This study examines the perception of faculty members and students regarding internship program as a practical strategy for technology education in Nigeria, taking an example from the practice of Taiwan. The study adopted a basic qualitative design that employed the views and opinions of faculty members and students in some selected universities that were explored regarding the internship program as a practical strategy for technology education in Nigeria and taking examples from the practice of Taiwan. A face-to-face interview was conducted in the study to elicit the views and opinions of 15 participants (that is, seven faculty members and eight students) regarding the internship program at a selected university in Nigeria.
The internship practices of technology education in Taiwan could be a clear model for Nigeria’s internship program. Exploring the internship practice of Taiwan could help technology education students in the university meet the knowledge and skills gap in technology education, thus reducing unemployment among the youth to meet global standards.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Problem Statement
Purpose of the Study
Research Questions
Methodology
Participants Selection
Analysis Setting
Findings
Demographic setting
Faculty Member Demographics Variables
Students Demographics Variables
Participants’ Excerpts for Research Question 1
Participants’ Excerpts for Research Question 2
Summary of Findings
Findings of Research Question 1
Findings of Research Question 2
Interpretation and Discussion of Research Question 1
Interpretation and Discussion of Research Question 2
Recommendations
Conclusion
Study Objectives and Core Themes
This study investigates how faculty members and students perceive internship programs as a practical strategy for technology education in Nigeria, drawing comparative lessons from the internship practices in Taiwan to address the skills gap and youth unemployment.
- Evaluation of internship programs as a catalyst for technical skill acquisition.
- Comparative analysis of Nigerian internship practices with the dual-system model of Taiwan.
- Assessment of the link between industry-based learning and graduate employability.
- Identification of barriers to successful internship implementation in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
- Strategic recommendations to align technology education with evolving global industrial demands.
Excerpt from the Book
Introduction
Higher education in Nigeria has experienced a relative decline in quality over the past 35 years, as graduates from these universities lacked the skills necessary to compete not only in the local industry but also in the 21st-century global marketplace. Okonjo-Iweala (2012) noted that the lack of adequate teaching and learning materials to develop practical skills has made Nigerian graduates from higher institutions of learning not employable. Olagbemiro (2012) stated that the Nigeria university system is expected to function and contribute to national development through high-level relevant manpower training and inculcating proper values for the survival of individuals in their internal and external environment.
In 2020, the National Council on Skills (NCS) was launched by the Federal Government of Nigeria to improve the employability of young Nigerians and reduce unemployment. The aim is to identify the implementation of regular skills surveys and the gap among young Nigerians. According to the federal government of Nigeria, the training would be demand-driven and accelerate the institutionalization of the national skills framework and the coherence of skills development by the facilitation of policy for certified professionals in the country (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization-International Center for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, UNESCO-UNEVOC 2021). In this study, I examine Nigerian faculty members’ and students' perceptions regarding the internship programs as a practical strategy that helped technology education students in the university meet the required knowledge and skills in technology education.
Summary of Key Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the historical context of declining quality in Nigerian higher education and the government's initiatives to bridge the skills gap through internship programs.
Methodology: Details the qualitative research design, employing face-to-face interviews with 15 participants—faculty members and students—to explore their perceptions of internship effectiveness.
Findings: Presents the coded interview data, detailing the demographic profiles of participants and their views on internship program implementation, benefits, and challenges in Nigeria.
Interpretation and Discussion of Research Question 1: Analyzes faculty perspectives, confirming that while internships are valued for practical skill development, there is a recognized discrepancy in their effective implementation in Nigeria.
Interpretation and Discussion of Research Question 2: Examines student perceptions, highlighting a significant frustration with the low success rate and poor implementation of internship placements in Nigerian industries.
Recommendations: Proposes systematic reforms based on the Taiwanese model, emphasizing closer collaboration between government, industry, and universities to enhance graduate readiness.
Conclusion: Summarizes the study's findings, affirming that internships are a critical, albeit currently underutilized, strategy for aligning technology education with socioeconomic demands.
Keywords
Internship Program, Nigeria Technology Education, Taiwan Technology Education, Youth Unemployment, Skills Acquisition, Vocational Education, Higher Education, Employability, Industrial Training, Technical Skills, Curriculum Implementation, Labor Market, Qualitative Research, Dual Education System, Workplace Learning
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on evaluating the role of internship programs as a practical strategy for technology education in Nigeria, aiming to identify how these programs affect graduate skill levels.
What are the central themes explored in the study?
The central themes include skill acquisition, student employability, the gap between theoretical education and real-world industrial needs, and the potential adoption of the Taiwanese internship model.
What is the core objective of the study?
The primary objective is to investigate the perceptions of faculty and students regarding current internship practices to determine if they successfully prepare students for the demands of the labor market.
What scientific methodology was applied?
The study utilizes a basic qualitative research design, relying on face-to-face, open-ended interviews with 15 participants (seven faculty members and eight students). Data was processed and categorized using iterative coding cycles.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the current state of Nigerian technical education, the findings from interview data segmented by research questions, and a detailed discussion comparing these findings against existing educational policies and international models.
Which keywords best describe this research?
The work is characterized by keywords such as Internship Program, Nigeria Technology Education, Youth Unemployment, and vocational training strategies.
How does the experience of Taiwan serve this study?
The study uses Taiwan's "dual system" of vocational education as a benchmark to highlight how stronger links between higher education and industry can better prepare students for immediate employment.
Why are the perspectives of both faculty and students included?
Including both groups allows the research to achieve triangulation, providing a comprehensive view of the gap between the administrative intent of internship programs and the practical student experience on the ground.
What is the conclusion regarding internship effectiveness?
The conclusion indicates that while the potential of internships as a "practical strategy" is recognized by all respondents, the current implementation in Nigeria is inconsistent and requires substantial reform to truly reduce youth unemployment.
- Citar trabajo
- Dr. Timothy Okpeku Oziegbe (Autor), 2023, Exploring Internship Program as Practical Strategy for Technology Education in Nigeria, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1339547
