Internship Programs In Engineering Technology: Some Personal Thoughts

An internship in industry is an excellent way for students enrolled in our institutions of higher education to achieve experience in the workplace before graduation. Students are exposed to “real-world” practices, extending what they have learned in our classrooms and laboratories. They are aware that their professional success in their first years in industry depends on how confident they feel about their technical abilities as well as their actual knowledge. Internships in industry serve both cases, expanding their knowledge and giving them the confidence that they need to be successful. However, while everybody agrees that an internship experience in industry is a key component in undergraduate education in engineering and engineering technology, it certainly requires more planning and preparation than traditional classes. Some faculty may feel overwhelmed by the logistics involved in preparing an internship which may stop them from developing this learning experience at their institutions. This paper describes the author’s experiences with managing an internship in Engineering Technology, in particular in Biomedical Engineering Technology. Although some of the aspects discussed in this paper may be specific to this particular program, the author believes that the core of the paper is easily translated to other academic programs.