Internships, Placements, and Work-Based Learning

In today's evolving job market, internships and work-based learning (WBL) are widely seen as pathways to graduate employment. Yet employers continue to raise concerns about graduates' preparedness and their lack of enterprise competencies. This chapter critically examines this disconnect, exploring the limitations of unstructured WBL and emphasising that employability impact comes from intentional, skills-focused design. Drawing on the EntreComp (Entrepreneurship Competence) Framework, it proposes a three-phase model to embed enterprise capabilities into WBL design, delivery, and assessment. The model aligns with Experiential Learning, Human Capital, Signalling, and Social Capital theories. By adopting this structured approach, higher education can enhance graduates' human and social capital, fostering adaptability, innovation, and career resilience. The chapter also highlights the particular relevance for international students, whose prior experiences and cross-cultural skills can be reframed through EntreComp into competencies valued in UK and global labour markets.