How to Fill SIWES Logbook Correctly: A Practical Guide for Nigerian Students

If you’ve been posted for your SIWES training and received your logbook, you might be staring at it wondering what exactly to write. The pages look simple at first glance, but many students either ignore it until the last week or struggle to figure out what’s expected. And in the end, they lose marks that could have easily been earned.

Let’s face it—filling your SIWES logbook properly is a vital part of your industrial training. Schools and IT supervisors don’t joke with it. Your logbook is not just a formality; it’s the evidence of your work, learning, and presence at the organization. That’s why you need to know how to write in it from the first week to the last without guessing. In this article, you’ll learn exactly how to fill your logbook weekly, what supervisors look out for, the kind of content that earns you points, and how to avoid common errors that cost students marks. Let’s get into it.

What is the SIWES Logbook For?

The SIWES logbook is your daily and weekly journal. It’s used to document everything you learn and do during your industrial training. Whether you’re working in a media house, bank, lab, factory, school, or tech firm, your logbook is your official record. During assessment, it’s one of the key documents your school supervisor and even the company supervisor will look at.

Each page normally contains:

• A table with spaces to write Week, Date, Day-to-Day activities, and a supervisor’s signature section.
• A section to summarize what you learned that week.
• A part for your industry-based supervisor’s comments and signature.
• Spaces for your personal details, department, institution name, and company information.

Some schools provide slightly different formats, but this is the general structure.

Before You Start Filling

First, ensure you’ve completed the student details page at the beginning of the logbook. That includes:

• Your full name (surname first)
• Matric number
• Department
• Institution name
• Duration of training (e.g., June to October 2025)
• Company name and address
• Name and designation of your industry-based supervisor

This page must be accurate. Don’t guess any information. Confirm spellings, the correct company name, and the full details of your supervisor before writing.

Next, don’t forget to attach your passport photograph and sign the relevant sections if required. Some institutions also ask for stamps from the host company.

How to Fill Your SIWES Logbook Each Week

The logbook should be filled every working day—Monday to Friday (or any day your company works). Avoid waiting until the end of the week to cram everything in. You’ll forget small but important details, and your entries may look fake or too rushed.

Here’s how to fill it:

Start each week with the correct date. For example: Week 1: 3rd June – 7th June 2025

Then, for each day (Monday to Friday), write what you were assigned to do, what you observed, or what you learned. Here’s a sample for a student in a media house:

• Monday: Assisted in reviewing scripts for the evening news broadcast. Observed how editors check for grammatical accuracy and fact-check headlines.
• Tuesday: Participated in the studio set-up before live recording. Learned how lighting and camera angles are adjusted.
• Wednesday: Shadowed the news director during a live segment. Learned about timing and cueing procedures.
• Thursday: Assigned to write a short community news report which was reviewed by the editor. Received feedback on writing tone and structure.
• Friday: Joined the marketing team in planning the weekly program schedule. Observed how content is selected based on viewer ratings.

Notice that each entry is short, clear, and shows that the student was engaged.

Now let’s say you’re in a tech firm:

• Monday: Installed Linux OS on company systems. Supervisor showed me how to partition drives and back up files.
• Tuesday: Observed senior developers writing JavaScript code for a client dashboard. Took notes on function declaration and error handling.
• Wednesday: Assisted with data entry for a software testing project. Learned to use bug tracking tools like Trello.
• Thursday: Attended a virtual meeting with clients. Gained insights on how feedback is gathered for software upgrades.
• Friday: Practiced writing basic HTML and CSS for company blog. Submitted a sample for review.

It’s not about sounding fancy; it’s about being specific.

Each week should end with a summary of what you learned:

“This week, I learned about software installation, system updates, teamwork during testing, and basic front-end design. I also understood the importance of client communication in tech projects.”

Then ask your company supervisor to sign at the bottom of the week’s page. Don’t wait until the final week to ask for multiple signatures. Some supervisors refuse to sign retroactively.

What Not to Write

Some students make errors that can affect their grading. Avoid these:

• Copying and pasting the same activity for every day of the week.
• Writing vague sentences like “Did some office work,” “Watched people work,” or “Assisted in department activities.” These don’t show what you actually did.
• Filling in all entries on the last week—it looks forced and dishonest.
• Leaving large blank spaces without explanation.
• Using slangs or casual abbreviations.
• Submitting a logbook with no supervisor comments or signatures.

Your logbook must reflect your personal experience. Even if you did repetitive tasks, describe them in slightly different ways or explain what you observed each time.

Extra Pages and Sections

Some logbooks have additional sections like:

• Technical Report: This is a summary of everything you learned at the end of your SIWES. Write this after your training is complete.
• Supervisor’s Final Comments: Your industry-based supervisor will write a summary of your performance. Always stay respectful and hardworking so they give a good review.
• Daily Attendance or Time Log: Some institutions require this. Record your daily sign-in and sign-out time if the company keeps an attendance register.

Tips to Score High with Your Logbook

1. Write neatly. Avoid cancellations or dirty pages. If you make an error, use a single line to strike through and correct it properly.
2. Be consistent with dates and week numbers.
3. Include both what you did and what you learned—this balance matters.
4. Keep your logbook safe; don’t misplace it or let it get torn.
5. Add extra sheets if your tasks don’t fit in the space. Attach neatly with gum or glue.
6. Be truthful. If you did less in a week, write what you observed or read about during idle time. Don’t invent fake stories.

Final Submission

Before submitting to your school:

• Review every page for spelling and grammar errors.
• Confirm all weekly summaries are in place.
• Make sure all weeks are filled in order, with no week skipped.
• Ensure your passport photo is attached and all signatures are complete.

Most institutions assign 30% or more of the SIWES score to logbook accuracy. That’s why a neat, detailed, and signed logbook can easily boost your total score.

Your SIWES logbook might look like just a school form, but it holds real weight in your academic record. Think of it as your personal diary of growth during industrial training. By filling it correctly each week, you’ll not only earn your marks but also have a physical record of your real-world experience. Take it seriously, write daily, and ensure it’s signed weekly. With this approach, you’ll not only complete your SIWES successfully but also show future employers that you were intentional about your training.

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