The general objective of the study was to examine the effect of the student’s industrial attachment programme on Human Resource Development. The specific objectives were to: identify the factors that influence student’s to select an industry for attachment, determine the challenges students encounter while on industrial attachment and assess the effects of industrial attachment on students’ learning outcomes. The design was descriptive survey. A total of one hundred and eighty-eight (188) students and two (2) officials from the Industrial Liaison Unit participated in the study. Structured questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were used to obtain the responses from participants for analysis. Data was analysed using IBMSPSS version 22 for descriptive and inferential statistics and Braun and Clarke (2006) steps for thematic analysis respectively.The study revealed that factors that students consider when selecting an industry for attachment are; nearness of the organisation to place of residence, availability of accommodation in industry, industry with adequate machines and equipment for practice and the presence of industry-based supervisor. The study also revealed that the underlying reasons why students embark on attachment include; the need to gain experience on the job, the motivation to relate and understand concepts and theories learnt in the instruction process, the need to learn on the job, the desire to familiarise oneself with modern technology in industry and the chance to secure a job after graduation. Nonetheless, the study also revealed that factors which inhibit student’s ability to choose an industry for attachment include: inadequate finances, lack of accommodation, long distance from home to industry, and the difficulty of getting access to transport to industry. It is recommended that the Industrial Liaison Unit, lecturers, heads of academic departments and management of the institution must liaise with industry and corporate bodies to secure placement for students. It is also recommended that a policy framework be developed to guide industrial attachment activities in the institution
Keywords: human resource development; competencies; industry; attachment; pull factors; push factors.
