Assessment of the Relevance and Experience of Undergraduate Internship Programme: A Focus on University of Cape Coast Psychology Students in Ghana

Abstract

For an effective and a successful internship programme, the competency and motivation of all parties involved are indispensable and studies have revealed that internship experiences have surfaced as important factors that may positively improve the job placement of students. Using descriptive cross sectional survey design, the investigators assessed the relevance and experience of internships of undergraduate psychology students in the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.  The study adopted a validated questionnaire and a proportional stratified sampling technique, involving 200 students made up of 115 and 85 males and females respectively.Results underscored the relevance of internship experience with greater sense of responsibility and career development it provides. It also suggested that career focus is associated with positive beliefs about intern’s career choice and future job satisfaction. It revealed a statistically significant association between type of organization and the relevance of internship programme to students. The results also showed significant differences in experience of internship programme across respondents’ age and gender.On the basis of the findings, recommendations were made for educational institutions to provide skills that organizations can capitalize on to give work related training during internships.

Keywords: Internship, Relevance, Experience, students, gender differences, Learning Theories