Exploring Internship Program as Practical Strategy for Technology Education in Nigeria

Academic Paper from the year 2023 in the subject Didactics - E-Learning, , language: English, abstract: This study examines the perception of faculty members and students regarding internship program as a practical strategy for technology education in Nigeria, taking an example from the practice of Taiwan. The study adopted a basic qualitative design that employed the views and opinions of faculty members and students in some selected universities that were explored regarding the internship program as a practical strategy for technology education in Nigeria and taking examples from the practice of Taiwan. A face-to-face interview was conducted in the study to elicit the views and opinions of 15 participants (that is, seven faculty members and eight students) regarding the internship program at a selected university in Nigeria. The internship practices of technology education in Taiwan could be a clear model for Nigeria's internship program. Exploring the internship practice of Taiwan could help technology education students in the university meet the knowledge and skills gap in technology education, thus reducing unemployment among the youth to meet global standards.

BIOGRAPHY Dr. Timothy Oziegbe Okpeku was born in Okokomoiko, Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State. He started his primary education at Okhide Primary School Uzebba where he obtained his primary school leaving certificate and proceeded to Uzebba Grammar School for his secondary education where he obtained his National Examination Council (NECO) certificate. He received his Bachelor's degree from Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Nigeria. He proceeded to the University of Benin where he obtained his Master's degree. He thereafter moved to his Alma Mata where he received his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. As a student, he was a class prefect at Uzebba Grammar School, Uzebba-Iuleha, and later a class representative at the University of Benin. His hands-on research and pedagogical experience earned him the first graduate of his department's post-graduate degree program. He started his career as a teacher. Thereafter he joined the Edo State government public service as an industry officer at the Edo State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Benin City, Nigeria. Due to his passion for Nigeria's education system, education policies and programs, curriculum reform, education equity, and student achievement gap, he was among the six post-doctoral scholars selected in Africa by the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) as African visiting scholars to the Republic of China (Taiwan). A transnational task that took him to the Republic of China (Taiwan) for one year (January-December, 2022). While in Taiwan, he was assigned to the National Taichung University of Education, to examine the strategic aspects of the Taiwanese educational system and lessons for Nigeria. His research interests cut across school politics, pedagogy, didactic, e-learning, education psychology, education leadership, education sociology, school system, education policy, curriculum design, educational equity, program evaluation, achievement gap, instructional technology, comparative education, vocational, technical education, and training. He has recently published 17 academic papers, 7 commentaries, 12 contributed postgraduate thesis/dissertations, and 5 academic seminar papers. Dr. Timothy O. Okpeku is a recipient of the Taiwan Fellowship Award.