Civil Engineering students from the University of San Carlos (USC) received job offers from Japanese companies after completing an international training program, which ran from March 9 to 18, 2026, with employers expressing willingness to wait until the students pass the Civil Engineering Licensure Examination.
Student delegates Joseph Kyle Baid, Ian Evander Agripo, Reywell Pit Niño Antolijao, Mary Lourdes Ferolin, Louis Zynne Bejona, Jim Richard Gatchalian, and Alexandra Louise Singzon were part of an initial cohort of 15 USC students selected for the internship program. The initiative is conducted in partnership with Zuitt, aimed at equipping students with global competencies and industry-ready skills.
During the entire first semester of the internship, the 15 participants underwent foundational training that included Japanese language instruction, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and on-site job training at various Philippine construction companies in Cebu. This preparatory phase was designed to enhance both technical proficiency and cross-cultural communication skills before deployment in Japan.
The selected group of seven students proceeded to Japan on March 8, 2026, for a ten-day Project-Based Learning (PBL) and on-site training program. The first two days were held at Kansai University, where the students engaged in collaborative activities and presentations with Japanese counterparts. Subsequent days involved immersive industry exposure through PBL engagements with Hanwa Homes Co., Ltd., Mitani Construction Industry Co., Ltd., Tk Works Co., Ltd., Izana Co., Ltd., and Yaegashi Construction Co., Ltd. The students also conducted a company visit to Chuo Fukken Consultants Co., Ltd., gaining insights into professional engineering practices and ongoing infrastructure projects.
Throughout the program, students were assigned group-based engineering tasks and were required to deliver short presentations to company representatives. Several partner companies also facilitated site tours of current projects, providing hands-on learning opportunities in real-world settings.
The program concluded with formal interviews conducted by participating companies. All seven USC students were extended job offers, with companies indicating their readiness to employ them upon completion of their academic requirements and successful licensure.
The outcome of the program highlights the effectiveness of USC’s collaboration with international academic institutions and industry partners, as well as its partnership with Zuitt in preparing students for global engineering careers.
USC is proactive in helping achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The support and opportunities that the University provides for its students align with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).