Internship Policy for First Semester SY 2022-2023 (LS OPCS Memo)

During the First Semester of School Year 2022-2023, the primary mode for internship of students who are required to enroll for internship/practicum classes will still be online. But these students may volunteer to do onsite, on-campus internships or onsite, off-campus internships.

The following steps must be undertaken by students who are enrolled for internship whether this be online, onsite/on-campus or onsite/off-campus:

1. Students must attend an Internship Orientation hosted by the Office of Placement and Career Services (OPCS). These orientations may take place before enrollment.
2. Students must give the name and complete address of the host training establishment (HTE) where the internship will take place as well as the full name, position, and email of the point person in charge for internships at the HTE to their internship coordinator and OPCS (placement.ls@ateneo.edu). OPCS will check if the HTE has an active Memorandum of Agreement with the university. If the HTE does not have an active Memorandum of Agreement with the Ateneo de Manila University, OPCS will provide the HTE the documents required for processing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the university.
3. Aside from the MOA, other documentary requirements include the following:
   
   1. A Training Contract which will indicate the roles and responsibilities of both the intern and the HTE, number of hours to be rendered, and other provisions related to the internship program. The training contract has to be signed by a representative of the HTE, the student, the department chair of the student, and in the case of undergraduates, the student’s parents or guardian, before the internship commences
   2. An Internship Plan which is a description of the tasks/duties of the intern. This plan should be approved by the internship coordinator to make sure that this is aligned with the objectives of the department.
4. Students must obtain clearance from the Office of Guidance and Counseling (guidance.ls@ateneo.edu) and this must be submitted to the internship coordinator.

There are additional regulations for onsite internships:

1. All off-campus activities are prohibited when the National Capital Region or the area where the off-campus activity will take place is at COVID Alert Level IV or higher; when CHED, the local government, or other relevant government agency so requires; or when the university administration deems it unsafe to proceed with off-campus activities due to COVID or other safety and security concerns. When off-campus activities are prohibited, onsite, off-campus internships will be automatically converted to online internships.
2. Students who were approved to take online classes may not request for onsite internships.
3. If the HTE is outside Quezon City, students must email the name and complete address of the HTE where the internship will take place to the Office of Student Services (oss.ls@ateneo.edu). The Office of Student Services will apply for approval for onsite internships from the relevant local government units. Students must anticipate that processing of approvals will take at least one month.
4. These are additional requirements if the HTE is not an Ateneo de Manila office:
   
   1. The worksite of the HTE must have a safety seal from their local government unit. The Safety Officer of the worksite must submit the internship site health and safety checklist to the OPCS. OPCS will provide the HTE with the checklist.
   2. The training contract must include the COVID-related health and safety protocols of the worksite. The health and safety protocols of the worksite must be attached to and form an integral part of the Internship Contract. The training contract must also include provisions for online internship when the National Capital Region or the region where the onsite, off-campus internship is taking place is at COVID Alert Level III or when the university administration deems it unsafe to proceed with off-campus activities due to COVID or other safety and security concerns.
5. Students who prefer to do off-campus, onsite internships must also fulfill these requirements of the Office of Health Services:
   
   1. For internships with less than 2 months of cumulative exposure, schedule an appointment with the OHS for assessment (healthservices.ls@ateneo.edu). If you have active comorbidities, you may need to secure certification from a primary attending physician for fitness for the internship. Certificates coming from primary physicians must be in the physician’s letterhead with contact information.
   2. For internships with more than 2 months cumulative exposure:
      
      1. Secure a request for chest x-ray, complete blood count and urinalysis through email at healthservices.ls@ateneo.edu If these laboratory results are available within the last 6 months, students may proceed to the next step. The student may accomplish these requirements from their own preferred laboratory/clinic.
      2. Once results are available, schedule an appointment with the OHS via Blue PHR.
      3. Bring the laboratory results to the OHS on the scheduled date of your appointment. Certificate is issued on the day of the appointment presuming results of the tests are clear. If treatment is warranted based on the result, certification is waived until after treatment.
      4. If the interns have their own private health care provider, they may secure a medical certificate reflecting the doctor’s letterhead with contact information for verification and provide a copy to the Office of Health Services via email. Laboratory requirements will still be required for submissions from external physicians.
6. Students and parents or guardians of students who opt to do onsite, off-campus internships must sign a Declaration and Undertaking to be provided by OPCS. The accomplished and notarized Declaration and Undertaking should be noted by the Internship Coordinator and submitted to OPCS.

Only students who are doing internships as part of an enrolled practicum/internship course may receive any form of endorsement for internship from any employee of the university.

These guidelines are subject to change at any time, based on future advisories from the University or relevant government agencies (e.g. IATF, DOLE, DOH, LGUs, CHED, and/or DepEd).