Building ‘bridges’ between classroom, workplace

There comes a point in a student’s college life when the lessons learned in class have to be put to use somewhere else, so a Far Eastern University (FEU) partnership with the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) aims to give them opportunities to experience the world of work before they graduate.

Both FEU and PMAP hope to create more opportunities for students to take that step through their partnership.

The agreement puts internship opportunities at the forefront of the partnership. It also opens the possibility of closer collaboration through training, mentorship, career talks, scholarships, and other activities that connect students with professionals and organizations beyond the university.

For John Oliver Briose, director of Industry Internship and Instruction (I2), the partnership can help students find opportunities to apply what they have learned in class and become more familiar with the realities of working life. Brioso added that it will include looking at how the partnership develops and what students gain from it.

The I2 Office plans to assess the collaboration through the frequency of engagements with industry partners, their responsiveness to university programs, post-internship evaluations, and experiential learning outcomes.

Through PMAP’s network of member of companies, students may gain hands-on experience, learn from human resources professionals, and develop a better understanding of how workplaces operate.

The goal is to help students prepare for what comes after university—not only by learning about their chosen careers, but also by experiencing the responsibilities that come with them.

A chance to put learning into practice

Students spend years building their knowledge and developing skills in their chosen fields. An internship gives them an opportunity to see how those lessons hold up in an actual workplace.

It can mean learning how a team works together, understanding what an organization expects from its interns, or finding out how a concept discussed in class is used to solve a real problem. It also gives students a chance to recognize the skills they already have and the areas where they still need to grow.

Through its partnership with PMAP, FEU hopes to connect students with companies where they can gain this experience. The association’s network can help introduce students to potential internship hosts and professionals who can share their knowledge of the workplace.

The partnership can cater to FEU institutes and programs, except for the Institute of Health Sciences and Nursing, whose students already have designated host training establishments.

Internship placements will depend on requests from PMAP member companies and the academic schedules of the respective FEU programs. Opportunities will therefore develop as companies participate and arrangements are made with the university.

Alongside placements, the partnership includes other possible activities, such as seminars, career talks, conferences, mentorship programs, scholarships, student-focused events, sustainability and social responsibility projects, and research related to internship experiences.

These activities offer different ways for students to become familiar with professional life. They may not all take place in a workplace, but they can help students learn from people who understand the demands, and expectations of the industries they hope to join.

Getting ready before day one

An internship can be an important learning experience, but students also need preparation before they begin.

At FEU, the I2 Office conducts programs that help students understand the competencies and responsibilities expected of interns. Through the partnership with PMAP, the university plans to invite more companies from the association’s membership to take part in these initiatives.

One of these is Learning Integration for Internship in Navigating Key Competencies (LINK). The initiative invites industry partners to conduct seminars on internship-related topics, giving students a closer look at professional practices, workplace expectations, and industry trends.

Hearing from people who work in the field can help students understand what their future roles may involve. It can also give them a chance to learn about expectations that might not be immediately apparent from their coursework.

Another program is Preparing Responsible Interns for Meaningful Experiences (PRIME). Aligned with Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order No. 104, series of 2017, the PRIME Series offers seminars and workshops focused on five core competencies: professionalism, responsibility, integrity, management, and engagement.

These are the qualities students will need to bring with them when they enter a workplace. Knowing how to complete a task matters, but so does taking responsibility for the work, acting with integrity, and learning how to work professionally with others.

The I2 Office also plans to invite PMAP member companies to participate in FEU’s Internship Expo. Along with LINK and PRIME, the event can provide another opportunity for students to engage with industry partners and learn more about professional environments.

Through these activities, FEU hopes to bring students and industry practitioners into closer conversation. Students can ask questions, gain new perspectives, and begin thinking about their future careers while they are still completing their studies.

More than signing an agreement

The FEU–PMAP partnership is already active, with collaborative initiatives in the pipeline. Internship placements are expected to begin soon, subject to company requests and the academic schedules of the respective programs.

The agreement also leaves room for FEU and PMAP to develop other activities together, including scholarships, training, mentorship, joint projects, and research. Which opportunities take shape will depend on the participation of member companies and the initiatives the two organizations pursue.

These measures can help FEU understand whether its activities are reaching students and how their internship experiences contribute to their learning. Feedback can also help the university identify what is working and where students may need more support.

The signing of the MOU marks the beginning of a formal collaboration, but the opportunities it creates will depend on what follows: companies willing to participate, activities that respond to students’ needs, and experiences that give students a meaningful opportunity to learn.

Taking the next step

For a student preparing for a first job, there is a great deal to learn beyond the requirements of a degree. Entering a workplace means adjusting to new responsibilities, working with people from different backgrounds, and discovering how academic knowledge applies to everyday decisions.

Internships can make that transition less unfamiliar. So can meeting professionals, attending industry seminars, and learning about workplace expectations before the first day on the job.

Through its partnership with PMAP, FEU is working to expand these opportunities by connecting its internship preparation initiatives with the association’s network of member companies.

The partnership’s impact will become clearer as placements and activities move forward. For now, it provides another way for students to encounter the professional world while they are still at the university.

This is where the experience begins: not only in learning what a future career involves, but in having opportunities to try, ask questions, make mistakes, and grow before taking the next step beyond the classroom.

An assignment has a deadline, but so does a task at work. Group projects teach students to collaborate, but working with people in a professional setting brings its own expectations. While a degree provides the foundation for a career, students still have to discover what it means to put that knowledge into practice.

For many, an internship is where that discover begins.

The two organizations formalized their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding last Sept. 30 during PMAP’s 719th General Membership Meeting at the Glass Pavilion of Dusit Thani Manila.