Internship in vocational education and training: stakeholders’ perceptions of its organisation

Abstract

Polytechnic education in Ghana is an offshoot of technical and vocational education and training, which makes internship a sine qua non for its students. The implementation of internships in the departments of hotel catering and institutional management in Ghanaian polytechnics is examined in this study. The perceptions of the stakeholders suggest weak links between the educational institution and the hospitality industry leading to ineffective implementation, which culminates in a myriad of challenges faced by interns. Finally, suggestions from stakeholders for improvement to subsequent internships included preparedness to collaborate, internship time to be extended, and industry’s and teachers’ active participation in internship.