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ArticlePeer ReviewedOpen AccessPlagiarism Passed
Paper ID:IJSREM66143

A Study on Internship Exploitation

Stream/Area:

-

Subject:

-

Paper ID:

IJSREM66143

Volume:

10 |

7 |

Jul 2026

Pages:

1-11

Publication Frequency:

Monthly (12 issues per year)

DOI
Digital Object Identifier
10.55041/IJSREM66143

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.

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Authors

ABM

Ankita Basavaraj Mangond

MBA Student

VIDYA VIKAS INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, MYSURU

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Mentors

M

Madhunayaka

Assistant Professor

VIDYA VIKAS INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, MYSURU

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Abstract

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

workload boundaries financial compensation and career milestone achievement

Cite This Article

Ankita Basavaraj Mangond, Madhunayaka, "A Study on Internship Exploitation," International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management, vol. 10, no. 7, pp. 1-11, Jul 2026. https://doi.org/10.55041/IJSREM66143

Full Article/Conclusion

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.  

References

  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.

Editorial & Review Transparency

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.

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