SIWES Quality and Graduate Employability Outcomes in Business Education in Bayelsa State

Abstract

This study examined the impact of Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) quality on graduate employability outcomes in Business Education in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, with emphasis on two dimensions of SIWES quality: relevance of industry placement and opportunities for skill development. A correlational research design was adopted, guided by two research questions and two hypotheses. The population comprised all Business Education graduates in the state, from which a sample of 120 respondents was selected using proportionate stratified random sampling. Data were collected through a structured instrument titled “SIWES Quality and Employability Outcomes Questionnaire (SQEOQ),” validated by three experts and subjected to reliability analysis, yielding a Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.86. Pearson Product-Moment Correlation was used to test the hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between relevance of industry placement and graduate employability outcomes, and a strong positive relationship between opportunities for skill development and graduate employability outcomes. The study concluded that SIWES quality plays a critical role in shaping employability outcomes of Business Education graduates. It was recommended that industries providing SIWES placements should ensure task relevance to students’ field of study and create opportunities for practical skill development to enhance their workplace readiness.