Students value internships but significant disparities exist in access and experience

On today's episode, our cohosts talk about the 2024 research report, Building Better Internships. It was largely based on the 2023 National Survey of College Internships (NSCI), which investigated internship participation, quality, and equity among U.S. college students. The findings were likely of little surprise to professionals who are deeply involved in helping students find and succeed in their internships. The report and underlying survey revealed that internships are highly valued by students for career development. Although 70 percent of first-year students expect to successfully complete an internship prior to graduation, fewer than half do. Expectations, clearly, do not match realities. Another key finding was that significant disparities exist in access and experience based on factors like income, race, and institutional type. Key quality indicators include the presence of structured learning plans, the nature of assigned tasks, and the level of supervisor support and mentorship.  Improvements in internship quality and accessibility are needed to ensure equitable opportunities for all students. Our co-hosts provide some actionable recommendations for educational institutions, employers, and researchers to address the identified challenges, including the elimination of unpaid internships in favor of more micro internships, projects, and research projects.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices