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Internships have long been part of university degrees, usually associated with medical and teaching qualifications. More recently, in the USA, UK and Australia, internships have expanded to include a broader range of students’ industry-based experiences in business degrees. The main aim of work-based learning through industry placements is to give students an opportunity to apply theory to practice in industry and to grow personally and professionally.
As Cooper et al. (2010, pp. 26-27) point out, the value of industry placements for stakeholders is multifaceted:
student learning is enhanced through integrated experiences and insights into the relevance of their study and chosen profession;
workforce development is facilitated as student knowledge transfers to host organizations;
partnerships between the universities and organizations are created, with potential for collaborative consultancies and development for both;
students perceive opportunities to gain employment with host organizations; and
host organizations can use placements for selection and recruitment purposes.
This article will identify the challenges for universities and host organizations in implementing industry placements and recommend strategies that will increase the likelihood of successful learning outcomes for all stakeholders.
Risky business
Increasingly, students are seeking industry placements as they recognize opportunities for their personal and professional development and employability. Such demand can stretch university resources and make it difficult for staff to find suitable placements, projects and mentors. Some universities are encouraging students to secure host organizations and negotiate projects thus creating a degree of risk which could jeopardize the achievement of any meaningful learning experience.
Outcomes from student industry placements are not always as anticipated and can be either very successful or fraught with problems (Busby, 2011; Morse, 2006). When students spend placement time on ad hoc work projects, for example, this...