dReam Alumni Magazine September 2012 Issue by Republic Polytechnic, Alumni Services

dREam

Alumni Magazine

Issue 24 | September 2012

Everything starts from a dream

RP Alumni Continue to IGNITE Their Passion for Music A Tradition Has Begun Past versus Present YES! Start-up @RP

Contents 5

A New Tradition Has Begun! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle A Gown!

Not all Fun and Laughter

Past versus Present! RPWST vs RPAST

My Partner in Technological Advancements

Snapshots

RP Alumni Continue to IGNITE Their Passion for Music

Bonding Through RP Alumni Events

Hair for Hope 2012 5 Ways to Stay Connected with Your Alma Mater!

A Lesson Learnt: An RP Graduate’s Life Experience

Snag Your Dream Job

Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES!) Start-ups @ RP

Calendar of Events

From Diploma to Degree

Publisher

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

Editorial

Editor Nurhadi Khan Copy Editor Lilynne Seah Designer Zhang Miao

Contributors

Alumni • Darshini Jeyasimman • Kevin Lam • Maya Murni • Muhammad Faiz Bin Abdul Karim • Ruzanna Abd Rahman • Yap Peng Kee • Yeo Xin Ying

General Enquires

Email URL

dream@rp.edu.sg www.rp.edu.sg/grad

dREam. An RP Alumni Magazine. Everything starts from a dream.

dREam is a quarterly publication to keep graduates informed about the happenings in RP, continual education, career opportunities, networking sessions and more, in the hope of achieving their aspirations. No part of this 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.

dREam • September 2012

Editor’s Note W

ithout knowing it, we have reached the third quarter of 2012. As the saying goes, times flies when you are having fun! It has been an exciting journey this year thus far. Lots of activities and events have been taking place in Republic Polytechnic - the Republic Run 2012, IGNITE, Hair for Hope 2012… just to name a few. Be sure to check out photos of the exciting events in the Snapshots section! Read all about the challenges the Republic Polytechnic Alumni Club members faced in encouraging a group of alumni to participate in the annual Republic Run! If you’re up for such challenges, do sign up to be an Alumni Ambassador volunteer at the Open House 2013. Do look out for the Electronic Direct Mailer (eDM) in your inbox or at the Republic Polytechnic Alumni Fan page soon! It gives us great pleasure to announce that the Class of 2012 collected an impressive amount of $3,619.80 during the graduating gift campaign for the RP’s Needy Student Fund. Be it small or large, we truly appreciate every bit of your support to RP. Love is indeed blossoming in RP! In our last issue, we featured two lovebirds Veeramah Devi and Murali tying the knot. This month, read about how Cupid struck Widiah Halwa and Muhammad Arif right on our campus. Ever wanted to be your own boss? Why not get some advice, and even funds, from the Youth Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES) @ RP? For those who will be involved in this year’s Graduate Employment Survey, look out for our invitation email and letter sometime in October. There are very attractive prizes, like MacBook Air and Xbox, to be won in the survey! That’s all for now from us at Graduate Services. Here’s wishing all Muslim readers Selamat Hari Raya and our Hindu readers Happy Deepavali!

Congratulations to our Dragon Boat IG who

has done Republic Polytechnic proud by winning a total of six trophies (two Gold and four Silver). Special thanks to our alumni who participated in the 8th club crew world championships. They are: 1. Tan Jit Lun Shawn (2012 cohort) 2. Susan Soh Shi Shan (2012 cohort)

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

3. Ong Mong Tieng (2012 cohort) 4. Nur Amirah Bte Abdullah (2012 cohort) 5. Du Jiefang (2012 cohort)

Do you prefer to receive your dREam in hardcopy? Simply login to Graduates’ Portal at www.rp.edu.sg/grad to indicate your preference under your personal profile now! (applicable for local addresses only)

Get instant access to the Graduates’ Portal by pointing your phone camera at this QR code. Note: To scan QR code, you need to install a QR scanner app (free) on your mobile device.

dREam • September 2012

A New Tradition Has Begun! Article by Darshini Jeyasimman, Graduate of 2012

epublic Polytechnic (RP) Graduation 2012 was a very special occasion, mainly for these two reasons: one being this year marks RP’s 10th anniversary, and the other being the start of a new tradition of giving back to RP - a project initiated by the 8th Students’ Council. On behalf of the 2012 graduating cohort, I definitely believe that we have left behind a legacy through “The Graduation Gift Campaign”. This campaign was intended to encourage graduates to collectively give back to RP with the aim of helping our fellow juniors who face financial challenges in their course of study.

