Global South Business Students

Utilizing Internships to Develop Graduate Capitals and Employability

Authors

  • Kelly Benati Monash University
  • Sophie Lindsay
  • Jacqueline O'Toole
  • Juan Fischer

Abstract

Global South students are increasingly studying internationally, yet limited attention has been paid to their transition to the workplace at the end of their studies. Our goal was to investigate the strategies that graduating business students from the Global South employ in finding future employment post-internship. 234 business students studying at an internationally accredited university in Australia participated in this research. Participants nearing internship and degree completion outlined actions that they planned to take to aid their employability and career goal achievement. These results were then analysed within the context of the Graduate Capitals model. Students highlighted the importance of social capital and cultural capital for successful workplace transition, but indicated that building identity and psychological capitals were not a priority. The implications, particularly for universities as they seek to assist graduating students, were discussed.

Author Biographies

  • Kelly Benati, Monash University

    KELLY BENATI, PhD is a lecturer in Work Integrated Learning in the Faculty of Business and Economics at Monash University. Her key research interests are corporate governance (particular in the education sector), employability, graduate capitals and graduate workplace transition. 

  • Sophie Lindsay

    SOPHIE LINDSAY, PhD. is a lecturer in Work Integrated Learning in the Faculty of Business and Economics at Monash University. Her research interests include employability, exploring barriers to student success and graduate capital as well as the intersection between marketing and public health and how this intersection differs cross-culturally. 

  • Jacqueline O'Toole

    JACQUELINE O’TOOLE, PhD is a lecturer in Work Integrated Learning in the Faculty of Business and Economics at Monash University. Her current research interests include graduate employability and the future of work, career development learning and leadership. 

  • Juan Fischer

    JUAN FISCHER is a PhD Candidate in CRADLE (Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning) at Deakin University (Australia). His research interests include sustainable assessment and assessment for learning, work-integrated learning, practice theories and lifelong learning. 

Published

2022-08-27

Issue

2023: International Student Employability: Narratives of Strengths, Challenges, and Strategies from Global South Students

Section

International Student Employability (published)

How to Cite

Global South Business Students: Utilizing Internships to Develop Graduate Capitals and Employability . (2022). Comparative & International Education Series. https://ojed.org/cies/article/view/3909