Wizy Star Table Water: My IT Experience, Problems Encountered, Advice To Future Participant, Conclusion, Recommendations. 

EXPERIENCE GAINED

The student industrial training (IT) made me realise that my course of study (Food Science and Technology) does not stop in theory, but it involves serious practical’s. I had experience on what quality control entails and was opportune to partake in practical, I was also opportune to see how some equipment’s looks like, know their names, operate some machines and also learn how they work. I was also opportune to know the different way of treating water before it is suitable for consumption. With the practical knowledge gained from industrial training and the theoretical aspect gained from my school gave me the whole idea of what my course of study is all about. Associating with people from different socio-economic background, ideology, religion, behaviour and also different institutes helped me weigh my level of understanding and also the standard of learning provided by my own school of which I am very proud of my school. It also gave me insight on what life after school looks like and understanding as related to working environment. Working Wizy Star Table Water has built my confidence, both as individual and as a potential food scientist.

PROBLEMS I ENCOUNTERED 

Notwithstanding the benefits of the industrial training scheme, the problems encountered by the students in the cause of the training can derail the well-intended aim and make it loose its usefulness if most problems are not addressed properly. The problems include:

 ACCOMMODATION: One of the problems encountered in the accommodation where the location of the school is far from my house.

 NON PAYMENT OF ALLOWANCE: The school does not pay allowance to students who are attached to them.

 TRANSPORTATION AND FEEDING: Because no monthly allowance are given to students transportation and feeding was a great challenge to me.

 LACK OF INDUSTRIES: Due to lack of industries, students find it difficult to get a place for their industrial attachment.

WAYS OF IMPROVING THE SCHEME

The SIWES is indeed a life changing exercise. However despite its numerous benefits, there are also areas that need reform and improvement.

• ORIENTATION: Proper orientation should be given to students to prepare them socially and physiologically for the travails of IT work and real situation.

• The industrial based supervisors and university coordinators should work on themselves so as to maintain a cordial relationship with IT students.

• FUNDING: The funding scheme should be increased and provisions should be made to compel employers to pay IT students’ allowances for transport, lunch and other needs no matter how little.

• The law establishing the scheme should be strengthened to compel employers of labour from rejecting students who applied to serve in their establishment despite having met all necessary situations.

ADVICE TO FUTURE PARTICIPANTS 

I advise upcoming IT students to go for knowledge. I am not against getting knowledge and making money during IT but if you find yourself in a situation between knowledge and money please go for knowledge. The knowledge you get cannot be compared with the money you will get.

The upcoming IT students should also try and comply with the employers’ rules and regulations, keep proper records and activities performed and not focusing more on the allowance received. Students during IT should go to places related to their field of study and at the same time seek for knowledge. Let knowledge be your priority.

Always go for product with NAFDAC registration number. Also I want to encourage future partakers of this scheme to seek for place of attachment early and also to be committed in learning.

CONCLUSION

The report comprises the detailed experience I got in the quality control department and also treatment of any water. The quality control department is the backbone of any water company. They ensure that the quality of any product and service is advanced. The programme exposed me to new chemical method in modern analysis. Not only has the training exposed me to so many procedures used for analysis, but also the fundamental working principles of the procedures which are dealt with theoretically in schools (Institutions). The SIWES was able to bridge gap between theoretical and practical aspect of food science and technology. The programme has also enabled students to gain confidence in their field of study and the ability to communicate with members of the society.

I also recommend that students should endeavour to undergo the industrial training as it adds practical knowledge to the theoretical aspect taught in the university. The contribution of my attachment Working Wizy Star Table Water was eventful and cannot be overemphasized, team work, mutual relationship and understanding among the workers should not fade away to continually get required results.

This programme has gone a long way at empowering our graduates with practical and skill needed in their area of specialization.

They should encourage students by giving them monthly compensation and also if possible, make it mandatory that organization accommodate students for their training. It is of importance to note that the relevance of the programme to students should not be based on making money, but a means to acquire knowledge.

I there urge the management of the programme to continue on their efforts in exposing students to the challenges ahead.