CREATING A REAL-LIFE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR UNDERGRADUATES: SECTORAL PRACTICUM PROJECTS

In Turkey, there is a highly competitive environment for new graduates to acquire a well-paid and satisfying job position since the number of unemployed university graduates has risen dramatically over the last few decades with the increasing number of universities in alignment with the growth of young population. In this paper, “Sectoral Practicum Projects”, one of the innovative approaches presented by higher education institutions in the pursuit of strengthening the link between universities and Industry and promoting “employability”, are explained. Comprehensive results of the surveys conducted to measure the impact of the approach and responded by the project partners including students, faculty supervisors, company supervisors and project coordinators are provided. In a quest to develop the professional skills of the undergraduates and create a real-life learning experience for students within the sector, Sectoral Practicum projects can be suggested as an effective method to set a university graduate apart from his/her peers.