The Interrelationship between Internship and Employability: A Critical Literature Review

Abstract

It is well known that the transition from education to employment is not an easy task. Unfortunately, a degree is not enough to find a qualified job. Universities have to respond to this demand taking into account the functions that are associated with their role in society, such as the development of successful internship programs, which adjust to the needs of the labor market. The complexity of this phenomenon justifies the increase of the research in this field. Despite the public discourse, previous empirical evidence is scant and unsystematic. In this context, the aim of this paper is to analyze the existing evidence published in highly qualified scientific journals in order to combine the existing knowledge and look for points in common and future lines of research. The results of this critical literature review are interesting for diverse stakeholders such as: (i) policy makers, who are keen to realize the knowledge economy vision by increasing the supply of graduates; (ii) employers, who are continuously revising the skills required by graduates; (iii) as well as graduates themselves, who require to be incorporated to the labor market fast and efficiency.

Keywords

• internship
• employability
• literature review
• Web of Science