Maranga Amos Industrial Attachment Report
Maranga Amos Industrial Attachment Report
SUBMITTED BY:
SUPERVISOR
The development of this report took the effort, support and guidance of a number of people
whom I would wish to thank. I also wish to pay tribute to the management and staff of Embu
College for offering me a chance to be part of them and for their unwavering support. Gratitude
to my academic supervisor Dr. Jenifer for his efforts to assess me and advice on how to improve
my skills.
I also thank my family for their support and prayers not only during my attachment period but
throughout my course. I cannot end this list without paying tribute to the entire University of
constructive training and the knowledge they have imparted in me throughout the four years
This report is compiled in partial fulfilment of Bachelor science (Computer Science) Degree at
the University of Embu and it serves to provide an overview of what the student learned during
the attachment period at Embu College for a minimum of a 8-week training. The sources used in
writing this report includes; observations of underwriting materials that has been carried out by
the company and reading from internet. The report gives a brief description of the history of the
institution and the functions performed. The institution’s complete range of services are
mentioned. Organization’s hierarchy chart and brief introduction of ICT department where the
student was attached is outlined. The duties that were assigned to the student and the knowledge
and skills that were acquired are explained in detail. Evaluation of the institution on SWOT
analysis is explained at length at the end of the report including conclusions and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.............................................................................................................i
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...........................................................................................................ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.............................................................................................................iii
1.3.1. Vision........................................................................................................................................3
1.3.2. Mission......................................................................................................................................3
3. Prayer.....................................................................................................................................3
2.1. Introduction......................................................................................................................................7
RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................................................22
CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................23
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................24
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION.
Embu College was established in 1995 with only a handful of lecturers and about 40 Accounting
and Secretarial students. The college was then located on the 2nd floor of a leased premises
(Njigoru Building) in Embu Town. In 2003, Embu College moved to its current premises; 300
meters behind Embu Law Courts along the Embu-Meru highway. Today Embu College boasts of
modern facilities and equipment, their student’s population has also increased and currently
stands at 1500 not to mention dozens of staffs. The institution has also diversified its academic
The institution is also dedicated to continuous improvement of research and teaching activities as
well as in establishing an active role I the development of businesses and industries in Kenya
through attachment programs and partnership with NITA (National Industrial Training
Authority) and KUCCPS. Embu College is committed to continually pursuing to strengthen links
1. Socialization.
Socialization refers to a process by which individuals acquire a personal identity and learn the
knowledge, language, and social skills required to interact with others. Again, students don't only
learn from the academic curriculum prepared by teachers and school administrators. They also
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2. Cultural Transmission.
Besides socialization, another significant manifest function of Embu College is the transmission
of cultural norms and values to new generations. The institution helps to mold a diverse
population into one society with a shared national identity and prepare future generations for
their citizenship roles. Students are taught about laws and our political way of life through civic
lessons, and they’re taught patriotism through rituals such as saluting the flag.
As education is imparted in a social institution to the social elements it should keep relationship
with the society. It is the function of educational administration to co-operate with the members
of the society in their programme as well as need their co-operation while organizing an
educational programme.
controlled by the various factors that are essential for having smooth administration of an
political.
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1.3. Vision, mission statement and core values of the institution.
Embu College is determined to ensure that they continue to provide high quality and relevant
tertiary level Programs that will, in the end, help Kenyans and the world at large.
1.3.1. Vision.
To be the leading provider in quality tertiary education and training in East Africa.
1.3.2. Mission.
To provide quality education and professional training through a wide range of programs that
1. Discipline
Good discipline is essential component to success not only in academics, but also in many
spheres of life. At Embu College, we emphasize on societal values and morality, we aim to guide
2. Leadership.
At Embu College, we believe in professionalism, a student should embody the selfless nature of
leadership in their daily life. This will reflect in their work as a team member. It will be
commitment to duty.
3. Prayer.
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In everything we do in Embu college, we seek divine intervention and believe in the power of
prayer to strengthen our desire to succeed. Since its inception, the institution has been dedicated
DIRECTORS
PRINCIPAL,
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
ASSISTANT
ACCOUNTANT
ADMIN
ASSISTANT/STUDENT MARKETING 4
RECRUITMENT OFFICERS STAFF
SUPPORT STAFF
ACCOUNTS
CLERK
LECTURERS/STAFF IN
1.5. Duties and responsibilities of the key personnel in the organization.
Embu College is organized into hierarchy with top, middle and operational management. The
institution has various departments which assist in the delivery of quality services to the students
This department carries out the recruitment, rewards management, learning and development,
This department involves financial policy and management including cash management,
financial accounting, system and budgetary control. It also deals with controlling of cash around
the organization.
