UP Visayas signed a partnership agreement with SM or the Shopping Center Management Corporation (SCMC), for the internship of UPV students at SM City Iloilo, on November 9, 2022.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed by Chancellor Clement C. Camposano and SCMC Vice President for Human Resources Cheryll Ruth L. Agsaoay. Witnessing the signing were UPV Student Affairs Director, Prof. Agustin Huyong, and Ms. Irene L. Caumban, Human Resources Head of SM City Iloilo. Also a signatory was the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Philip Ian Padilla.
The agreement allows UPV students to undergo on-the-job training and internship at SM City Iloilo. An industry supervisor from SM will be assigned to do the following: be a mentor to the student-interns; give student-interns course-related work assignments; and expose them to learning experiences on actual operations and management, among others. An allowance, equivalent to 75 percent of the regional minimum basic rate within the agreed period of assignments, will also be given to the student-interns.
Mr. Gilbert M. Domingo, Mall Manager of SM City, emphasized that this is an affirmation of "SM's commitment to help in bringing progressive communities." They are eager to help qualified students and participate in the mall’s internship program and career sessions and are thankful for the partnership with UP Visayas. "We welcome the immersion of students who wish to learn how jobs are done at the mall and in the corporate industry,” he said.
“The job market is dynamic and cruel; this partnership is so welcome,” Chancellor Camposano stated, adding that “this kind of engagement is very welcome.”
“The ability to produce top-notch graduates in the university cannot be achieved if we simply rely on our own programs, mechanisms, and resources. We also need to create opportunities for students to be exposed to [the] industry to have an edge. This prior exposure before graduation allows them to adapt, to be mentally agile, and to learn from the professional world. UPV is a part of the Iloilo growth story as it pursues milestones and has paved the way for other cities in the country to follow, and we want to be a bigger part of that," the Chancellor further said.
The MOA will be binding for one year.
