TRAINING FOR TOMORROW: HOW INDUSTRY 4.0 SHAPES GRADUATE EMPLOYABILITY THROUGH INDUSTRIAL TRAINING

Abstract

The rapid development of Industry 4.0 has increased the need for graduates to acquire academic qualifications as well as relevant technical, interpersonal, and employability skills. Industrial training or internships provide an important link between higher education and the labour market by allowing students to gain practical work experience and enabling employers to identify potential talent. However, limited research has directly examined both the value and challenges of internship programmes from the perspectives of students and employers within the Malaysian context. Specifically, this study examines the value and challenges of internship programmes from the perspectives of student interns and employers. A qualitative research design was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with ten participants, comprising five employer representatives from the education, investment, services, manufacturing, and retail sectors and five business students who had completed their industrial training. The interview data were thematically analysed and organised according to employer and student perspectives. From the employers’ perspective, internships provided value through talent selection, generation of fresh ideas, and strengthening the leadership capacity of permanent employees. From the student perspective, internships contributed to a deeper understanding of real business operations, improved time management, and the development of professional networks. However, both groups identified three major challenges: adapting to workplace culture, unclear job scope, and ineffective communication between interns and permanent employees. The findings highlight the importance of well-structured internship programmes involving clear responsibilities, effective supervision, and communication between universities, students, and employers to strengthen graduate employability.