Department in charge of health insurance that is insurance that covers the whole or a part of the
This is department is responsible for all technological issues within the organization and as well
as ensure the smooth running of services needed by the students and staff respectively.
Embu College has a strong Board of directors who take keen interest in the strategy and direction
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Kithinji Kiragu (Chairman)
Every organization should be led by an effective Board which exercises leadership, enterprise,
integrity and judgment in directing the corporation and which acts in the best interest of the
The following are the roles and the function of the board of directors:
The Board of directors ensures the highest standards of Corporate Governance are followed.
They utilize professional services externally for areas requiring specialization .These include
legal, Secretarial, Financial and a host of other services. A panel of experts is maintained and
1. Appointment of Directors
The procedures followed in appointing directors should ensure that only the best qualified
On appointment and on a continuous basis all directors should, in good faith, disclose to the
board for recording any business or other interests that is likely to create a potential conflict in
interest.
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3. Succession Planning
In order to ensure continuity of the Board, the appointment of the members of the Board is
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CHAPTER TWO: EMBU COLLEGE ICT DEPARTMENT
2.1. Introduction.
Training in ICT forms the backbone for development of the ICT industry in Kenya. The ICT
industry has become the major driver in youth employment, improvement in industries,
competitiveness and ultimately the achievement of vision 2030. The school of ICT is in the front
row in developing manpower necessary for ICT development in the country, by generating
highly skilled graduands in the field. Embu College is gradually improving the ICT training
infrastructure in the college by setting up well equipped laboratories, reliable internet connection
for the students and recently have acquired new and up to date networking equipment to be used
for hands on training. In their endeavor to impact technical hands on skills to their students,
Embu College ICT has partnered with Cisco Ltd. to offer Cisco Certified Network Associate
(CCNA) and Information Technology (IT) Essentials training. The students leaving the College
The Embu College ICT department is involved with a wide variety of activities. This comprises
of the following:
The IT department oversees the installation and maintenance of computer network systems
within the institution. It evaluates and installs the proper hardware and software necessary to
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keep the network functioning properly. As this involves working within a budget allocated to the
department for network devices and software, the IT department makes sure that the equipment it
invests in optimally serves the needs of the institution without going over budget.
Networks can be simple or extremely complex depending upon their size and composition. In
addition to staying current on trends within business technology, Embu college IT employees
may require college degrees in a computer field to adequately handle the issues that arise in
2. Network contingencies
Should a network system go down, the repercussions can be costly -- not just to the institution
and its operations, but outside entities that require products or services from the institution.
These outside entities could be affected and lose faith in the institution's ability to provide them
with what they need. The IT department puts a crisis plan in place that can be implemented
should the system go down. The crisis plan is designed to put the network back up quickly or
allow it to switch over to an alternate system until the necessary repairs are completed.
Through the maintenance and planning of a network system, the IT department forges
professional relationships with outside vendors and industry experts. This helps the department
employees perform their duties more efficiently as well as stay current on the latest technology
3. Application development
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Quite often, institutions see the main role of the IT department as creating the applications that
serve its core needs of an institution. The right applications allow an institution to be innovative,
more productive, efficient, and to move ahead of other institutions. In many ways, this makes the
The work necessary to create the applications that can set a business apart from the others
Embu College ICT department plays a major role in developing applications that aid in smooth
running of its activities for example admissions, fees payment and above all the website of the
4. Communication
Most people are aware that the IT department is responsible for the success of computer
operations and other information technologies within an institution. However, as many new
forms of electronic communication have become staples of the modern office, IT departments
have been taking on a greater role in the technical side of company communication. This
includes point to point phone calls, conference calls, and video and web conferences, as well as
less direct forms of electronic communication like network drives, email systems, and secure
servers.
The Embu College IT department fully understands how these systems work and interact with
each other, and is responsible for ensuring that these systems remain operational at all times.
