Industry 4.0 Competencies Required for Re-skilling Mechanical Engineering Technology Educators in Polytechnics for Students Employability in Industries in Rivers State.

Abstract

This study examined the Industry 4.0 competencies required for re-skilling mechanical engineering technology educators in polytechnics for students’ employability in industries in Rivers State. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design with a population of 37 respondents comprising 15 mechanical engineering technology educators from Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnics, Bori and 22 industry experts from fabrication workshops, oil and gas companies and manufacturing plants in Rivers State. The entire population was studied using a structured questionnaire titled "Industry 4.0 Competencies for Re-skilling Mechanical Engineering Educators Questionnaire (ICRMEEQ)" which was validated by three experts and with reliability coefficient of 0.82. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and t-test at 0.05 significance level. The findings revealed that all ten fabrication design competencies were required to a high extent, with overall mean scores ranging from 3.99 to 4.79 and a cluster mean of 4.41. Similarly, all six predictive condition monitoring competencies were required to a high extent, with overall mean scores ranging from 4.42 to 4.84 and a cluster mean of 4.63. The study also established significant perception gaps between educators and industry experts across both competency areas, with industry experts rating the competencies significantly higher than educators (fabrication design: t-cal=-2.86, p=0.007; predictive condition monitoring: t-cal=-2.71, p=0.010). The study concluded that all identified fabrication design and predictive condition monitoring competencies are essential for re-skilling mechanical engineering technology educators to enhance student employability in Rivers State industries. The significant perception gap between educators and industry experts underscores the disconnect between polytechnic training and industry expectations, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced industry-academia collaboration, curriculum review and structured re-skilling programs. Based on the findings of study, it was recommended among other things that the Rivers State Government, polytechnic management and NGOs should organize regular training workshops for educators focusing on CAD/CAM, additive manufacturing, IoT sensors, vibration analysis, thermography and predictive maintenance software.