Good leaders learn from the best.
So, the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc. (AmCham) created the business orientation program (BOP) almost a decade ago, gathering the Philippines’ “best of the best” undergraduate students to learn from the masters.
On April 14-21, 2012, AmCham will once again give Filipino students the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of key global business and economic issues during the 10th BOP.
Christopher A. Stolk, chairman of the AmCham BOP 2012 committee, said, “We are searching for the top 30 Filipino students who will participate in the weeklong activities of the AmCham business orientation program 2012.”
Deadline for application is December 9. Names of selected participants for BOP 2012 will be released on March 12.
The BOP aims to make future business leaders aware of the contributions of multinational business to the country’s development.
It also aims to serve as venue for the constructive competitive exchange of ideas among young leaders from various universities to sharpen their analytical and problem-solving skills in the real-world business context and develop their mutual understanding, cooperation and communication skills, through lessons from AmCham member-companies.
During the BOP week, participants are exposed to the intricacies of doing business in the country, through company visits, lectures, business projects, business meetings and the test of English for international communication (TOEIC).
Company visits
Company visits allow students to learn and interact with corporate executives of prestigious international firms. The itinerary includes a wide array of industries like banking, business process outsourcing, consumer products, hotels, hospitals, information and creative communications technology, manufacturing, energy, and development and logistics.
Students get to meet a senior company executive, even the president himself. They learn about the company’s operations and the situation of the specific industry.
Participants also attend interactive talks by key officers of AmCham member firms and partner organizations on current issues, as viewed from a multinational business perspective. They learn about practical concerns, like leadership, ethics and job searching in the real world.
During the week, participants, divided into teams, apply their skills and knowledge and work together on a project, such as a marketing plan or a feasibility study, based on a Harvard case study.
The teams present their outputs to a panel at the end of the week and the three best projects and best individual presenter will be recognized during the closing awards dinner.
Highly selective
Getting selected for the BOP will not be easy. Stolk stressed, “This is not for everybody. We’re very, very selective.”
College students enrolled in business or business-related courses in 2012-2013 are eligible to join. They must have excellent English language skills, documented outstanding leadership qualities and top scholastic standing.
All applicants must submit a temporary transcript of records and certification of latest grade point average (GPA) or general weighted average (GWA) from their respective registrars. They should also submit the schools’ grading systems and procedures for computing the GPA or GWA.
Applicants must also submit their résumés, completed application forms, essays (topics are found in the application form) and letter of personal recommendation from the dean or any appropriate school official.
A maximum of five students will be selected from each school.
Those initially selected will be given English proficiency and personality tests by the AmCham BOP committee. Students who pass the tests will undergo personal interviews.
The BOP 2012 is cosponsored by Peregrine Development International Inc. and Chevron Philippines Inc. It is also supported by Mead Johnson Nutrition, Thomson Reuters, John Clements Consultants Inc., Convergys Corp. and Sunpower Manufacturing.
AmCham is a private, independent and nonprofit association founded in 1902 in Manila.
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