STRUGGLES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN ONLINE INTERNSHIP: SOCIAL WORK GRADUATES IN FOCUS

ABSTRACT: This study explored the lived experiences of social work graduates in online internship broughtupon the COVID-19 pandemic. These include the challenges they faced and how they coped up with it, theopportunities that were provided to them that the traditional internship cannot offer and their personal insightsthat are essential to the academic community. A qualitative phenomenological study was carried involving 10social work graduates from Davao City’s select five colleges and universities. They had their online internshipin the year 2020 – 2021 at the height of the pandemic. Data were collected through a semi-structured in-depthinterview using open-ended interview guide. Participants were chosen through homogenous purposivesampling. Data analysis was done using Colaizzi’s 7-step method. Results revealed 12 themes addressing thestudy objectives. As for challenges encountered: uncertainty on the plans, challenging interactions with clientsand tough realities; for coping mechanisms: self-preparations, exercise of prudence and designing interventionsfor clients; for the opportunities offered: ongoing guidance from field instructors, autonomy and going beyondsocial service in meeting the needs of the client; and for the personal insights of the participants: mismatchingexposure, innovation and sense of professionalism in applying the learnings gained in online internship.Implications of the findings are presented in the paper.

KEYWORDS: social work, online internship, social work graduates, phenomenology study, Colaizzi’s 7-stepmethod, Philippines