Adamson University is the latest institution to join Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), an international non-profit organization that aims to bring together business and higher education leaders to train and mold university students into becoming empowered business professionals and leaders as well. In its website overview, SIFE aims “to mobilize university students to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders.” In Adamson, SIFE will give students the chance to apply business skills learned in the classroom into real world economic issues, gain valuable work experience, and build a network of professional contacts with local and national business as well as with fellow SIFE members in the country. SIFE is currently active in 1,400 colleges and universities in 40 countries.
AdU SIFE’s first project is the establishment of a student cooperative for college-level students of the university, plans for which were officially made public during the orientation held last 6 May 2009 at the OZ Audio-Visual Room. Fr. Mario A. Castillo C.M., a Vincentian expert on cooperatives, gave a thorough orientation on the functions, purposes, and dynamics of a cooperative. Fr. Castillo himself helped found a successful cooperative in Cebu and is currently a consultant of the Archdiocese of Manila for its cooperative building programs.
The student cooperative plans to use a savings mobilization program as platform for its future enterprises. The first enterprise being targeted by the group is the establishment of a student canteen, to be managed and funded by the cooperative.
Students who wish to join SIFE and become a member of the cooperative can contact Prof. John Fajardo, AdU SIFE adviser, at the Business Administration Department (local 202). Yael Esperat
