Necessity of communication between education and practice (future job) was confirmed many times and started in medieval times (apprenticeships). Main aim of any form of apprenticeship, or internship is transfer of skills and knowledge directly from labourer (experienced worker) to trainee, or fresh graduate. In the past, trainee had guarantee of future job. In present time, internship can be used as tool, how to test future member of team on the one side, and also to test future job by intern on the second side. Internship can be used by student as a way to future full-time job. Sometimes internship is a requirement for graduation. Internships are classified as research-based or work experience (the majority) or virtual (working remotely).

Internships should be in some certain cases paid. The parties involved in internships (paid or unpaid) are the student/intern, the employer, and usually the academic institution the student/intern attends or from which he or she graduates. All involved parties should see certain benefits. Each party plays a synergetic role in the short- and long-term effects of internships on one another, the labour force and the economy as a whole.

International internships are highly important in the international education environment. Traditional internships, where the intern travels to a company abroad, are not feasible for all students for various (financial, social) reasons. Virtual mobility offers an alternative. Virtual mobility can be also used to support physical international internships (blended). Virtual or blended internships can really have an added value when a flexible work organisation is allowed. Working on a specific project identified by the company is more feasible for these internship forms than involving of intern in all day-to-day activities.

Transnational and virtual internships can provide also benefits of working and interacting with other cultures. Virtual internships can increase the number of students, which can be involved to this interaction. It is possible to use virtual internship to support physical mobility with considerable success.