Internships before and during COVID-19: Experiences and Perceptions of Undergraduate Interns and Supervisors

Autor/inn/en	Teng, Cecilia Woon Chien; Lim, Raymond Boon Tar; Chow, Dana Wai Shin; Narayanasamy, Suganthi; Liow, Chee Hsiang; Lee, Jeannette Jen-Mai
Titel	Internships before and during COVID-19: Experiences and Perceptions of Undergraduate Interns and Supervisors
Quelle	In: Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning, 12 (2022) 3, S.459-474 (16 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Teng, Cecilia Woon Chien) ORCID (Lim, Raymond Boon Tar) ORCID (Chow, Dana Wai Shin)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	2042-3896
DOI	10.1108/HESWBL-05-2021-0104
Schlagwörter	Internship Programs; COVID-19; Pandemics; Undergraduate Students; Distance Education; Public Health; Foreign Countries; Student Placement; Student Satisfaction; Achievement Gains; Job Skills; Soft Skills; Skill Development; Supervision; Singapore + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Berufspraktische Ausbildung; Distance study; Distance learning; Fernunterricht; Gesundheitswesen; Ausland; Schülerpraktikum; Achievement gain; Leistungssteigerung; Produktive Fertigkeit; Kompetenzentwicklung; Qualifikationsentwicklung; Singapur
Abstract	Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a contingent shift to remote working and learning worldwide. However, little is known regarding the impact of this shift on internships. Moreover, much of the available literature studies on internships are focused largely on perceptions by students, less so by supervisors. This paper describes the impact of COVID-19 on public health (PH) internships and examines interns' and supervisors' perspectives on their experiences in internships before and during the pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional study design was conducted on two cohorts of undergraduate students and their supervisors in Singapore. Participants were surveyed using questionnaires with both close-ended and open-ended questions about various aspects of the internship experience. Data were triangulated from these surveys and module evaluation reports, and analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Findings: COVID-19 disrupted internships significantly, with a reduction in the number of placements offered and necessary changes to the internship scope. Overall, the internship experience has been positive. Supervisors and e-interns reported high levels of satisfaction and documented learning gains such as the development of technical skills and soft skills unique to remote work. Originality/value: The study findings fill current gaps in the literature on supervisor perceptions and internship experiences during COVID-19. Recommendations are proposed to optimize e-internships, a potentially authentic workplace in the post-COVID era. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01