Student Engagement in Accounting Internships: Bridging the Gap between Academic Theory and Professional Practice - A case for Private Higher Education Institutions

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6463-906-3_26How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Student Engagement; Accounting Internship; Higher Education; Meta - Synthesis

Abstract

Student engagement in accounting internships is a critical factor in bridging the gap between academic theory and professional practice. This study employed a qualitative meta-synthesis of peer-reviewed studies (2010–2024) on student engagement in accounting internships and related work-integrated learning. Using Noblit and Hare’s (1988) framework, findings from the included studies were read, translated, and synthesised to generate higher-order insights. Six overarching themes emerged: (i) supportive environments that foster open communication; (ii) preparation for complex future work through curriculum diversification and active pedagogies; (iii) exposure to practical work to apply theoretical knowledge; (iv) practical, application-oriented teaching and learning; (v) active student involvement in learning activities that build ownership and critical thinking; and (vi) alignment of curricula with twenty-first-century skills such as digital literacy, adaptability, and problem-solving. Together, these themes reveal how internships can move beyond observation to active participation, mentorship, and skill development, thereby enhancing student engagement and readiness for the accounting profession. The synthesis contributes to the body of knowledge by consolidating fragmented evidence, clarifying the conditions under which internships foster meaningful engagement, and offering actionable insights for curriculum transformation and lecturer development in private higher education institutions.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Precious C. Machera
AU  - Robert P. Machera
AU  - Rumbidzai T. Machera
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/12
TI  - Student Engagement in Accounting Internships: Bridging the Gap between Academic Theory and Professional Practice - A case for Private Higher Education Institutions
BT  - Proceedings of Botho University International Research Conference (BUIRC 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 418
EP  - 431
SN  - 3005-155X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-906-3_26
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-906-3_26
ID  - Machera2025
ER  -