Student’s Internship and Community Service: Enabling students in uncertain times

Abstract

The University of the West Indies Mona Library has long been a place where students from various educational institutions flock to complete their required internship and community service. With COVID-19 restrictions and a number of UWI and Library teaching and services going virtual, the UWI Mona Library, up to May 31 2022 operated with average opening hours of 8:30 am – 4:30 pm week days only. Nothwithstanding our limitations and restrictions, during the period June 1 2020 – May 31 2022, the Library continued to accommodate students from the University of the West Indies and other educational institutions to complete periods of internship and community service as many other locations were closed or inaccessible to students for these purposes. Internship is often a requisite part of higher education programs and students may avail scholarships from various financial institutions and government agencies by undertaking community service at an established organization. By Facilitating students in this manner, the Library provided ongoing support and enabled students throughout 2020 – 2022. Although the number of hours for internship and the accommodation of community service students was greatly reduced over the period under review, the actual number of students facilitated did not significantly diminish.

Key words: Enabling Students; Internship; Community Service;