Engagement Through Internships: Supporting Student Employability in a Post-1992 University.

HEIs are being increasingly encouraged to place an emphasis on the employability of graduates (Knight and Yorke, 2003), with the result that many HEIs are now embedding employability frameworks within their curriculum (Knight and Yorke, 2002). Despite this, graduate internships in the UK are a relatively recent initiative. This paper adds to that research by evaluating a graduate internship scheme operating in a post-1992 University (2009-11), with semi structured interviews, conducted with participants, two to three years after the completion of their internship. Findings suggest that the employment outcomes are positive of such a scheme, leading to graduate level employment. The paper suggests broad principles upon which future internship schemes should be based, and reflects upon the extent to which lessons learned can be applied more broadly to work placements anmd sandwich degrees.