<![CDATA[The Certified Internship Program is an implementation of the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka policy that provides students with practical learning experience outside the university. This study aimed to analyze the program’s effectiveness in improving the work readiness of students at Universitas Sumatera Utara. Campbell’s effectiveness framework was applied through five indicators: program success, target achievement, participant satisfaction, input-output comparison, and overall goal attainment. The study employed a descriptive qualitative design. Data were collected through interviews, observation, and documentation involving one program coordinator and 20 former participants selected purposively. The data were analyzed through reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing, while source triangulation was used to ensure validity. The findings show that the program provided professional experience and strengthened students’ communication, teamwork, adaptability, confidence, and workplace understanding. Nevertheless, its implementation was constrained by unsuitable placements, limited mentoring, inconsistent communication, insufficient financial support for some participants, and the absence of specific university monitoring and evaluation. The benefits were more evident in soft skills than in technical competencies related to students’ academic fields. Therefore, the program was fairly effective, although better placement alignment, mentoring, coordination, and evaluation are required to optimize work-readiness outcomes.]]>
Copyrights © 2026
