Enhancing employability through SDT-inspired internships: fostering autonomy, competence, and connectedness in undergraduate psychology students

This research addresses the disconnect between psychology education and post-graduation employability through a curriculum-integrated internship programme. Despite the growing number of psychology graduates, only about 6% become registered psychologists, and many struggle to find careers aligned with their academic background. This study explores the potential of internships, guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT), to address this issue. Employing qualitative interviews with undergraduate psychology students before and after internship participation, data collection is currently ongoing and expected to be completed by February 2025. Preliminary findings suggest that well-structured internships can improve employability and align educational outcomes with career prospects.