Estágio e equidade de oportunidades: uma análise das condições de inserção dos(as) estudantes de Secretariado Executivo Bilíngue da Universidade Federal da Paraíba

Abstract

Internships serve as a vital link between academic education and the labor market, fostering the development of professional competencies and facilitating students' entry into their field of practice. However, within the Bilingual Executive Secretariat Bachelor’s program at the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), Campus IV, challenges regarding access to internship opportunities have been observed. Given this context, this study aimed to analyze the internship placement of students in the aforementioned program. This descriptive study employed a mixed-methods approach (quantitative and qualitative) and involved 96 students enrolled from the fifth semester onwards. Data collection was conducted via an in-person questionnaire comprising both closed-ended and open-ended questions. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative responses underwent thematic content analysis, following Bardin (2011). The results revealed that students recognize the importance of internships for their education and professional entry; however, they perceive the supply of positions as insufficient, the program's visibility as limited, and their access to opportunities as inferior to that of students in related fields. Challenges regarding the alignment between certain internships and academic training were also identified, as was a predominance of requirements—such as communication, customer service, document management, and technological proficiency—in the selection processes. Open-ended responses further highlighted the need to expand partnership agreements, better promote the competencies of Bilingual Executive Secretariat professionals, and strengthen the institution's role in bridging the gap between the university and the labor market. The study concludes that increasing the profession's visibility and strengthening institutional initiatives could foster more equitable professional entry, thereby expanding students' access to internship opportunities.