Internships are defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) as: “a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent” While students benefit from the internship experience, organizations benefit as well.
Opportunities that are mostly clerical in nature, unsupervised or don’t offer a learning experience should not be considered an internship.