The institutional mechanisms that the university promotes in the search for linkage strategies with the productive sector must facilitate the social appropriation of knowledge and the technological innovation necessary to promote national development. Among the mechanisms that contribute significantly to this purpose is university-business knowledge transfer. Hence, the present study seeks to identify the impact of the trainee's performance in this process. The objective of the research was achieved by describing and analysing the performance of the intern in the university - company knowledge transfer, among which weaknesses stand out in: the use of specific engineering software, in the practical application of knowledge and in the planning of activities. Based on this, recommendations are made to overcome these weaknesses.