ABOUT THE BOP
The AmCham Business Orientation Program (BOP) aims to make tomorrow's leaders aware of the contributions of multinational businesses to the country's development.
It offers well-qualified undergraduate Filipino student an opportunity to gain a new understanding of key global business and economic issues, through a program of site tours plus in-depth discussions with management professionals from a wide spectrum of top AmCham member companies and facilities in Manila.
In addition, the BOP aims to:
- Promote a venue for the constructive competitive exchange of ideas among aspiring young leaders from various universities across the country.
- Harness students' analytical and problem-solving skills in the context of real-life business environment; and
- Help student enhance mutual understanding, cooperation, and communication skills, especially with AmCham member companies.
PROGRAM COMPONENTS
The BOP is a week-long program for university students, consisting of company visits, meeting with CEOs, and a mentored business project.
This year's BOP will be on April 14 to 21, 2012.
Company Visit
Participants are exposed to the real world operations of multinational company through site visits and meetings with top company officers. The program provides a rare opportunity for students from different universities and background nationwide to learn together and interact with corporate executives of prestigious international firms.
Companies to visit cover various industries, including banking, business process outsourcing, consumer products, hotels, hospitals, information and creative communication technology, manufacturing, energy, development and logistics.
During the site visits, a senior company executive meets for discussions with the students and discusses with them, among others, the company's operations and the situation of the specific industry.
Talks
Throughout the week, the students will also attend interactive talks by key officers from AmCham member firms and partner organizations on various topics ranging from current issues, viewed from a multinational business perspective, to practical concerns, such as leadership management, business ethics, and how a job search works in the real world.
Business Project
During the week participants will also be asked to apply their knowledge and work together on a project (for example, a marketing plan) based on Harvard Case Study. They will be divided into teams (composed of students from different schools) and present their output to a panel at the end of the week. The three best projects and a best individual presenter will be recognized in a ceremony during the closing awards dinner.
Details of the project guidelines shall be provided and explained to the participants.
Other Activities
Aside from the above, students will have an opportunity to interact with the alumni of the BOP, US Embassy officers, the AmCham Board of Director, BOP Company Partners, and other AmCham members during a pre-program cocktail reception and the closing awards dinner. These are excellent opportunities for students from difference BOP batches to network with one another, as well as with the guest from AmCham member firms.
BOP participants may also have the opportunity to attend AmCham activities (e.g., Committee meetings, or a General Membership meeting) during the week and interact with AmCham members. Moreover, successful candidates will have the privilege to be administered the prestigious TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) and receive a Certificate.
Schedule
The week-long BOP kicks off with a Welcome Launch and Team building on April 14, 2012 followed by a Pre-Program Cocktail at 6:00 p.m.
Daily activities begin at 7:00 a.m. daily at the AmCham office in Makati.
There will be breakfast meetings with CEO/s, company visits and talks scheduled every day. A schedule of activities will be given to each participant.
Students return to the AmCham office at the end of each day around 7 p.m. (depending on their schedule for the day).
The program closes with Awards Dinner on April 21 at 6:00 p.m. after the Case Study Presentation.
ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM
Eligibility Criteria
a. Filipino Citizen
b. Incoming Senior, Business Major or enrolled in any business-related course, in Academic Year 2012-2013
c. Excellent English Language Skills
d. Documented Outstanding Leadership Qualities
e. Top Scholastic Records
Application Process
1. Applicant must submit the following:
a. Temporary Transcript of Records and Certification of latest Grade Point Average (GPA) or Certification of General Weighted Average from Registrar -and with this, must also provide his/her school's grading system and procedure for computing the GPA/GWA. (Without the information on the computation method, the applicant will not be considered; it is imperative to the selection process.)
b. Resume
c. Completed Application Form
d. Essays (Topics are noted on the Application Form)
e. Letter of Personal Recommendation from the Dean, or appropriate school official
2. Documents must be submitted to appropriate school officially (eg. the faculty Dean or Program Director) or review and consideration for submission to the AmCham BOP Committee. Only a maximum of 5 students per school will be selected.
3. The BOP Committee will then make an initial selection of student submissions based on he above criteria. (All criteria must be observed when documents are submitted - otherwise the applicant will be disqualified.)
4. Those students initially selected will be advised and called for an English Proficiency and Personality test, to be administered by the AmCham BOP Committee. Students who successfully perform in the above tests will then be called for an personal interview.
5. Based on this interview and the other criteria, a final selection will be made and the students and the schools will be notified in writing.
Deadline for Applications to the AmCham office - December 9, 2011
ONLY 30 STUDENTS WILL BE SELECTED, NATIONWIDE
COST AND OTHER EXPENSES
There is no cost for applying and participating in the BOP 2012
All BOP participants will be housed at a hotel in Makati area throughout the week and with subsidized costs of transportation to and from Makati (by land for those for Luzon and air for those from the Visayas and Mindanao) for the duration of the program.
AmCham will provide transportation and meals for the activities during the program.
UNIVERSITIES
The student participants of BOP 201 were from: Luzon: Centro Escolar University, De La Salle University, De La Salle - College of St. Benilde, Far Eastern University, Miriam College, University of the East, University of Asia and the Pacific, University of the Philippines - Manila, University of Santo Tomas, Polythecnic University of the Philippines, Southville University, St. Louis University of Baguio, University of Cordilleras, University of Baguio, Ateneo de Naga University. Visayas: Siliman University, Dumaguete and University of San Carlos, Cebu. Mindanao: Ateneo de Davao University, University of the Philippines Davao, Xavier University Cagayan de Oro, Ateneo de Zamboanga University and Mindanao State University, Marawi City.
PARTNERS
The AmCham 2012 BOP is co-sponsored by PEREGRINE DEVELOPMENT.
To date, the program's supporters include: Mead Johnson Nutrition, Thomson Reuters, John Clements Consultants, Inc., Sunpower Philippines and Pointwest Technologies.
