Abstract:

Education of future ICT professionals is becoming much more challenging due to the requirements and expectations that dynamic and innovative ICT market puts in front of higher education institutions (HEI). In order to prepare graduates for the challenges of future labour market, which consider their equipment with a various technical and soft skills, HEIs must be innovative and creative in introducing new pedagogical approaches, especially the ones in collaboration with the industry. In that context, different forms of work-based learning and internship placements in companies are taking part as an integral part of ICT programmes.

This paper analyses an obligatory course “Professional practice” at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Organization and Informatics. As a part of their final semester of graduate studies, students needs to undergo 160 hours of professional practice in companies. During the internship, each student is assigned a mentor from company’s employees who oversees his work. For each day of internship, students are obliged to write diary with a description of daily tasks which is, at the end of the internship, checked and signed by a mentor. Moreover, mentor completes a student evaluation form, as well as student complete company evaluation form.

This paper analyses effectiveness of this form of student internship using the following data:
1) students’ evaluations,
2) mentors’ evaluations and
3) conclusions from students’ diaries.

Analysis is based on data from generation 2018/2019. The results are discussed in order to detect potential for future improvements

Keywords:

Student internship, ICT, evaluation.