Abstract:
1. Introduction
While many higher education institutions adopt internships to bridge the
gap between theory and practice, stakeholders often hold differing views
on their effectiveness. In Sri Lanka, research exploring the perspectives of
both undergraduates and internship providers remains limited. Specifically,
there is a notable lack of studies examining mid-degree internship
programs within the Department of Business Management (DBM), Faculty
of Management Studies (FMS) at Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka
(SUSL). This study sought to address this gap by assessing the views of
undergraduates and internship providers regarding the second-year
internship program at DBM, FMS, SUSL.
2. Research Methodology
Adopting a positivism research philosophy, a deductive approach and a
descriptive research design, data were collected from a sample of 59
undergraduates and 55 internship providers using a structured
questionnaire. The data were analysed quantitatively using SPSS to assess
the views of students and internship providers.
3. Findings and Discussion
The results indicate that undergraduates and internship providers hold
differing views on various aspects of the mid-degree internship programs
at DBM, FMS, SUSL. These differences are particularly evident in areas such
as general attitudes and support, student learning outcomes, immediate
payoffs (including university credit, payment, and placement), academic
requirements, and the roles of employers, students, and academic advisors.
4. Conclusion and Implications
This research provides insights into stakeholder views on internships,
offering recommendations to enhance the DBM, FMS, SUSL program. It
enriches the limited literature on Sri Lankan internships and informs
program development in similar educational contexts.
