NEWS
President's Letter
- Publish Date：2025-03-13
What Is an Internship?
An intern performs surgical procedures under the supervision of an attending physician.
(Image credit: Kuan-Yun Chen)
(Image credit: Kuan-Yun Chen)
Narrated by NYCU President Chi-Hung Lin
Interviewed by Yen-Shen Chen
Written by Yen-Chien Lai
Proofread by Yu-An Lu
Interviewed by Yen-Shen Chen
Written by Yen-Chien Lai
Proofread by Yu-An Lu
______
Whenever I have the opportunity to chat with students, I often ask them: What is the true purpose of education? Is it merely to obtain a diploma, or is it to prepare oneself for the challenges of the real world?
I believe education extends beyond the walls of the classroom. It is a bridge that helps students navigate uncertainty and explore their life’s path. An internship serves as a key to unlocking this door, providing invaluable hands-on experience that connects learning to real-world application.
From Apprenticeship to Internship Education
Education has evolved from ancient apprenticeship systems to modern centralized teaching methods, making knowledge transfer more systematic. However, with the explosive growth of knowledge and technology–alongside the rise of AI-driven “self-directed learning”--today’s education system faces a critical question: How long will classroom learning remain relevant?
Medical education offers a valuable reference. In medical school, students follow a structured progression—starting as observers in clinical rotations, advancing to supervised practice during internships, and ultimately assuming full responsibility during Postgraduate Year (PGY) training as general resident physicians. This journey transitions from observation to hands-on experience and, finally, to independent practice.
I once heard a story from a young resident doctor who vividly recalled his first surgical experience–his “first cut.”
One night in the early hours, the emergency room phone rang—an urgent case involving a car accident victim with severe abdominal bleeding required immediate surgery. The young doctor rushed into the operating room, his palms sweaty and heart pounding. With a calm voice, the senior attending physician handed him the scalpel and said: “This is your knife.”
This wasn’t his first time in the operating room, but this time, no one would guide him step by step. In that moment, he realized this was more than a technical challenge–it was the beginning of true responsibility. Taking a deep breath, he recalled everything he had learned in class, steadied his trembling hands, and carefully made the incision. Step by step, he completed the procedure. When the patient was safely transferred to the ICU, he removed his sweat- and blood-stained gown, exhaling deeply—a moment that marked his transition from student to doctor. He realized that the real turning point wasn’t just mastering surgical techniques but developing the ability to think independently and take responsibility for critical decisions.
This is the essence of medical internships—progressing from learning to independent thinking and ultimately bearing responsibility.
Internships Are Not Cheap Labor
Some criticize internships as exploiting students as “cheap labor,” arguing that students contribute without receiving wages comparable to full-time employees.
However, a meaningful internship should be a two-way learning experience. If companies view interns merely as low-cost labor without offering mentorship or growth opportunities, the internship loses its value for students and, in the long run, brings little benefit to the company.
Successful companies design structured training programs for interns, offering project involvement opportunities, and even role rotations to help them develop adaptability in dynamic environments. At the same time, companies benefit by identifying operational gaps, improving processes, and cultivating future talent through these training experiences.
Internships Are Not Early Employment
Another common misconception is that an internship is simply early employment. However, the true purpose of an internship is not just to get a head start on working life. Instead, it allows students to reflect on their learning, refine their focus, explore career interests, and build valuable connections.
Many students discover through internships that their expectations of a particular field differ from reality—or that they are better suited for an entirely different career path. This process of exploration and adjustment is the true value of an internships. Viewing internships merely as a job hunt risks overlooking their deeper educational significance.
Whenever I have the opportunity to chat with students, I often ask them: What is the true purpose of education? Is it merely to obtain a diploma, or is it to prepare oneself for the challenges of the real world?
I believe education extends beyond the walls of the classroom. It is a bridge that helps students navigate uncertainty and explore their life’s path. An internship serves as a key to unlocking this door, providing invaluable hands-on experience that connects learning to real-world application.
From Apprenticeship to Internship Education
Education has evolved from ancient apprenticeship systems to modern centralized teaching methods, making knowledge transfer more systematic. However, with the explosive growth of knowledge and technology–alongside the rise of AI-driven “self-directed learning”--today’s education system faces a critical question: How long will classroom learning remain relevant?
Medical education offers a valuable reference. In medical school, students follow a structured progression—starting as observers in clinical rotations, advancing to supervised practice during internships, and ultimately assuming full responsibility during Postgraduate Year (PGY) training as general resident physicians. This journey transitions from observation to hands-on experience and, finally, to independent practice.
I once heard a story from a young resident doctor who vividly recalled his first surgical experience–his “first cut.”
