A number of tertiary courses require students to undertake a period of unpaid work at companies or organisation as part of their programme. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this type of course requirement?
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As a part of their college or university course, many students are required to render service to a company or other similar organization without being paid. Although some students benefit a lot from such work exposure while studying, not all such experiences are good for those involved.
The main reason for a practicum or internship is to allow students to experience firsthand how classroom theories are put into practice in the real world, which is important in courses where learning can be quite abstract. Although they do not yet receive remuneration for their efforts, many of them are assigned legitimate tasks within the company or organization. So students in medically-related fields get to interact with critically ill patients, while those in engineering see for themselves how their calculations create sturdy structures. Another benefit is that students are introduced to the professional world where they must be punctual, dress smartly, and be ready to follow orders. Though the unpaid service may just be for a few months, the overall experience still prepares students for life after graduation.
Despite these intended advantages, some have realized that such work exposure is not always beneficial. One problem is that not all students are assigned “real work” because some managers do not trust their abilities. So instead of putting theories into practice, students do menial tasks or just observe.
Another issue is that students might not undergo the training they want because practicum and internship slots are limited. For example, a finance student who wants to go into stocks may end up manning the cash register of a grocery because slots at the bank are filled. Though it is still credited as work exposure, the experience was not what was desired.
A final possibility is that some companies take advantage of this “free labor”, assigning too much work to students. Even if students do learn much, it is still not right for companies to exploit the situation.
In summary, work exposure while in school is meant to provide insights into one's future work, but it might not always turn out as planned. Regardless, students should treat it with the right frame of mind, trying to observe and learn as much as they can about their field so that they are better prepared for the world of work.