dReam Alumni Magazine Mar 2017 Issue by Republic Polytechnic, Alumni Services

Issue 42 l March 2017

OPEN HOUSE HOUSE 2017 2017 OPEN

www.alumni.rp.edu.sg

CONTENTS 03

TELEPOD

IT students in RP train with Cisco Technology

ter

A Match Made in RP

BRAG 2016!

Telepod – On-demand E-scooter

Snapshots – Open House 2017

Money Sense - Losing Your Job

11 12 14

d E-scoo On-dem an

RP student at the 6th International Symposium on Technology for Sustainability (ISTS)

Battle Republic Annual Games took place from 17 October – 25 November 2016 at RP Sports Complex. BRAG's aim is to strengthen students' affinity to their School and the One-RP spirit, as well as instill the REPUBLIC values through a competitive environment.

Students and staff gathered together to participate in League Games, RP Splash, Avontuur De Republic, RP Strides, Campus Relay, Steps For Good Challenge and Office Olympics, while alumni participated in RP Splash and Avontuur De Republic, which saw at least 19 alumni coming back to their alma mater. Here are some of the results achieved by our alumni.

RP Aces Cisco NetRiders competition in Asia Pacific Region Checklist for the Big Interview 10

It’s Free And It’ll Last You A Lifetime! 5 Ways To Stay Connected

Calendar Of Events

NAME

SCHOOL

CHANDRA

SEG

POH KE-QIN KURT

SOH

EUGENE LIM ZHENG SHENG

SOH

CASSANDRA CHUA WAN YI

SAS

LEE GUANG-RONG JONATHAN

SHL

WANG YIKAI

SAS

NAME ALSON QUA LUI KWONG TANG LI YAN JOEY

TEA

YANG JUN HAN JOLENE ONG MIN QUN LIM SHENG DE

JOLE

NIGEE WOO

BRAG 2016 concluded with School of the students category and Teamwork category. If you are interested to gain look out for BRAG 2017 happening in

Publisher Office of Student and Graduate Affairs Republic Polytechnic 9 Woodlands Avenue 9, Singapore 738964

Editorial dREam. An RP Alumni Magazine. Everything starts from a dream. dREam is a quarterly publication to keep graduates informed about the happenings in RP, continued education, career opportunities, networking sessions and more, in the hope of achieving their aspirations. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed or implied in dREam are those of the authors or contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. Copyright © Republic Polytechnic

Editor Nurhadi Khan B H K Designer Konclave Studios

Editorial Alumni

Nurul Ain, Kelda Chua, Diana Cloria

General Enquiries Email dream@rp.edu.sg Enquiries www.alumni.rp.edu.sg Facebook www.fb.com/alumniRP

Editor’s note Hello 2017! A new year signifies new beginnings and exciting new events. This year, 2017, is an especially meaningful year for Republic Polytechnic as we celebrate our 15th anniversary. We have come a long way from our humble beginnings in 2002 with our first few classes at the temporary campus in Tanglin. Today, we have seven schools and one academic centre, 41 full-time diploma programmes, a dedicated team of over 1000 staff and about 14,000 students at our vibrant campus. During the recent Open House 2017, we were humbled by your presence (more than 600 alumni came back!) to support the Open House. We were glad to see you guys enjoying yourselves. For those of you who participated in the recent Graduate Employment Survey 2016… Thank You! The latest Graduate Employment Survey showed that over 90% of polytechnic graduates were employed within six months in 2016, a higher percentage than that in 2015. The overall employment rate in 2016 was 90.6% for fresh graduates, with RP’s post-NS graduates having the highest employment rate of 96.3%. The average salary for fresh graduates also edged up higher by about 4% in 2016, compared to 2015. These figures reflect the fact that the industries are still in need of polytechnic graduates to sustain, as well as help drive, the economy forward. Learning does not stop after you graduate from RP. In fact, graduation is only the beginning of lifelong learning. After you step out of RP, we will continue to support you in exploring and progressing along the education and career pathways available to you. One key initiative under SkillsFuture is the Earn and Learn Programme (ELP for short). This 12-month work-study programme is designed to give fresh polytechnic graduates a head-start in careers relating to your discipline. As an ELP participant, in addition to the sign-up incentive, you can also look forward to a well-structured training and career development plan, and opportunities to deepen skills through company-based projects. Oh yes… do check out our brand new Alumni Portal @ www.alumni.rp.edu.sg!

