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Stream/Area:
-
Subject:
-
Paper ID:
IJSREM66143
Volume:
10 |
7 |
Jul 2026
Pages:
1-11
Publication Frequency:
Monthly (12 issues per year)
License:International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management follows the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing free use and distribution with proper attribution.
MBA Student
VIDYA VIKAS INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, MYSURU
Assistant Professor
VIDYA VIKAS INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, MYSURU
Internships are traditionally intended to serve as educational bridges connecting academic theory to practical industry experience. However, this study reveals that modern labor market trends have transformed many internships into mechanisms for workplace exploitation. The primary objective of this research is to investigate the gap between educational expectations and actual workplace task assignments, focusing on how the lack of professional mentorship and the emphasis on non-essential tasks negatively impact student development. This study utilizes a quantitative, descriptive research design, gathering primary data from a structured survey of internship participants to evaluate metrics such as workload boundaries, financial compensation, and career milestone achievement. The analysis explores structural flaws in the contemporary job market, including the entry-level job crisis and organizational reliance on low-cost labor, which collectively enable exploitative practices at the expense of student well-being.
KEYWORDS
The study reveals that a significant number of internship programs have deviated from their original educational purpose, functioning instead as mechanisms for acquiring low-cost labor. While many students view these roles as an inescapable requirement to navigate a hyper-competitive job market, the lack of institutional oversight and poor resource allocation frequently results in student burnout and diminished developmental outcomes.
Brown, A. (2024). The pedagogical bridge: Reevaluating the educational value of experiential learning in higher education. Journal of Academic Development and Education, 12(2), 145–159. Budirahayu, T. (n.d.). Structural displacement and the commodification of student labor in corporate environments. Institute for Social and Labor Studies Working Paper Series. Curiale, J. A. (n.d.). America’s new disposable worker: Unpaid internships and the loophole of 'career exposure'. Law Review Quarterly, 34(1), 89–114. Holford, A. (2017). The access to and returns from unpaid internships. Oxford Economic Papers, 69(4), 1018–1041. Hurst, J. (n.d.). Reciprocity in crisis: How modern employment trends threaten the traditional internship model. Center for Future Work Studies. Morrison, R. (2022). The entry-level job crisis: Market leverage and the gatekeeping of professional fields. Journal of Labor Economics and Social Policy, 28(3), 202–218. Yamada, D. C. (2016). The legal and social context of unpaid internships: Workplace protection, regulatory gaps, and student vulnerability. Connecticut Law Review, 48(5), 1477–1502.
Publication Date
7/18/2026
Peer Review Type
Double-Blind Peer Review
Review Rounds: 2
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Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest related to this research work.
Funding Information
No funding information available for this research.
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