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5. Institution website
The IT department is at least partially responsible for creating and maintaining the institution's
website. While the content and design of the site may be handled by another department –often
Digital marketer- IT department typically creates the code and works with other departments to
6. Technical support
The IT department provides this service for all the users who need access to the institution's
computer systems. This might entail installing new software or hardware, repairing hardware that
has become faulty, training employees in the use of new software, and troubleshooting problems
It's apparent that not all the IT department does is apparent - it creates and maintains many
systems that go unseen or get taken for granted by employees, creates emergency response plans
to protect the business from unforeseen problems, and constantly works to improve the entire
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2.3. Staff establishment of the department.
1. Curriculum Management
Plan, organize and discuss the specific subject area with the Director of Studies.
Submit an annual Department Review at the end of the school year and write a
Departmental Report at the start of each year including Department Goals and
2. Staff Management
Build and maintain effective teams by setting clear, achievable goals, appropriate
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Respond to issues raised by department staff in a timely manner
Seek strategies to resolve conflict between staff members, staff and students or staff
Facilitate a process so that all teaching staff are fully aware of content and
assessment requirements.
3. Administration
Report to Director of Studies through agenda and minutes for all department
meetings
2. System Administrator.
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Troubleshoot issues and outages.
3. Administrator.
4. Digital Marketer.
Social Networking – a digital marketer is responsible for managing the online presence
Google+ allow the institution to engage with their consumers in real time and a digital
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Content Strategy – Along with the design and functionality of the institution website, a
digital marketer is also responsible for all website content and for creating and
SEO and SEM – a digital marketer is responsible for ensuring that the website is easily
found by the target audience. Optimizing website structure and content for search engines
(SEO) and/or the use of paid online advertising (SEM) are two ways the digital marketer
5. Intern.
Under the supervision of the ICT Head of department, HQ and in collaboration with other
colleagues, the intern will be asked to support the unit with the following duties:
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2.4. Student’s main objectives for the attachment exercise.
To assess the interest of the student in the occupation he/she plans to undertake.
To expose the students to work methods not taught in the University and to provide
University.
To provide the students with an opportunity to apply knowledge in real work situation
thereby closing the gap between University work and the actual practice.
To make the transition from school to the world of work smoothly and to enhance student
To enlist and strengthen employers involvement in institutional activities and in the entire
To enhance industry´s satisfaction with the graduate of the Faculty in particular and the
University at large.
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2.5. Student’s assigned routine duties and department’s participation forums.
in good working condition and assists with maintenance and minor repairs.
3. Assisting in the installation of commercial and in-house software and related upgrades.
4. Providing daily on-site support on the usage of software and hardware to the end-users.
5. Researching and retrieving the data from various sources; preparation of statistical
7. Performing other duties as tasked and deemed necessary for the overall delivery of the
department’s activities.
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CHAPTER THREE: EVALUATION OF THE ATTACHMENT PERIOD
1. The training had great breadth and depth and so provided the interns with real
2. Excellent relationship and collaboration with the Technology department staff and
3. A lot of expertise was available. This includes, expert personnel, skill in utilizing
technology and in working with different systems, the department is often at the
with the access to internet that enables research, access to tutorials, sharing of
resources and communication. This was provided during the internship project
6. The training was made easier with the provision of a desktop computer with a
user account including the institution mail. This aided the communication as well
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3.2. Failures of attachment exercise.
2. Fewer technology staff due to the effect of downsizing. This affects the training in
such a way that whenever the trainer is busy or taken up by other business, the
3. Trainers wear too many hats. Knowledge and expertise is not always shared
evenly because the trainers are having a lot to do, sometimes one at the service
4. Poor scheduling with no time allocations. This made it hard for interns to balance
between the internship program and other activities like college activities and part
time jobs.
that they do internship training to further their knowledge and skills it is also part
serves. The notion here is that students are faced with differing financial
conditions ranging from one intern to the other. Many times, students foot their
own bills including but not limited to; transport and lunch bills throughout the
day.
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3.3. Skills Attained by the student.
User experience design is the process of enhancing user satisfaction with a product by
improving the usability, accessibility, and pleasure provided in the interaction with the
product.