One night in the early hours, the emergency room phone rang—an urgent case involving a car accident victim with severe abdominal bleeding required immediate surgery. The young doctor rushed into the operating room, his palms sweaty and heart pounding. With a calm voice, the senior attending physician handed him the scalpel and said: “This is your knife.”
This wasn’t his first time in the operating room, but this time, no one would guide him step by step. In that moment, he realized this was more than a technical challenge–it was the beginning of true responsibility. Taking a deep breath, he recalled everything he had learned in class, steadied his trembling hands, and carefully made the incision. Step by step, he completed the procedure. When the patient was safely transferred to the ICU, he removed his sweat- and blood-stained gown, exhaling deeply—a moment that marked his transition from student to doctor. He realized that the real turning point wasn’t just mastering surgical techniques but developing the ability to think independently and take responsibility for critical decisions.
This is the essence of medical internships—progressing from learning to independent thinking and ultimately bearing responsibility.
Internships Are Not Cheap Labor
Some criticize internships as exploiting students as “cheap labor,” arguing that students contribute without receiving wages comparable to full-time employees.
However, a meaningful internship should be a two-way learning experience. If companies view interns merely as low-cost labor without offering mentorship or growth opportunities, the internship loses its value for students and, in the long run, brings little benefit to the company.
Successful companies design structured training programs for interns, offering project involvement opportunities, and even role rotations to help them develop adaptability in dynamic environments. At the same time, companies benefit by identifying operational gaps, improving processes, and cultivating future talent through these training experiences.
Internships Are Not Early Employment
Another common misconception is that an internship is simply early employment. However, the true purpose of an internship is not just to get a head start on working life. Instead, it allows students to reflect on their learning, refine their focus, explore career interests, and build valuable connections.
Many students discover through internships that their expectations of a particular field differ from reality—or that they are better suited for an entirely different career path. This process of exploration and adjustment is the true value of an internships. Viewing internships merely as a job hunt risks overlooking their deeper educational significance.
I recall a real-life story about a friend arranged for his son to intern at a hotel. On his first day, the university student was assigned the role of a valet. Each day, his job was to stand at the entrance, receive car keys, and park guests’ vehicles.
Feeling frustrated and discouraged, he thought the job was menial and beneath him. However, three months later, the hotel’s chairman invited him for a conversation. The chairman asked, “Do you think being a valet is just about parking cars?” He explained that this role offered invaluable lessons in observing guest behavior, understanding the finer details of service, and ensuring every customer feel valued and respected.
From that day forward, the student changed his attitude. He began actively interacting with guests, anticipating their needs, and enhancing their experience. Over time, he rotated through various hotel roles, from the laundry room to the restaurant and housekeeping management. These diverse experiences became the solid foundation that prepared him for a future career in hotel management.
This story illustrates that the true value of an internship lies not in the task itself but in our ability to learn, identify problems, and grow through the experience.
Internships Foster Reflection and Learning Motivation
Internships are more than just placing students in companies or providing students with workplace exposure. A successful internship helps students identify their weaknesses through real-world experiences. They return to university with these insights, motivated to pursue further learning before re-entering the workplace with more profound understanding and enhanced skills.
Many companies have found that students who complete one or two internships develop more mature thinking and problem-solving abilities. For students, the true value of internships is not merely adding a line to their résumé but achieving greater clarity about their future and experiencing significant personal growth.
As Confucius (孔子) said, “Learning leads to reflection, and reflection leads to learning.” Internships create a continuous cycle of learning and reflection.
How Academia and Industry Can Achieve a Win-Win-Win
At NYCU, we are constantly working to elevate internship education to new heights. Internships should not simply be brief workplace experiences but platforms for collaborative innovation between education and industry.
To achieve this, NYCU established Taiwan’s first Industry Academia Innovation School in 2021, marking a significant milestone in promoting industry-academia co-creation. In 2024, the institute celebrated the graduation of Taiwan’s first Industry-Academia PhD. His dissertation focused on improving IC product reliability and integrating academic theories with industry needs. Through participation in multiple collaborative projects during his studies, he identified real-world challenges within the company and proposed practical solutions. His research significantly enhanced the competitiveness of IC products and demonstrated the profound impact of industry-academia co-creation.
This type of co-creation is not just about pooling resources—it’s about jointly producing valuable innovations. Universities contribute fresh knowledge and technology, while companies provide real-world scenarios and practical needs. Through collaboration, both sides generate value far beyond what they could achieve individually.
Internships allow students to leave the classroom, engage with the real world, and engage in deep reflection. Much like the young doctor who held his “first cut,” that pivotal moment reminded him that he was no longer just a student receiving knowledge, but a doctor carrying the responsibility of saving lives—a responsibility that marked the beginning of his continuous growth.
President of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University,
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