Keep your profile current! Just drop us an email at www.alumni.rp.edu.sg with your NRIC/FIN, and most upto-date personal particulars; we promise not to send you Nigerian bank transfer requests, lame forwarded jokes or chain letters.

Do your prefer to receive your dream in hardcopy? Simply login to Alumni Portal at www.alumni.rp.edu.sg to indicate your preference under your personal profile now! (applicable for local addresses only)

IT students in RP train with Cisco Technology

re s infrastructu d, on-campu fie ni ts U en ! ud en st pp re RP made it ha d-computing centre whe clou a t or pp su e to nc s-on experie can gain hand

Diploma in Information Technology (DIT) students in Republic Polytechnic (RP) train with the market leader in cloud computing. Their learning extends beyond lectures and demonstrations to operating a private cloud, that was set up with Ciscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support. The School of Infocomm (SOI) has deployed a fully functional private cloud, using Cisco One Enterprise Cloud Suite and Cisco UCS Mini Blade Server Solution, to teach students how to provision resources and automate processes in cloud environments. The infrastructure ensures that students are given hands-on experience with orchestration and virtual data centres, and eventually acquire skill sets that are attractive to employers.

RP keeps pace with technology to provide students with the most relevant and valuable expe riences

and valuable experience, given that their learning is supported with industry-standard tools that they will soon encounter in the industry. Even before graduation, the students would have gained enough practical skills in operating a private cloud, and can already configure policies, use orchestration, and compare cost models for chargeback. These skill sets will definitely put them at an advantage. The first batch of students with cloud-computing skills will graduate in May next year. The school is confident that a curriculum infused with training based on Cisco technology will provide the students with the most relevant and valuable experience, given that their learning is supported by industry-standard tools that they will soon encounter in their field of work.

The School is confident that a curriculum infused with training on Cisco technology will provide the students with the most relevant

e d a M h c Ma t in RP!

e by Articl

Battle Republic Annual Games took place from 17 October â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 25 November 2016 at RP Sports Complex. BRAG's aim is to strengthen students' affinity to their School and the One-RP spirit, as well as instill the REPUBLIC values through a competitive environment.

NAME

SCHOOL

INDIVIDUAL LAP SWUM

CHANDRA

SEG

POH KE-QIN KURT

SOH

EUGENE LIM ZHENG SHENG

SOH

CASSANDRA CHUA WAN YI

SAS

LEE GUANG-RONG JONATHAN

SHL

WANG YIKAI

SAS

NAME

Png Kelvin

H hen (S Wei C

TOTAL LAP SWUM

POSITION

172

1ST

130

2ND

TEAM

TIME TAKEN

RANK

TEAM ADMIRALTY

1:17:31

JOLENE RUN FASTER!

1:20:19

ALSON QUA LUI KWONG TANG LI YAN JOEY YANG JUN HAN JOLENE ONG MIN QUN LIM SHENG DE NIGEE WOO

BRAG 2016 concluded with School of Hospitality emerging as the champions in the students category and Teamwork Cluster coming in top for the staff category. If you are interested to gain the BRAGGING rights for next year, do look out for BRAG 2017 happening in 4th Quarter 2017.

SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme Logistics is your right choice!

Planning to look for a job in the logistics sector after your graduation? SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme (ELP) for Logistics is your right choice. This programme is targeted at fresh diploma graduates* to develop skilled workers for the future of Singapore. SOME KEY FEATURES OF THIS PROGRAMME INCLUDE: • 12 months Work-and-Study Progamme with full-time employment • 4 days work, 1 day study (full salary and benefits of a full time staff) • Obtain a Specialist Diploma in Supply Chain Management (SDSCM) at the end of this programme • ELP-SDSCM graduates are entitled to credit recognition when they enroll to UniSIM’s BSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management • Programme is only eligible to Singaporeans and PRs • Sign-on incentive of $5,000 (for Singaporeans only) If you are interested in the programme, please email your resume (or enquiries) to Help-SkillsFuture-Logistics@rp.edu.sg Please indicate your citizenship and NS status (eg. Pre-NS, NS Men, NA). For more information on the programme, please visit http://www.rp.edu.sg/skillsfuture-elp

* Fresh graduates are defined as those individuals who are hired by participating companies within 12 months after their graduation from the polytechnics (based on the graduation date as stated on the Diploma certificate). For male participants who need to serve National Service (NS), the 12-month period will start from their operationally-ready date (ORD).

