Introduction

Detailed Log of Activities:-

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In this group Assignment, We had a team meeting to discuss which organization to choose so

we share our experience in different environments that we were involved and we found a

common problem between all of us in one organization which is our university.Thus, the main

problem is the difficulties faced by the university and the students to find a proper internship

which is a core requirement for graduation

Therefore, we have finished the first step of finding a problem in an organization which is

Hamdan Bin Mohamed Smart University, then we moved to the second task for our group

project which is conducting an interview with many stakeholders that are involve of three

students that are on their third and fourth year in the university, a member of the Learner

Relationship Management and instructor of the internship in Hamdan University.

Moreover, as a team we prepared empathy map and opportunity statement which includes the

insights and needs then we prepare the journal map and the potential creative solutions while

brainstorming.

Furthermore, this paper focuses and implement the design thinking process which consider as an

essential step to solve many complex problems that can occur in all organizations.

Thus, it is consider as a framework that assist in bringing new ideas which is creative and

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innovative to solve the problems. Therefore, there are five elements of design thinking process

which are:-

Empathize is the first element or stage of the design thinking process. It’s about understanding

the people, their actions, motivations, and experiences by empathizing and engaging with them.

Also immersing yourself to understand deeply any issue involved. Empathy allows design

thinkers to set aside his or her own assumptions about the world in order to gain insight into

users and their needs. (Teo Yu Siang, 2017). In our case we tried to understand the needs of the

students, and what their insights, experiences, and problems about the internship. After we have

a deeper understanding about the student’s internship issues, we can then find creative solutions.

The second stage is defining the problem, which is can be done properly only after we gather the

observations and the information from the first stage empathize. The goal from this stage is to

define the problem statement, which is also called (POV) point of view. Problem statement is

mainly about the student’s needs. Then the third stage ideate, we start to think out of the box and

generate ideas and solutions of the problem we defined. Also, brainstorm creative and realistic

ideas and solutions. In Prototype st age, we build real, tactile representations for a subset of your

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ideas. (Sarah Gibbons, 2016). It’s the experimental stage that shows which solution is the best to

implement it. The last stage is to test the solutions and ideas we chose in the porotype stage and

check if it fit and meet the needs of the students. Then by using feedback from students we can

see if the solutions were creative and helpful or not, and see if we can improve them. Like We

will have creative solutions for the students who face issues with their internship , and then get

the feedback from them if the solutions worked with them or not.

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Interview Questions

Interview 1

The first interview was conducted with a fourth year student “Sara Qarooni”, Student

Email:2000006999@HBMSU.AC.AE .

Good Morning Sara, Thanking for doing the interview and for your precious time.

Sara: It is my pleasure.

Me: let’s start with the quotations.

Sara: Sure.

Firstly, what type of problems you suffer from as a fourth year student?

Sara: One of the problems I suffered with this year is finding an internship place. Hence, I found

it very difficult to find an internship place by myself and the university LRM was unable to find

for me an internship.

Secondly, how was your communication with the Learning Management Relationship? And
when did you communicate with them regarding the internship?

Sara: - In fact, as students in Hamdan university we have a good communication with all the

departments thanks to the Smart Campus. However, I have communicated with the learning

relationship management in November so they can start searching for me an internship for the

upcoming spring semester which starts January.

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Thirdly,have you tried to search an internship by yourself?

Sara:Yes, Of course, I did my best and searched and applied everywhere but I was unable to find

a proper internship. However, after a long time of searching and due to the help of my relatives I

found an internship so I can graduate from the university.

Fourthly,did you benefit from your internship? Have you learned a lot?

Sara : Well, I learned a little and it was not enough for me, I believe if the university was able to

find an internship for me and some other students we were going to learn more due to agreement

and the respect that the internship place have for the university.

Fifthly, why do you think the university did not find for you an internship?

Sara: Well, I think the university is not connected to many places except government sector

which does not provide internship for everyone. Also, I think that the learning relationship

management starts searching for students late, since I received the an email from LRM that I can

request them to find for me an internship three weeks before the new semester which I founded

a short time.

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Say : Think :

1- She have difficulties in finding
internship.
2- The learner relationship management
was not that helpful.
3- She was unable to learn enough from
the internship
1- She thinks that the university will find
her an internship.
2- She thinks that she was unable to learn
enough and implement what she took
in university in real hob environment.

Do: Feel:

1- Search for internship and apply
through the internet.
2- Communicate with the LRM to see
what’s their progress in finding
internship.
1- She felt frustrated that she was unable
to find internship and the university
was fining difficulties.
2- She felt scared that it may constraint
and postpone her graduation.

3- Ask Friends and relatives if they know

a place for internship

Opportunity Statement:-

Sara needs a way to depend on herself somehow to find a good opportunity of internship to learn
more about her major, unexpectedly in her university, they were unable to find a suitable
internship for her.

