The challenges of doing an internship in Iran; connecting the path to the rhizome (case study: The field of Training and Human Resource Development)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student in Higher Education Curriculum, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University,

2 Professor of Curriculum Studies and Higher Education at Shahid Beheshti University

3 Assistant Professor, School of Education. California State Polytechnic University, Arcata, CA, USA.

4 HRD Advisor National Iranian Oil Company(NIOC)

5 Assistant Professor

Abstract

This article examines interns' challenges during the internship process in Iranian organizations. The internship is one of the university application programs to establish a relationship with society's service and economic sectors. Universities try to improve students' competencies and skills through these programs to prepare them for the workplace. A fundamentalist thought that an internship is not an opportunity to create knowledge but a tool to acquire specific skills. In this article, we have identified the critical challenges of interns in the internship process with a post-qualitative analysis. We have talked with 12 interns in the field of Training and Human Resource Development and 29 managers and employees of public and private organizations in Tehran. The results showed that what is implemented in the internships does not necessarily correspond to the official dimensions and drawn goals. A critical reflection shows that behind this dramatic image are hidden curricula that confront us with what happens in the internship process. We hope that knowing these challenges and dogmatic mental patterns will help the members of Iranian organizations and interns to provide an opportunity to create knowledge. We want internships to happen not in a linear and fundamentalist way but a rhizomatic approach.

Keywords

Journal of higher education curriculum studies

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 21 February 2023

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