Activities for Familiarization with the World of Work and Higher Education (ACAP) are mandatory educational experiences established by the Buenos Aires City Ministry of Education to introduce students in their final years of secondary school to the labor market and higher education.
In 2024, the ACAP BDS program expanded significantly, aiming to strengthen students’ professional development. In terms of figures, Belgrano Day School students in years S5 and S6 participated in 35 activities and 9 workshops, completing a total of 11,783 hours of practical experience. Of these hours, 43% took place in the productive sector, another 43% in the academic-scientific field, 9% in the social-community sector, and 6% in the public policy sector. This growth represented a 52% increase in activities and a 6% increase in hours completed compared to the previous year. Additionally, two new features were introduced: workshops on future-ready skills and the inclusion of the public policy sector as a setting for practical experience.
Productive Sector
The productive sector—represented primarily by the contributions of families from the BDS community—included architecture, law, and accounting firms, as well as technology companies and consultancies.
Architecture and Design
The students visited the GGYA studio and Riva Constructora. At GGYA, they took part in activities such as editing AutoCAD drawings and analyzing materials, guided by professionals who shared their experience in the field of architecture. Lourdes Greco, one of the participating students, noted: “It was an enriching experience that allowed me to deepen my interest in this career.” At Riva Constructora, they explored design and construction processes. Another company linked to design was the clothing brand Yagmour; students visited the firm for the second consecutive year to observe its operations, ranging from garment manufacturing to administrative tasks.
Law and Legal Sciences
The students collaborated with the law firms GFM and Marval O’Farrell Mairal. At both firms, they took part in practical activities, such as attending court hearings and handling legal procedures. Jazmín García Belotto, one of the students, said: “It was an experience that confirmed my decision to study law.” Meanwhile, Tomás Castresana remarked: “It was an excellent opportunity to learn how a law firm operates.”
In addition, representatives from the Marval firm and Adidas visited Belgrano Day School to discuss the INTA (International Trademark Association) “Un-Real” program, which raises awareness about the consumption of counterfeit products and the implications of the illegal market.
Engineering, technology, and business
At Muchtek, students interested in mechanical, industrial, and chemical engineering learned about product design and manufacturing processes and spoke with engineers about their career paths. Agustín Welsh valued the experience as an opportunity to understand the real-world impact of engineering.
In the technology sector, female students interested in engineering and artificial intelligence visited Globant, where they attended talks with ITBA alumni and explored workplace dynamics within the tech industry. Julieta Amadio Massaro remarked, “Thanks to this visit, many of my questions were answered.”
Another group of students visited JPS Argentina—led by Mariano Mofsovich, a Belgrano Day School alumnus—where they gained insight into the application of fields such as marketing, digital business, and engineering.
Meanwhile, S6 students undertook professional internships for the second consecutive year at BTR Consulting, a company specializing in cybersecurity. The primary goal of these sessions was to highlight this area of technology as a relevant field for their future careers by immersing them in the company’s daily work environment.
Other companies visited included Megatlon and Google, particularly by students interested in careers related to business administration and economics. In both instances, the aim was for Senior 6 students to gain insight into internal company operations—exploring various departments and even the management of multiple locations. For example, the visit to Megatlon highlighted the dynamics between different branches in Buenos Aires (CABA), while the visit to Google focused on analyzing the company’s operations in Argentina and the wider region.
Creatividad y Arte
Paula Rivero, a parent in the school community and a renowned visual artist, held a hands-on workshop on design and fine arts at her studio for students specializing in Arts, Design & ICT. Josefina Galind, one of the participants, remarked: “It was an inspiring experience that made me consider other career options.”
Internationalism
Students interested in international relations participated in a program run by the NGO CADAL, a foundation that promotes human rights and democratic solidarity. The initiative included a virtual seminar held at the school library and practical sessions at the organization’s offices, where students collaborated on comparative data reports covering 2023 and 2024. Students Mora Villalba and Laura Raidan worked on compiling and analyzing legislative data as part of an institutional report. Laura noted: “The experience required commitment and effort, and it taught us how to resolve issues on our own.”
