UnionBank Partners With SMU to Offer a Talent Development Program

Philippines’ UnionBank said that it has signed a partnership with the Singapore Management University (SMU) for offering an overseas 12-week talent development program. SMU is one of the finest universities in Asia, and this partnership will let some of its students to learn from the bankers of UnionBank.

As per SMU’s statement, UnionBank will select a maximum of 10 students to co-develop technologies on multiple banking and fintech technologies. This program will be monitored under the University’s Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE).

HAU Koh Foo, Director of the SMU Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, said, “We are always on the lookout to collaborate with the best knowledge partners that can equip our students with new skills and information and expose them in various learning environments.”

He also adds that SMU is looking forward to more such collaborations in the future that may enhance University Students’ outlook towards the banking and finance sector.

It should be noted that the program mentioned above will be backed by the Global Innovation Alliance, a Singaporean Government initiative that aims at networking significant innovation hubs across the world. The UnionBank also is looking forward to this program as it could give ample space to the students to learn from the market leaders.

Michelle Rubio, UnionBank Executive Vice President, and Chief Human Resource Officer said,

This partnership is in line with the bank’s ‘Student Mentoring Program’ which offers opportunity to work in the bank’s most innovative and exciting projects; learn and collaborate with experienced professionals; gain experience in a corporate / fintech setting; obtain deeper understanding of banking, finance, technology and the impact of the bank’s initiatives to promote financial inclusion, thereby fostering holistic development for the participants.

He also said that UnionBank might also consider partnering with many more educational institutes in the ASEAN region specifically. UnionBank had already set up an institute primarily aimed at Blockchain technology in 2018 to select talents in the Philippines.