Short Summary:-

Sara contacts to the LRM who is responsible to find an internship for students in the university at

the end of fall semester. Thus, due to the short time that the LRM ask for they were unable to

find internship for Sara. Therefore,Sarawas sacred that it will postpone her graduation and she

Started applying for internship positions and asking friends and family to find an internship for

her.

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Interview2

The second interview was conducted with a fourth year student Manal Be Eshen (Email ID:

200006944@HBMSU.AE.AE.

Interviewer: - Thank you for doing an interview with my group.

Manal: Most welcome, I’m glad that I will be part of your project.

Interviewer: - we will ask few questions about the university.

Manal: Sure.

Firstly, what kind of problems are you suffering from in your fourth year in the university?

Manal: As a fourth year student in HBMSU, I suffered from finding an internship place. Thus, I

have applied for the internship in summer for the fall 2016 semester and still I was unable to take

the course in the fall semester. We as students, always try to search an internship by ourselves

and at the same time ask the university to find an internship, unfortunately I found an internship

in the summer 2016 but our university does not provide the course in summer semester. Thus, I

have lost the opportunity in summer and I was unable to find for myself in the fall 2016.

Secondly, how was the process of applying the internship in our university? What do you think

about it?

Manal : The process of applying an internship in our university start with informing the Learner

relationship management about it which they request it before three weeks of upcoming semester

that you will join the course. Thus, the learner need to contact with the LRM Via email or Phone

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to inform them so they can start searching. However, I believe that three weeks are very short

time for the university to find internship for everyone. Also, we need to fill the internship form

and get the signature from the internship place supervisor, Internship supervisor and our advisor

(After finding the internship place to register the course) which I consider a long complicated

process.

Thirdly, what was the role of your advisor and how helpful was he regarding the internship?

Manal: My Advisor does not have vital role when it comes to the internship. Thus, the only thing

is that my advisor guide me in how to apply for internship and how to fill the form and inform us

about the process of the internship.

Fourthly, how did you overcome the problem of finding an internship?

Manal: In fall2016, the university found for me a place for internship, however, the place was

not suitable which allow them to terminate me. Thus, I was unable do my internship in fall 2016.

However, in spring 2017 I was able to find an internship by myself.

Fifthly, How much are you going to rate LRM out of 5? And what is your suggestion to improve

the process of finding internship for LRM?

Manal: In my Opinion, I would rate the LRM 3 out 5. The learner Relationship Management

department in our university do many other services for students more than finding internship.

However, I wish if the LRM start the process of finding the internship earlier such as, before the

semester start in 6 to 8 weeks.

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 Say : Think :

1- She could not find a suitable 1- She thinks the process of

internship for her major
2- The process of registering in the
internship is complicated.
3- The only role of advisor is to
introduce the internship and it is
related to finding internship.
4- LRM are responsible for many
other activities
Do:
internship in the university is
complicated.
2- She think that advisor is not
directly related to the internship.
3- She think that that the LRM are
trying their best since they
perform well in providing other
services to learners.
Feel:

1- She communicates with both the 1- She feels insecure about her
advisor and the LRM about the graduation in her fourth year.
internship process.

2- She applies for internship positions 2- She feel frustrated due to inability to
and send emails find internship.

3- She went through interviews

Opportunity Statement

Manal needs a way to learn how to apply, search and prepare herself for the internship. Thus , she

applied a lot but she was not accepted many times m Unexpectedly there is less communication with

LRM and Manal which was shown when Manal was able to find an internship in summer but she was

unaware that university does not provide the internship course in summer.

Short Summery

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Manal was able to find an internship in summer but she lost the chance because the university does not

provide the course during the summer. Thus, Manal searched for fall semester and the university was

unable to find a suitable internship for her major which made Manal wait for another semester to take

internship and graduate.

Interview 3

The third interview is one of the senior learners from HBMSU “Mona Abdelghani, Email ID :-

200004127@HBMSU.AC.AE

Interviewer: Hello Mona, thank you for agreeing to do an interview.

Mona:Welcome.

Interviewer: we would like to ask you fewquestions.

Mona: Sure.

Firstly, what was the problem you faced in your last year in the university?

The university didn’t provide me with the place to take my internship period there,and even

when I searched and chose a place for my internship by myself, they didn’t want to contact with

the company and the employee who was responsible for the internship in the university get angry

and told that it need time and you should have told me before. He told me that he need at least

two months to find a place for my internship and I should have told him before.

Secondly, why did the internship place rejected the university request for your internship?

There wasn’t a vacancy for the internship that time.

Thirdly, Do you think the role of the university was Vital in Finding internship for you?

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No, at all because I found the company for my internship by myself.

