Challenges and Prospects of Industrial Attachments: The Experience of the Graphic Design Students

Abstract

An integral component of graphic design education is industrial attachment, which gives students the chance to develop practical skills and close the knowledge gap between theory and real-world experience. This study explores the challenges and prospects experienced by graphic design students during their industrial attachment training, utilizing the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) as a theoretical framework. Through qualitative research, data were collected via interview guide with eight (8) purposively selected graphic design students undergoing industrial attachment at Takoradi Technical University in the 2022/2023 academic year. The findings highlight key challenges, including time management, adapting to industry expectations, and communication and collaboration difficulties. Overcoming these challenges involved self-regulation, observational learning, and strengthening self-efficacy beliefs. The industrial attachment also presented prospects for professional growth, skill development, networking opportunities, and portfolio enhancement, influenced by social interactions, observational learning, and self-efficacy within the SCT framework. The study recommends implementing mentorship and guidance programmes to support students' self-efficacy and collaboration, as well as enhancing collaboration between academia and the industry to align industrial attachment programmes with industry needs. These insights deepen our understanding of the challenges and prospects of industrial attachment for graphic design students and provide valuable recommendations for improving future programmes.