Article 2011

The views of employers on internships as a means of learning from work experience in higher education

VM
Virolainen, Maarit Hannele
 SM
Stenström, Marja Leena
 KM
Kantola, Mauri
Journal of Vocational Education and Training
Journal · Vol. 63 · Issue 3 · pp. 465-484
Abstract

This article examines internships as part of the apprenticeship model of learning adopted in higher education. We focus on employers' views on internships, which have hitherto received only limited attention. Our study explores employers' experiences in organizing internships, and their collaboration with one University of Applied Sciences, through data from social and health care employers (n = 165), collected via a questionnaire. We conclude that if internships are to be improved as a means of learning from work experience, issues that employers want to raise within the collaborative framework require attention. These themes include relations with students, curriculum issues and the organization of the collaboration. A problem related to underestimating employer views on developing internships is that the resource-intensive nature of collaborative relations is silenced. As a result, targets for developing partnerships are left unrecognized, with adverse effects on the quality management and strategic planning of higher education institutions. © 2011 The Vocational Aspect of Education Ltd.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Higher education Internships work experience Quality management Employer

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
University of Jyväskylä, Jyvaskyla, Central Finland, Finland
Turun ammattikorkeakoulu, Turku, Finland
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
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