Alternating Work-Study Programs : The Effects of Internships on Students’ Professional Training
This article uses the views of students and their teachers and workplace tutors to examine the effects of internships for students in four vocational education programs offered on an alternating work-study basis. First, students’ internship experiences are grouped together according to the traditional or experiential models of the work experience typology. Then, the effects of internships are differentiated according to six categories : learning at school and in the workplace ; preparation for the job market ; professional socialization ; technical apprenticeship ; personal development ; and career direction. The discussion and the conclusion identify a number of conditions that either stimulate or hamper students’ learning.