Training experiences in higher education are essential to professional development.This qualitative study investigated how internship experiences contribute to career adaptability development and to the transition between the roles of student and professional among senior university students. Six Civil Engineering senior students, aged between 22 and 29 years, were individually interviewed following a semi-structured interview protocol. The interviews were subsequently content analyzed. Results revealed that internship experiences influence the development of career adaptability, especially in the dimensions of curiosity and confidence. In addition, several characteristics of the internship experiences mentioned by respondents could be related to career development, revealing their importance to the transition process from student to professional roles. The article concludes with implications for practice and research.
professional development; professional education; college students; professional identity