The assessment of internship programs. A view point of the undergraduate tourism from the Transilvania University of Brasov

• Author: Baltescu C.A.
• Pages: 65-72

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series V: Economic Sciences • Vol. 9 (58) No. 1 - 2016

The assessment of internship programs. A view point

of the undergraduate tourism students from the

Transilvania University of Braşov

Codruţa Adina BLTESCU1

Abstract: Practical education influence the development of a future professional, helps

him to understand theoretical concepts, the way in which a company is organized and

operates, to identify activities that fit and, finally, to shape future career. In this article are

analyzed the attitudes of final year students and master students from the specialization

Tourism, Trade and Services within the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business

Administration Brasov regarding the content and organization of internship performed

within the faculty. The results obtained can help to improve the syllabus at the practical

discipline and to adapt this discipline at the students’ needs and expectations.

Key-words: internship, tourism education, carrier

1. Introduction

The tourism sector has increased rapidly in recent years, both on international level

and in our country. The need for skilled labor force has risen accordingly, which has

increased pressures on educational systems in the sense of providing tailored

training programs. Estimates of the scale of tourism employment vary but suggest

that, globally, it is rising in the order of 2 % per annum and will constitute

approximately 3.6 % of direct employment and 9.5 % of total employment by 2015

(WTTC, 2015).

Obtaining performance in educating the human resource relys, to a great

extent, to the practical training included in the curriculum. Its content, venue,

organization and methods of evaluation are key elements to shape future

professionals. To earn their degrees, students must complete an internship program

in the private sector, working at least 90 h in their second year. Internship

placements are either arranged by schools or by the students themselves. The

majority of internships consist of entry-level positions.

1 Transilvania University of Braşov, codruta.baltescu@unitbv.ro