The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), University of Calabar has created an online platform to checkmate cases of fraud associated with the payment of school charges.

The platform will also help to improve the working relationship between students and the employers of UNICAL seconded on Industrial Attachment (IT).

The director of SIWES, Dr. Imo Obot disclosed this when he spoke to journalists on the impact of the directorate and number of students so far mobilised on IT between 2000 and now.

According to Obot, they have so far mobilized 2,903 students for Industrial Attachment (IT) in 22 years.

He said the essence of IT is to get the students acquainted with the practical aspects of their discipline to enable them stand out in the labour market.

He maintained that the students are given proper orientation before they embark on IT to encourage them on the need to be focussed, hardworking and diligent.

The Director maintained that during the period of the IT, students are trained on practical skills related to their areas of specialization.

According to him, the students are placed under strict supervision by SIWES Staff, coordinators from their various Departments and officials of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) for a duration of six months to ensure that they are actually undergoing the IT.

He said, ”The Students undergo intensive six months training related to their areas of specialization.

“For instance, Medical Laboratory Students go to the hospitals to receive training, tourism students go to the hospitality sector to receive training and so on.”

He described the scheme as a veritable tool for national and economic development.

Dr. Obot said SIWES would always key into the policy thrust of the current university administration, adding that the Vice Chancellor’s passion for ICT has given an unprecedented lift to SIWES.