CLARK FREEPORT — Clark Development Corporation (CDC) organized a benchmarking activity on August 27 to connect the aviation industry with academic institutions, aiming to address the gap between academic training and industry needs. This collaboration ensures that students gain practical experience and are better prepared for the workforce.
CDC President and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera led discussions with Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) College of Engineering and SIA Engineering (Philippines) (SIAEP) to discuss internship opportunities for engineering students. The CDC chief also emphasized the program’s role in addressing unemployment.
“We are excited that members of the aviation industry and various investors are committed to ensuring they have the right manpower for their companies,” Atty. Devanadera said in her welcome address.
“We aim to bridge the gap by initiating a student internship program. This initiative will help sustain the industry and potentially lead to new courses tailored to aviation needs,” she added.
According to SIAEP General Manager Bruno Bousquet, they recruit and support students from various colleges to participate in their 13-month program, which qualifies them to work on aircraft. Currently, there are 178 students enrolled, and over the past 15 years, SIAEP has trained more than 1,000 individuals.
For her part, Dr. Maria Corazon Abejo, Dean of SLSU’s College of Engineering, expressed her appreciation to CDC for organizing the benchmarking activity.
“We are deeply thankful to CDC and SIAEP for this opportunity. This program is a key step in internationalizing our engineering curriculum and making our graduates more competitive globally,” Abejo said.
Founded in 1964, SLSU is a state university in Quezon province offering undergraduate and graduate programs in the fields of engineering, business, agriculture, and education.