Model to evaluate the effectiveness of the IFAM Internship Program

Abstract

The internship aims to improve the student's abilities through practical activities, where one can apply the lessons learned in school/university. In this sense, the IFAM Internship Program/Center should provide quality services to the community, fulfilling their goals effectively. However, in 2011, it was noted the absence of a system to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. The main objective of this research is to develop a model for evaluating the effectiveness of the IFAM Internship Program/Center from the perspective of the student, to improve the services provided by the program. To collect data, a questionnaire was designed with closed and open questions, based on the SERVQUAL model developed by Parasuraman et al. (1985). The research sample was 99 students of technical courses, full-time courses as well as PROEJA (Adult courses). The study showed that all dimensions of service quality of the IFAM Internship Program/Center have negative gap, thus revealing the need for re-planning actions by the managers of the program, including interventions of teachers, to clarify the main questions of the students about the internship; planning meetings with new trainees, providing practical situations in the IFAM laboratories where the student can learn and experience the challenges of laboring world. In this sense, it is recommended studies be made to hear the opinion of the companies which use the services of IFAM Internship Program /Center for admitting the students.