D O P TELE On

ote o c s E d -deman

Jin Ni is the CEO of Telepod, a start-up that focuses on e-scooter sharing through a mobile docking station. Telepod is an award winner of the national-level Land Transport Authority (LTA) challenge for teams to generate innovative transport solutions. Telepod enables smart sharing of e-scooters like bicycle sharing systems. The Mobile Docks can be strategically placed at MRT stations, office & industrial areas, residential areas, tourist spots and any other places with demand. The start-up plugged in to the Republic Polytechnic ecosystem with the CEO enrolling in the Specialist Diploma in Mobile Applications and receiving incubation support at the Enterprise Services Centre. In the interview, driven and energetic CEO Jin Ni, shared with us: We’ve been working on Telepod for half a year since May 2016. Our team has gone through some DBS hotspot pre-accelerator programmes, a full trial in the RP area and exhibited a prototype with a functional mobile application (app) that works with the docking station and e-scooter. I coded the iPhone app while learning how to code in a Specialist Diploma in Mobile Application (SDMA) course in RP. For a one-lady coding ‘team’, it is quite a feat. Within a short few months, I managed to create an app that was functional – it could unlock the e-scooter from the mobile dock. Essentially, I had coded an electronic key. Some of the challenges we faced were: (1) There are many directions to consider when you start from zero; it takes skill to focus. (2) It takes time to get the team together and to build it up. (3) Starting-up can be a lonely journey. So, it helps to go through incubation programmes. It helped Telepod to forge the team and streamline our business model. 08

Jin Ni pitching to potential investors during RP Pitch Day 2016

We spoke to a few incubation places before finding a fit with the RP Enterprise Services Centre. The mentors were very supportive, engaging, and helpful. They checked in on the team and were always ready to give advice. E.g., when Telepod was working to secure our first major round of seed funding for a high five figure, the mentors guided us through the negotiation process. Negotiation for funding in real life is so complex, especially when there are several choices available. The top three encouragements to fellow RP alumni pursuing start-ups would be: (a) No matter how mentally ready you are, there will be times when you really feel the emotional and physical strain – but just keep going. (b) Find a good social support system of fellow entrepreneurs, friends and business mentors. (c) Do a lot of experimentation to gain insights that can break your assumptions. Go out and test, otherwise you will be ‘talk and no action’.

Republic Poly

Money Sense: Losing your Job Losing Your Job Can Be A Traumatic Experience. Retrenchment Can Happen For All Kinds Of Reasons, For Example, When Economic Times Are Bad Or Your Employer’s Business Is Performing Poorly Or For Reasons More Specific To The Person Concerned.

Having some emergency savings will help tide you over the period of unemployment. Whether you have emergency funds to dip into or not, here are some ideas that may help you through this period: Draw up a budget for necessary expenses and stick to it, to better manage where the money is going. Cut out all unnecessary spending like eating at restaurants and taking taxis. Be prepared to make changes to your lifestyle. It can be hard to assess how long the period of unemployment could last. If it looks like it could be a long time, you may need to make more drastic changes. If you find that the cost of maintaining a car and the car loan repayments are a drain on your savings that can be used to meet your living needs, do examine whether there are any penalties or costs if you redeem your car loan. If the proceeds from selling your car are likely to be insufficient to cover your car loan, do ask your lender what your options are. You may want to reprioritise your financial goals too. If you are deciding between saving up to pay for your children’s further education in full, or saving for your retirement, don’t forget that your children have the option of applying for student loans. Stop using credit facilities which incur high interest charges if you are unlikely to keep up with repayments. Try to stay on top of all your debt repayments. You may find that you need to restructure some of your debts. Approach your lenders quickly to do this. Go to Credit Counselling Singapore for assistance in debt management if you require more help. If you have life insurance policies, do ask your financial adviser representative what options you have. You may be able to take a premium holiday or take a loan against your policy’s cash value if any)and this will pay for the premiums to keep your policy in force, although interest will be charged. But these are short-term measures and you should not rely on this for a long period. Ask your financial adviser if you can convert your policy to a fully paid up one or reduce the sum assured. If you do not take up these options and stop paying the premiums, it could lead to a termination of your insurance coverage. If you apply for coverage later, you may have to pay more, or even be ineligible depending on your health. Take a look at your investments and see what can be easily liquidated without penalty or too much cost if you need access to funds. If you cannot afford to lose money, now may be the time to liquidate riskier assets. 10

