How to engage young workers in internship programs

Students and recent graduates wanting to put into practice what they have learned at universities must be afforded more chances to do so in the private sector as a move that benefits both the young workers and businesses. But what exactly are the businesses’ benefits from the internship process?

It is one of the questions the AmCham Human Resources Committee tried to answer at its latest meeting.

There were many questions about to internship programs at the discussion. They related to things like the practical implementation of an internship and the mutual interest that exists between universities and private companies.

Internships were done by universities in Albania prior to the fall of the communist regime, but it was a practice that declined during the transition period to a free market economy. As the private sector grew, the large corporations in particular started to implement internship programs where students could get hands on experience.

But while large foreign companies with branches in Albania follow the example of the best practices of parent companies and apply them, other companies have little experience and no positive examples to follow in their own programs.

That’s why the HR Committee decided to have a meeting to share best practices among internships programs at AmCham member companies.

More than anything else, the HR Committee meeting served to discuss ideas on how to develop internship programs in companies that don’t have them, focusing on the advantages of such internship programs.

A representative of Rritje Albania, a USAID project, also attended the meeting. The project works on labor and workforce development as part of its mandate. In the internship area, USAID is working to establish a guideline that helps companies use the internship format effectively. To properly compile the guide, USAID worked closely not only with businesses but also with the universities themselves.

Today, it is necessary for every university to have a single office that works together with companies and the private sector to assist in communication between prospective interns and companies implementing internships. This guide very soon will be available to private sector companies.

The next HR Committee will discuss issues like charting employee groups and recruitment of new employees. Also in the plans, a meeting with the Labor Ministry will take place to discuss funding for internship programs. A representative of the Ministry of Finance will also be invited.