Fourthly, what are your suggestions for leaner relationship management?

To be more honest with students about the learners' issues, and be faster with the internship

issues.

Say : Think :

Do: Feel:

Opportunity Statement

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Short Summery

Interview 4

The Fourth Interview is conducted with a member of the learners Relationship Management,

Maryam Mohammed, Email ID:LRM@HBMSU.AC.AE

1- How is the process of finding internship for learners?

The earlier you start the search the better it will be, there are students have problems with

their internship because they came to us before 2 weeks to find for them companys.

Which is wrong they should have come earlier, at least 3 months

2- What type of difficulties you face when you search internship for learners?

3- How does the university management collaborate or assist you in finding internship for

learners?

4- What reasons you think are that organizations refuse interns?

5- In your opinion, how can you enhance the process of finding an internships for students?

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Say : Think :

Do: Feel:

Opportunity Statement

Short Summery

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Interview 5

Interview with Dr.Shamim who is instructor of the course of internship.

1- Why students find it hard to find internship?

2- What should be the role of students in finding internship?

3- What should be the role of the university in the process of internship?

4- What difficulties does the university find when they search internship for students?

5- Do you think the university should enhance the process of registration for the internship?

6- Do you think that university should collaborate with other organizations regarding the

internship?

7- As an instructor of internship course, what common problem you find while students do

their internship that are usually reflected in their weekly report?

Interview 6

The sixth interview was conducted with a fourth year student “Yassin Zammam”, Student Email:

2000006999@HBMSU.AC.AE

We didn’t have a chance to chat with Yassin, so he emailed us with his answers.

Firstly, what kind of problems are you suffering from in your fourth year in the university?

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Actually, my problem that I face it in the fourth year is to find a suitable company to do my

internship.

Secondly, how was the process of applying the internship in our university? What do you think

about it?

Actually the process of applying the internship was not easy because you have to ask a lot of

company and you have to go and get the approval from them and then give it back to the

university, and I think it should be easy because this is the responsibility of the university.

Thirdly, what was the role of your advisor and how helpful was he regarding the internship?

The role of my advisor is to help me to fill the form of the internship and give me some

instruction about the internship but actually he told me go and let the LRM help you.

Fourthly, how did you overcome the problem of finding an internship?

Actually after all this suffering I told my father if I can join his company and do the internship

and he accepted, after that he gave me the approval and I give it to the LRM.

Fifthly, How much are you going to rate LRM out of 5? And what is your suggestion to improve

the process of finding internship for LRM?

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I'm going to rate the LRM 3 out if 5 because the LRM didn’t find for me a suitable company and

they didn’t give the instruction of filling the form and this is forcing me to ask my friends who

take the internship in the previous semester.

Say : Think :

Do: Feel:

Opportunity Statement

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Short Summery

Interview 7

The seventh interview was conducted with a fresh graduated student “HawraaOssely”, Student

Email: 2000006999@HBMSU.AC.AE

Interviewee: hello Hawraa, thank you for doing this interview.

Hawraa: you are welcome.

Firstly, what was the problem you faced in your last year in the university?

Firstly, The problem I faced in my last year in the university was to find a suitable place for my

internship, which I didn’t find any place actually because the university was struggling to find a

good place for me and other students . its not just me last semester who didn’t find a place its

actually different student.

Secondly, why did the internship place rejected the university request for your internship?

Secondly, I rejected the place they just found a one place for me and it was very far from home it

will take almost two hours to reach the port place so I reject it and they fail to find another place

for me.

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Thirdly, Do you think the role of the university was Vital in Finding internship for you?

Well actually the university did not succeed in finding a place for my internship so I didn’t think

its essential or important for them.

Fourthly, how did the university help you in overcoming your problem which can constraint your

graduation?

They just instead of taking an internship they gave me an elective course, so just to be able to

take the credit hours and to complete my graduation or the hours that’s needed from me in order

to graduate.

Fifthly, what are your suggestions for leaner relationship management?

Just to be more honest with some students if they didn't find a place from the beginning just to

tell them to be aware and to start looking for another option from their side. it's not like honest to

come to students and just tell them yeah wait for us we are looking for a place for you don’t

panic or something we will find a place for you, because this is what I faced when I just came. I

was outside of the country and when I reached university and there are only next day will be the

add and drop period.and I just knew that I don’t have any place for my internship and the last

minute they just told me and I took an elective instead.

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Say : Think :

Do: Feel:

Opportunity Statement

Short Summery

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Journey map

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Project journey map

Solutions :

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Conclusion :

References :

Gibbons, S. (2016, July 31). Design Thinking 101. Retrieved February 19, 2017, from

https://www.nngroup.com/articles/design-thinking/.

Siang, T. (2017). 5 Stages in the Design Thinking Process.

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