Expectations from the welding curriculum based on the perspective of engineering technology graduates in Nigeria

Welding engineering technology is a key driving force in the growth and development of industrial activities, with its application dominant in a wide range of industrial sectors including structural engineering, transportation, agriculture, healthcare and aviation. Welding activities demand adequate skills from welding personnel due to the high level of accuracy and precision required to produce quality results in finished products as well adhering to strict safety regulations involved in its processes. The quality of skilled welding personnel lies in their training and re-training to meet the continually evolving technology space. Students of higher education in welding are expected to be well equipped with the theoretical and practical skills to fit into the constantly evolving work space, a feat which can partly be attributed to the content of its curriculum. This research aims at highlighting the outcome and expectations of graduates, from welding engineering technology curriculum in Nigeria based on their experience and highlight the expectations from the welding curriculum and its effect on graduate employability. The survey results from 122 respondents who are graduates of welding engineering technology from the Petroleum Training Institute Effurun, Nigeria was analyzed with the mean item score (MIS) and factor analysis. Results from the analysis revealed that graduates expect to be employment ready and also get immediate employment from industry based on their acquired skills. The outcome of this research is expected to add to the body of knowledge aimed at improving the welding curriculum to meet the demands of industry.