Partnership between Polytechnics and Oil and Gas Industries for Addressing Skilled Manpower Shortage in Rivers State

Abstract

The study examined partnership between polytechnics and oil and gas industries for addressing skilled manpower shortage in Rivers State. Two research questions were answered with two corresponding null hypotheses that were formulated and tested at 0.05 significance level. The population of the study was 171 respondents comprising 38 polytechnic teaching staff and 133 managers from oil and gas industries in Rivers State. There was no sampling due to small population size. The instrument for the data collection was a self-structured questionnaire designed after the pattern of Likert-5 point rating scale. The instrument was validated two experts in the Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, Rivers State and Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The reliability of the instrument was established through test-retest method for different sections of the instrument. A reliability coefficient of 0.86 was established for the instrument using Pearson Product Moment Correlation method. Research questions were answered with Mean and Standard Deviation while hypotheses were tested using z-test. The study found that the respondents agree that partnership between polytechnic and oil and gas industries in formulation of administrative policies and provision of infrastructural facilities will address shortage of electrical skills in Rivers State. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that Polytechnic education curriculum planners should identify the skills needs of oil and gas industries and review polytechnic curriculum to address the skills needs through policy formulation. The federal government, oil and gas industries, international organizations and various state governments should adequately provide oil and gas training facilities for polytechnic training institutions through partnership.