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Frontiers of Education in China

ISSN 1673-341X

ISSN 1673-3533(Online)

CN 11-5741/G4

Postal Subscription Code 80-979

Front. Educ. China    2020, Vol. 15 Issue (3) : 482-504    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11516-020-0020-x
Research article
Implementing Effective Internships: A Case Study of Work-Integrated Learning in a Chinese Undergraduate University
JIN Li1(), Rebecca CLOTHEY2, Brian MCCOMMONS3
1. School of Management, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, China
2. Department of Global Studies and Modern Languages, School of Education, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
3. School of Education, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Abstract

Chinese local undergraduate universities are in a process of transition into universities of applied sciences. Important aspects of this include strengthening cooperation between universities and industry, cultivating applied talent needed in industry, improving students’ employment rates, and promoting economic development. Internships are an important way to help students gain practical experience and deepen university-industry cooperation. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the challenges of the existing internship process in an undergraduate university in China and give suggestions to improve internship quality. Qualitative data from 35 students and 12 administrators/faculty were collected at a local undergraduate university, H University (HU), in central China, which is currently undergoing the process of becoming a university of applied sciences. The findings of the study show issues with the university’s model, including communication between industry and university, internship evaluation, student guidance, and internship quality. Recommendations based on the literature are provided.

Keywords government policy      internship      work-integrated learning (WIL)      Chinese local undergraduate universities      quality     
Issue Date: 28 September 2020
 Cite this article:   
JIN Li,Rebecca CLOTHEY,Brian MCCOMMONS. Implementing Effective Internships: A Case Study of Work-Integrated Learning in a Chinese Undergraduate University[J]. Front. Educ. China, 2020, 15(3): 482-504.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fed/EN/10.1007/s11516-020-0020-x
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fed/EN/Y2020/V15/I3/482
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