The best way to develop the knowledge of business is practicing.I believe it is a better idea to allow students to spend 1/3 of their semester on outside practical activites than keep them in class.There are many benefits for sending students out for pracitcing,such as understand the real business world better,expand network,and prepare for their career in business.
The students can understand the real business world better if they intern in a company instead of reading business materials from book.Most of the time,the students learn from the book is not applicable in the real business world anymore.For example,accounting students need to do lots of calculations in order to balance the Income Statement and Balance.However,in the real business environment,the students do not need to do any calculation at all.What the students need is to understand how to classify each transaction and the use the software to do an Income Statement and Balance.Also,students also can use the new technologies that the real business world is using instead of just understanding the concepts from the book.Because the future of business students is most likely working in a business environment,they should experience that before they graduate to taste the business environment.If they do not like it,they have a chance to change their mind.
Students can expand their network by involving in outside practical activities.In school,students can only meet with their classmates.However,when they are in a business environment,they can meet the people from management level,the people who have the same interest as them,and even their clients.It is good for them because they can learn from those real business people.Especially the one who have same interest as them,they can ask those people about their career path and career development.It is very beneficial to know more people outside the school.More important,you might be their future co-worker if you develop a relationship with them and show them your talent.
Students can prepare for their career better if they participate in thise practical activities because they can understand the nature of business while they are still in school.By talking to the people who are doing business right now,the students can understand what they need to do in order to survive in the business world in the future.For example,the students might think about to take some specialized exams for their jobs because of the advice that the business people give them.It is great to have someone who can give you advice in your future career development.You can find these people in those practical activities.
Some people might say students should stay in school and learn from book because they cannot go anywhere without the knowledge from book.It is true that students need the knowledge from book,but without pracitcing,the students will never understand how a real business operates.Also,1/3 of the semester is not too much,so I believe students can gain valuable experience during that time.
It is very important to understand the material from the book,but understand the nature of business and understand how a real business operates is much more important.If you can memorize all the text from the book,but you cannot do anything in the business,you will still be fired.The employers hire you because of you know how to apply the skills you learn from school in a real job.So it is beneficial to have a chance to intern in a real business.