Bridging the engineering skill gap in Nigeria: Preliminary findings and recommendations of the E4I survey
1 Department of Mechanical/Production Engineering, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria.
2 Department of Research & Development, Nenis Engineering Co. Ltd, # 143 Obafemi Awolowo Road, Ota-Ona, Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria. 104101.
3 Training and Research Department, Clintonel Innovation Centre, 7 Factory Road, Aba, Nigeria. 450211
4 Department of Mechatronics Engineering Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Nigeria.
5 Department of Bioengineering Systems, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
6 Department of Mechanical/Production Engineering, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria.
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology and Sciences, 2023, 10(02), 269–282.
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjaets.2023.10.2.0303
Publication history:
Received on 08 November 2023; revised on 23 December 2023; accepted on 25 December 2023
Abstract:
The paper presents the key findings and recommendations of an evidence-based survey report on the engineering skill gap among young engineering graduates in Nigeria. The outcome of the study highlighted the lack of technical, problem-solving, research and development, and management skills in the country’s young engineering graduates. Integrating emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, virtual reality, computer programming, computer-aided manufacturing, and computer-aided design into the curriculum was strongly recommended for the training of young engineering students in Nigerian higher education institutions. Other recommendations for skill augmentation include; enabling young graduates to develop their optimisation, modelling, simulation, design, creativity, technical, practical, machining, operation, and management skills to boost their hands-on engineering proficiencies. Strong emphasis was also on the importance of a one-year post-graduation internship program to upskill all young engineering graduates and provide a head-start in industrial settings. Lastly, adopting an outcome-based education (OBE) engineering training curriculum was recognised as crucial for addressing the skills gap.
Keywords:
Engineering skill gap; Emerging technologies; Curriculum enhancement; Internship; Outcome-based education.
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Copyright © 2023 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0