14 October 2026
Students can look forward to more internship opportunities, industry mentorship, microcredentials, and international learning experiences following Benilde’s partnership with ZIP Travel Philippines and Hospitality Institute of America-Philippines Inc. (HIAP). Both organizations work in the areas of global mobility, educational exchange, hospitality training, and professional development, helping students and young professionals prepare for careers in a global environment.
The partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on October 6 at the Salle de Auvergne of the Benilde AKIC Campus. Present at the signing were Vice Chancellor for Academics Angelo Marco Lacson and School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management Dean Glenn Ricaforte. Representing the partner organizations were Aaron Dale Black, CEO of ZIP Travel and HIAP, together with members of their leadership teams.
Through the agreement, Benilde and its partners will work together on student internships, microcredential development, curriculum enhancement, faculty immersion, mentorship programs, workshops, seminars, research projects, industry talks, and community initiatives.
One of the immediate benefits of the partnership is the expansion of internship opportunities for Benildeans. Students from different academic programs can gain practical experience through exposure to actual industry settings and projects. The agreement also opens opportunities for students to work on real-world challenges, develop industry-led projects, and receive guidance from professionals working in the travel and hospitality sectors.
The partnership connects particularly well with the Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management program. The program prepares students for careers in travel, tourism, destination development, entrepreneurship, international relations, and tourism marketing. It also encourages students to create new tourism products and services, tell compelling destination stories, and explore opportunities that contribute to sustainable tourism development.
Students in the program can benefit from ZIP Travel’s experience in international exchange, internship, and cultural immersion programs. Founded globally in 1993 and established in the Philippines in 2009, ZIP Travel has helped thousands of students and young professionals gain international exposure through work-and-travel, internship, training, and exchange opportunities across different parts of the world.
HIAP brings another layer of learning through its focus on hospitality training, industry certifications, professional development, and specialized skills programs. Established in the Philippines in 2015, the institute offers training, workshops, certifications, and learning opportunities designed around the needs of the hospitality and tourism industries.
The partnership also gives significant attention to microcredential development. Benilde, ZIP Travel, and HIAP will explore microcredentials that respond to the needs of the travel and hospitality sectors. These additional credentials can help students document specialized competencies while completing their degree, giving them more opportunities to showcase skills that employers are actively looking for.
The initiative complements Benilde’s ongoing work in microcredentialing. Earlier, the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management introduced microcredentials designed to help students gain industry-relevant competencies alongside their academic studies. The collaboration with ZIP Travel and HIAP creates more opportunities to connect these credentials with current industry practices, global standards, and professional experiences.
Students can also expect more classroom engagements with industry practitioners through guest lectures, workshops, seminars, and mentorship activities. Faculty members and associates from both institutions may participate in immersion programs and exposure visits that provide additional learning and professional development opportunities.
Beyond internships and training, the agreement covers collaborative research, case study development, resource sharing, and social impact projects. These activities create more opportunities for students and faculty to work with industry partners while contributing ideas and solutions that address current challenges in the travel and hospitality sectors.
For more information on Benilde’s undergraduate programs, contact us at (63) 2 8230 5100 local 1801 or admissions@benilde.edu.ph. You may also visit our website at www.benilde.edu.ph.
