The Era of the Global Intern? Business Undergraduates’ Perceptions of International Internships at a Foreign University in Vietnam

Abstract

At the current juncture, with the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015 a few steps away, both industry and universities in the region will be faced with an increased mobility of workforce and hence an increased need for producing globally fit graduates. There is little known about how an international work experience affects the development and growth of interns, how internships in a foreign country are monitored and evaluated by the host institution, and what students consider to be the relevance and value of such international learning programs. The authors collected data via an online survey from 325 students after completing a 12-week internship in their final semester of study at a foreign university in Vietnam (FUV). The findings are discussed in terms of attractiveness of international internships, preferences by gender and location, possible benefits in gaining employment, and potential for the FUV to promote cross-border work placements in the light of ASEAN integration.