Internship alternatives: Solutions for the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

Abstract

Internships are an integral component of most undergraduate and graduate public administration programs. These learning opportunities allow students to get practical experience in a workplace setting before graduation and provide them with an opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to the “real world.” But what are students, departments, and employers to do when circumstances—including major disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic as well as situations unique to specific students—complicate or even prevent on-site internship experiences? This article outlines a variety of approaches to finding a solution to this problem, weighing the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Malay Translation and Validation of Career Adapt-Abilities Scale for Higher Learning Institution Students in Malaysia

“…The pandemic COVID-19 has altered the medium of teaching and learning for both educators and students. The absence of face-to-face teaching, face-to-face industrial training, and students' readiness to carry out tasks physically in the real working environment have affected many parties, including educators, employers, and students (Casacchia et al, 2021;Shin and Hickey, 2020;Wheeler & Waite, 2021;Latif & Gorment, 2021). Hence, findings from this research eased the worries of many by showing that students in higher learning institutions have high self-regulation strategies toward achieving their career goals despite challenges during the pandemic (Savickas & Porfeli, 2012).…”

Adapted work placement delivery method under COVID-19 towards students’ job preparatory behaviours

“…Hence, many WP alternatives have been implemented by universities internationally. Wheeler and Waite (2021) reviewed five adapted WP delivery methods that could be implemented, including waivers/substitutes, e-internship (online/virtualization), incorporation of on-campus resources, incorporation of off-campus resources, and do-it-yourself (DIY). They examined the advantages and disadvantages of each.…”

“We Did It Right on Time”: International Students’ Internship in China During COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Internships are described as a way to incorporate job-related experience into graduate study through involvement in programmed and supervised duties (Gault, Leach, & Duey, 2010). Concisely, Wheeler and Waite (2021) defined an internship as a supervised, short-term learning experience in a professional workplace setting that helps students to get relevant, practical experience in their field of study or career ambitions. However, as COVID-19 started to spread worldwide, higher educational institutions promptly closed their campus (Wheeler & Waite, 2021) and unfavorably affects the continued implementation of internships either overtly or covertly (Feldman, 2021;Park & Jones, 2021).…”

“…Concisely, Wheeler and Waite (2021) defined an internship as a supervised, short-term learning experience in a professional workplace setting that helps students to get relevant, practical experience in their field of study or career ambitions. However, as COVID-19 started to spread worldwide, higher educational institutions promptly closed their campus (Wheeler & Waite, 2021) and unfavorably affects the continued implementation of internships either overtly or covertly (Feldman, 2021;Park & Jones, 2021). Hence, internship has been altered to best optional ways that carefully considers prevention measures (Mediawati et al, 2020) and it has caught attention of several studies.…”

“…Hence, internship has been altered to best optional ways that carefully considers prevention measures (Mediawati et al, 2020) and it has caught attention of several studies. Investigation the impact of virtual internship experiences (Feldman, 2021) and adaptation to changes in tourism, events, and hospitality education (Park & Jones, 2021), critical assessment of internship approaches and finding better alternatives (Wheeler & Waite, 2021), exploring benefits and skills of internship from perspectives of accounting students and supervisors (Mediawati et al, 2020), impact of COVID-19 on public health (PH) internships through interns' and supervisors' perspectives before and during the pandemic (Teng et al, 2021) are among others. Yet as a number of new variants have been identified globally, Park and Jones (2021) emphasized that it's not certain how long its impacts will last or whether internships continue to a fundamental shift.…”