Internship, practicum, and work-study all are names for basically the same type of educational experience. Students can obtain a wealth of knowledge from texts, lectures and guest speakers; however, a more complete knowledge can be acquired by having students enter the workforce and assume responsibilities that will help to develop their business management skills and acumen.
The University of New Haven considers internships to be a critical component of the educational process. We strive to successfully match an intern with the most appropriate work environment. We understand that all three parties in the internship relationship—UNH, the student, and the host site—need to devote significant time to make it work. If UNH does not monitor the internship with site visits and meetings with the host supervisor, then the student might not be made aware of the need to change to a more effective conduct. Internships are not about letting a student go, unsupervised, to perform the assigned work. A student sometimes can perform tasks without guidance; however, most interns require guidance, which entails a significant time commitment from the internship host. In the same perspective, an intern should not be given only mindless labor or "grunt work," as such activities do not benefit the intern and can lead to potential tax or legal concerns. Thus, a successful internship requires both time and energy to provide the intern with enough practical work to make the placement beneficial to both the intern and the host site. This balancing act, when achieved, results in a quality internship that can lead to developing a strong future employee.
Numerous ways exist to develop, host, or participate in an internship. Through working with the internship coordinator every effort will be made to make the internship experience meaningful.