These measures may seem tough at first sight, but they can help manage your finances over this tough time. When you find employment again, make sure your priority is to rebuild your emergency savings. Always aim to keep 3-6 months of your income as savings at all times.

Government assistance: Some of us may not have existing savings or assets to rely on. If you need help and assistance, you can approach the Community Development Councils (“CDC”) for the following: •

Employment Assistance The CDCs can assist you in needs-assessment, career-profiling, training opportunities and job-matching to help you find suitable jobs.

•

ComCare ComCare provides social assistance to low-income individuals and families. Depending on your needs and eligibility, you may receive short or medium-term temporary help or fee subsidies for children from low income families who are placed in childcare, kindergarten or student care centres.

If you need help, you can call ComCare Call at 1800-222-0000 or go to the Community Development Council (CDC), Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC) or a Family Service Centre (FSC) near you. The above information is prepared in collaboration with the Central Provident Fund Board, Ministry of Social and Family Development and Credit Counselling Singapore.

RP student at the 6th International Symposium on Technology for Sustainability (ISTS) Republic Polytechnic (RP) student, Daryl Goh, participated in the 6th International Symposium on Technology for Sustainability (ISTS) and the 2nd International Student Seminar on Leadership and Networking (ISSLN) held concurrently in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, where he presented a paper on Temasek Foundation Specialists’ Community Action and Leadership Exchange (TFSCALE) 2 engagement. His presentation was awarded 'Most Outstanding Publication' at the symposium. His paper presentation covering the learning experience of the TFSCALE team was converted into a poster exhibition, which he elaborated on with confidence and aptitude. As a matter of fact, it was also recognised as ‘Most Outstanding Poster’. Daryl Goh, a Diploma in Business Information Systems (DBIS) student, was one of the ten student-delegates from the five polytechnics, and one of three presenters from Singapore. He shared that his ISSLN presentation before the judges was exciting and enriching. His team's case study on promoting Pantai Baru Beach in Yogyakarta as a tourist destination was awarded the 'Most Outstanding Case Study Project Presentation' during the ISSLN. Inspired by student camps in RP, his team's promotional idea was to organise adventure camps for youths. Prior to his participation in the symposium, Daryl assisted in a workshop organised for Japanese delegates in RP on Raspberry Pi with some TFSCALE 2 students. His involvement in the workshop and contributions in writing the paper were the bases of sending him as a representative of RP to the ISTS 2016 in Indonesia. Daryl participated in ISTS with another RP student from the School of Engineering. [ISTS is an international symposium for undergraduates that serves as a platform for students from different countries in the Asia Pacific region to gather and continuously communicate. The main theme for ISTS 2016 was 'Beyond Creativities and Ideas', with the sub-theme 'Path to Global Future to Foster Young Leader'.]

DBIS student, Daryl Goh, presented his team's case study on promoting Pantai Baru Beach before the judges

ISTS 2016 awarded DBIS student, Daryl Goh (2nd from left), 'Most Outstanding Publication', 'Most Outstanding Poster', and 'Most Outstanding Case Study'

