Internships and their strategic roles

Navigating Internships A Guide for Activist Designers Professionals

As we enter 2026, it's essential to reexamine the role of internships in shaping the future of workforce development. In this guide, we'll explore how activist designers professionals can navigate the internship process, ensuring a well-structured program that benefits both students and host establishments.

The Role of Internships

Internships serve as bridges between theory and practice, classrooms and careers. From a labor economics perspective, they function as mechanisms for human capital formation, early skills signaling, and improved labor market matching (Commission on Higher Education). Effective internships reduce information asymmetry by allowing firms to observe competencies, work ethic, and adaptability before formal employment.

The Philippine Context

In the Philippines, however, the internship process has drifted away from its educational and economic purposes. Too often, student interns are relegated to menial and repetitive tasks with little exposure to professional skills, decision-making, or industry practices (Philippine Daily Inquirer). This disconnect reflects a deeper structural failure in how internships are positioned within the country's workforce development system.

Breaking Down Barriers

To address this issue, it's essential to reconceptualize internships as strategic talent pipelines rather than short-term labor solutions. From an economic standpoint, firms that invest in structured internships reduce future recruitment and training costs while improving retention and productivity (Katz).

Designing a Well-Structured Program

A well-designed internship program should include

1. Clear Plan Define learning objectives, outcomes, and expectations to ensure a focused experience for students.
2. Mentorship Pair students with qualified supervisors who provide guidance and support throughout the internship.
3. Exposure to Relevant Departments Allow students to explore different areas of the organization to gain a deeper understanding of the industry.
4. Defined Learning Outcomes Ensure that students acquire specific skills and knowledge by setting clear goals and objectives.

Collaboration and Coordination

Intentional collaboration between higher education institutions and host establishments is crucial for successful internship programs. Memoranda of agreement should serve as governance tools that clearly define shared responsibilities and learning objectives (Commission on Higher Education).

Accreditation and Registry

Create a centralized, national, or sector-based registry of accredited internship host establishments. Jointly managed by CHED, industry associations, and higher education institutions, the registry would recognize firms that meet standards for ethical practice, safe working conditions, and structured learning delivery.

Revising the Curriculum

Internship courses should closely align with program outcomes and be supported by preparatory training in workplace ethics, professional conduct, and reflective learning. Evaluation must move beyond attendance or completion certificates and require students to demonstrate the competencies they have acquired (Katz).

Student Welfare

Protect student welfare by upholding existing guidelines that require interns to meet age, academic, and health standards. Prevent harassment, unsafe conditions, and exploitation by promoting a culture of trust and respect.

Fortuitous Opportunities

The future of internship programs in the Philippines presents fortuitous opportunities for growth and innovation. By strengthening industry-academe collaboration, institutionalizing accreditation mechanisms, and aligning curricula with labor market realities, internships can fulfill their dual role as engines of learning and foundations of sustainable workforce development.

Conclusion

As activist designers professionals, it's our responsibility to advocate for a well-structured internship program that benefits both students and host establishments. By embracing this challenge, we can create a more reliable flow of work-ready graduates whose skills align with organizational needs, ultimately driving economic growth and competitiveness in the Philippines.

References

Commission on Higher Education. (n.d.). Comprehensive Guidelines on Student Internship Program in the Philippines and Student Internship Abroad Program.

Katz, L. F. (2017). The effects of internships on students' career decisions and job readiness. Journal of Career Development, 44(2), 133-145.

Philippine Daily Inquirer. (2020, August 10). Internship woes Students face menial tasks, poor supervision.

Keywords internship program, activist designers professionals, workforce development, labor market matching, human capital formation, early skills signaling

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.