Since its launch in September 2012, Microsoft Taiwan’s GIRLS Power Up internship programme has been steadily picking up momentum in helping bring young and aspiring businesswomen in Taiwan another step closer to becoming entrepreneurs.
The first internship programme for female college students in Taiwan to feature long-term collaborations between academic institutions and corporate entities, GIRLS Power Up was first initiated at the Taipei Chengshih University of Science and Technology (TPCU), National Chung Hsing University and WuFeng University. The programme aims to provide the skills training and practical experience needed for young women to succeed in their future ‘micro business venture’ pursuits.
To date, about 180 female students have participated in the programme and were successfully matched to 36 ‘micro-internship’ teams to experience running a business venture and hone their entrepreneurial interests. Microsoft Taiwan further provided support by organising training courses to help participants sharpen their social networking and online marketing skills.
Vincent Shih, Legal and Corporate Affairs Director at Microsoft Taiwan, said, “The main purpose of the GIRLS Power Up programme is to provide a platform for young Taiwanese women to take the first step in digital learning through small-scale business ventures, which entail less risk and help them develop their entrepreneurial potential. This internship programme is designed to enable them to pick up the critical skills and knowledge to cope with the challenges of operating a business venture.”
On 23 January, Microsoft held a press conference to drum up greater awareness and interest for the GIRLS Power Up programme. During the event, several students were invited to share their learning experiences.
Hsieh You-Qi, a business administration student at TPCU, said, “As an online marketer, I need to learn how to differentiate product offerings and leverage social media to effectively market new products to my target customers. Thanks to GIRLS Power Up, I now have a deeper understanding of many aspects of entrepreneurship. I hope to use what I’ve learned to fulfil my dreams of setting up my own business in the future.”
Entrepreneur Sally Wang told the audience how her company gained from offering these internship opportunities, mainly through the exchange of fresh ideas about online marketing with the students.
“The students that I’ve worked with are fully dedicated to this programme, and I am really thankful to have this chance to interact with this group of students. I am most impressed by their positive attitude and creative marketing ideas,” Ms Wang added.
Hsin-Chung Lien, President of TPCU, said, “Our goal is to help students successfully enter the job market after they graduate. We are glad to participate in the GIRLS Power Up programme because it has created a new channel of linking education and the workplace, by providing our students with unique internship opportunities.”
“Thanks to GIRLS Power Up, I have a deeper understanding of many aspects of entrepreneurship. I hope to use what I’ve learned to fulfil my dreams of setting up my own business in the future.”
Hsieh You-Qi, TPCU Student