A Republic Polytechnic (RP) student bested more than 200 NetRiders in the Asia Pacific (APAC) Region. Ee Xian Hui, a 3rd year Diploma in Information Technology (DIT) student in RP's School of Infocomm (SOI), recorded the highest score in the APAC region. He is also the country champion of the annual Ciscos NetRiders competition held on 15 Sep 2016. More than 200 NetRiders from educational institutes across the APAC region vied for the top prize in the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) competition. The Cisco NetRiders competition is an annual global event organised by Cisco Systems. It aims to provide students with the opportunity to showcase their IT and networking skills in a competitive environment. The participating students not only put their technical skills to the test, but also their communication and presentation skills. Following his win, Xian Hui will advance to the final round of the Asia Pacific Cisco NetRiders Skills Competition in October, and will have a chance for a study trip to Cisco in San Jose, CA , USA, as part of the top prize. Bagging the second runner-up spot in the competition is RPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lee Moon Yuan, Max, a 3rd year Diploma in Information Technology (DIT) student. The two winning students are known for their dedication, commitment and never-say-die attitude, even when faced with much stronger opponents who were also the defending champions of the competition.

Ultimate Ultimate Team Team Republic Republic Challenge Challenge (UTRC) (UTRC)

The Ultimate Team Republic Challenge is back again after the last edition in 2012. UTRC aims to promote sports to staff and students through a series of interactive games, encompassing land and water-based stations. A team comprising 4 participants will go through challenge stations set up by Sports Interest Groups (IGs) at the RP Sports Complex, within a 2-hour time frame. One point will be given to each team for every station completed. The teams will need to earn as many points as possible within the shortest time. So what are you waiting for? Come and join us for this hard-fought battle to be crowned the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ultimate Championâ&#x20AC;?! Team Combination

Bonus Points

All Staff

All Students

All Graduates

Mixed Team (Staff, Students and Graduates)

Mixed Team (Staff and Students)

Mixed Team (Staff and Graduates)

Mixed Team (Students and Graduates)

Republic Republic Polytechnic Polytechnic Sports Sports Complex Complex

MAY.12.2017.FRI.5-9PM MAY.12.2017.FRI.5-9PM Registration Registrationwill willopen openon on20 20March March2017 2017and andclose closeon on28 28April April2017. 2017. For more information, please contact ainul_borhan@rp.edu.sg For more information, please contact ainul_borhan@rp.edu.sg

Checklist For The Big Interview Nailing that job interview can be stressful, especially when there are, especially when there are many other candidates vying for the same position. You need to find ways to stand out from the rest and convince the company that you are worth employing. How do you do that? Look your best Preparing the right clothes for the interview may sound trivial but a favourable first impression is undeniably important. donning a professional outfit can help you secure that. Check your wardrobe to make sure you have what is appropriate. A conservative but safe combination for the interview includes a tie with a long-sleeved shirt, pants and leather shoes for men and a blouse, knee-length skirt and covered shoes for ladies. If you like, apply some perfume or deodorant sparingly to keep yourself fresh. However, take care not to overdo it. Ladies should put on some make-up to look more mature and professional, but avoid caking it on.

Arm yourself with information Information is power when you want to fight a good war. In the lead-up to the interview, you should have gathered some background information or kept abreast of news that may concern the organisation. Learn more about the work culture or get some insider tips from employees, if you know any. When preparing a list of frequently asked interview questions, get help from people with experience. Brainstorm possible responses and include detailed examples of your past experience and highlight the strengths, skills, values and interests you possess. Along the way, generate some questions for the interviewers too. Insightful questions on career advancement, job performance evaluation and employee communication are always enlightening and engaging. Make good use of the opportunity to show that you have done your research.

Practice makes perfect Practise with friends or on your own in front of the mirror. Role-play is useful as it covers not only answering questions but also non-verbal interactions like shaking hands and smiling. Look out for minute but critical details like the way you sit, words used too often (e.g. “actually”, “basically”) and subtle but distracting actions that you may not even be aware of.

Don’t let the small things trip you up Prepare a portfolio of original and photocopied resumes, certificates and documents. Companies usually send an email beforehand to inform you of what they need but it is always good to have a few extras. Also, have them properly organised, filed and labelled. Check out the interview location beforehand because punctuality is paramount. After all, you wouldn’t want to get lost and arrive late on the big day! You should plan your time well, giving yourself a 15-minute leeway before the actual interview time. This article was reproduced with the permission of JobsCentral BrightMinds, Singapore’s #1 Online Job Portal as voted by tertiary students. we trust that you have found it useful. The contents cannot be reproduced, modified or further circulated without the prior written consent of JobsCentral. Remember that the job interview is like your passport to the company and thus it is essential that you prepare for it the best you can. Here’s wishing you all the best in your career!

