Every student of a higher education institution is familiar with the concept of practice. Without passing it, you will hardly be able to get a diploma. As for university graduates who have not had time to gain a certain experience, they are usually accepted for a trial period and acquire the status of an intern. So what is the difference between the two?
Definitions
Practice - type of educational work aimed at consolidating the knowledge gained by students in the process of visiting a university. It is part of the main educational program. It takes place in a real enterprise corresponding to the student's specialty. It is subdivided into educational, industrial and pre-diploma.
Internship - activities to gain experience or improve qualifications. This term also refers to the demonstration of one's abilities during a probationary period in order to determine the possibility of employment for a full-time position. An internship can be a component of postgraduate education, along with specialization and retraining. Its duration is determined by the production need or the amount of time required to achieve the goal.
Comparison
As mentioned above, practice is an obligatory part of the university curriculum. Its essence lies in the application of the acquired knowledge in real life, mastering the subtleties of a particular profession. Students get to practice in two ways. Either they are looking for a suitable place themselves, or the university provides it. As a rule, universities enter into agreements with various organizations and annually send their students there. The practice can take place during the academic semester, or a special period is allocated for it. However, it cannot be dropped during the holidays.
Before starting practice, the university signs an agreement with organizations, according to which they provide jobs for students. If the student independently chooses an enterprise, he concludes an individual agreement in the prescribed form. The terms of the practice are determined by the curriculum. Its structure and content are prescribed in the working program. Based on the results of the internship, students write a report, the grade for which is taken into account during the intermediate certification. The mentor's characteristics are also taken into account.
The main difference between practice and internship is that the first is carried out in the direction of the university. Whereas the second is the employee's own initiative. In addition, the field of internship does not always correspond to the acquired specialty. So, a person who graduated from a medical school may well go for an internship at a company engaged in cargo transportation. Whereas the trainee must choose a place that suits his profile of study. Indeed, only in this case is the necessary educational effect achieved.
It is worth noting that not only students, but also experienced employees of companies get the internship. This happens in the case of retraining or promotion. If the practice does not promise the student any financial replenishment, then the internship is often paid. According to its results, a person either gets the desired place, or hears a refusal from the head.
A comparative table will help to draw a conclusion about the difference between practice and internship.
| Practice | Internship |
| Is part of the educational programs of the university | Acts on the employee's own initiative |
| Carried out on the basis of an agreement with the university | Often not supported by any documents |
| Does not promise the student material benefits | Can be paid |
| The goal is to acquire professional skills for writing a final report | The goal is to demonstrate your knowledge and skills for obtaining the desired position |
| Must meet the specialty of the student | The educational profile of the employee does not always matter |
| The prerogative of exclusively students | It is not only students of universities, but also experienced employees |
| The duration is determined by the curriculum | The timing is due to the production need yu |
