It isn't every day that you get the chance to nose around Sony's development labs, wander through CSX World Terminals, or chat the afternoon away with the Consul General of Thailand -- not unless you are one of the high school students lucky enough to participate in the Business School Partnership Programme.

Launched in 2001 by the Chamber and the Association of the English Medium Secondary Schools (AEMSS), the programme aims to show students the importance of English in the workplace. This year, students from 24 schools participated in a total of 24 company visits or lectures between October 2002 and March 2003.

During company visits, senior executives explained to students the role that English plays in their workplace before giving them a tour around their office to see firsthand how staff communicate in a live business environment.

Besides company visits, the programme also arranges for executives to visit schools to share with students their own experiences in learning English. The talks, all conducted in English, prompted lively debates among students. Teachers and students alike agreed that the programme had given them a valuable opportunity to interact with business executives -- lessons not easily learned in the classroom.

The programme for 2003-04 will start this summer and will include a three-week internship scheme for selected senior secondary school students. Details about the programme will be announced in May.

Any company interested in participating in the scheme can call Karen Fung, the Chamber's Assistant Manager for Training Services, at 2823 1240.