Improved internship practices as a result of collaborative curriculum design

Abstract

Ghanaian polytechnics were designed to equip students with competencies that make them readily employable or allow them to set up their own businesses. In order to fulfill this mission, the studies reported in this chapter aimed to improve internship practices at the Departments of Hotel Catering and Institution Management of Tamale and Takoradi Polytechnics by engaging teachers in the collaborative design of curriculum materials used in student internships. Results revealed that teachers appreciated being involved in collaborative curriculum design, but some regretted not being able to supervise students during their internships. Internship practices improved and interns received the cooperation of industry. Moreover, self-assessment reports reveal that interns improved their competencies significantly compared to those students who did not go through internships.