Celebrating its second year in Southeast Asia, Learning Week is a part of Microsoft’s Internship Programme for full time Undergraduate and MBA students
BANGKOK, 29 June 2016 – From June 27 to July 1, Microsoft APAC held Learning Week 2016, that saw 54 talented Microsoft interns from Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, gather in Bangkok to share experiences and build necessary leadership skills.
Learning Week is part of the SEA Internship Programme, an 8 – 12 week internship for full time Undergraduate students in their penultimate year or final year of University or School or those students studying on a full time MBA program.
“Microsoft is on a mission to find the future leaders of APAC who are genuinely passionate and curious about technology, creative thinking, and desire to work hard alongside some great minds in the industry,” said Ms. Chutima Sribumrungsart, Human Resources Director, Microsoft Thailand. “During their internship, the young talents have a chance to accelerate their work experience, take part in real business activities, get to know various work styles and even contribute to society through a range of CSR initiatives. However, Learning Week and SEA Internship programme are just examples of many ways Microsoft contributes to talent and leadership development in Asia and around the world.”
During the five days of Learning Week, the participants attended workshops, participated in discussions and shared their knowledge that helped them foster cross-cultural connections and find scalable technological solutions that can assist their nations and the region in this fast-changing digital world.
“Infrastructure in Southeast Asia is developing rapidly and we already see so many countries like the Philippines embracing change and puts technology in the driver’s seat to improve the society at large. I personally believe that technology greatly impacts social change,” said Artem Alebastro, Candidate for Master of Global Business, S P Jain School of Global Management, Dubai, Sydney, Singapore. “Interning in Microsoft and connecting with others during Learning Week showed me how much work is being done by Microsoft to make new technologies that can help empower every person on the planet, including Microsoft employees and interns, who can work from anywhere with the help of Microsoft’s cloud technology.”
Another highlight of the learning week was Southeast Asia Cultural Village event where the interns from six countries showcased the diversity and heritage of their cultures through talks, games and food, further embracing diversity which is one of the key pillars of Microsoft.
Pondering on the importance of cultural diversity, Nurul Syafiqah, Information System Management undergrad student, Singapore Management University, said, “We all live in a new era now, where thanks to all the innovations, the world has become a smaller place. We are all connected on this planet, but with this connectivity comes great responsibility – to embrace other cultures and points of view that might be different from yours. During my time with Microsoft I was really inspired by all the brilliant people who brought different perspective to things because of their cultural heritage. It was truly humbling.”
Microsoft’s efforts in finding and fostering talents don’t end with Learning Week. Those who hold a bachelor or master’s degree have an opportunity to enrol in the Microsoft Academy for College Hires (MACH), a two-year programme designed for newest university hires in various job families including Marketing, Sales, Services, IT and Operations. MACH complements the participant’s role by ensuring that they receive professional development to enable them to start strong, accelerate their impact, build business network and drive a long-term career at Microsoft.
“Interning at Microsoft Thailand was an eye-opener for me,” said Patchara Vanthongkam, Microsoft Intern and undergrad engineering student at Chulalongkorn University. “I was really impressed by the resources Microsoft invests into coaching and developing our talents. During my time with the company I am able to experience real business world, and have ample opportunities to present my ideas to top executives and clients, as well as get practical advice from my mentors. Such level of commitment from an organization was something I haven’t expected, and now, after getting my degree I intend to enter MACH programme to become a full-time Microsoft employee.“
“Being a leader is no easy task and it requires a range of skills like problem solving, creative thinking and many more. I think one of the most important skills each leader must possess is an ability to look at things from different perspective and accept others’ points of view. At Microsoft, we believe that diversity is at the heart of all things so we always make sure employees’ needs and concerns are met, and everyone is treated equally and with respect. As part of our commitment to develop next-generation leaders in Asia and beyond, we strive to celebrate our multinational heritage by sharing cultures, languages and perspectives with each other at every level through activities like the Learning Week,” concluded Ms. Chutima.
For more information on Internship Programme visit: http://www.mscareers-ice.com/
For more information on MACH visit: https://careers.microsoft.com/students/mach
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About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @Microsoft) is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
Established in 1993, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited aims to Make 70 Million Lives Better by enabling Thai people and businesses to realize their full potential through technology that transforms the way people work, play, and communicate. We offer software, services, and devices that deliver new opportunities, greater convenience, and enhanced value to people’s lives. Working with communities and the Thai government, Microsoft and its partners are committed to working closely with organizations and people across Thailand to fully harness the power of technology and innovation.
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For further information, (press) please contact:
Pornravee Suramool or Prang Sukhasvasti Na Ayudhya
Hill+Knowlton Strategies Thailand
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