Many recent terms are used for the same issue in different languages. Apprenticeships, internships, stays, placements are organised for almost the same purpose. Intern is mainly student (or trainee, or graduate) who works in order to receive work experience or fulfil requirements for a qualification (not primarily for salary).

Work base learning is widely used for centuries. Apprenticeships in modified form is still effectively working, but many aspects had to be changed according changed and changing environment in the industry, services and other economic sectors. Work base learning in the present can be very simply divided to 3 forms – apprenticeships, internships and volunteering.

Meghan Tankersley has identified these trends in internships:

• Increase in demand for internships - Employers are looking for interns to vet and train possible candidates for full-time employment or assist with projects. The demand for internships is increasing by student as well as employers.

• What employers look for in interns - Employers are most interested in interview performance and relevant experience of an internship candidate. This trend is why it is necessary to focus on professional development and interview preparation. Out of the six most important qualities of a potential intern, employers cared the least about attendance at preferred schools.

• Filtering Candidates - Employers are no longer just looking at resumes before making a decision to hire for an internship or job. Employers use social media to vet candidates for a position. Now more than ever, employers want to see a candidate's online presence before accepting that person for a position.

• Age Range of Interns - The age group of interns is slightly shifting with students obtaining internships earlier in their college careers as well as completing more than one internship. Those who are unable to obtain full-time employment after graduation are looking to continue to gain more experience through part-time positions and international internships. There are now a range of interns that are younger than average age as well as growing number of interns that are recent graduates.

Changes in internships and apprenticeships during last years can be concluded:

• Practical component of the education have decreased in last years, but many indicators shows necessity to reintroduce practical training into education.

• Internship, which are not paid can cause some problems – decreasing of employment costs and substituting of paid staff by “free” interns. Many recommendations contain call for introducing only paid internships.

• Many internships, e.g. in “new” fields (ICT), but also in some traditional sectors can be realised in remoted way as virtual internships. They can be less demanding for travelling or work and safety issues, but it is necessary to pay attention in some types of new threats (safety in virtual space).

• Visibility via social network can be important, potential interns have to pay attention, what to upload to internet.

• Internship can be used as bridge to full time employment (in both real and virtual type).