Learning to labour: an evaluation of internships and employability in theICTsector

Abstract

The employability of graduates is often reduced to lists of de-contextualised skills that graduates may or may not have and which may or may not translate to prized graduate positions. Recently, internships have become the way in which graduates acquire and demonstrate work-readiness to potential employers. This article examines a particular type of internship in the ICT sector, namely placements incorporated in degree education. The findings suggest that while internships can enhance employability and indeed be a mechanism for accessing permanent jobs, more often, instead of 'learning to labour', interns are expected to be productive workers. A mini labour market operates at the undergraduate level that advantages those already possessed of the required soft skills. The emphasis on soft skills signals a shift in the nature of ICT work with attendant implications for education of workers in this sector, revealed by anchoring employability to particular labour process(es).

Equality of opportunity for work experience? Computing students at two UK universities “play the game”

“…Through graduate employment rates, it can be seen that work experience, including internships and placements, is central to this game. In this study, we try to get a modest idea of students' habitus and the capitals available to them, combined with their awareness of the employability game-the activities students are increasingly expected to do, beyond their studies, to gain "prized graduate positions" (Chillas, Marks, & Galloway 2015). The research questions to emerge, therefore, are: i) What are student attitudes to gaining relevant work experience?…”

“…Previous studies have noted that students need economic capital to take advantage of placements, particularly in other geographical locations (for example, Chillas et al 2015). The location of the two universities in large urban settings (and financial centres), with local access to technology companies, may be contributory factors.…”

“…However, with increased pressure on the placement 'market', there is a danger that employers will instead continue to raise their expectations that placement students will already be socially sophisticated, confident, and able to access the economic, social and cultural capitals that create winners and losers (Chillas et al 2015)often inappropriately referred to as "work-ready". Employers may also mistakenly accord these characteristics with students' apparent ethnicity.…”

The Interrelationship between Internship and Employability: A Critical Literature Review

“…In this context, internships have been gaining popularity as a way for students to acquire and demonstrate work-related skills. However, in practice the use of internships has raised concerns related to the potential exploitation of vulnerable young workers [1,2].…”

Introduction

“…Nor are internships any longer a neglected subject in media, communication, and cultural studies. Indeed, this special issue of tripleC joins a steadily expanding body of activist and critical scholarly accounts of internships (e.g., Carrotworkers ' Collective 2011;Figiel 2012;Hope and Figiel 2012;Daniel and Daniel 2013;Frenette 2013;Seibert and Wilson 2013;Hesmondhalgh and Percival 2014;Ashton and Noonan 2013;Chillas, Marks and Galloway 2015;Shade and Jacobson 2015;Leonard, Halford and Bruce, forthcoming).…”