A history student from SNDT University may now have to do an internship at a museum
or a travel firm. English major may be asked to get hands-on experience in a newspaper
office.
In a move to make its students employable, SNDT University
is planning to introduce a compulsory internship programme for all its postgraduate
students. It is probably the first university in the state to introduce
such a programme for non-professional courses.
Most students in professional courses like engineering and business management have
to do an internship as part of their course structure. Explaining that the project
will help make the students employable, vice-chancellor of the university, Vasudha
Kamat, said, Why should an MA English student not join a newspaper house as an intern
Why cant a history student work with a travel firm or even in a museum It will only
help them in getting work experience before they hit the (job) market after earning
their degrees. I have made the proposal and the boards of studies for different
subjects will be discussing it soon.
According to the proposal, the internship and research projects will be introduced
in the fourth semester of all Masters programmes offered by the university. Since
SNDT follows the credit system, each semester carries 16 credits. As per the credit
system, four credits are equal to 100 marks. The proposal, based on the suggestions
made by the board of studies, is to either allow 10 credits for internship and six
for research or vice-versa, or eight credits for each.
The heads of departments will have to make a list of institutions and organizations
where their students can go for internships. The professors will suggest job opportunities
in their respective subjects and they might even help students in their search,
added Kamat.
While this will be a novel project for the varsity, the department of human development
has already made the internship programme mandatory. The internship programme has
been successful for students from our department. It not only helps students gain
experience but also helps them in getting jobs after the completion of their course.
Many of our students have been placed in the same companies where they have interned.
Even prospective employers will know the students and their skills, said Reeta Sonawat,
professor and head of the department.
Courtesy: Times of India
