Agus Hermawan, Mohammad Arief, Rachmad Hidayat
Introduction – This study investigates the implementation of the School Teaching Assistant/Internship Program (TAP) for Business Education students under the Indonesian Ministry of Education's current policy. It aims to evaluate program effectiveness, identify student critiques and suggestions, and analyze how established theoretical frameworks inform professional teaching practices. Methodology – A parallel mixed-methods design was employed, collecting 139 open-ended responses from participants. Qualitative data was categorized into criticism (74 responses) and constructive feedback (65 responses) to identify thematic improvements. Quantitative patterns and associations were analyzed using Python-based statistical tools. The empirical findings were interpreted through the integration of three theoretical lenses: experiential learning theory, social cognitive theory, and andragogical principles. Result – The study identified four interrelated pillars that determine internship quality: structured pre-program coordination, adequacy of infrastructure, reflective supervision, and context-driven training. While pre-program coordination received high marks (85% approval), uneven school facilities (81.5% approval) significantly hindered learning outcomes. Furthermore, excessive administrative burdens were found to distract students from their primary pedagogical focus. Key recommendations include expedited fund disbursement, simplified reporting systems, and the implementation of zoned placements. Discussion – By synthesizing mixed-methods evidence with a multi-theoretical framework (experiential, social cognitive, and andragogical), this research provides a holistic understanding of how governance and resource provision jointly determine teaching competence in the Indonesian context. It offers high-value, practical design recommendations for policymakers to enhance the effectiveness of nationwide internship programs. © 2026 Hermawan, Arief and Hidayat.
Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Mangement, State University of Malang, Malang, Indonesia