With many of the user products like the mostly used USSD interactive products, I have
gained sufficient knowledge in putting the usability, accessibility and satisfaction of the
end user at the core of any product design. This surely matches with my university
for effective and enjoyable use; User Interface Design is its compliment, the look and
feel, the presentation and interactivity of the product. At the university, I have been
applications, both desktop and Web based. While at the internship, I have improved the
knowledge that I had prior to the training by involving in the study and discussions of the
user interfaces of the systems used by the employees of Embu College ICT department in
3. Programming.
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Programming is a handy skill. Having done some programming here and there in the
university, I was excited with the back end Database Programming knowledge that I
registration information.
Delete: Deleting information from the database/table. An example was with the
USSD Messages Database, which should be backed up and deleted if the space on
Furthermore, I now have an insight into USSD programming together with USSD nodes.
This acquired knowledge can now help me in designing a user program like an educational
based mobile system for viewing National results using USSD codes.
4. Networks.
At the university, I saw networks only in one dimensions: computer networks. But now, I
From making a call to getting a response from a server using a phone, there are several
structures in the telecom architecture (GSM and WCDMA) that make these possible. In
fact, they occur in a few seconds to the extent that no one will think of the Technology
behind them. The technology behind them is comprised of different structures that
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broadcast signals users, collect user requests and processes the requests in a few seconds,
At the same time, I have gained knowledge on computer networks while at this
internship. This covered the setting up of a Local Area Network. A simple architecture in
a small technical room involved running UTP cables to four computers. Everything
started from a basic level: terminating of cables, testing the cables, setting up the room
including the router and the switch. Much as I learnt this at the university, I have
5. Analytical Knowledge.
Within the internship schedule, Systems were part and parcel of the training. Therefore, I
Design. Often, these systems were from different vendors and as a result, learning was a
larger extent due to the different unique solutions the systems provide. I was in a position
to understand the activity diagrams, class diagrams, sequence diagrams and use cases.
With this, I have an upper hand in not only designing and developing my final graduation
6. Communication Skills.
My “People skills” has greatly improved thanks to this internship program. The mode of
7. Organizational Skills
With many organizations having policies that are to be followed, it is worth noting that
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before these policies, comes personal attitude and behavior. This training has nurtured my
8. Networking.
Technical skills are necessary but insufficient for succeeding in management. In today’s
technical skills alone. They also have to have good people skills.
This is exactly the positive plus I have acquired out of the technical trainings. Via the
networking, I have learnt how to work with, understand and motivate other people, both
9. Problem Solving.
Conceptual skills are vital in problem solving. From day one of the training, to the last
day, several training sessions have involved problem solving that require the mental
Working in a professional setting for the first time can be very difficult to get used to. But
it is the best way to learn how to navigate the working world through real-life, hands-on
experience.
One of the most valuable skills I gained from the internship is the ability to speak with
people in a professional setting. I now know how to differentiate discussions with bosses
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11. Taking constructive criticism well.
Naturally, no one likes to be criticized and performance evaluation can be quite scary.
You will probably make a few mistakes and receive constructive criticism about your
work from both your colleagues and your boss. For my sake, I reminded myself that it is
not personal. It was for my own good and growth and will improve my quality of work.
Fortunately, I ended up coming out well educated and able to do activities accurately and
effectively.
12. Independence.
Often, most people think that being spoon-fed is the only way to learn, but working
make my own decisions and doing things on my own. Being able to work independently
with little guidance is very important in the working world and I can regard it as my
I always worked hard even if the task at hand was small and seemed unimportant. I kept
in mind that it will help me build a good work ethic, and people will notice the effort put
in. it is not always a nice thing to be told what to do all the time. It was easier for me
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3.4. Challenges encountered by the student during the attachment period.
It may be the fact that you are given too much work or that you feel inadequate and not
trained to do the work assigned. Because interns/attaches are just glad to get a foot in the
door, some work places may take advantage of young workers by giving them very long
hours of dull, repetitive work. This has been the case during all the time of my
Solution: I kept in mind my long-time career and made it feel worth the effort. It was for
Being fresh from the campus life with the freedom that comes with it, and now getting
into a new environment must have been the worst experience drastically changing to fit in
Instead of waking up at ten and going to a few classes a day, I was now sitting at a desk
from as early as 8:00A.M to late in the evening, say, 5:00P.M. The hours and the new
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Solution: I tried in all means to adapt to the new culture for sometimes, learnt to adhere
to the rules and regulations of the office. For example work begins at 8:30 am and ends at
4pm, I used to arrive as earlier as 7:30am to put things in place and leave at 6.
