ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the impact of COVID-19 on e-internships executed for academic software project development in computer science courses and examines as well as assesses students’ and mentors’ insights on their experience during the pandemic. The study design focuses on IT students as well as mentors/faculty engaged in e-internship for academic software project development. Participants were surveyed using structured questionnaires that consider various aspects of the e-internship experience and perceptions. A separate questionnaire was framed for students and mentors. Data were summarized and scrutinized from these online surveys, and a detailed survey evaluation is reported in this chapter. The research states that in general, the e-internship experience by the students and mentors has been positive. A high level of satisfaction and learning gains for professional and technical skills were documented by mentors and e-interns. On the other hand, mentors’ response rate toward the performance of e-interns, the quality of the academic software project developed during the e-internship, and the expected outcome are the elements where there is a scope for improvement and enhancements. The study focuses on the e-internship carried out for the academic software project development in computer science courses. The research findings fill the existing gaps in the related literature on students’ and mentors’ opinions about their e-internship experience during COVID-19.
