Abstract:
The paper investigates the adequacy of contemporary Nigerian higher education in relation to manpower needs (technical and managerial) of manufacturing industries, focussing primarily, among others, on factors that influence respondents (graduates and students) choice of higher institution (university and polytechnic); study provisions and conditions in operation at respondents’ institutions of study or graduation; how respondents obtained their first employments; the relevance of respondents’ specific work assignments to their fields of study; and the importance of both the theoretical and practical aspects of respondents’ education to their job performance. Data was collected from undergraduates studying industry-related courses in higher education institutions in Enugu and Anambra States, and graduates from the same institutions employed in the manufacturing sector. Findings revealed that reputation of the school and area of specialisation/practice oriented study programme, are dominant factors that influence choice higher education institution; there is immense application of theoretical knowledge and skills acquired at school, in meeting the demands of the work place; and employers principal recruitment criteria as perceived by their graduate employees, are field of study/area of specialisation, grades, reputation of school and employee’s personality - in that order. Generally, it appears graduates are able to apply skills acquired at school in the work domain. Increased funding of higher education institutions; broad-based and trans-disciplinary curricula; and better collaboration between institutions and industry, are recommended.