Making internships more meaningful

TEACH AND EMPLOY Training rooms of PwC’s Learning and Experience Hub at PUP BPO center can accommodate up to 250 people.

Whether it’s serving coffee, photocopying documents or buying lunch to-go, office interns are usually given menial tasks that hardly utilize their educational attainment. The challenge is to veer away from the traditional internship program to match the needs of a competitive job market.

Now, educators and industry leaders are pushing for more experiential learning. Academic internship programs must foster an environment where students can put conceptual knowledge into practice in the workplace.

Professional service firm PwC Philippines/Isla Lipana & Co. launched on July 17 the Learning and Experience Hub, a pioneering facility that combines education, employment and community engagement.

Located at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) BPO Center, next to the PUP main Manila campus, the 1,000-square-meter hub aims to bridge the gap between the academe and the potential employers, creating unique opportunities for students and communities.

“We have to address the declining quality of our workforce. We want to give them (students) a real-life work experience,” says Roderick Danao, chair and senior partner at PwC Philippines.

For starters, the Learning and Experience Hub offers paid internships to tertiary-level students from various fields, including accountancy, engineering, computer science and business. Danao says students will be paid on an hourly basis, adhering to industry standards and requirements of the Department of Labor and Employment.

“We will not call you interns; you will be part of our flexible workforce. We will develop [your skills] using the same PwC learning and development programs given to full-time professionals of the firm,” Danao explains.

FIRST OF ITS KIND The Learning and Experience Hub is a pioneering facility that provides real-life work experience. —PHOTOS BY VANESSA B. HIDALGO

Relevant training

As part of the innovative approach of the hub, he says PwC will “employ and deploy the [same] technology that is available to our professionals” in terms of actual consulting, auditing and tax consulting. “It will significantly enhance their skills and hopefully prepare them [to become] world-class professionals,” says Danao, who is also a PUP alumnus.

The hub will give students a hands-on experience relevant to their academic tracks, while working under the guidance of seasoned professionals at PwC’s assurance, advisory or tax service units. The program seeks to not only improve their interpersonal skills but also support professional growth and provide experience.

It aims to enable students to apply their academic knowledge to real-world scenarios, gain a comprehensive understanding of their chosen fields, develop critical thinking and analytical skills, build professional networks and improve their job prospects after graduation.

“The Learning and Experience Hub is a testament to the powerful synergy between the private sector and the educational institutions. We are reminded of our collective responsibility to invest in the future of our students by providing them with the hands-on experience and guidance from the industry leaders,” says Manuel Muhi, president of PUP.

Discussions started between PwC and PUP back in 2022 to revitalize the latter’s internship program into a more engaging and purpose-driven curriculum. Aside from being a critical credential for students, the Learning and Experience Hub is envisioned to serve “as a model for future collaborations.”

“[It’s] setting a new standard for how we approach education and professional development through such initiatives,” Muhi adds.

PLACE TO CHILL The zen garden at the PwC-PUP learning hub.

‘First of its kind’

The hub has meeting and training rooms that can accommodate up to 250 people, a cafeteria and zen gardens. Equipped with modern audio-visual equipment such as Smart TVs, security cameras plus a courtyard, the hub is said to be the first of its kind in the industry.

It is designed to foster a collaborative environment where learning and practical experience converge. It is seen to reflect PwC Philippines’ “commitment to innovation and excellence”, providing a “sustainable platform that supports the holistic development of students.”

Students will be required to complete between 200 to 400 hours of internship, depending on their specific program. In addition, the hub also offers part-time job opportunities to students prior to their actual internship. The time contributed by students during these part-time roles will be credited as internship hours.

The program will initially be available to PUP students, and then expanded to include students from other colleges and universities. The project aims to enlist an initial cohort of 150 to 200 students by the end of 2024.

What’s in it for PwC? As it transfers knowledge and technology, it will, of course, have first dibs on a wider pool of human resources in a world where competition for talent is getting tougher everyday.

Workplace inclusion is also high on the list of PwC. Instead of outsourcing the maintenance and administration of the hub, it will employ other members of the community, including persons with disabilities and senior citizens.

“At PwC Philippines, we believe in the power of diversity. Every contribution, regardless of age or ability, strengthens our purpose. We are proud to create opportunities for all, reflecting our commitment to a better tomorrow,” Danao adds.