University of Tokyo

Abstract
Survey Number 0525
Survey Title Questionnaire on the Actualities of Internship, 2004
Depositor Hiroki Sato
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Summary This survey was conducted by the “survey study group for the promotion of internships” (chairperson: Hiroki Sato), convened in 2004 at the offices of the Employment Measures for the Youth Office, Employment Security Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The study group report (http://www.mhlw.go.jp/houdou/2005/03/h0318-1.html) was assembled in March 2005.

Hiroki Sato, Yukie Hori, and Satoko Hotta, who participated in the study group as members and expert advisors, were responsible for carefully examining the survey data. After re-summarizing the results, they found some differences from results originally summarized in the above report.

The purpose of the survey by the study group was as follows.

It has been pointed out that as internships have become more commonplace, their purposes, content, etc. have become more diverse, resulting in differences in perceptions among the parties involved. This has resulted in obstacles to achieving goals as well as various other problems. Hence, to assess and analyze the actual situation of internships, the companies involved, the opinions of students, and other issues, a comprehensive fact-finding survey was conducted, exploring the basic direction and roles the parties involved should play for internships to be more effectively implemented and promoted.

The re-counting of results involved the establishment of the “study to stimulate internships for college students in humanities” as a 2006 research project of the Department of Research on the Staffing Industry at Institute of Social Science, the University of Tokyo, which reviewed past research and analyzed the above survey data in detail (the unedited summary has been posted on the homepage of the Department of Research on the Staffing Industry at the Institute of Social Science, the University of Tokyo since October 2006 (http://web.iss.u-tokyo.ac.jp/jinzai/)) .

According to this, companies sponsoring internships are finding it particularly difficult to secure workplace guidance counselors, which is preventing the expansion of internship programs. Thus, it is felt that benefits for sponsor companies and guidance counselors as well as participating students are important to expanding and sustaining internships. Therefore, in this study, considerable emphasis is placed upon the benefits of sponsoring internships for sponsor companies and guidance counselors and an examination of beneficial internships, making it clear that internships are useful not only as career training for participating students but as employee training for sponsor companies.

This survey was administered to four groups: home universities, students participated in internships, companies sponsoring internships, and workplace guidance counselors. Furthermore, data merging a company survey and intern manager survey were included when re-counting data.
Data Type quantitative research: micro data
Universe [University survey] National, public, and private universities across Japan with internship programs
[Student survey] (Undergraduate) students participating in internships
[Company survey] Companies sponsoring internships
[Intern manager survey] People in charge of accepting interns at companies sponsoring internships
Unit of Observation Individual,Organization
Sample Size
Number of responses Response rate
[University survey] 40 universities 80.0% (40/50)
[Student survey]
 (1) Mail survey 594 people 39.6%* (594/1,500)
 (2) Internet survey 308 people
[Company survey] 1,210 companies 48.7% (1,210/2,486**)
[Intern manager survey] 1,406 people 28.3%*** (1,406/4,972****)
*Response rate is for all questionnaires distributed to students by all universities surveyed.
**14 surveys returned for unknown address, so 2,486 surveys were actually distributed.
*** Response rate is for all questionnaires distributed to intern managers by all companies surveyed.
**** 14 surveys with unknown address, so the largest number distributed is 4,972.
Date of Collection 2004-10-15 ~ 2004-11-15
2004/10/15 – 11/08 (for universities and students, to be completed by November 15)
Time Period 2004 ~ 2004
Spatial Unit Japan
Japan
Sampling Procedure [University survey]
Fifty universities listed among those sponsoring internships in the internship data books with 30 or more undergraduates participating in internships were sampled, taking into consideration public-private and regional balances.

[Student survey]
Students (undergraduates) were surveyed in two ways: 1) a “mail survey” requesting that surveyed universities distribute questionnaires and 2) a “Ineternet survey” requesting that online internship information support site managing companies participate.
(1) Mail survey: Surveyed 1,500 undergraduates at 50 surveyed universities. Surveyed universities were requested to pick 30 undergraduates participating in internships and distribute questionnaires to them. Universities were requested to select students in the following order of priority when distributing questionnaires (□ Students with internship experience over the past year,□ Fourth-year students,□ Equal balance of male and female students,□ Students participating in various programs).
(2) Internet survey: Posted survey request on internship support information sites and requested that students with internship experience respond to online questionnaire. E-mail requesting participation sent to registered students.

