The internship program at Skyline University College assists students to work and learn in a professional environment. Students are able to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom in a work setting, thus enriching their learning experience. This experience is also regarded as invaluable in preparation for future careers.

Internship creates a learning experience that helps student’s transition into the work world. It helps students develop a better understanding of a particular industry. Since students work to gain experience, it is important that they be placed in an environment that is conducive to learning. A clear job description is sought for the interns before work starts to ensure the experience will be substantial and valuable. It is important to mention that an internship is a learning experience in the real life situations.  An internship is an opportunity for our students who have acquired 90 credits to apply and practice the theoretical knowledge gained in classrooms into real life situations. It is a three-credit requirement of the program and, covers duration of 6-8 weeks (between 130-140 hrs.) in the 8^th Semester, at the concluding stage of the degree program.

The student may be required to work between 4 to 6 hrs. a day during the Internship period, depending on his/her academic load.

OBJECTIVES OF INTERNSHIP: The following are the general objectives of our Internship program:

q       To identify opportunities & assess knowledge gained by a student in their program and its application in the industry.

q       To develop various skills such as organizational skills, critical thinking, resource management, human relations, problem solving skills, etc.

q       To expose students to the real life business situations.

Note: The objectives may be specific depending on the students’ major too.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF INTERNSHIP: The learning experience for the students internship period varies depending on his/her major. The learning experience may broadly be stated for each major as follows:

I)      International Business:

Students studying International Business could undertake Internship in areas like International consulting, trading between countries.

The Skills they may acquire in the process could be as follows:

a.      Technical undertaking, software knowledge, customer service support skills.

b.      Research skills, social business skills and marketing skills.

c.      Hands on experience on global marketing, e-business marketing, direct channels marketing and customer service.

II)   Tourism:

Students who undergo Tourism studies, complete internship in areas like Travel, Hospitality or promotion work.

Skills that may be acquired by students during such an internship are as follows:

a.      Travel booking and reservation skills, administrative skills, retail sales skills and customer service skills.

b.      Planning and marketing of tours, advertising tours, organisational skills.

c.      Customer service skills at airports and hotels, communication and interpersonal skills.

III)            Marketing Studies:

Students in the field of Marketing Studies, complete internship in areas like consumer goods marketing, services marketing, travel marketing in various companies.

Skills that the students would acquire during such an internship are as follows:

1. General knowledge of specific industry, teamwork, how to make a positive impact on the recognition and sales of a product, marketing process.
2. Interacting with clients, skills in selling goods and services.
3. Promotion skills, communication and interpersonal skills, research and administration skills, management skills.
4. Skills in distribution channel management, knowledge of marketing within a global company.
5. Sales planning and sales management.

IV) Information Systems

Students in the major of Information Systems participate in Internship areas like research and development, technology and design, database development, etc.

Skills that would be acquired by the students would be:

1. To research, develop and test software products.
2. Skills and knowledge about programming teamwork, project management and means of identifying client specific goals.
3. A comprehensive understanding of operations requirements and process.
4. Conducting programming projects and company/product evaluations as well as preparing presentations.
5. Skills and knowledge about teamwork, client communication and how to collect and analyse requirements.
6. Develop professional, business and interpersonal skills as well as learn about useful methodologies.

THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE :  Students are expected to benefit in the following areas: critical thinking, effective communication, problem solving, resource management, punctuality, personal values – responsibilities, morality and integrity, interpersonal skills – attitude, dependability, maturity and poise, etc.

The expected outcome would be specific to the student’s major.

Expected outcome derived for the students of International Business are as follows:

• To analyse and improve current service process, maintain ongoing projects, collect customers satisfaction data.
• Communications with clients, project work, conduct market research.
• To develop marketing strategy for companies students train with; research the market of companies expanding globally.

The expected outcome derived for the students of Tourism Management are manifold since students learn the following:

• Communicating with clients to sell and issue travel documents, assist in creating reports.
• Learning to take room reservations for guests.
• To assist and advise guests with their queries.
• Working with all aspects at front desk, bell and door services.

  The expected outcomes for students of Marketing Studies are as follows:

• To conduct marketing reports, to develop promotions for specific products, to interact with other departments to assist in development of long-term plans.
• To use the web to research products and assist in promotion projects.
• Maintaining profiles and contact databases, to research articles, process information, assist in project management, to maintain client relations and client records.
• Analyzing new launch, assist with creative brainstorming sessions, to maintain database.

  Students of Information Systems can expect the following as learning outcome:

• To assist in research, design and development of data.
• To construct databases and make them web-accessible.
• Program in different computer languages, design using different programs and develop internal programming projects.

Criteria for Selecting Internship Agency: The following criteria are used in order to select the right type of organization for student internships:  

• The company profile
• the professional growth of the company
• The companies National & International Operation
• The stability of the company
• The size and operation of the company

Once finalized, Skyline University College and the respective internship agency sign an Internship agreement. Annexure A.

Procedures to apply for internship:  Students are required to fill in a registration form (Annexure B) during October to register and indicate their interest and area of work for the purpose of Internship. Students’ final grades are entered in this form too on conclusion of the internship. Once the students’ preferences are known, a meeting of the student, his/her Academic Advisor and Head of the Program is held to finalize the Internship agency for the student. Students are given 3 options of choosing agencies as per preference. Students are informed by March end of internship opportunities finalized for them.

A Monitor is appointed from Skyline University College who would monitor the process, appraise and evaluate the intern throughout the internship. The monitor would be a full time faculty of Skyline University College teaching in the area of major of the Intern. The internship agency needs to appoint a Training Supervisor who would supervise and evaluate the intern throughout the internship.

MONITORS AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Prior to Registration

• Prior to the student’s enrollment in the internship, the Monitor meets with the student to discuss the duties and responsibilities required for the internship, as well as the student’s time commitment (number of hours required for the internship).
• The Monitor will initiate contact with the Training Supervisor to define the student’s duties and responsibilities and to discuss expectations of performance during the internship. Monitor will also send evaluation forms to the Training Supervisor.
• Each internship will be approved by the appropriate department head, academic advisor, and monitor will be responsible for the academic supervision of individual internships and the integration of the practical and theoretical work.
• The Intern is given a check in evaluation form to be filled in by the end of the first week of Internship. Annexure C.
• Ongoing meetings will be scheduled with the student to discuss the internship experience. The Monitor will schedule a minimum of three meetings during the semester. Meetings should occur two weeks after the internship begins, at the midterm of the internship period, and at the end of the Semester. In cases where meetings are not possible, regular contact by other means must be maintained.
• The Monitor will maintain contact with the Training Supervisor; periodic contacts should be made at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the semester. Site visitations will be arranged at the discretion of the monitor. An evaluation of the student intern should be obtained from the training supervisor at the beginning of the semester and at the end, before the conclusion of the internship period.
• The Monitor will assign a final grade based on the student’s academic project and the training supervisor’s evaluation.

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