The Need for Clear Policy and Effective Implementation in Internship Programs

Every year in Nepal, thousands of students graduate with higher education and enter the labor market. However, the predominance of theoretical knowledge from educational institutions limits their smooth entry into professional fields, leading to increased frustration among youth. Consequently, many young people tend to seek opportunities abroad.

Key reasons for this trend include a lack of opportunities within the country, the demand for prior experience when seeking employment, and a lack of confidence among the young workforce to engage in professional work without prior experience. Internship programs can be an effective and practical solution to these issues. They allow students to apply their knowledge in real work environments, which not only helps in skills development but also builds their confidence. Thus, internships serve as a critical bridge between theoretical learning and professional practice.

Through internships, students gain firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities within their fields. They gain exposure to workplace environments, team collaboration, time management, and professional responsibilities, all of which prepare them to be more capable and competitive in future job markets.

An example of this approach’s success is evident in Innovative Engineering Services Pvt. Ltd., which recently offered internship opportunities to four newly graduated civil engineers. Under the direct guidance of experienced engineers, these interns were engaged in real projects and made remarkable progress within a short period, performing at the level of seasoned engineers. This demonstrates that given the right opportunities and mentorship, new engineers can deliver excellent results quickly.

Role of the Government

Although some private companies have voluntarily initiated such programs, their impact remains limited without broader institutional support. Therefore, the government must actively participate in institutionalizing and sustaining internships by formulating clear policies and implementation frameworks.

If a government ministry, through its affiliated departments, conducts approximately 100 such programs annually, each including an average of five interns, about 500 interns would gain direct professional experience yearly.

Past shortcomings in government-run internship programs stem mainly from distrust that leads to excluding interns from meaningful work and from weak program management. To overcome these challenges, the government should partner with the private sector to operate internship programs through professional companies.

Ministries can issue tenders for real consultancy services and other projects to be carried out by interns, allowing only interested companies to participate. By involving experienced professionals to supervise interns in these projects, the interns can earn genuine work experience.

If a single ministry annually implements roughly 100 such initiatives with five interns each, nearly 500 students would gain hands-on professional exposure. Expanding this model across various ministries could benefit thousands of young graduates each year.

In the long term, these programs will substantially contribute to producing a skilled, confident, and experienced workforce. They are also expected to reduce the outflow of educated youth by creating more opportunities domestically.

Ultimately, internships should be recognized not just as supplementary educational activities but as vital tools for national development. Only through collaboration among the government, private sector, and educational institutions can such initiatives be effective and sustainable.

With the right policies, clear frameworks, and committed implementation, internships can empower Nepal’s new generation to be competent, self-reliant, and optimistic about the future, thereby mitigating the issue of youth migration abroad.

(The author, Anup Khanal, is the Executive Chairperson of Innovative Engineering Services Pvt. Ltd. He is also a recipient of the 2081 Bikram Sambat “40 Under 40 Youth” award.)