Internship programs at universities are considered an introduction to a work environment for students that is tailored to the field of science being studied, one of which is education. This activity is used by the institution as a fulfillment of college grades and ensures that every student is required to follow this agenda. In addition, this internship program aims to improve student competence as teacher candidates, given that in Indonesia, teacher competence is still considered low. The goal of this study is to find out how the educational internship program affects a student's ability to become a teacher.
In this study, researcher used descriptive qualitative research with data collection through surveys, observations, and interviews. The researcher involved 18 students in the English study program, consisting of 3 male students and 15 female students as respondents. The research was conducted from October 2021 to March 2022.
The results of this study found that students have increased competence after participating in the internship program, which includes pedagogic, social, personality, and professional competencies. In addition, it was found that students needed an internship program to improve their competence. The internship program made a big difference in how qualified students were to become teachers.
In conclusion, the implications of the internship program have an important role in improving the quality of students as prospective teachers in the future. In this case, the internship is thought to be a good way for students who want to become teachers to improve the skills they already have.