The introduction of virtual internships during the Covid pandemic has significantly benefited students from remote areas, with participation increasing by 40-50% since then
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has set an ambitious goal to facilitate 1 crore internships for technical graduates by 2025. To bridge the gap between academia and industry, AICTE has already enabled 54 lakh internships, underscoring its commitment to enhancing employability through experiential learning. There was an increase in internships in AI, Data Science, ML and other emerging technologies. Post-pandemic industry demands pushed the need for internships in healthcare, sustainability, Greentech, fintech and biotechnology. In 2024, AICTE involved the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector to participate in expanding internship opportunities.
AICTE Internship Portal, launched in 2020 has helped connect Engineering and Polytechnique students with internship opportunities offered by corporates, industries and startups. With 4.7 crore students registered on the portal, it has partnered with over 76,570 companies, including major industry players including Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), etc, along with startups and local businesses. Virtual internships now make up a substantial proportion of the total internships offered through the portal. The pandemic underscored the flexibility and scalability of virtual internships, which allow companies to connect with a nationwide talent pool.
Speaking to Education Times, Buddha Chandrashekhar, chief coordinating officer, AICTE, underlined the transformative potential of internships in improving students’ job readiness, especially through expanding virtual and remote internship models. Virtual internships comprise approximately 40-50% of all internships offered, with high participation from students in remote areas. AICTE continues to promote virtual internships due to their accessibility and their capacity to deliver real-world industry experience on a large scale. Companies such as MongoDB, Cisco, Ansys, Midas IT, Wadhwani Foundation and many others are collaborating with AICTE to provide virtual internships to students. Several programmes such as The Urban Learning Internship Programme (TULIP) too have helped students gain virtual internships.
Increasing opportunities
Partnerships with industries, state-level enterprises, and small businesses are crucial to expanding internships for students. Large corporations have been supportive but are relatively limited in number, and smaller startups often offer fewer internships. MSMEs comprise 8 crore enterprises and have the potential to offer more internships. If each MSME offered just two internships, it would amount to 16 crore internship opportunities.
“The business dynamics of MSMEs are not mature enough to adopt the internship culture. However, MSMEs could significantly widen the network of available internships if they gradually adopt this model,” said Chandrashekhar, who is actively working on changing the mindset of MSME leaders, convincing them of the mutual benefits of integrating internships into their workforce development strategies.
Helping students in underserved areas
AICTE internship drive has increased accessibility for students from smaller institutions, particularly in remote areas. Virtual internships, which have grown in popularity since the pandemic, democratised access to quality internships that once might have been geographically out of reach. For students in rural areas or tier-two cities, the chance to intern with a tech firm in urban centres such as Bangalore or Hyderabad is now possible.
“Access to virtual internships has levelled the playing field in ways we hadn’t anticipated before the pandemic,” said Chandrashekhar. He pointed out that students from underserved regions are now actively participating in tech, design, and research-based internships without needing to relocate. To ensure equal opportunities, AICTE is exploring partnerships with software companies to provide discounted or free access to essential tools. Collaborations with colleges are also in progress to improve technological infrastructure, particularly in rural and remote areas.
AICTE’s surveys have shown that students from small towns have significantly benefited, with many securing jobs based on their virtual internship experience. “Virtual internships have seen a dramatic rise since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic when many companies and educational institutions shifted to online platforms. Given the ease of access and global reach, virtual internships now make up a significant proportion of the total internships offered—possibly around 40-50% of the total internships, though exact numbers are difficult to pinpoint without more detailed data,” added Chandrashekhar.
Challenge of unpaid internships
Despite the increase in opportunities, fresh graduates continue to slog in unpaid internships. Many students are compelled to take unpaid roles to get industry exposure with a scarcity of paid opportunities.
“Unpaid internships can offer valuable learning experiences, but we must acknowledge that they limit opportunities for students from less privileged backgrounds,” Chandrashekhar said. In response, AICTE is encouraging more companies to provide paid internships, or at the very least, stipends to cover essential costs. Social campaigns and government initiatives have increased awareness of the issue, with many companies now recognising the need for fair compensation to attract talent from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. In recent years, there has been a gradual shift to offer paid internships, with an increasing number of employers acknowledging the value of equitable opportunities. AICTE is exploring international partnerships to provide Indian students with global exposure by partnering with international companies and organisations to work on cross-cultural projects, enhancing their adaptability and communication skills.
Changing perceptions of virtual internships
AICTE continues to advocate for the recognition of virtual internships as valuable work experience. Judeson Antony Kovilpillai, an Assistant Professor at Alliance University, shared how virtual internships have advanced skill development for their students. He said, “These internships immerse students with real-world challenges, enabling them to transition from theoretical learning to practical problem-solving. Working on industry projects, such as those with Cisco, has allowed students to build critical skills in large-scale networking and technology challenges that directly align with current market needs.”
Diwakar Chittora, CEO of Intellipaat, a Bengaluru-based training centre which offers virtual internships and professional certification online training courses, highlights the structured approach his organisation takes to ensure students’ success in virtual internships. Intellipaat utilises an advanced Learning Management System (LMS) to track students’ progress through real-time assessments, mock interviews, and AI-integrated labs. “Our system captures multiple data points, such as quiz scores, case studies, and participation metrics, to gauge each learner’s understanding and readiness,” Chittora says. He adds that their curriculum is revisited by industry experts every three months to keep pace with advancements in technology. “Beyond technical skills, collaboration and problem-solving are critical for success in today’s corporate world. We prepare our learners by simulating real-life interview scenarios and offering resume-building workshops,” he says.
