(Left to right) Mr. Leopoldo D. Aquino Jr., Ms. Margelene Z. Famulaga, Engr. Alejandro H. Ballado Jr., Dr. Jose Paolo Y. Mack, and Ms. Dyan A. Intong pose for a picture together with the student interns.
Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao has partnered with Dusit D2 Hotels Davao to allow its students to undergo on-the-job training program with the prestigious hotel. This partnership was established to enable Mapúa MCM’s Tourism Management students to hone their skills in a working environment and apply them effectively after graduating.
The Memorandum of Agreement was signed on October 26, 2022 at Dusit D2 Davao by Engr. Alejandro H. Ballado, the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Mapúa MCM, and Christoph Kuch, the General Manager of Dusit D2.
Also present during the MOA signing were Mr. Leopoldo D. Aquino Jr., Director of Mapúa MCM’s Office for Corporate Partnerships (OCP), Ms. Margelene Z. Famulaga, Director of Human Resource for Dusit Thani, Dr. Jose Paolo Y. Mack, the Dean of Alfonso T. Yuchengco College of Business (ATYCB), and Ms. Dyan Intong, Program Chair of Tourism Management.
“The ATYCB is working closely with the Office of Corporate Partnerships. Both offices work hand in hand to find a good fit for the skills and talents of the students with the right company. We will be prioritizing companies which allow face-to-face internship, so that the students can get the full experience of having a job.” shared Dr. Jose Paolo Y. Mack.
According to Ms. Dyan A. Intong, the Program Chair of Tourism Management, online OJT is a simulation of what actually happens in a tourism establishment like a hotel or a resort and may offer real world problems for critical thinking and decision making, nothing beats the experience of actually talking to and giving service to ‘live’ tourists. She also added that face-to-face OJT will also give the trainees opportunities to access digital technologies used in the industry.
Engr. Alejandro H. Ballado Jr., Dr. Jose Paolo Y. Mack, Mr. Leopoldo D. Aquino Jr., and Ms. Dyan A. Intong together with the Dusit D2 Davao representatives.
“OCP ensures that every student intern is able to choose a company that can accommodate face-to-face internships. We also have partner companies that are eager to welcome interns who choose a hybrid or fully online OJT,” stated Mr. Leopoldo Aquino.
In addition, the ATYCB expects more high-profile companies located in the region to partner with Mapúa MCM whether through an internship, consultancy, or research.
Programs under ATYCB will also be provided with opportunities for international exposure via short-term immersive programs, semester exchange, pathways, and summer programs through the institution’s strategic membership with the Cintana Alliance and collaboration with Arizona State University.
With these partnerships, Mapúa MCM wishes to continue to build professionals, and mold the future leaders of our industry.