Having had little or no experience working in a specific career field, you will need more
guidance from your seniors. You may think that you are doing a good job, but you really
have no idea since no one has told you that they value your work or that you did well on
your last assignment. This is a big mistake many employers make and it’s hard to put
interns in this position since they are often afraid to ask if their work has been good or
something.
Solution: I engaged my supervisor after doing every assignment. Found out if there were
faults or mistakes while doing the project. In this way, I found it easy to work with them
All of a sudden, there’s an influx of work, and I finally have the chance to prove myself.
My supervisor gives me a project, but the directions don’t quite make sense, or am
having trouble seeing the bigger picture. Am not sure of where to begin and where to
finish. I most often felt the pressure of being an independent and self-sufficient worker,
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Solution: My supervisor always advised me that the most important rule was to never
assume something’s right. That I should always check if am not sure. Follow this rule
too. You will avoid silly mistakes by doing this. Ask, ask, and ask! It’s your right as an
intern and it’s their duty as a supervisor. They will be impressed that you care about
doing it right the first time or learning more about the field.
My boss gives me a project that I do it perfectly with a lot of dedication and energy. But
Not only is this frustrating because of my seemingly wasted time and effort, but it made
Solution: I tried not to look at it as wasted time and effort. Instead, I saw it as an
experience booster. I kept a list of the tasks and projects I had accomplished during my
time as an intern/attachee. Writing them down will help me remember the experiences I
have had and give me the sense of completion I need to push on.
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RECOMMENDATIONS.
Information technology is a hands on course. It requires practical hands on experience for those
yet raw students without what employers may refer to as “Work experience”. For a course of this
kind, any institution offering it would love to see its students get accepted in a company that
The issue is not just getting an internship/attachment place. The best issue lies within the
question “is the company, organization or institution capable of giving the much needed
technological, hands on an employee experience to the intern?” Whether or not, this question is
To many students, it doesn’t matter. What many need is the approval of the final attachment
report, and they think all is well with them. No! That isn’t the case with technology and those
noting that the country has few-to-point companies and institutions with technology
infrastructure where students easily get attached so as to get the quality hands-on experience.
These few that exist are not always enough to accommodate huge number of internship and
attachment seekers. So, as a result, internship requisitions should always be done earlier so as
follow ups are made and one can just land to the organization that gives that handy experience.
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With the above said, organizations always have corporate department. Therefore, as a
via their Corporate Social Responsibility programs. For instance, it could be thankful, if an
organization approaches the University of Embu and says “Look, we have 12 intern positions
with our ICT department”. Much as organizations should do this, learning institutions also need
to keep in touch with relevant organizations and link them with their students as attachment
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CONCLUSION
As if the time span for the internship should be extended to a further three months, I must
confess that the time I have spent interning with Embu College resulted in one of the best
learning and working experiences in the field of Information Technology in my life. Not only did
I gain practical skills but also had the opportunity to meet many experienced and fantastic people
The atmosphere and staff at the ICT department office were always welcoming, making me feel
right at home. Additionally, I felt like I was contributing to the institution by assisting the non-
technical staff in their day to day work logs as well as doing the daily tasks of my trainers as part
of the training. The ready-to-help staff in the ICT department have always been by my side,
letting me have the opportunity to learn and interact at any time during the training.
While I was also able to learn a lot from normal office life, I enjoyed being associated with video
graphics and logo design which are used in advertising the institution on social media platforms
Finally, the internship was fun and therefore I would encourage Embu College to continue giving
students this opportunity, not only as a requirement from their college for the award of a degree,
but also as part of a strong corporate social responsibility plan towards strengthening and
building the skills of young people in the institutions and societies around the country, making
sure they are presented with opportunities that shape their future for whatever carrier they intend
to fore take.
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REFERENCES.
2. Susanto, H. (2016). Revealing the Role of ICT for Business Core Redesign. Available at
SSRN.
3. William, S., 2007, Data and Computer Communication, 8th edn, McGraw-Hill, New
York.
4. Behrouz, A., 2007, Data communications and networking, 4 th edition, Pearson Prentice
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