Students’ experience and commentary on the internship programme of civil engineering training in public universities of Ethiopia

Abstract

This paper presents challenges of the internship programme among civil engineering training in public universities of Ethiopia based on students’ experiences and comments. Sample students from two major public universities in Ethiopia shared their experiences. Validated standard questionnaires were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Data were discussed in line with the objectives of the internship. Results indicated that more than 85% of the students arranged their hosting company by themselves, considering the distance to their hometown as the main criterion for their choice of hosting company. Almost half of the participants rated their internship hosting company as not welcoming. The average stay of the students in their internship was found to be only 64.31% of the total internship period of the curriculum requirement. A statistical test indicated that students’ satisfaction level and their period of stay were related at a significant level of 5%. Students commented that industries were unwilling to support them and there were usually too many internees on projects. Students advised universities to work closely with the industries, supervise the students and improve the budget. The results implied that there are considerable challenges in internship programmes that require the attention of the parties involved.