Tell me, and I will forget; Show me, and I may remember; Involve me, and I will understand
Confucius
More than two thousand years have passed, but still, this proverb remains true and relevant, and it can be found in the concept of university internships. Nowadays, internships are an inseparable part of many academic curriculums regardless of the field of study. While, previously, the traditional pedagogical methods, such as lecturing, were mostly considered as a main source of education, recent developments show that the classical classroom education is not able to provide the sort of knowledge that is suitable in cases of real-world issues.
In order to raise more knowledgeable students and develop an industry-oriented educational system, well-prepared internship programs are required.
…internship experience provides students with meaningful experiences applying theories and practices discussed and, sometimes, applied in the classroom. The implications and influences of the workplace are far more extensive than the limits and boundaries imposed by the classroom, peers, and instructors
Tovey
A well-developed internship program can close the knowledge gap between university and industry and help the students be more prepared giving them job-related, career-related, networking/job market related and many other benefits.