Ateneo ECCE Students Complete Internship at CYCU Taiwan through reestablished international partnership

Five student researchers from the Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering (ECCE) Department of Ateneo de Manila University successfully completed their research internship at Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) in Taiwan, held from 6 June to 30 July 2025.

All five interns are affiliated with the Ateneo Mobile and Wireless Laboratory (AMWL), located at CTC 316, a research hub focused on wireless communication systems, embedded platforms, and intelligent applications. The laboratory is currently managed by Maria Leonora Guico and Engr Jan Kevin Galicia of the ECCE Department.

The senior and supersenior students—Caitlin Bernadette Villanueva (4 BS CpE), Brix Mayabason (5 BS EcE), Gena Lyn Tusi (5 BS EcE), Jonathan Simon Bernardo (4 BS CpE), and Lorraine Pearl Malubag (4 BS CpE)—were hosted under the Intelligent Computing and Big Data Laboratory of CYCU. They were mentored by Prof. Yong-Xiang Chen and Prof. Elizabeth Cha, engaging in interdisciplinary projects in the areas of artificial intelligence, big data, and smart systems.

The CYCU-Ateneo collaboration was originally launched back in 2010's through a partnership between Dr Rosula Reyes, former Ateneo ECCE Department Chair, and Prof. Danny Chung of CYCU. After years of dormancy, the partnership was revived in 2024 and is now being continued by Engr. Galicia and Prof. Elizabeth Cha, enabling the return of student research exchanges between the two institutions.

This year’s group represents the second batch of ECCE-AMWL interns to join the CYCU program. The first batch in 2024 included Maxine Van Caparas and Fernan Pelobello, who also conducted their internship under Prof. Chung. Their undergraduate thesis—originally developed during their stay at CYCU—was later awarded the Poster People’s Choice Award at SOSE Week 2025, showcasing the long-term impact of the research collaboration.

Likewise, the current batch of interns is now using their CYCU research experience as the basis for their research theses, applying their learnings to develop innovative solutions in their final year projects. The dual mentorship from both Ateneo and CYCU faculty provides them with a unique cross-institutional academic experience.

The ECCE-AMWL and CYCU internship program reflects Ateneo's broader vision of globalized, research-driven engineering education. Through this renewed partnership, ECCE students gain access to high-impact international research environments and contribute to the development of forward-looking technologies addressing real-world challenges.