The Impact of Teleworking on Sri Lankan University Internship Programs: Systematic Review of Literature

Abstract

The popularity of the Work from Home paradigm has seen a significant surge in relevance and importance, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated quarantine measures. This shift towards teleworking has influenced the landscape of internships also. While some aspects of teaching and learning have smoothly transitioned into online environments, Others face several challenges. Identifying the specific strategies, skills, and practices required for effective online learning, especially in the context of an online internship course, remains a less defined domain specially in Sri Lanka. The pandemic-induced transition to remote work and education has been a global phenomenon, yet its impact on internships remains relatively unexplored. Moreover, the existing literature on new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and teleworking is frequently outdated due to the rapidly changing technological landscape. This systematic literature review tries to identify the impact of this shift towards teleworking on university internship programs in Sri Lanka. Internships are essential for an undergraduate to find future career opportunities. Also, to strengthen their self-confidence and self-satisfaction in the lifelong learning process. When considering the major drawbacks, there's a big gap in communication between interns and their supervisors, harder to establish and maintain work relationships when interns can't be physically present or meet their supervisors face-to-face. There are identified positive sides also. Big companies and smaller ones alike can benefit from virtual internships. They're good for both students and employers because they're flexible, cost-effective, and easy to access. Plus, virtual internships can be especially helpful for differently abled students. This benefits both the employer and the student. Also mentoring is identified as a key factor for the success of virtual internships.