UPSKILL 2025: Write your story, one skill, one chapter at a time!

UPSKILL 2025: Write your story, one skill, one chapter at a time!

The UP Career Assistance Program for Engineering Students (UP CAPES) once again demonstrated its commitment to shaping the future of Filipino engineers through its highly anticipated event, UPSKILL 2025. Held on the dates November 12-14, November 17-18, and November 20, 2025, UPSKILL 2025 provided students from the UP Diliman College of Engineering with essential skills and knowledge to successfully navigate their career paths.

What is UPSKILL?

UPSKILL was designed to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace. By providing a platform for students to sharpen their technical skills and cultivate a professional mindset, the program offered more than just training—it gave participants a rare "insider’s look" at how different industries actually operate.

CIC Skill Enhancement Workshop held last November 12 at UPSKILL 2025

UPSKILL 2025

This year’s iteration of UPSKILL featured resume consultations and interview simulations powered by Huawei Technologies Phils. Inc., Seven Seven Global Services Inc., GHD, and Conception Industrial Corporation, alongside several workshops organized by Analog Devices, GHD, Conception Industrial Corporation, Unilever, and Nestlé. This event spanned across six days. Although the event faced unexpected cancellations of its first two days due to a typhoon, it was successfully held last November on the 12th-14th, 17th-18th, and 20th. Most events were held at Melchor Hall, with select activities conducted at the EEEI and IE–ME Buildings.

Throughout the event, students were immersed in hands-on activities which helped sharpen both their technical proficiency and their professional intuition. UPSKILL 2025 not only provided an avenue for students to improve on their hard skills, but also their soft skills.

UPSKILL kicked things off on November 12, 2025 with its Skill Enhancement Workshops, where GHD and Concepcion Industrial Corporation took center stage to lead sessions on “Project Management” and “Career Forward: Preparing for Success in the Modern Workplace.” These workshops set the tone for UPSKILL—equipping students with practical insights, real-world perspectives, and the mindset needed to thrive beyond the classroom.

The beginning of the Resume Consultation & Interview Simulation (RCIS) sub-event was held on the second day of UPSKILL, last November 13, 2025 featuring the first day of resume consultations and interview simulations conducted by GHD and Huawei. These one-on-one sessions allowed participants to receive personalized feedback on their CVs and practice their interview skills with industry professionals.

The third day of UPSKILL, held on November 14, 2025, continued with day 2 of the resume consultations and interview simulations, conducted by Huawei, Seven Seven Global Services Inc., and Concepcion Industrial Corporation.

On the fourth day of UPSKILL, November 17, 2025, Nestlé facilitated Career Craft, a three-part talk series that provided insights into leadership and career development in the manufacturing industry. The discussions covered leadership in factory settings, the role of engineering in driving social responsibility and sustainability, and practical advice on industry trends and career pathing within manufacturing. In the afternoon, Resume 101 was conducted as a foundational session focused on the essential principles of creating a strong and effective resume. The talk covered proper professional formatting and how to present experiences in a clear and impactful manner, followed by an interactive Q&A segment. The day concluded with Dashboards & Data Visualization, a technical workshop led by Nestlé. Participants were introduced to modern tools and techniques for transforming raw data into actionable insights through clear and professional dashboard design.

Unilever conducted a workshop entitled, Unlocking Your Future: A Leadership Journey, held on November 18, 2025, the fifth day of the event. This talk introduced the Unilever Future Leaders Program (UFLP) and provided valuable insights into crafting standout CVs and performing effectively in interviews. It also highlighted how storytelling and data-driven thinking can be leveraged to create meaningful career impact.

UPSKILL 2025 was concluded on November 20, 2025 with Analog Devices Inc. leading a hands-on technical workshop titled Introduction to CodeFusion Studio and Zephyr RTOS for Microcontrollers. This session was designed for participants interested in embedded systems development. Attendees gained practical experience using ADI’s integrated development environment, CodeFusion Studio, and microcontroller boards to build sample applications utilizing the Zephyr Real-Time Operating System.

But we couldn’t have done that without our partner organization: UP MSS!

Explore the intersection of science, public service, and popular culture with UP MSS! As part of our organization, members engage in interactive activities, enhance leadership skills, and create a supportive network, while promoting materials science outside the classroom through major events and initiatives, such as the MSE Summit, Materials Challenge, Wisdom Wednesday, Flower Sale, and CATCH UP. From inspiring future engineers to organizing creative events, UP MSS transforms curiosity into meaningful partnerships with the community. If you’re passionate about science, collaboration, and making a difference, UP MSS is your platform to grow, lead, and advance the future of materials science.

What's Next?

Even with the conclusion of UPSKILL 2025, UP CAPES remains committed to its mission of bridging the gap between the university and the professional world.

Up next is an industry talk with Pepsi-Cola Company, titled “How to Thrive in a Fast-Paced or Competitive Environment.” Open to UP Diliman students—especially 3rd to 4th year Engineering students—this session will dive into real-world strategies for navigating high-pressure workplaces, adapting to rapidly changing industries, and building resilience in competitive professional settings.

Participants will gain firsthand insights from Pepsi-Cola professionals, learn how global companies operate, and discover practical approaches to standing out and succeeding early in their careers. This talk offers students a valuable opportunity to connect classroom learning with real industry experience.

Register here: upcapes.org/AHPepsiCola2026Reg

And this is only a preview of what’s ahead. One of UP CAPES’s flagship events, JOBFAIR 2026, is coming soon. Students from the College of Engineering can look forward to meaningful opportunities and valuable insights that will support and guide their professional careers. This is just the beginning—get ready to connect, explore, and step into even bigger opportunities.

Written by: Aaliyah Decierdo