Investigating English-Majored Students’ Levels of Satisfaction with Their Internship Experiences: A Case Study at Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study aims to explore English-majored students’ perceptions of the value of internship and their levels of satisfaction with regard to three workplace dimensions including job characteristics, work environment characteristics, and contextual factors. Fifty interns from the Faculty of English at Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (UEF) participated in this project. Data were collected through questionnaires and then quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. The results indicated that the majority of the interns had positive perceptions of the internship experience and demonstrated their maturity and responsibility. The students also expressed high satisfaction with job characteristics, specifically skill variety, autonomy, feedback, and work-related factors such as co-workers and supervisor support. However, they were somehow dissatisfied with contextual elements such as the working hours and compensation. These findings can assist academic institutions, academic supervisors and host companies in providing students with effective internship experience and enhancing their workplace skills.
Keywords:
Perceptions; internship experiences; satisfaction; benefits; English-majored students.
References
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[2] R. Bukaliya, The Potential Benefits and Challenges of Internship Programmes in an ODL Institution: A Case for the Zimbabwe Open University, International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2012.
[3] E. Richard, E., Undergraduate Preparation and Early Career Outcomes: A Study of Recent College Graduates, Journal of Vocational Behavior, Vol. 24, No. 3, 1984, pp. 279-304, https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-8791(84)90013-7.
[4] C. P. D’Abate, M. A. Youndt, K. E. Wenzel, Making the Most of an Internship: An Empirical Study of Internship Satisfaction, Academy of Management Learning & Education, Vol. 8, No. 4, 2009, pp. 527-539,
https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.8.4.zqr527.
[5] E. Locke, The Nature and Causes of Job Satisfaction, The Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 1976, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/238742406_The_Nature_and_Causes_of_Job_Satisfaction/citation/download/ (accessed on: February 12th, 2019).
[6] P. Warr, The Study of Well-being, Behavior and Attitudes, Psychology at Work, Penguin Press, 2022,
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2004-14170-001/(accessed on: February 11th, 2019).
[7] A. O. Agho, C. M. Mueller, J. L. Price, Determinants of Employee Job Satisfaction: An Empirical Test of a Causal Model, Human Relations, Vol. 46, No. 8, 1993, pp. 1007-1027, https://doi.org/10.1177/001872679304600806.
[8] J. R. Hackman, G. R. Oldham, Work Redesign Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1980, https://doi.org/10.2307/257655.
[9] F. Herzberg, Motivation-Hygiene Profiles: Pinpointing What Ails the Organization, Organizational Dynamics, Vol. 3, No. 2, 1974, pp. 18-29, https://doi.org/10.1016/0090-2616(74)90007-2.
[10] G. D. Busby, P. Gibson, Tourism and Hospitality Internship Experiences Overseas: A British Perspective, Journal of Hospitality, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2010, pp. 4-12, http://dx.doi.org/10.3794/johlste.91.244.
[11] D. A. Emenheiser, H. R. Clayton, R. F. Tas, Students’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of the Hospitality Industry Internship Experience, Proceedings of the 1997 Annual CHRIE Conference, 1997, pp. 221-222.
[12] L. Davies, Experience-Based Learning within the Curriculum, A Synthesis Study, 1990.
[13] M. Coco, Internships: A Try Before You Buy Arrangement, SAM Advanced Management Journal, Vol. 65, No. 2, 2000, pp. 41-47.
[14] U. McMahon, U. Quinn, Maximizing the Hospitality Management Student Work Placement Experience: A Case Study, Education and Training, Vol. 37, No. 4, 1995, pp. 13-17, https://doi.org/10.1108/00400919510088870.
[15] E. S. Sovilla, Co-op’s 90-year Odyssey, ASEE Prism, Vol. 7, No. 5, 1998, pp. 1-18.
[16] A. Mandilaras, Industrial Placement and Degree Performance: Evidence from a British Higher Institution, International Review of Economics Education, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2004, pp. 39-51, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1477-3880(15)30146-8.
[17] J. M. Kozar, B. W. Horton, M. B. Gregoire, Is Gaining Work Experience While Going to School Helping or Hindering Hospitality Management Students? Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2005, pp. 1-10, https://doi.org/10.1300/J171v04n01_01.
[18] P. Cross, The Coming of Age of Experiential Learning, NSEE Quarterly, 1994, pp. 1-24.
[19] C. G. Chi, D. Gursoy, How to Help Your Graduates Secure Better Jobs? An Industry Perspective, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 21, No. 3, 2009, pp. 308-322,
https://doi.org/10.1108/09596110910948314.
[20] Y. Zhou, B. Smith, J. Spinelli, Impacts of Increased Student Career Orientation on American College Geography Program, Journal of Geography in Higher Education, Vol. 23, No. 1, 1999, pp. 57-65,
https://doi.org/10.1080/03098269985434.
[21] J. Gault, J. Redington, T. Schlager, Undergraduate Business Internships and Career Success: Are They Related? Journal of Marketing Education, Vol. 22, No. 1, 2000, pp. 45-53, https://doi.org/10.1177/0273475300221006.
[22] N. K. Chuang, M. D. Jenkins, Career Decision Making and Intention: A Study of Hospitality Undergraduate Students, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, Vol. 34, No. 4, 2020, pp. 512-530, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1096348010370867.
[23] G. R. Thiel, N. T. Hartley, Cooperative Education: A Natural Synergy Between Business and Academia, SAM Advanced Management Journal, Vol. 62, No. 3, 1997, pp. 19-24.
[24] T. Leach, College Internship: An Aid to Recruitment, Law and Order, 1998, pp. 57-59.
[25] M. Rothman, Lessons Learned: Advice to Employers from Interns, Journal of Education for Business, Vol. 82, No. 3, 2007, pp. 140-144, https://doi.org/10.3200/JOEB.82.3.140-144.
[26] G. Busby, P. Brunt, S. Baber, Tourism Sandwich Placements: An Appraisal, Tourism Management, Vol. 18, No. 2, 1997, pp. 105-110, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-5177(96)00105-7.
[27] L. Davies, Experience-Based Learning within the Curriculum, A Synthesis Study, Sheffield: Council for National Academic Awards, 1990.
[28] J. Ju, D. A. Emenheiser, H. R. Clayton, J. S. Reynolds, Korean Students’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Their Internship Experiences in the Hospitality Industry in Korea, Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1998, pp. 37-44, https://doi.org/10.1080/10941669908722006.
[29] K. McCusker, S. Gunaydin, Research Using Qualitative, Quantitative or Mixed Methods
and Choice Based on the Research, Perfusion, pp. 1-6, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1177/0267659114559116.
[30] S. Elo, H. Kyngas, The Qualitative Content Analysis Process, Journal of Advanced Nursing, Vol. 62, No. 1, 2008, pp. 107-115, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.
[31] S. Cavanagh, Content Analysis: Concepts, Methods and Applications, Nurse Res, Vol. 4, No. 3, 1997, pp. 5-16, https://doi.org/10.7748/nr.4.3.5.s2.
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