Pondering over the nexus between internship programme and skills development: insights from past and present interns

In South Africa, the internship programme was introduced under the Skills Development Act of 1998, with the primary goal of addressing the country's skills shortage and fostering the growth of a skilled workforce. This act laid the foundation for various skills development initiatives, including internships, aimed at enhancing employment prospects and facilitating the transfer and development of essential skills among graduates. As a result, the pursuit of internship programme has become a prevalent practice among university and college graduates in South Africa, as they recognize its significance in securing employment and acquiring the necessary skills. Considering this, the objective of this study was to examine the relationship between internship programme and skills development within three government departments in Limpopo Province. The research employed a quantitative research approach and collected empirical data using semi-structured questionnaires. Seventy-one (71) past and present interns from the three select government departments were surveyed between October and December 2019. The data collected were analysed using Microsoft Excel. The study's findings reveal a positive nexus between the internship programme and skills development. Interns were able to acquire a diverse range of skills. The study recommends that there should be a rotational assignment as part of the internship programme to expose interns to different departments. Internship programme should serve as a valuable platform for the transfer and development of skills, providing interns with meaningful experiential learning opportunities. Key Words: Internship programme, graduates, skills development, unemployment, employment