Walking along the ethical stream – how internship program shape students’ authentic leadership tendency: evidence from the Indonesian National Internship Program

Purpose Promoting authentic leadership through experiential learning is critical for ethically preparing students for their careers. Despite this urgency, research on the influence of internships on students’ ethical perspectives and leadership qualities remains sparse. This study seeks to address this gap by examining the impact of internships on students’ authentic leadership tendencies (ALT), specifically through developing their professional ethical principles. Design/methodology/approach This study employs a quantitative approach. Data were collected from 19,080 participants in the “Magang dan Studi Independen Bersertifikat (MSIB),” a nationwide internship program for undergraduate students in Indonesia. The research consists of two complementary studies. Hypotheses were tested using SPSS statistical software and Hayes Macro PROCESS Models 4 and 7 to examine the moderated-mediation effect. Findings Study 1 demonstrated that internships increase students’ career preparedness related to ethical principles encompassing professional ethics comprehension (PEC), ethical career attitude (ECA) and career self-esteem (CSE). Study 2 further highlights the role of these factors in enhancing students’ tendencies to emerge as authentic leaders, revealing the mediating role of ECA and the moderating impact of CSE within the overall framework. Originality/value This research underscores the significant influence of internships on students’ career readiness, particularly regarding the cultivation of professional ethics. Leveraging mechanisms from the social cognitive career theory, the study elucidates how elements such as calling, disposition and role models contribute to fostering ALT among students. The findings are vital for enhancing internship programs, emphasizing their crucial role in preparing students to navigate future professional landscapes with integrity.