As the semester approaches its midpoint, UB starts post-graduation career prep early with the 4th International Education and Internship Fair.
For a student, life outside of the classroom is an inevitability. Preparing for a professional career requires proper practical training and exposure, and the University of Baguio is more than ready to provide UBians with the resources they need to become competent and skilled individuals that can deal with the demands of an increasingly global community.
Running for its fourth year in a row, the International Education Internship Fair continues to play an important role in connecting the student body to a global network of opportunities. Rooted in the BRIDGE program (Broadening Reach through International Development and Global Experience) and EVOLVE (Empowering Voyage of Learning, Vision, and Exchange) ,the activity is spearheaded by the Linkages Office – International Affairs Unit. It involves inviting the university’s different partners to showcase their internship programs and prospective career opportunities, keeping students up-to-date on the organizations they can apply to when they are getting ready for their internships.
In recent years, as the university has grown and forged more relationships abroad, the fair has grown more and more relevant; with partner schools now located in China, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Thailand, and countless industry partners in countries such as the USA and Hong Kong, now more than ever it is integral for the students to know that they can apply for these programs.
Connecting UBians to the industry
This year’s 4th International Education and Internship Fair saw a total of 918 participants in attendance during the morning and afternoon sessions. From senior high school students all the way up to graduating university seniors, the UB Cardinals Gym was filled with eager learners who eagerly sat down for a crash-course session with each of the keynote speakers. They also eagerly interacted with the exhibitors, enthusiastically asking questions, taking part in small games, earning fun little prizes, and, of course, carefully considering the next few steps that they’re going to take on their academic journey.
On the other hand, a total of 10 companies were also present, representing industries such as healthcare, engineering, marketing, education, information technology, and business to name a few. The university’s wide berth of specializations when it comes to academic instruction ensured that all students found a booth or two that caught their interest.
Professional life beyond the Philippines
The 4th International Education and Internship Fair also featured two special guest speakers: Ms. Joy Fojas and Mr. Vincent Iung–Yu Lin. Ms. Joy is the current General Manager of Intact Base Philippines – Manila Polytechnic University of the Philippines, while Mr. Vincent is the current Director of the Labor Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of the Philippines. Their segments largely focused on exploring Taiwan as a possible location for not only internship training, but also permanent work after graduation.
Overseas work continues to be a great ambition for many UBians. With the demand in certain industries like information technology, engineering, hospitality, and skilled labor so high in the present day, Ms. Joy and Mr. Vincent’s segments provided key knowledge on the process of applying for work in the neighboring country of Taiwan.
Looking to the future of the UB community
As the University of Baguio continues to grow its network of partnerships, it will also continue to widen the scope of opportunities it can offer to its students. Whether they want to train locally or internationally, UB will ensure that they have options to choose from. The success of the 4th International Education and Internship Fair marks the continued growth not only of the institution, but also of the student body, as they continue to soar to greater heights to become globally competent professionals.
Initiatives such as these support the university’s ongoing efforts to attain the United Nations – Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDG), particularly:
- Goal No. 4: Quality Education – By ensuring that all students have equal learning opportunities, making education more accessible at all levels and for all individuals, and,
- Goal No. 17: Partnerships for the Goals – Through the continued collaboration between industries, thus strengthening the cross–sectoral relationships needed to reinforce the needs of the community.
