The “Why ChE?” Chemical Engineering Career Orientation held on 9 and 16 November 2024 via Zoom, sparked awareness of the Chemical Engineering profession among high school and college students nationwide, addressing its limited visibility and inspiring participants to explore its diverse career opportunities.
Spearheaded by six Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers (PIChE) chapters, including Junior Saint Louis University Chapter (JSLUC), Bataan, Philippine National Police (PNP) Forensics, Pampanga, Iligan Bay, and Fluor, the event gathered over 100 attendees nationwide. It seminar featured five resource speakers who shared valuable insights from their professional experiences. Their narratives illustrated the wide-ranging applications of Chemical Engineering in industries such as pharmaceuticals, energy, materials science, and environmental engineering.
The speakers also discussed current industry trends and innovations, bridging the gap between academic concepts and real-world applications. Post-event feedback revealed that participants better understood the field and felt inspired to explore Chemical Engineering further.
The event contributed significantly to PIChE’s goal of promoting Chemical Engineering education and awareness, creating a ripple effect that may increase enrollment in ChE programs nationwide. Beyond its immediate objectives, the seminar encouraged participants to see the broader impact of Chemical Engineering, particularly in addressing global challenges like sustainability and resource management.
While the event achieved its primary goals, it encountered significant challenges in coordination and communication. The differing schedules of the organizing team and collaborators posed difficulties in aligning tasks, managing workloads, and conducting dry runs. These logistical hurdles required extensive flexibility and adaptability, which occasionally delayed preparations. Future events can benefit from early task scheduling, structured planning timelines, and tools like Google Workspace to streamline communication.
The “Why ChE?” Career Orientation successfully inspired and educated participants, contributing to the advocacy of Chemical Engineering as a vital and impactful profession. With thoughtful refinements, the event can continue to serve as a platform for fostering interest and understanding in Chemical Engineering, ensuring its growth and relevance in addressing future societal and industrial challenges.
The event signifies a collaborative effort of the Chemical Engineering students for the enhancement of quality education at the School of Engineering and Architecture. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4) Quality Education, the event is a demonstration of SLU’s continuing progress in promoting lifelong learning and bringing the best of the students’ potential in their future careers.
(Article by the Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers-Junior Saint Louis University Chapter (PIChE-JSLUC))
