Enhancing Employability and Engagement in a Student-Centred Learning Environment: Insights from the MDX Internship Scheme

The higher education sector faces significant challenges, including the need to enhance student employability, engagement, and financial accessibility. Universities must equip graduates with both academic knowledge and practical skills while addressing financial barriers that hinder many students' progress. The MDX Internship Scheme, launched at Middlesex University in January 2024, responds to these challenges by offering paid, discipline-specific internships that integrate practical work experience with academic learning. The scheme enhances students' career readiness by enabling them to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings, develop essential skills such as teamwork and problem-solving, and build confidence through project achievements. Moreover, the internships alleviate financial burdens and foster a sense of belonging. This paper showcases the experiences of engineering undergraduates, postgraduates, and doctoral candidates, who participated in the MDX Internship scheme and undertook diverse projects spanning academic research, industry placements, and collaborations with local authorities, deepening their understanding of engineering and transferable skills. Local businesses also benefited from the scheme, gaining access to innovative student talent that positively influenced workplace dynamics and project outcomes, while building long-term partnerships with the university. The MDX Internship Scheme serves as a model for enhancing employability, engagement, and financial support in higher education.