Internships at QMed
Internships at QMed are designed as learning experiences that help students move thoughtfully from classroom theory into the realities of professional practice. Over the years, we have had the opportunity to work with interns at different stages of their academic journey, and these experiences have shaped how we think about responsibility, mentorship, and meaningful experiential learning. What follows are a few reflections from our ongoing engagement with student interns and academic institutions.
A Long-Standing Academic Partnership
The SHPT School of Library Science, SNDT Women’s University has been sending student interns to QMed for many years, – from its Department of Library and Information Sciences (LIS). In the earlier years, these were students enrolled in the postgraduate Bachelor’s programme (BLIS), where internships typically lasted three days. Even within this short duration, students were able to engage meaningfully with our work and often left feeling that their time at QMed had been well spent.
Evolving Internship Formats
As the LIS programme evolved into an integrated two-year Master’s degree, the internship component became more substantial, with a 120-hour requirement in the first year. Nearly a decade ago, Swapnali joined us under this longer format, gaining deeper exposure while also contributing significantly to QMed’s work. After a pause during the COVID years and a brief gap thereafter, we are pleased to once again host an intern this year—Mahek, who has just begun her internship and brings with her curiosity, energy, and enthusiasm.
Thoughtful Matching and Institutional Support
One aspect we have consistently valued is the careful approach taken by the Department of LIS at SNDT. Students are thoughtfully matched with organizations where meaningful learning is possible, and they are given a break from regular college lectures during the internship period. This clarity of purpose and coordination ensures that students can engage fully with the internship, without being stretched between competing academic demands.
Our Approach to Internships at QMed
At QMed, we view internships as a two-way learning process. We consciously design activities and experiences that help interns learn through doing, observing, and reflecting, while also ensuring they contribute something tangible and useful. This balance helps interns feel that their time is both educational and purposeful. Even students who joined us for short three-day internships in the past have shared how valuable and affirming their experience at QMed was. And importantly we involve the intern/s in almost all discussions.
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on our experiences with student interns over the years, we are reminded that well-designed internships truly can bridge theory and practice. When institutions plan thoughtfully, students engage sincerely, and organizations mentor with intent, internships become spaces where learning feels real and work feels meaningful. At QMed, we hope to continue building such experiences—and to grow our internship programme into one that students actively seek out, confident that it offers not just exposure, but genuine professional learning
Working Together for Meaningful Internships
We welcome conversations with academic institutions that value well-planned, well-supported internships and are committed to giving students the time and space to learn meaningfully. Students who are curious, sincere, and eager to engage with real-world work are equally welcome to explore internship opportunities at QMed. Together, we can create internship experiences that respect learning, integrity, and the transition from education to professional life.
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