Assessing the Contribution of Internship Program to Skills Acquisition: Evidence from BA Insurance Students at UiTM

This study investigates the impact of internship programs on the skills development of undergraduate students enrolled in the Bachelor of Insurance program at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). Grounded in Social Learning Theory, the research explores four key dimensions: professional development, professional skills, personal growth and personal capabilities. A quantitative research design was employed using a structured questionnaire with 23 Likert-scale items administered to a simple random sample of 58 final-year students who completed a six-month internship. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted, including tests for normality and reliability. The findings reveal that internships significantly enhance students’ professional skills, personal growth and personal capabilities, with personal capabilities being the most positively rated dimension. Although professional development also showed favorable responses, it had the greatest variability, suggesting inconsistencies in mentorship and career alignment. These results underscore the value of internships in building industry-relevant skills, emotional intelligence, adaptability and career clarity. The study concludes that well-structured internships are crucial in bridging academic knowledge with real-world experience in the insurance sector. Recommendations include enhancing supervisor engagement, revising internship outcomes and fostering closer university-industry collaboration. The findings offer practical insights for educators, employers and policymakers aiming to optimize internship experiences and strengthen graduate employability in insurance and related fields.