What We Learnt from Listening
When the Council of Architecture appointed me as a one-man sub-committee to prepare a draft report on internship reforms, my role was not just to study the system but to propose practical and constructive recommendations. I engaged with the lived realities of students, faculty, and firms to actively participate in shaping meaningful change. The report and recommendations were submitted to the Council as mandated, on June 6, 2025.
Through my long-standing observations, multiple discussions, and a survey conducted across 15+ states, I gathered feedback directly from students, faculty, practitioners, and institutions. While the sample size was not large, it offered wide geographic and institutional diversity—and what emerged is clear: the internship system needs a relook.
Key Observations from Each Group
Students Want More Than They Get
- Over 85% of students said they’d prefer alternate internship formats — like NGOs, government, research, or socially relevant projects.
- Most were excluded from meaningful design work. Drafting, rendering, and repetitive tasks dominated.
- 73%+ faced financial challenges, especially relocation, unpaid internships, and basic living costs.
- Over 90% admitted to exaggerating their internship experience in CVs or social media just to appear “industry-ready.”
Faculty See the Gaps Clearly
- Most faculty supported alternate formats and are open to mentoring students.
- They confirmed the disconnect between academics and practice, and the lack of structured learning in internships.
- They also emphasized that not all students fit into the same mold — a one-size-fits-all internship model fails many.
Firms: Between Intentions and Constraints
- Some firms genuinely mentor interns. Others see them as extra hands during deadlines.
- Many firms blame students for being underprepared, but also admit to offering low or no stipends.
- Technological stagnation is another issue: many firms still work with basic CAD systems, with minimal adoption of BIM or advanced workflows.
Detailed Feedback Comparison
Where Students, Faculty, and Firms Agree — and Where They Don’t
Across all three groups—students, faculty, and firms—there is surprising alignment on some issues… and deep contradictions on others.
Need for Alternate Internship Formats
- Students: Strong support (85%+ interest in NGOs, govt., research, site-based roles)
- Faculty: Majority support alternates; many open to mentoring under such formats
- Firms: Split views; some open, others skeptical of alternate learning value
Financial Strain / Stipends
- Students: 73%+ faced financial challenges; major demand for stipends
- Faculty: Widely aware of stipend issues; link it to exploitation & inequality
- Firms: Admit difficulty offering stipends due to business constraints
Learning Quality
- Students: Internships often reduced to drafting, rendering, little design input
- Faculty: Concerned about lack of design learning and poor mentoring
- Firms: Believe they provide learning; blame student immaturity for underperformance
Disconnect Between Academia & Practice
- Students: Yes, they feel unprepared or misaligned
- Faculty: Overwhelming consensus on disconnect; urge bridging efforts
- Firms: Yes, observe knowledge/mindset gaps; want more orientation from colleges
Desire for Mentorship and Feedback
- Students: Clearly demand stronger mentorship, regular feedback, design exposure
- Faculty: Supportive of structured mentoring and logbooks
- Firms: Mixed—some firms offer mentoring, others cite time/staffing limitations
Internship Misrepresentation (CVs/Social Media)
- Students: Over 91% admit exaggerating experience
- Faculty: Some aware; see it as a symptom of lack of real learning
- Firms: Rarely acknowledge this issue
Firm-Centric Model as One-Size-Fits-All
- Students: Criticise it; want freedom to explore paths that fit their strengths
- Faculty: Support more flexible models based on student needs
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Firms: Largely support firm-based model; cautious about change
Rethinking Expectations
Firms often expect interns to be productive from day one. But skills, tools, and design cultures vary from firm to firm. Even new employees undergo probation and training. Why not offer that same grace to interns?
Internships are academic, not commercial. The goal is exposure, not output. If students aren’t ready for billable work, it’s okay. Let them observe, shadow, and reflect.
The real training can begin when they join your team after graduation.
Mentorship Is an Investment, Not an Expense
Firms ask: What do we gain by mentoring?
The answer? Future employees who already understand your practice. A well-mentored intern is more likely to return as a trained, committed architect. Mentorship builds continuity, culture, and competence.
And it builds goodwill too. Interns talk about their experiences when they return to college. They share with juniors, friends, and faculty. Positive internships create long-lasting reputations. If interns learn something good, they remember it for life. Negative experiences spread just as fast. . . they already are. Firms should take note, because every intern carries forward the impression they received, whether good or bad.
A Note to Busy Firms
If you’re in a deadline-driven phase, it’s okay. But instead of assigning only repetitive work:
- Let interns study older completed projects.
- Ask them to document feedback or post-occupancy issues.
- Get them to write and reflect on what they see.
- Involve them in research, standards comparison, or case studies.
Even without direct supervision, these simple actions can turn a passive internship into a meaningful one. But if you’re taking interns, be ready with a basic program or plan. Share it with the interns and their colleges in advance, including the types of projects they will be involved in. A little structure and communication can go a long way.
Final Words
An internship is not a test. It’s a transition.
It’s how students shift from drawing classrooms to design realities. If we treat internships as sites of learning instead of sites of labor, we don’t just help students. We shape a better profession.
Let’s stop measuring interns by their productivity. Let’s measure ourselves by the kind of professionals we inspire.
Disclaimer: This blog is not the official report submitted to the Council of Architecture. It simply shares the broader context, my personal reflections, and key observations gathered during the process. The intention is to inform and provoke thought—not to substitute the formal recommendations already submitted.