Balancing Employability Preparation with Youths' Well-being and Preventing Excessive Internship Stacking
Ministry of EducationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the psychological impact of students undertaking multiple internships and the balance between employability preparation and youth well-being. Mr Jackson Lam inquired if guidelines exist to prevent internship stacking, particularly for secondary and post-secondary students. Minister Desmond Lee replied that internship averages have remained stable, with university students typically completing two and polytechnic or ITE students completing one. He explained that mandatory guidelines are impractical due to industry diversity, noting that internships are not required for secondary students and remain optional for junior college students. The Ministry instead prioritizes meaningful experiences over quantity, maintaining a commitment to supporting student well-being throughout their education and industry placements.
Transcript
55 Mr Jackson Lam asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry has studied the psychological or developmental effects of students taking on multiple internships at increasingly younger ages; (b) how schools are ensuring balance between employability preparation and youth well-being; and (c) whether guidelines exist to prevent excessive internship stacking among secondary and post-secondary students.
Mr Desmond Lee: Internships play an integral part in providing relevant work experience for students in our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), as they transit into the workforce. Based on the Graduate Employment Survey, the average number of internships undertaken by students from the autonomous universities (AUs), polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) have remained largely stable in the past three years. On average, AU students complete two internships during their course of study, while polytechnic and ITE students complete one internship.
Junior colleges offer a variety of programmes, such as career fairs and industry talks, to help students explore potential career pathways. Internships are not compulsory and are one of the modalities available for students to explore their career interests. There is no requirement for secondary school students to undertake internships.
While it may not be practical to set guidelines on the number of internships students should complete given the diverse needs of different industries, students are encouraged to prioritise having meaningful internship experiences, rather than maximising the number of internships. The Ministry of Education, our schools and IHLs remain committed to supporting the well-being of students, including when they are on internships.