International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications

International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications January, February, March 2012 Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Article: 13 ISSN 1309-6249

THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF INTERNSHIP PROGRAMMES IN AN ODL INSTITUTION: A CASE FOR THE ZIMBABWE OPEN UNIVERSITY
Richard BUKALIYA Zimbabwe Open University, Mashonaland East Region, Marondera, ZIMBABWE

ABSTRACT Several studies done elsewhere have indicated and concluded that a gap really exists between the quality of graduates produced and what the market demands (Mpairwe, 2010). For this and other reasons, training institutions and employers have accepted the need to seek mitigatory steps to bridge the gap. Among other steps, institutions of learning have introduced internship programmes also referred to as field attachment in some of their degree and non-degree programmes. There has also been the realisation that imparting the relevant practical skills is a partnership between the training institution and the prospective employers through student internships. However, despite these positive intentions, interns on field attachment have faced serious challenges among which are insufficient time and lack of funding for the programmes. It is behind this background that the present study sought to establish the benefits and challenges faced by student interns at the Zimbabwe Open University. The study focussed on two of the university`s faculties: the Faculty of Science and technology and that of Applied Social Sciences. Most of the students on internship were from these faculties. Being quantitative in nature, the study employed the use of the questionnaire to solicit data from the 50 respondents chosen through convenience sampling. Results showed that the majority of the students preferred the attachment programme because it exposed them to the real expectations of the world of work. However, a number of challenges militated against the effectiveness of the programmes. Challenges include some fulltime

References: Beard, D.F., (1998). The status of internship / cooperative education experiences in accounting education. Journal of Accounting Education, 16, 507-516. Beard, F. and Morton, L. (1999). Effects of internship predictors on successful field experience. Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, 53, 42-53. Bernstein, J. (1976). Urban field education: An opportunity structure for enhancing students ' personal and social efficacy. Human Relations, 29, 677-85. Britton, B.K. and Tesser, A. (1982). Effects of prior knowledge on use of cognitive capacity in three complex cognitive tasks. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behaviour , 421-436. Brooks, L., Cornelius, A., Greenfield, E. and Joseph, R. (1995). The relation of career related work or internship experiences to the career development of college seniors. Journal of Vocational Behaviour , 46, 332-349. Burnett, S. (2003). The future of accounting education: A regional perspective. Journal of Education for Business , 78, p. 129 Callanan, G. and Benzing, C (2004). Assessing the role of internship in career-oriented employment of graduating college students. Education + Training , 46, 82-89. Cannon, J.A., and Arnold, M.J. (1998). Student expectations of collegiate internship programs in business: A 10year update. Journal of Education for Business, 73, 202-205. Rusnah Muhamad., Yazkhiruni Yahya Faculty of Business and Accounting, Suhaily Shahimi November, (2009) 49 Undergraduate Internship Attachment in Accounting: The Interns Perspective International Education Studies 131 Copyright © International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications / www.ijonte.org International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications January, February, March 2012 Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Article: 13 ISSN 1309-6249 Cook, S. J., Stephen R. Parker and Charles E. Pettijohn (2004). The perceptions of interns: A longitudinal case study. Journal of Education for Business, 79, 179-185. English, D.M. & Koeppen, D.R. (1993). The relationship of accounting internship and subsequent academic performance. Issues in Accounting Education , Fall, 292-299. Eyler, J. T. (1992). Comparing the impact of two internship experiences on student learning. Journal of Cooperative Education , 29, 41-52. Furco, A. (1996). Service Learning and School-to-Work. Journal of Cooperative Education , 1, 7-14. International Education Studies November, 2009 53 Gault, J., Redington, J., & Schlager, T. (2000). Undergraduate business internships and career success: Are they related? Journal of Marketing Education, 22, 45-53. Hall, M., Stiles, G., Kuzma, J. & Elliot, K. (1995). A comparison of student and employer expectation with regards to business internship. Marketing Education Review , 5, 3. Hite, R., & Bellizzi, J. (1986). Student expectations regarding collegiate internship programs in marketing. Journal of Marketing Education, 8, 41-49. Hursch, B. and Borzak, L. (1979). Toward cognitive development through field studies. Journal of Higher Education , 50, 63-77. Hymon-Parker, S. (1998). Benefits and limitations of internships as viewed by educators and retailers/commentary. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 90, 76-81. Knechel, W.R., & Snowball, D. (1987). Accounting internship and subsequent academic performance: An empirical study. The Accounting Review , October, 799-807. Knouse, S.N., Tanner, J.T., & Harris, E.W. (1999). The relation of college internship, college performance, and subsequent job opportunity. Journal of Employment Counseling , 36, 35-43. Lam, T., Ching, L. (2006). An exploratory study of an internship program: The case of Hong Kong students. Hospitality Management, 26, 336-351. Lambert, S. “Make learning real” http://www.becpdx.org/ Maskooki, K., Rama, D.V., & Raghunanandan, K. (1998). Internships in undergraduate finance programs. Financial Practice & Education, 20, 94-102. McMahon, U., & Quinn, U. (1995). Maximizing the hospitality management student work placement experience: A case study. Education and Training , 37, 13-17. Mihail, D.M., (2006). Internship at Greek Universities: An exploratory study. Journal of Workplace Learning , 18, 28-41. Mounce, P. H, Mauldin, D.S., & Braun, R. L. (2004). The importance of relevant practical experience among accounting faculty: An empirical analysis of student ' perceptions. Issues in Accounting Education , 4. 132 Copyright © International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications / www.ijonte.org International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications January, February, March 2012 Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Article: 13 ISSN 1309-6249 Nevett, T. (1985). Work experience: The essential ingredient in British programs. Journal of Marketing Education, 7, 13-18. Pasewark,W.R., Strawser, J. & Wilkerson, J. Jr. (1989). An empirical examination of the effects of previous internship on interviewing success. Journal of Accounting Education, Spring, 25-40. Ricks, F. A., Ney, T., Branton, G. R., Cut, J., Loken, M., &Van Gyn, G.H. (1989). A critique of cooperative education literature. Review of Educational Research . Rothman, M. (2007). Lessons learned: Advice to employers from interns. Journal of Education for Business, 82,140-144. Scott, M.E. (1992). Internships add value to college recruitments. Personnel Journal, 71, 59-62. Swift, C.O., & Russell, K. (1999). Business school internships: Legal concerns. Journal of Education for Business, 75, 23-26. Tackett, J., Wolf, F., & Law, D. (2001). Accounting interns and their employers: Conflicting perceptions. Ohio CPA Journal, 60, 54-56. Taylor, M.S. (1998). Effects of college internship in individual participants. Journal of Applied Psychology , 73, 393-492. 133 Copyright © International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications / www.ijonte.org