Elizade University Explores European Partnerships for Extended Industrial Training

Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, has intensified efforts to expand global industrial training opportunities for its students, opening discussions with Germany and other European countries to facilitate extended Students’ Industrial Work Experience placements abroad.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Philip Gbenro Oguntunde, disclosed this while receiving a delegation from the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), led by the Head of Training, Mrs Grace Ajagbe, at the University campus. He commended the ITF for its sustained partnership with Elizade University, describing the collaboration as indispensable to producing graduates who are well-equipped for the demands of the modern workplace.

Professor Oguntunde noted that the hands-on skills acquired through the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) remain a critical component of students’ learning process, bridging the gap between classroom knowledge and real-world application.

He explained that, in line with the vision of the University’s Founder, Chief Michael Ade. Ojo, to deliver an employability-driven curriculum, Elizade University is strengthening foreign collaborative training programmes that will expose its students to advanced industrial environments. According to him, the initiative will enable students to undertake between five and six months of structured industrial work experience in Germany and other parts of Europe.

“This is a deliberate value-addition strategy befitting a world-class institution,” the Vice-Chancellor said. “We are exploring strategic engagements with leading global brands, including discussions with Benz Automobile in Germany, while talks are already ongoing with some European countries to actualise these opportunities for our students.”

Earlier, the ITF team leader, Mrs Ajagbe, reiterated the Fund’s mandate to bridge the gap between theory and practice by empowering students with practical skills beyond the university environment. She emphasised that SIWES plays a vital role in ensuring graduates are properly grounded and industry-ready.

She acknowledged the growing challenge posed by the geometric increase in student enrolment nationwide without a corresponding rise in funding, but assured that the ITF has continued to strengthen its operations to ensure that students do not feel the impact of these constraints.

The visit further reaffirmed the shared commitment of Elizade University and the Industrial Training Fund to advancing skills-based education and enhancing graduate employability in Nigeria and beyond.