Preparing graduates for digital futures: critical insights from High-Tech internships in business administration

Abstract Although internships are widely recognised for bridging theoretical knowledge with practical skills, prior research has inadequately addressed their effectiveness, particularly within technologically advanced business contexts. This study aims to address this gap by exploring critical aspects perceived by students during high-tech business administration internships, thereby contributing insights that inform the improvement of internship program designs. This article adopted a qualitative content analysis approach to systematically examine the content of 76 internship reports submitted by students within business administration programs in a Swedish University. The analysis revealed that technological competencies are perceived not only as important to students’ preparedness but also as relevant to solving businesses’ challenges. The investment in digital approaches and new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, was considered essential by the interns. These findings contribute to research on educational and business literature by revealing unique insights into the perceived business challenges encountered by students during high-tech internships, including nuanced operational challenges related to digital transformation. This article also adds to existing literature regarding the integration of technology in internship experiences, as it shows how technological competencies are essential to operational procedures and interns’ professional development. Additionally, this study proposes a conceptual framework which can be used in both research and practice when dealing with high-tech business administration internships.