[Company survey]
Sent questionnaires to the department in charge of accepting interns at 2,500 companies sponsoring internships (including government and municipal offices, nonprofit organizations, and social welfare foundations). Surveyed randomly sampled companies from various lists, including 2003 and 2004 internship data books (The Japan Research and Development Center for Metals), lists of companies sponsoring internships by Nippon Omni-Management Association, and internship recruiting web pages.
 
[Intern manager survey]
Surveyed 5,000 intern managers/trainers in the department in charge of accepting interns at the 2,500 surveyed companies. Surveyed companies were requested to select two intern managers/trainers and distribute questionnaires accounting for differences in gender/official position.
Mode of Data Collection [University survey]
Sent questionnaires to the section in charge of career development at 50 surveyed universities. Self-administered mail survey

[Student survey]
(1) Mail survey: surveyed universities requested to distribute questionnaires.
Self-administered mail survey
(2) Internet survey: online homepage announcement, fill out files, collected by e-mail.

[Company survey]
Self-administered mail survey

[Intern manager survey]
Surveyed companies requested to select subjects and distribute questionnaires.
Self-administered mail survey
Investigator Survey sponsor: Survey study group for the promotion of internships (chairperson: Hiroki Sato)
Survey carried out by UFJ Research Institute
Recount: Hiroki Sato/Yukie Hori/Satoko Hotta

DOI 10.34500/SSJDA.0525
Sponsors (Funds) Employment Security Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Related Publications (by the Investigator) Please refer to the abstract in Japanese.
Related Publications (based on Secondary Analysis) List of related publications (based on Secondary Analysis)
Documentation [University questionnaire][Student questionnaire][Corporate questionnaire][Screener questionnaire]
Major Survey Items [University survey] 

(1) Actualities of university student (undergraduate) internships
Presence or absence of internships,summary of undergraduate internship programs over the past year (number of programs,interns’ year in school,granting credit, number of sponsor companies,number of students in internships,maximum number of students allowed for internships,main period, number of days of internship per student,gender ratio of participating university students)

(2) Internship procedures
Whether or not there is a university-wide organization for internship/function of the organization, on-campus guidance before internship/follow up after internship, enrollment in insurance in case of accidents (if university selects participants/when only providing information)

(3) Finding companies for internship
Method of finding companies for internship, balance between number of students wishing to participate and number of students companies can accept, standards for handling/presenting internships requested by companies or financial organizations, etc.

(4) Coordination with companies for internships
Consideration for companies, internship format/number of days/time period that are more manageable to send university students for internships, maximum length of period university can let students to be interns, most effective number of days of practical training for students, issues/problems of one-month internships

(5) Coordination with students for internships
How students are notified of internships, whether or not there is a process of selecting students for internship, selection method, selection criteria, percentage of actual participation by those desiring internships, extent to which students get an internship he or she desires

(6) Expectations and problems of internships
Positive aspects of internships, problems (if universities select participants/when only providing information), what university wants students to learn and what they actually learned, effective ways to maximize benefits of internships, fluctuations in future number of students participating in internships, length of practical training in future internship, future directions

(7) General internship details
Whether or not students university wants to participate actually participate, efforts to offer internships at on-campus workplaces, whether or not there are career support programs available for first or second year students, whether or not there is a place students can seek guidance during internships, first year university sent students to do internships

(8) Overview of the university
Career path of undergraduate students after graduating, etc.


[Student survey] 

(1) Whether or not participated in internship

(2) Internships completed
Reasons for interest, number of companies applied to/number of companies at which respondent became an intern

(3) Background of participating in internships
How respondent learned about internships he or she participated in, relationship to course of study,credit approval,guidance received from university, most effective guidance received from university, presence of insurance in case of accidents during internships

(4) Internship participation conditions
Presence of student selection process, state of companies desired for internship, form of participation/number of days/period/year in school, description of practical training offered by participating companies, industry of participating companies/size by number of regular employees/department at which respondent did practical training, details of practical training offered, whether or not there was someone providing direct guidance/the person’s gender/official position/number of students assigned, remuneration provided, whether respondent could commute to the internship location from home/if not, support the company provided, desired form of participation/length of time/period/year in school

(5) Expectations of internship/actual experience
Purpose of participating,satisfaction from participating, worries before participating/worries resolved, opinions on internship after participating, whether or not there was a place to seek guidance during internship,things effective in maximizing benefits

(6) Job hunting and future
<For 4th-year students> Whether or not engaging in job hunting activities,whether or not including companies at which respondent did an internship in job hunting/reason for not including, whether or not emphasizing internship experience, effect of internship experience on job hunting,presence of unofficial job offers, planned path after graduation

<For 3rd-year students and younger> desired path after graduation, intention to emphasize internship experience during job hunting

(7) Student life/affiliations
Activities in a week, gender, year in school, major/department, etc.


