How to do tourism internship properly and sufficiently?

Tourism students need to do just enough - Photo created with AI

After Tuoi Tre Online published an article titled "Students complain about having to work so hard that they don't have time to eat", many readers said that the internship should only be enough, and there should be appropriate salary and bonuses. Others said that the internship should be intense to get used to the pressure of work.

Internship should just observe and do light work?

Reader Le Dinh Tuan thinks that the word "internship" itself means to practice through observation. If an intern works for 2 months only cleaning rooms, without any knowledge of other stages in the restaurant or hotel chain, then the business owner is taking advantage of the labor force that costs 0 VND.

"Business owners should rotate students 5 days a week to housekeeping, the next week to lobby, reception, garden, luggage, bar, kitchen, design, events... So that after a 2-month internship, students will have general knowledge about the industry and a positive view of a professional, methodical, and clear business!", commented Mr. Tuan.

Reader Kim Thanh said: "If you do an internship, you should only stop at the level of "looking and experiencing" to visualize what the knowledge you will learn in the coming years will be like. You should look at the number of credits to set an appropriate amount of time."

However, reader Pham Thiet Hung commented: "I do not agree with the opinion of students complaining about working hours and working days during the internship period.

If we can determine the purpose and results of the internship, we will be happy to work because the practical experience during the internship will not make us confused when entering the profession.

Tourism internship requires experience and exposure

Mr. Trang Si Trung - Principal of Nha Trang University - said that the first-year students have to work 8 hours a day, continuously for 6 days as an official employee. The school has directed the tourism department to adjust the students' internship time and work with businesses to ensure the students' rights.

Mr. Trung commented that the level, regulations and requirements between internship and practicum will be different. Practicum helps students grasp theoretical knowledge and basic foundation, students learn and observe how to work at the practicum site and the duration of the practicum is shorter than that of an internship.

"It is true that internships only stop at watching and observing. However, the tourism industry requires high skills. Teachers and schools hope that through the internship, students can experience and be exposed to work early to gain more experience and skills, because knowledge in class is not enough, so students have to practice," said Mr. Trung.

According to Mr. Trung, each business and internship facility has different regulations, requirements, and communication methods, so students must depend on that facility.

Interns are given opportunities

Compared to student trainees, student interns receive more support. Ms. Vu Thi Huong Giang - manager of a resort in Bai Dai area (Cam Lam district, Khanh Hoa ) - said that the resort often guides 3rd and 4th year students to do internships. What businesses value most is work spirit and responsibility, then comes skills.

"We will observe and evaluate your work responsibilities through being on time, doing the right number of shifts, and assigned tasks," said Ms. Giang.

According to the resort manager, each student will have a different training method. For new students, the instructor will teach them directly 1 on 1 for 2 weeks. They will be observed working or evaluated after completing the work.

Each company will have different policies for student interns. For example, this resort organizes shuttle bus, provides lunch and has a small allowance for student interns.

"After graduating, you can be recruited as a day laborer or official employee at the resort," said Ms. Giang.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/sinh-vien-kien-tap-nganh-du-lich-nhu-the-nao-cho-dung-va-du-20240629181745066.htm