Polytechnic University of the Philippines

1st Student-Industry Conference organized

Jan Vincent Lanuza, News, Communication Management Office

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Alumni Relations and Career Development Office, alongside companies such as Silicon Valley HQ Philippines, Everise, and Jobs 180 held the 1st Student-Industry Conference on December 11 at Bulwagang Bonifacio.

Vice President for Student Affairs and Services Prof. Tomas O. Testor, while expressing his appreciation towards the students’ enthusiasm, noted that this day presents an opportunity to explore the intersection of education and the industry with the aim “to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world application.”

“We are honored to have speakers from various sectors who will share their insights and experiences. This conference is not just about learning. It is an opportunity for networking and collaboration. So, I encourage all of you to engage actively. You can ask questions to our speakers and make connections that could shape your future careers.” Testor added.

ARCDO Director Engr. Florinda H. Oquindo explained that their reason to create this occasion was to build a community and inclusivity and to foster an exchange of knowledge between the industry, who become experts after accumulating years of experience, and students who will benefit from their proficiency.

“All of our speakers have their international collaboration and international connections. Students can be inspired on their direction after graduation and what future lies ahead of them.” Oquindo stated.

Vice President for Marketing & Internal Communications at Everise, Marilyn Romero-Ventenilla took the stage as the first speaker. She discussed the topic of the Digital Marketing for Start Ups where she showed how the platform can be used to advertise services, its types, its current landscape in the country, and the right strategies so that the students can develop a keen eye on determining the best ways to promote it. She ended the lecture by emphasizing that having fun and to always look on the bright side of things is important when working and experimenting on the right marketing practices for their business.

Following Ventenilla, Kisha Arceo, Senior Marketing & Academic Linkages Officer of IT company Jobs180, talked how one could effectively market themselves when applying for a job and how to ace the job interview. During her lesson, she presented ResumeLink, an online tool created by their group where users can create their personal, accessible, and effective résumés for job hunts.

After a quick recess, Asst. Prof. Ivee C. Cobarrubias, Chairperson of the Department of Office Administration of the College of Business Administration (BSA) taught about Business Correspondence, the keys for a great communication, and Business Letters, its types, the best ways to write it, and the correct posture to type, to help students learn to talk professionally when it comes to business transactions.

“Para matawag na effective ang isang communication, dapat siguraduhin natin na ang message na gusto mong sabihin ay nadinig niya, naparating mo sa konteksto na gusto mong iparating, at ang message mismo na gusto mong iparating.” Cobarrubias shared.

(Effective communications means ensuring that the message you want to convey is heard, delivered in the context you intend, and the message is successfully relayed.)

Chief Executive Officer of Silicon Valley HQ Philippines Chris Peralta talked about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybersecurity. He introduced AI Agent technology—an autonomous intelligent system that is designed to perform specific tasks without human intervention.

Peralta urged the participants to make the most and take advantage of the technological innovations saying that “this is the future; when new technology comes out, new opportunities come, and you can make money.”

As he emphasized new technologies, he also ensured that the PUPians understood the importance of cybersecurity and protecting their data. He remarked: “It doesn’t matter how many, whether it’s one or a thousand because it matters what that one is. If that one is your accounts or your personal data or your passwords, you’re in trouble.”

After the event, students shared their insights regarding this program. Liezyl Joy Enoy, a fourth-year Financial Management student said that it was an informative affair that provided a lot of room for her growth—a notion shared by her classmate Jeneros Haz. Haz added that she thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the topic of Business Correspondence as it helped expand her writing skills.

With the successful implementation of the “Student-Industry Conference,” the University continues its commitment into student development as it creates innovative projects and secure further partnership to support and assist the Iskolar ng Bayan into achieving their career aspirations.