INTERNSHIP IN THE TIMES OF COVID-19

COVID -19 pandemic has disrupted the entire economic and social order around the world. The lockdown imposed to safeguard people further affected the business activities. Countries and organisations are struggling to bring back order to the situation. Most of the business processes were either stopped midway or postponed. Internship is no different and faces uncertainty in terms of execution and valence. As organisations strive to recalibrate their functioning in the times of COVID-19, this article puts forth a review of the internship programme, in the pre and post-Covid scenarios. Its value for stakeholders - graduates, industry and education institutions. Challenges the stakeholders face and the initiatives are taken by them to overcome or reduce the disruption. The article ponders over questions like whether the programme shall re-invent itself and become truly adaptive or succumb to the industry resource crunch. Will there be a shift in the implementation of the programme? Or will internship remain an important aspect of employability? The article puts forth a perspective of how adaptable systems can be and the present unprecedented critical time is a tough test to crack.