UGC Guidelines for Internship/Research Internship for Under Graduate Students

UGC has issued the Guidelines for Internship/Research Internship for Under Graduate Students. Internships should be such organized that benefits the research intern as well as the internship providing organization. Following are the intended objectives of engaging undergraduate students in internship for employability and research internship programmes:

1. Integration of workshop with workplace: To see the internship in a broader, integrated and holistic manner where the delivery of the classroom is aligned with outcomes of the workplace. The objectives of the internship need to be designed with the intention of integrating workshop / classroom / lab/research lab learnings with the workplace (organisation / enterprise / start-ups / corporate / farmlands / artisans / gig workers / Non-government organisations (NGOs)/research & development organisations, higher education institutions (HEIs), etc).
2. Understanding of the world of work: To provide undergraduate students with an opportunity to improve their understanding of the experiences, challenges, and opportunities of the real world of work, as well as to set their expectations and behaviour in accordance with the demands, culture, and values of current and emerging jobs.
3. Hybrid model learning: To broaden learning opportunities by combining physical and digital modes of learning while working in industry, corporate, research & development organisations, workplace, within or outside HEIs, blended with a mentor or research expert and as per the need and convenience.
4. Developing research aptitude: To create and facilitate conditions that allow students in their questfor knowledge, its discovery, learn, understand and sharpen research acumen, familiarising with analytical tools and techniques with appropriate usage, research methodologies, data analysis, integrity and ethical behaviour, manuscripts preparations, identification of appropriate journals,
   patent and intellectual property rights, and their application in solving research/complex/real-life problems.
5. Exposure in emerging technologies: To provide exposure to emerging technologies/ automation and how it can support, facilitate, improve and reinforce work processes/ culture/ job roles/art and craft, including the traditional areas of art-craft/ heritage skills, agriculture, etc.
6. Enhance entrepreneurial capabilities: Understand how organisations/enterprises are formed for sustainable progress so that start-ups and entrepreneurial capabilities are strengthened among students and they are encouraged to be job creators.
7. Development of decision-making and teamwork skills: To facilitate the development of problem-solving and decision-making skills, enable teamwork & collaboration culture to promote research, academic and professional developments.
8. Cultivate a sense of Social Imagery and Citizenship Responsibility: To develop a sense of social imagery (issues) and philanthropic versatility among the graduating students that will facilitate towards the development of an attitude towards citizenship responsibility.
9. Stimulate collaborative influence: To promote HEIs collaboration, industryacademia partnership will be developed to provide collaborative internships, apprenticeships, and research opportunities to the students in the predefined areas of importance which will lead institutions, universities, organisations, academicians, and students to collaborate on how to learn with one another.
   10.Enhancing professional competency: The internship should not only focus on employability or research capabilities; there is also a need for professional principles, ethics, values, and integrity which will enable them to gain perspective, practice, develop as competency and perform professional tasks in the way that the employment market demands.