The UP Resilience Institute successfully hosted 44 students from diverse academic backgrounds in its fifth year of conducting the UPRI Internship Program. Held from July to August, the program welcomed students from various UP constituent universities—UP Diliman, UP Los Baños, UP Manila, UP Visayas, and UP Tacloban—as well as from other local universities and learning institutions, including Ateneo de Manila University, Caraga State University, and the Philippine Science High School.
The interns came from a wide range of disciplines, natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, economics, and other fields, making this year’s cohort the most diverse yet. Each intern was assigned to one of the UPRI’s multidisciplinary offices, allowing them to further develop and apply the knowledge and skills they had gained in their respective fields.
For the first time since the program’s inception, an “Intern Kumustahan” was conducted on July 30, 2024. The Intern Kumustahan served as a midterm check-in for the students, giving them a chance to meet and interact with peers assigned to other divisions, and reflect on their progress. The Kumustahan featured small group discussions, where students were encouraged to share their thoughts, feelings, and any concerns in a safe, supportive environment. Games and icebreakers were also incorporated between the sessions to foster stronger bonds among the interns.
It was heartening to hear that many students found UPRI’s work environment both welcoming and intellectually enriching. They expressed their appreciation for the knowledgeable and approachable supervisors and noted the tangible impact their work could have on society.
The internship concluded with a Closing Program on August 6, 2024, where students shared their experiences, challenges, and insights in a lively and creative manner.
The UPRI Internship Program is part of the Institute’s commitment to supporting academic institutions in integrating disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation (CCAM), into their curricula.