IS joins Mabuhay Germany Trade Fair

Student and faculty participants at the Mabuhay Germany 2025 welcome arch at Bonifacio High Street Central, Taguig. Department of International Studies

The Department of International Studies (IS) of Far Eastern University (FEU) took part in the Mabuhay Germany 202.5 Trade Fair organized by the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (GPCCI) last Nov 7 and 8 at Bonifacio High Street Central, Taguig.

The two-day event gathered leading figures from both the Philippines and Germany, including GPCCI president Marie Antoinette Mariano, German Ambassador Dr. Andreas Pfaffernoschke, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldequer-Roque, Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, and Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director General Teresa Panga, as well as other government and industry leaders.

As GPCCI’s flagship trade fair, Mabuhay Germany celebrates the strength of German-Philippine relations through exhibits, fora, company pitches, and cultural activities. This year’s event featured panels on economic cooperation workforce development, and digitalization, along with the karrieremesse (job fair) that focused on employment pathways and skills development partnerships between the two nations.

“[The] GPCCI, the main organizer, is a long-time partner of the department through the efforts of our former students who are now employed there,” said Dr. Rex Llonora, chair of the Department of International Studies, noting also that the organization serves as one of the department’s key internship partners.

As part of the partnership, FEU’s IS department sent 20 of its students to participate in the event’s exhibits, lectures, and discussions, as the GPCCI was interested in reaching college students to open career and academic opportunities in Germany after their graduation.

Dr. Llonora also emphasized how collaborations such as this align with FEU’s goal of providing global and experiential learning for students.

“[The] GPCCI is an ideal training ground for internships—it develops students’ skills in decision-making and program management,” he said. “This collaboration offers opportunities for students to deepen their understanding of trade and development, operations of foreign investment and multinational firms, and the broader context of diplomatic relations between Germany and the Philippines.”

Student-centered activities during the two-day fair included exhibits, lectures, and job fair sessions that introduced participants to topics such as work visa pathways, skills recognition through the ProRecognition and Hand-in-Hand Projects, and the First Time Job Seekers Law. These programs gave attendees a closer look at how Philippine-German cooperation opens avenues for education, employment, and professional growth.