Internship and the Nova Scotia Government experience

Abstract

This paper explores student and graduate internships. The roles and motivation of the intern and the academic, employer and professional associations that sponsor internships are considered. An examination of the “Career Starts” Program created by the Public Service Commission of the Province of Nova Scotia, in Canada serves as a case study to consider the application of internships, practical issues and objectives associated with such a program, and the experience of individual interns. This case is interesting, as a “collective agreement” element currently limits intern access to full time employment within the government. The impact of this limitation is contrasted with conventional programs established as a “recruitment pool”. Internships are seen as a critical component of individual development and for succession planning for professional and management staff, as well as development of specialized skills. Internships are seen as providing a bridge between academic preparation, and full participation in work or a professional association that provides benefits to the intern, the academic institutions and employers or professional bodies.

Citation

Dodge, R.B. and McKeough, M. (2003), "Internship and the Nova Scotia Government experience", Education + Training, Vol. 45 No. 1, pp. 45-55. https://doi.org/10.1108/00400910310459662