A Study on the Relationship Between Educational Internship and Employment of Chinese University Students: A Qualitative Analysis Based on Counsellors' Perspectives

Abstract

University graduates are both an important pillar of the national talent strategy and key drivers of future development. With 11.79 million graduates in 2024, the employment landscape has become increasingly complex. Many students lack clear career goals, viewing internships as mere formalities or temporary tasks, which results in a mismatch between their academic training and real-world job demands (McGunagle & Zizka, 2018). Meanwhile, employers are seeking graduates with practical experience and clear vocational orientation. The gap between students’ perceptions of educational internships and actual job market expectations contributes to unstable employment outcomes (Shanfari, 2024). Prior research has mainly focused on teaching effectiveness or curriculum content, with limited attention to how students’ internship experiences shape their employment outlook. This study adopts a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews with counsellors at Hebei Minzu Normal University, aiming to explore how education internships influence students’ job choices, professional identity, and career planning. It further analyzes the guidance strategies employed by counsellors to help students connect internship experiences with long-term career development and offers targeted suggestions to enhance the employment readiness of university students through practice-oriented support systems.