Scientific-Academic Sector
Activities in this area provided an introduction to university degree programs and work within academic settings. Early in the year, a survey regarding students’ university interests was conducted, enabling the organization of two types of outreach: a general approach involving events, fairs, and workshops hosted by various academic institutions, and a targeted approach focused on exploring the specific institutions the students had selected.
University visits: Di Tella, San Andrés, ITBA, UDESA, and Image Campus presented their undergraduate programs. Additionally, students attended various university fairs, such as “Mundo Universitario UCA 2024” and the BDS University Fair, which featured over 30 national and international institutions.
Hospital Italiano: During a one-day event, students interested in medicine explored careers related to the biological and biomedical sciences, including a demonstration at the University Simulation Center. Student Nina James Orellano noted: “It helped me better understand what healthcare professionals face in their work.”
Belgrano Day School offers an educational approach with an international outlook. Consequently, the range of higher education institutions available to students includes universities abroad.
Australian Universities: S6 students attended the Australia EducaFair 2024, where prestigious public and private universities from Australia showcased their degree programs for international students. The event also offered students the opportunity to begin the application process with personalized guidance regarding both enrollment and immigration procedures.
Università di Bologna: S5 students attended a masterclass led by Prof. María Giulia Roversi Mónaco on “Law, Society, and Business”—a topic included in the university’s Business and Economics degree program. Subsequently, as part of the school’s vocational and career guidance sessions, institutional representatives discussed study and professional opportunities available through UNIBO.
ENDEAVOR Experience: A highlight of the academic calendar was the Endeavor Experience for young entrepreneurs, featuring speakers such as Guibert Englebienne (Globant), Mateo Salvatto (Asteroid), Maximo Cavazzani (Etermax), and Luz Borchardt (Henry). These leaders conveyed to the audience of over 11,000 students that curiosity, perseverance, and passion for a purpose are key to entrepreneurship and success.
Presentation on agreements and scholarships for BDS students: Through a presentation in the Auditorium, students learned about the agreements Belgrano Day School has signed with various universities to provide academic benefits to our graduates.
Future Skills Workshops
In collaboration with NGOs and universities, nine workshops were held on two highly relevant topics—financial literacy and employability strategies—to prepare students for professional challenges. These workshops were led by organizations such as Ticmas, Junior Achievement, Gero Educación, Bitcoin Argentina, Universidad de San Andrés, and Startup Pitch Event.
Gero Educación is an AI-powered platform that helps students “test drive” a career path before making a final choice. Students from Belgrano Day used the platform to manage their academic paths; it proved highly valuable in fostering self-awareness, thanks to the personalized reports it provides.
Socio-community sector
Meanwhile, the socio-community initiative promoted diverse activities that reinforce students’ social commitment—an aspect strongly encouraged by Belgrano Day School.
Memory in Action: In collaboration with the Scholem Aleijem School and the Holocaust Museum, students participated in workshops designed to coordinate activities raising awareness about historical memory.
Akamasoa Foundation and Garrahan Hospital: Students led charitable campaigns in conjunction with our Community Service program, Bridges, strengthening their role as agents of social change.
Public Policies
As part of public sector-related training, a new development in 2024 was the participation of S5 students in the “The Legislature and the School” program. The students presented and defended a bill drafted during their Global Perspectives course. The bill (File No. 003-D-2024)—titled “Mandatory Assignment of Psychologists in Primary and Secondary Schools (Both Public and Private) in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires”—was formally submitted to the Legislature, sparking the interest of two lawmakers who pledged to introduce it for official consideration.
The ACAP BDS 2024 program grew not only in numbers but also in the diversity of opportunities, establishing itself as a comprehensive experience that connects students with the professional and academic worlds.
