FEU-CAPO immerses Tamaraws in industry visits

Tamaraws from the Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts listen to the museum guide explain how Jose Rizal’s sculpture, “Josephine Sleeping” is exhibited for the first time by the National Museum of Fine Arts since December 2024. Career and Placement Office

Far Eastern University’s (FEU) Career and Placement Office (CAPO) held the latest FEU Industry Real-World and Simulated Tour (F.I.R.S.T.) aimed at providing students with industry exposure and practical learning experiences. The February installment of the program conducted two specialized tours: the National Museum of Fine Arts visit of students from the Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts (IARFA) last Feb. 19 and the tour-immersion of Institute of Education (IE) students at Colegio de San Agustin Makati last Feb. 21.

A total of 35 students from IARFA visited the National Museum of Fine Arts where they explored collections of paintings and sculptures. According to Faith Jovellanos, coordinator of CAPO, the museum was selected because of its ability to provide students with opportunities to explore various artistic perspectives.

“The museum contains a rich history of creative artworks crafted by national artists and [beginnning] artists. Through this tour, students were able to deepen their appreciation for [artistry],” she said.

Based on student evaluations, the tour increased awareness on the value and significance of artworks and contributed to students’ understanding of artistic expression. According to Phoebe Sarmiento, a third year Fine Arts student, the tour helped her learn about the history, techniques, and motivations behind the works of Filipino artists.

“Experiencing a tour like this during the early years of college [will provide] the students a chance to learn about the roots of what it means to be a Filipino artist and by knowing these roots and these beginnings, from there, it will be easier for them to be able to identify what kind of art they want to create throughout their career as artists,” said Sarmiento.

Brylle Gamueda, also a third year Fine Arts student, highlighted how the guided tour was a different experience from his previous exposure to the museum.

“Joining the…tour at National Museum of Fine Arts is [quite different] from what I experienced as a casual visitor. I learned a lot of things [especially] when it comes to guiding students and trying to make everyone feel included during tour,” said Gamueda.

Meanwhile, IE students visited Colegio de San Agustin Makati where they were introduced to teaching methods and trends in education. The tour provided them with an opportunity to learn about different approaches to instruction and gain insights that may help them in their careers as future educators.

Tamaraws from the Institute of Education with teachers at Colegio de San Agustin Makati. Career and Placement Office

Through the F.I.R.S.T. program, CAPO aims to help students develop knowledge and skills relevant to their fields. The initiative is designed to support students in enhancing their understanding of industry practices and professional environments. The program’s focus on experiential learning underscores FEU’s commitment to providing students with opportunities that support their academic and professional growth.