The role of internships on engineering students’ expectations toward their first position after graduation
ISSN: 0040-0912
Article publication date: 25 October 2024
Issue publication date: 3 December 2024
Abstract
Purpose
We used a complementary mixed methods approach, grounded in situated expectancy-value theory, to explore the relationship between completing an internship and engineering undergraduate students’ preparedness and expectancy of success in obtaining their preferred first position after graduation. We disseminated a survey to institutions in the United States and received 1,583 responses; from this sample, we interviewed 62 students.
Design/methodology/approach
Internship experiences are considered among “high impact practices” in higher education. Despite calls to increase the quality and quantity of internships, little is known about relationships between internship participation and how prepared students feel for future work, specifically their first position after graduation.
Findings
Our findings showed that the students who participated in internships had positive perceptions of preparedness and expectancy of success compared to their peers. We found that participating in multiple internships was beneficial to these outcomes until a student participated in five internships. After five internships, our data did not show a correlation between increasing numbers of internship experiences and increased preparedness or expectancy of success.
Practical implications
While there are benefits to internship participation, after six experiences, additional internships are unlikely to increase confidence in job success and preparation. If that still is lacking, a different approach or conversation on career choice may be warranted.
Originality/value
Our findings are unique in identifying (1) the aspects of internships that increase perceptions of success, including tying theoretical concepts learned in the classroom to engineering practice and (2) the point at which further internships do not seem to offer further benefits.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper is based on research supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. EEC: 1360665, 1360956 and 1360958. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The authors acknowledge the larger PEPS research team including Samantha Brunhaver, Sheri Sheppard, Ruth Streveler and Helen Chen. The authors also thank the study participants and partner school liaisons.
Citation
Vicente, S., Artiles, M., Matusovich, H. and Carrico, C. (2024), "The role of internships on engineering students’ expectations toward their first position after graduation", Education + Training, Vol. 66 No. 9, pp. 1246-1261. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-07-2023-0297
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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