Abstract:
internship has been viewed as an etTective approach to equip university students with
preliminary job knowledge and experiences. Undergraduates during their internship
period, get good experiences as well as face some challenges. In this context, this study
has explored these phenomena by conducting interviews with graduates, training
providers and Intemship Coordinators of Eastern University, Sri Lanka. Therefore. this
study aims to explore the driving and restraining forces of students learning through
internship training programmed.
Further, qualitative approach was undertaken, thirty graduates from Faculty of Arts and
Culture, Faculty of Commerce and Management and two Internship Training
Coordinators were interviewed from Eastern University, Sri Lanka and five Internship
Training Providers were interviewed for this research purpose. Interviewed by using a
semi-structured interview method. Collected data were analyzed through Total
Interpretive Structure Modeling Analysis, Thematic Analysis and Thematic Content
Analysis. According to the findings, driving and restraining forces were observed
regarding students learning through internship training programmed of graduates.
Researcher found there are driving forces such as personal attitude, parents support,
cognitive skill, flexible and good working environment, academic support, link
between course and practical aspects in the theory, staff support, ability of
communication and leadership skills. At the time there are researcher found restraining
forces such as internship duration, lack of personality attitudes, family influence,
University support, other professional courses, task unclarity, unexpected situations,
lack of soft skills, coordination issue, credit purpose, gap between theory and practical
knowledge, handling diversify customers, work setting and payment. The researcher.
acknowledges the limitations of the research, in particular, the small sample size, which
has resulted primarily in qualitative results being presented. Finally, the researcher
proposed some recommendations and frameworks for policy makers to improve the
Internship learning of undergraduates in Eastern University, Sri Lanka
