Work-integrated learning (WIL) in information technology: An exploration of employability skills gained from internships
Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning
ISSN: 2042-3896
Article publication date: 13 November 2017
Issue publication date: 13 November 2017
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze 86 information technology (IT) internship postings to discern the extent to which the intended outcomes matched professional standards for four-year IT programs.
Design/methodology/approach
The researchers text mined specified skills from 86 internship postings and compared them to the competencies outlined in the ACM/IEEE Body of Knowledge.
Findings
Results indicated that students can expect to gain experience and exposure to both technical and general competencies. Though research and policy relating to technical fields have emphasized professional competencies such as teamwork, communication, and professionalism, this analysis suggested that the internship postings greatly emphasized technical skills at the expense of general competencies.
Research limitations/implications
The most frequently occurring competencies suggest future research opportunities for considering contextual factors of internship sites. The researchers conclude with implications for using text mining as a tool for comparing internship intent vs outcomes as well as suggestions for policies, standards, and curricula worthy of further exploration.
Originality/value
Employers, educators, and professionals agree that internships offer a promising means to link course content and practical workplace skills, especially in technical fields like IT. However, less clear are the ingredients of effective IT internships.
Keywords
Citation
Jones, F.R., Mardis, M.A., McClure, C.R., Ma, J., Ambavarapu, C. and Spears, L.I. (2017), "Work-integrated learning (WIL) in information technology: An exploration of employability skills gained from internships", Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, Vol. 7 No. 4, pp. 394-407. https://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-08-2017-0046
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited