Abstract:

Enhancing graduate employability is a key priority in higher education, particularly in business programs where the gap between academic learning and workplace expectations remains evident. Within this context, experiential learning approaches—especially internships—are increasingly recognized as effective tools for bridging this gap. This paper, prepared for EDULEARN26, examines the role of internships in developing employability skills among business students.

Adopting an action research approach, the study is grounded in the supervision of sixth-semester (S6) internship reports at the National School of Commerce and Management in Oujda, Morocco. It analyzes students’ experiences and reflections, as well as their recommendations for improving internship practices within higher education.

The findings highlight that internships significantly contribute to the development of essential skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability. They also provide students with valuable exposure to professional environments, facilitating a smoother transition from university to employment. However, the study also identifies several limitations related to internship design and implementation.

Students emphasized the importance of engaging in meaningful, task-oriented activities rather than observation-based roles. They also stressed the need for stronger alignment between academic content and workplace practices to enhance the relevance of their learning. In addition, the findings point to the importance of reinforcing collaboration between higher education institutions and host organizations.

The paper argues that integrating well-structured internships, reflective learning practices, and stronger university–industry partnerships can significantly improve the quality of business education. These findings contribute to ongoing discussions at EDULEARN on how experiential learning can enhance student outcomes and better prepare graduates for the demands of the labor market.

Keywords:

Experiential learning, internships, employability skills, business education, higher education, university–industry collaboration.