For more career tips and over 1,000 fresh graduate job listings from top companies, visit rp.jobscentral.com.sg now!

It’s FREE and it’ll last you a lifetime! – brought to you by Alumni Services, Republic Polytechnic alumni@rp email - Your complimentary, lifelong email account that immediately identifies you as a member of the Republic Polytechnic community!

Evoke your sense of pride and belonging to Republic Polytechnic by using an alumni@rp email accountalumni@rp uses the email address format userid@alumni.myrp.edu.sg and helps you stay connected with your friends long after you have graduated. It is your gateway to maintaining strong bonds with other alumni and also serves as a lifelong connection between you and your alma mater. • Large storage size for email (10GB for Outlook Live) • Password-protected 25GB online storage through Windows Live SkyDrive • Office Live Workspace - room for more than 1000 files

FIVE WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED

You need only 1 EASY STEP to start using your alumni@rp email account! Simply email us at help-graduate@rp.edu.sg and we will provide you with the link and userID to log in.

Use your Club Republic Card to get birthday gifts for your loved ones This card identifies you as an alumnus and offers you exclusive benefits and discounts. Apply for your Club Republic Card at www.alumni.rp.edu.sg

Read dREam Magazine Be updated on campus activities through this complimentary quarterly publication. Also available online at www.alumni.rp.edu.sg

Let your alma mater organise your gathering Have your professional, social and personal needs met through our diverse range of alumni programmes.

Make a donation – bank in your karma credit

Your gift will make a difference to the well-being of financially-needy students. It frees them from financial worries and allows them to concentrate on pursuing academic excellence at RP. Logon to www.alumni.rp.edu.sg

Give a shout-out to your alma mater Stay connected with your alma mater through the official RP alumni Facebook fanpage at www.facebook.com/alumniRP

2017 CALENDAR OF EVENT

MARCH Event: Graduates' Night Venue: Republic Polytechnic Event: RPAC Meeting Venue: Republic Polytechnic

APRIL

MAY

12 to 13 Event: RP Orientation Programme Venue: Republic Polytechnic

01 Public Holiday: Labour Day

13 Event: SOH Alumni Get-Together Venue: Republic Polytechnic 14 Public Holiday : Good Friday 18 to 20 Event: CCA Fiesta Venue: Republic Polytechnic

02 to 09 Event: Graduation Ceremony Venue: Republic Polytechnic 10 Public Holiday : Vesak Day 15 to 20 Event: Momentum Dance Festival Venue: Republic Polytechnic

QUESTION

How old is Republic Polytechnic? Stand a chance to win cash vouchers! Dream Dec16 Contest Winners No Winner

To participate, simply email your answer to dREam@ RP.edu.sg with your name, NRIC, and Club Republic membership number. 16

Closing date for the contest is 31 May 2017. All winners will be notified by email.

Hi! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m exclusive to

N 15 EM LE -S B H ER E L- S 00 H 12 IP 3 NU M B ER

V 11 AL /1 ID 8 T

RP Alumni only

Club Republic Club Republic is an alumni club exclusively for Republic Polytechnic (RP) alumni. With a Club Republic membership card, you will enjoy many privileges such as the use of campus facilities, invites to exclusive events and discounted rate for library membership fee. Plus, you get to enjoy special discounts offered by Club Republic merchants and Continuing Education and Training programmes conducted at the Academy for Continuing Education@RP (ACE@RP). Sign up for your Club Republic membership today to enjoy various benefits and to stay connected to RP. To find out more, log on to the RP Alumni Portal at www.alumni.rp.edu.sg or visit the RP Alumni Facebook Fanpage at www.fb.com/alumniRP today!

Membership Benefits

Invites to exclusive events

Access to RP Library

Special discount to CET programmes

Great deals from Club Republic Merchants Find out more at

Alumni Portal today! www.alumni.rp.edu.sg

Access to Sports Facilities

Access to RP Wireless