Classroom learning imparts a plethora of skills to students but falls short of imparting practical job oriented skills. Internships bridge that gap by offering a much more guided learning environment inside a workspace.
Though summer internships deprive students of their summer vacation, it lets students focus on the task at hand without having to balance it with academic commitments.
The Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education (TNSCHE) has prescribed a curriculum for degree programmes. This new model makes internships compulsory for most courses and entrepreneurship oriented components compulsory for various courses.
Most departments in WCC have a compulsory internship component which provides a necessary nudge to students who otherwise would have missed out on the advantages of this route. Since internships range anywhere from two weeks to six months, a student can pick something that works with her schedule. This also allows students to test the waters of probable career paths before they make the big decision.
Though some students find it difficult to land an internship, many hold an offer letter at the end of their term, making the world of jobs more easily accessible.
Divina Sofi, an undergraduate student of English at WCC did her summer internship as a Communicative English teacher at Trinity International Academy. She wasn’t expecting to land a job offer, but as a result of diligent deliverance of her duties, she was offered a part time job by the institution at the end of the term of her internship. She vouches for the role this internship and the job played in enabling her to handle various things better.
Jeshmitha J, an undergraduate student of English at WCC was on the lookout for internship opportunities when a compulsory summer internship was announced. Her search enabled her to start right away as a content writer at a Foundation of Tamil Nadu’s School Education Department. Owing to her dedication and an active desire to learn, she performed to the best of her ability and landed a part time job as well. “I believe I am better equipped now than I was previously. But there is more I should do. I know ‘learning never stops’ sounds clichéd, but it’s true. After I started working, I realised that one would be powerless in the job market if not upskilled”, says Jeshmitha.
Jeshmitha J at the Foundation of Tamil Nadu’s School Education Department.