Abstract:

Internship enables students dig deeper into the real business world and enriches their studying experience. Internship programs are valuable to both students and organizations. At one side students get valuable skills and competences that build their employability, apply theoretical knowledge in practice and learn more about their profession. Business organizations have the possibility to reach the pool of human resources – possible future employees. In scientific institutions in Croatia, such as universities and faculties, internship has not been integrated within the undergraduate and/or graduate study programs as a regular course required for graduation. This activity was more practiced in colleges and private higher educational institutions that offer professional study programs. Things started to change recently pushed by the real sector that lacks human resources (particularly in tourism) and external environment (i.e. EU funds that focus on human resources and upgrade of skills and competences).

The purpose of this research is to analyse internship practice and enlighten key points for managing internship programs and customizing them further to meet the needs and interests of both – students and industry.

The aim is twofold:
1. To discover experiences graduates of study program "Culture and Tourism“ had during their internship hours that were offered as a regular course (internship) during one semester of their undergraduate study (required for graduation);
2. To get feedback from the real sector on the organized internship programs, possibilities for improvements and students’ benefits.

In order to obtain results authors have conducted a survey using a questionnaire on the sample of 71 graduates (alumni students) and 89 industry representatives. The questionnaire was distributed by e-mail.

Results have shown that students value internship program and consider it useful but suggest more internship hours and stronger cooperation between university and the industry. On the other side, industry representatives believe internship programs help students in developing their relationship and responsibility towards future jobs. However, they strongly support the views that cooperation between industry and academia is of extreme importance and are willing to cooperate on various levels and ways. At the end of the paper authors list suggestions for future development and management of internship program in a higher education institution.

Keywords:

Internship programs, coordination, management, cooperation, industry, academia.