[Company survey]

(1) Internship sponsorship experience
Students accepted

(2) Past experience/system of sponsoring internships for college (undergraduate) students
The year sponsoring internships for the first time,reason for sponsoring internships for the first time,establishment of company-wide system to promote the internship program,handling requests for internship opportunities from universities and other organizations/acceptance criteria

(3) Experience sponsoring college (undergraduate) students for internships in past one year
Whether or not accepted interns in past one year,internship programs sponsored in past one year (number of programs,number of days of internship, number of days per student,sponsorship period,number of students sponsored per humanities and sciences,total number of students sponsored annually,year in school of sponsored students,gender ratio, maximum number of students that can be sponsored for the internship program annually, main organizer of the internship program)

(4) Program with the largest number of participants accepted
Whether or not students are selected/selection method/selection criteria, whether an advanced plan for practical training has been prepared/whether or not transmitted to students/transmission period, advanced assessment of student demands, whether or not guidance counselors have been installed, advanced explanation to guidance counselors about their specific roles/details thereof, number of students sponsored per humanities and sciences/year in school, sponsoring departments, number of departments one students will experience, details of internship programs provided, number of students who will receive university credits, paying remuneration, number of students living outside of commuting distance/housing assistance provided, connection between internships and hiring process of new graduates, sponsored students’ purpose of participation

(5) Period of sponsoring
Form that is more manageable/number of days/period,longest number of possible internship days that can be offered,number of days necessary to make practical training most effective for students,issues/problems with one-month internships

(6) Connection between internships and hiring process of new graduates,
State of applying by/hiring of (undergraduate) students who have been interns in the past three years, assessment of internship experience when recruiting/hiring new graduates, internship experience and high level of employment consciousness

(7) Purpose of sponsoring internships/post-internship evaluation
Purpose of sponsoring internships/actual effects achieved, assessment of participating students’ opinions/satisfaction level, follow-up to assess opinions of guidance counselors

(8) Issues/future outlook
Issues/problems of sponsoring internships for college (undergraduate) students, things effective to maximize effects of practical training for students, enrollment in insurance for students in case of accidents, intention to continue sponsoring internships in the future, future fluctuations in number of interns accepted/fluctuations in number of days internship positions are offered/future directions, outlook for universities, evaluation of internship systems

(9) Company overview
Industry, size by number of regular employees, changes in number of regular employees in the past three years, state of hiring of new graduates in the past three years, number of new graduates hired/gender ratio in April 2004, rate of turnover of recent graduate hires compared to other companies in same industry, changes in sales over the past three years,attitude toward employee skills development,etc.


[Intern manager survey] 

(1) Experience sponsoring internships for students

(2) System for sponsoring internships for college (undergraduate) students
Creation of manual for sponsoring internships/accumulated knowhow

(3) Most recent experience sponsoring internships for college (undergraduate) students
Frequency of sponsoring internships for students, form/number of days/period of most recent internships sponsored, number of students respondent was assigned to per humanities and sciences/year in school, conditions of students to whom respondent was assigned, details of practical training offered, advanced preparation of plan for practical training during internships, whether or not company provided instructions/directions in advance/details thereof, indicated role in accepting interns/actual role, whether listened to sponsored students’ requests

(4) Internship period
Form/number of days/period that are more manageable when sponsoring internships,longest number of possible internship days that can be offered,period necessary to make practical training most effective for students,

(5) Post-internship evaluation, etc.
Opinions/evaluation after internship, skills/qualities respondent wants sponsored students to have, intention to sponsor internships in the future

(6) Corporate overview/department, etc.
Industry, size by number of regular employees, company’s attitude toward employee skills development, affiliated department, conditions of the affiliated department, people to give work advice on a daily basis, current position (official position), age, gender, years of employment at the company, years of employment in the department, etc.
Date of Release 2007/06/27
Topics in CESSDA Click here for details

Topics in SSJDA Education/Learning
Employment/Labor
Version Registration: 2007/06/27 : 2007-06-27
Notes for Users Variable and value labels are written in Japanese.