If employers are looking for real-world work experience from new college graduates, then what about all of the great knowledge that your students are learning in the classroom? Internships are a great forum for them to apply and practice that knowledge, all while gathering the skills that employers seek.
For example, you teach a theory in your class that your students then see in practice or decide to implement at their internship. This not only makes them an asset to their internship employer, as they are bringing a fresh educational perspective to the workplace, but it also helps them bring real-world applications back into the classroom, thus strengthening their comprehension and performance as a student. This symbiotic relationship leads to the development of knowledge, experience and skills that employers are looking for.