Research Translations: This is the first in a series of posts where the Center will review a recent academic journal article and summarize it so that it is useful for community members. The purpose is to fill the gap between what researchers are doing and the information that nonprofits need to focus on their missions. If any practitioner wants access to the original article, email Dr. Alicia Schatteman at aschatteman@niu.edu.
by Saidouri Zomaya, Graduate Assistant
Numerous studies in the academic literature examine the impacts of service-learning and internship programs on stakeholders, i.e., undergraduate students, community partners, and higher education institutions. However, the number of studies focusing on the impacts of combining the two high-impact practices is yet lacking. Hence, this article attempts to analyze these prevailing studies in the light of a hybridized model, otherwise known as a community-based internship, to better understand the implications of implementing such a model.
First, the article summarizes the impacts of service-learning and internship programs on the stakeholders involved in such practices. Next, the article explains the participatory action research model employed in the study and the reasoning behind implementing such a qualitative method that relies on a diverse sample of participants, where stakeholders become co-researchers constructing knowledge through a collaborative data analysis process. The analysis results are then divided into four categories:
- the mission and fresh perspectives
- student learning and benefit
- community and civic-mindedness
- drawbacks and challenges
University Benefits
Overall, the study finds that the benefits of participating in a community-based internship program include the university meeting administrative demands, preparing students to enter the workforce, and developing a closer relationship with the community.
Community Partner Benefits
As for community partners, their benefits include gaining “fresh perspectives” and an enhanced aptitude to completing the job.
Student Benefits
Students report developing their professional skills and expanding their networks while also defying social issues and pondering on the importance of their roles in civic society.
The article concludes by discussing the limitations of the approach and suggesting the need to examine specific aspects of stakeholder involvement in community-based internship programs, such as addressing students’ experiences with power struggle and the lack of program transparency reported by all stakeholders.
While the study acknowledges that the community-based internship program benefits are also found in autonomous service-learning and internship practices, the study suggests a hybridized model that combines the two HIPs to enhance these benefits and help overcome the challenges that stem from running the two programs independently.
Article: Trager, B. (2020). Community-Based Internships: How a Hybridized High-Impact Practice Affects Students, Community Partners, and the University. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning. 26 (2).
