practical exposure in your field of study.

The National Open University (NOUN) states that the minimum duration for SIWES should typically be 24 weeks (6 months) continuously. However, this period may be longer for engineering and technology programs. This implies that it's possible to use a period longer than 6 months for SIWES in most university courses, but you won't be paid if you spend less than that.

Nnamdi Azikiwe University also states that SIWES is always a semester-long (six months) program. It is observed during the second semester of the students' third years of the course duration.

According to the SWEP & SIWES rules and regulations of Nile University, the duration is 6 months, during the second semester for 400-level students. Similarly, Nile University states that one of the requirements for the award of a Bachelor of Engineering or Science is that students must complete at least 24 weeks of Industrial Training.

Recommended: I Didn't Do SIWES, How Can I Fill Logbook/Form-8?

SIWES Lasts Four (4) Months in Polytechnics, Monotechnics and Colleges of Education

Students of polytechnics, colleges of agriculture, colleges of technology, and other monotechnics are required to undergo a 4-month SIWES usually during the first year (ND1). However, after completing ND 2, they must undergo industrial training (IT) which is a 12-month (1 year) industrial attachment.

Federal College of Education Okene states that the industrial attachment is for a period of four months, i.e., sixteen (16) weeks for the regular NCE program during the long vacation, at the end of the second semester of the first year. For the sandwich NCE program, it is split into two periods: first in year two for a period of two months, and second in year four for another two months respectively.

Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze states that the duration of the scheme for the NCE program is 4 months, done at the end of the second semester of year two, usually from September to December, while that of the degree program is 6 months, done at the end of the first semester of year three, usually from May to October.

Federal Polytechnic Offa states that the duration of the SIWES program is 4 months. Federal Polytechnic Ile-Oluji mandates a sixteen-week (4 months) SIWES program. This conforms to the requirements of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) (see the table below) which compels 6-month and 4-month SIWES for universities and polytechnics/colleges of education respectively.

@ITF

Industrial Training (IT) or Internship May Last from 6 Months Up to 1 Year

As earlier stated, IT is a common requirement for HND, and it's required of ND holders who wish to proceed to the HND level of their course. However, in universities and colleges, IT is not relevant. As such, internships are common not only to university graduates (BSc holders) but also to polytechnic graduates (HND holders).

Internships are usually not compulsory but may be recommended by a supervisor and may be voluntary at the end of your classroom studies. A study of available internship opportunities across various companies in Nigeria shows that you may be taken in as an intern for 6 to 12 months. However, there are cases where an organization may offer opportunities for a shorter duration.

According to the Lagos Food Bank Initiative, the minimum duration of an internship is six months. However, we consider students applying for one/two months internships as a requirement for their studies. This is usually backed up by an official letter from their respective schools clearly stating this request to our organization.

Similarly, Step Up Nigeria states that its intern role is open for six months and may be renewed based on available funding. The KPMG Nigeria graduate internship program usually runs from June to September, with a minimum duration of 6 weeks (Pre-NYSC Interns may be granted extensions).

EnterpriseNGR Youths of Enterprise is an initiative owned by EnterpriseNGR to recruit and upskill 5,000 youths annually, matching them with their partner organizations for a high-value six-month internship. The Youth of Enterprise internship program is a paid six-month program that offers Nigerian youth the perfect opportunity to reinvent themselves and “greenstart” their careers.

Welcome2Africa International also has an internship program that runs for between six to twelve months.

In summary, the duration of SIWES, IT, or internships varies depending on the institution and program. For university students, SIWES typically lasts six months, while polytechnic students undergo a four-month SIWES. Industrial Training (IT) for prospective HND students and internships for graduates may range from six months to a year. Some organizations offer shorter internships, but most commonly, internships span six to twelve months. 

Sources:

1. National Open University of Nigeria. (n.d.). Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). Retrieved from https://nou.edu.ng/students-industrial-work-experience-scheme-siwes/
2. Nile University of Nigeria. (n.d.). SWEP & SIWES Rules and Regulations. Retrieved from https://siwesoffice.nileuniversity.edu.ng/rules-regulations/
3. Mountain Top University. (n.d.). Student's Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). Retrieved from https://mtu.edu.ng/centers/student%27s-industrial-work-experience-scheme
4. Federal College of Education, Okene. (n.d.). Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). Retrieved from https://fceokene.edu.ng/students-industrial-work-experience-scheme-siwes/
5. Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji. (n.d.). FEDPOLEL Student Experience Work Scheme (SIWES). Retrieved from https://fedpolel.edu.ng/fedpolel-student-experience-work-schemesiwes/
6. Industrial Training Fund. (n.d.). SIWES Work. Retrieved from https://itf.gov.ng/pdf/SIWES%20Work.pdf
7. Federal Polytechnic Offa. (n.d.). Mass Communication. Retrieved from https://www.fedpoffaonline.edu.ng/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/content-component/article-categories/122-mass-com
8. Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze. (n.d.). SIWES. Retrieved from https://fcetumunze.edu.ng/consultancy-units/siwes/
9. Nile University of Nigeria. (n.d.). Nile SIWES. Retrieved from https://www.nileuniversity.edu.ng/nile-siwes/
10. Lagos Food Bank Initiative. (n.d.). Student Intern. Retrieved from https://lagosfoodbank.org/student-intern/
11. Step Up Nigeria. (n.d.). Recruitment Call: Step Up Nigeria Internship Programme. Retrieved from https://stepupnigeria.org/recruitment-call-step-up-nigeria-internship-programme/
12. College of Information Technology and Management. (n.d.). CITM Profile. Retrieved from https://www.citmng.com/DL/CITM%20PROFILE.pdf
13. Opportunities for Africans. (n.d.). Enterprisengr Youth of Enterprise (YoE) Internship Programme. Retrieved from https://www.opportunitiesforafricans.com/enterprisengr-youth-of-enterprise-yoe-internship-programme/
14. Welcome2Africa International. (n.d.). Internship. Retrieved from https://www.welcome2africaint.com/internship

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