Blurb
Technical problems on the common portal have left hundreds of students struggling to secure mandatory internships.
BENGALURU
Around 600 students of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) are yet to receive approval for their mandatory seventh-semester internships, even as the application deadline ended on Wednesday evening. University officials said that except for these remaining cases, the vast majority of students had been successfully placed through the newly introduced common internship portal.
According to data shared by VTU, nearly 81,000 students registered on the portal for the mandatory internship programme. Of these, about 42,000 students secured free internships offered through the platform. In addition, around 8,000 students who independently found internships outside the portal—through professional networks and direct company contacts—had their offers approved by the university. However, by Wednesday evening, approvals for nearly 500 to 600 students were still pending, causing anxiety among those affected.
VTU authorities attributed part of the delay to technical issues and verification challenges on the portal. The university had made it compulsory for students to apply for internships through a centralised system in a bid to curb the submission of fake internship certificates, a problem reported in previous years. Officials also acknowledged receiving complaints that some companies listed on the portal demanded money from students despite advertising “free internships”.
“We implemented this comprehensive internship portal to control fake certificates and unethical practices,” said VTU Vice-Chancellor S. Vidyashankar. “If companies are found demanding money from students, strict disciplinary action will be taken against them.”
To ensure the seriousness and quality of internships, VTU has decided to direct colleges to appoint lecturers and inspection squads to monitor students during the internship period. “We noticed that many students were only looking for online internships, applying selectively based on convenience. This raises concerns about commitment,” the Vice-Chancellor said, adding that faculty members would regularly track student progress.
The university has also mandated that students maintain a daily learning diary, recording what they learned each day during the internship. This, VTU believes, will reduce malpractice and ensure genuine engagement. A workshop on internship implementation was recently held at BMS College of Engineering to train internship coordinators from affiliated institutions.
Former VTU Executive Committee member G. Rakesh cautioned that with the rise of artificial intelligence tools, coordinators must remain vigilant to prevent misuse in maintaining internship records. He urged coordinators to actively support students facing genuine difficulties.
Meanwhile, students remain worried. “When the university asked us to apply through the portal, many companies demanded money,” said one student. “I secured an internship myself through LinkedIn, but it is still not approved. I am anxious about my future if this is not resolved soon.”
