BRIDGING PERSPECTIVES: AN ASSESSMENT OF UNDERGRADUATE & INTERNSHIP PROVIDER VIEWS ON THE “INTERNSHIP PROGRAM – 1” AT THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES, SABARAGAMUWA UNIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA

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.