Saint Mary’s University (SMU) is pleased to welcome four international interns from Howest University, Belgium, as part of an enriching academic exchange program. Both psychology students, Febe De Decker and Silke Dewulf, will join SMU’s Psychology Department under the School of Teacher Education and Humanities. At the same time, Mira Boden and Yenthe Vuylsteke, who are studying occupational therapy, are hosted by the Department of Nursing under the School of Health and Natural Sciences, aside from their stint at a local hospital in Nueva Vizcaya.

The Promotions, External Relations, and Internationalization Office (PERIO) facilitated the internship. The interns’ first day in the Philippines on Feb. 7 included a tour of the local town, which provided them with a chance to familiarize themselves with the community. On February 10, the group participated in a campus tour, where they also paid a courtesy call to Dr. John Octavious S. Palina, the President of the University.

These interns will stay in the Philippines for three months, during which they will gain hands-on experience in their respective programs. To ensure their stay is both professionally and personally enriching, the university has prepared various cultural immersions and academic activities for them throughout their stay.

SMU is committed to fostering international collaboration and is excited to provide these interns with an opportunity to expand their academic knowledge.