Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (S.I.W.E.S) Industrial Training (I.T) For Pharmacy Students In Nigeria

Pharmacy I.T Student

Generally, the university is based on theory. However, there are some course that include practicals which did not still meet up to what really happens in the day-to-day activities in a typical work setting.

The laboratory practical have not been able to give the student all the necessary experience that will be needed. However, this will be taken care of by Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (S.I.W.E.S) popularly known as Industrial Training (I.T).

SIWES (IT) was designed to bridge the gap between schoolwork and actual practice. In pharmacy, it is scheduled after the second-semester examination of year three which span a period of six months. 

The successful completion of the program enhances theory and pave way for probing questions that will enhance the future of the profession.

Objectives Of SIWES (IT)

1. To prepare students for the work situations they are likely to meet after graduation
2. To provide an avenue for students in the Nigerian universities to acquire industrial skills and experience in their course of study
3. To enlighten and strengthen employer’s involvement in the entire educational process of preparing university graduates for employment in industry
4. To provide students with an opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in real work situations, thereby bridging the gap between university work and actual practice
5. To expose students to works methods and techniques in handling equipment and machinery that may not be available at the University
6. To make transition from the university world of work easier and thus enhance students contacts for later job placements

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IT in pharmacy is compulsory when the school makes it compulsory since it is optional from National Universities Commission (N.U.C). Students in some courses in the university do not do IT. There was a time some lecturers were canvassing for the removal of IT, as it was felt that it steals valuable time from the student. Time long enough to learn new things theoretically. Most of those lecturers are actually from pharmaceutics and pharmacognosy departments. However, I strongly support IT as it helps students realise the value of the profession why still in school.

Pharmacy IT can be done in anywhere a pharmacy can work. However, some schools have restrictions to only industrial setting, community, and hospital pharmacy. This is to enable the student gets more from drug since that is the base of the profession.

Guidelines For IT

Schools around Nigeria sells a logbook and letter with the school name and logo that must be submitted to the industry of choice by the student. The school authorities must approve the location. Other documents that may be needed by the industry include school identity card and other supporting documents to prove your identity as a student.

Each industry has a different type of activities hence work experience will be different. That is why students should consider the work experience first when making choice on an IT location. For instance, students who do theirs in a community or hospital will be better equipped with knowledge of clinical pharmacy and patient care than students who work in an industry where they will be grounded in drug production and design.

General Rules To Follow

• Be punctual
• Be regular
• Dress well
• Approach fellow students and staffs with respect
• Keep high personal hygiene
• Always report to your supervisor in case of any confusion
• Take note

How It Happens

There may be a general school orientation program organised for all IT students weeks before the beginning of the IT. All students are expected to attend as information as per approved locations will be discussed. likely, students can air their views as to complain if they have any.

At the beginning of the IT, students will be introduced to the establishment including staffs, equipment, and facilities. This include the dos and don’ts of the establishment

Community Pharmacy

Most community pharmacies are a one-man business. However, there are exceptions when it may be co-owned by two or more when resources are pulled together. The dos and don’ts may vary with slight differences. However, work experience will be similar for all students.

The student stands to learn so much from community pharmacy because the pharmacist will always be on the ground to guide the student throughout the process.

Community pharmacy normally teaches students business operation, sales, marketing, stock control, personnel training, consultation and public health awareness. Most community pharmacies have units within. It is best to rotate spending at least two weeks in each unit for better knowledge. However, some students prefer to be well grounded in one aspect thereby staying in the one or two unit throughout the program.

On a day-to-day basis, students are expected to fill their logbook with activities that were carried out. At the end of the week, the report is submitted to the industrially based supervisor who is probably the chief pharmacist.

The basic knowledge that student should learn in a community pharmacy is how pharmacist handles patients or guides who come to get drugs with or without prescription. This should also include how pharmacist treats minor infections including prescription and management.

Others in drug dispensing, monitoring of side effects, patient counselling, drug utilisation, and adherence.

Drug logistics activities include facility renovation, drug quantification, procurement, distribution, and storage and data management.

To maintain the quality of drugs, drugs are stored in warehouses or rooms at manufacturer's recommended temperatures.

Hospital Pharmacy

They are found in hospitals, clinics, health centres etc. Each hospital is supposed to be divided into sub-units that vary from one health facility to another. Their activities normally involve procedures and operations in out and inpatient pharmacies, clinical pharmacies, therapeutic drug monitoring, total parental nutrition, oncology pharmacy, store pharmacy and drug information centres.

Some hospitals pharmacies compound medications for patients’ administration. Some of the processes are complex hence needs the experts' hands.

The activities of students are generally to collects card and organised drugs according to the doctor’s prescription calculating the dose with the appropriate dose. The students spend time with the pharmacist during dispensing learning more on counselling.

In other time, students engage in stocktaking.

Industrial Pharmacy

There are very few industries in this part of the country. They are mainly located in Lagos State. Even the few that exist produce mainly liquid dosage form. This could be the main reasons why many students do not go to industries for their IT. However, the few students who do IT in pharmacy industries have a lot to learn which covered most aspect of pharmacy. Unlike community and hospital pharmacy that improve on students’ knowledge of clinical and pharmacy administration, the industrial pharmacy also includes knowledge on pharmaceutics.

Just as the former, pharmaceutical industries also have units that is responsible for different things in the industries that student can learn from. However, it is unfortunate that the 6 months is not long enough for students to learn everything in the industry.

Students learn the stages of drug development, which have been taught, will soon be. The industry can also include production in which case Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (A.P.I) mixing with other recipients at the appropriate amount. This involves weighing, drying, granulation, compression, and not forgetting to package. The method the company use in observing Good Manufacturing Practice (G.M.P) should not be excluded.

Tablet manufacturing companies’ do further testing of batch products such as friability test, hardness, weight, disintegration time, hardness, etc.

That is not all, as a student should learn about drugs produce and drug monitoring, marketing strategies and other after sales service like customer care.

After IT, What Next?

Students ought to be familiar with the basis of the units or even the establishment where they work. it will help in the long run throughout the remaining semesters and even to the time of pharmacy internship.

Towards the end of the IT, your industrial based supervisor will grade individual students based on knowledge gained and general behavior like dressing. This will be followed by your industrial training supervisor, which shall be selected by the school and will be a lecturer from the pharmacy. He will come and access on a day known best to him. Although in all cases, he will communicate to your industrial based supervisor when to expect him (this is not compulsory but done out of friendliness to IT students).

Read Also: The Structure And Function Of Pharmaceutical Council Of Nigeria (P.C.N)

This supervision most time marks the end of the program even if it is not up to the six months. However, it is not the end, as each student must provide a report based on what have been learned over the past 6 weeks to be submitted to the Head Of Department (H.O.D) of pharmacy administration with the logbook containing daily work report.

This marks the end of the program. However, students in Nigeria should know that SIWES pays about ₦15000 for 6 months IT and ₦7500 3 months IT. To get this money, the student must send their details to SIWES office or online.

The IT does not stop the next semester. It only shortened the time frame for lectures. That is why the number of courses is reduced so that students can cope. The total course units are similar to other semesters because the IT carries a total of 6 credit units.

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