Together with the team from Graduate Services, who propagated the tagline “Think giving, Feel giving, Act giving”, the members of the 8th Student Council encouraged RP graduates to contribute a gift of any amount to this campaign. Eventually, we managed to collect an impressive amount of $3,619.80! On 15 May, a cheque of that amount was presented to the principal, Mr Yeo Li Pheow; this donation will proceed to RP’s Needy Student Fund. I hope that the generosity from the graduating class of 2012 will make a difference in the lives of our juniors. Once again, a big thank you to all my fellow graduates who supported the 8th Students’ Council in bringing forth this initiative!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle A Gown! Article by Republic Polytechnic Conservation IG

ith the support of One Stop Centre, Office of Estate and Office of Student and Graduate Affairs, Conservation IG started a graduation gown recycling project in June. Alumni were encouraged to donate their graduation gowns in a bid to minimise waste through reuse, by giving the gown to the needy students for the next graduation ceremony. The collected gowns were sorted according to sizes by OSC staff members and then moved to storage with the help of IG members. “It was heartening to see many of our alumni donating their gowns and I happened to chance upon a former student returning to Republic Polytechnic to donate his gown. I thanked him personally,” said Ngeoh Siew Chin, one of the Conservation IG Advisors. She continued to thank all the other donors whom she was able to meet for their valuable support. Collection of gowns will resume next year! To all graduates, do continue to donate your gowns to your juniors!

The Conservation IG advocates minimising waste and recycling as Singapore has limited land for landfills, and the incineration of waste releases carbon dioxide into the air which causes global warming. Recycling helps to conserve energy and natural resources, decreasing the need to extract, refine and process raw materials which may lead to the destruction of natural habitats (e.g. deforestation for agriculture use). As less electricity and burning of fossil fuel is required when products are recycled or reused, and not made from new raw materials, water and air pollution will also be reduced.

dREam • September 2012

Not all Fun and Laughter Article by Ruzanna Bte Abdul Rahman, Graduate of 2012

rom being an introverted person to a charismatic speaker, TK Lim was a prominent figure as an emcee in The Republic Cultural Centre (TRCC) in Republic Polytechnic (RP). His journey started back in 2009 when he took up the challenge to audition for the role of an emcee for the IGNITE! Music Festival. The Diploma in Sports and Exercise Science graduate admitted that it gives him a sense of satisfaction when he is able to entertain and interact with the masses. TK has been a host for several RP events such as Jam & Hop, Reflections Arts Festival and IGNITE! Music Festival. He has also been an emcee for external RP-related events such as Journey of The Youth Olympic Games (JYOF). Despite hosting various events, he still gets the chills whenever he is on stage. “The biggest fear in any emcee’s mind would be the evil shakinghands-while-holding-a-script syndrome, of which stage fright would be the most common cause. All the nervous energy zoomed down to your weakest link - the hand holding a script. I’ve tried many tactics from drinking chicken essence, warming up my hands to even eating six bananas! Well, it only increased the amount of times I had to visit the toilet, which minimised my hands from shaking as my focus shifted to the need for toilet. In summary, we just have to live with it. Find a way to get around it by not thinking too much, be confident and ultimately, have fun!” the 25-year-old shared. But whenever he needs words of wisdom, TK turns to Mr Zaini Tahir, artistic associate of TRCC, who has helped him a lot. “Mr Zaini has been and always will be my inspiration and great teacher in both life and emcee skills. He has always been there by our sides, constantly providing constructive and critical feedbacks on scripting, holding of the microphone, projection, show transitions, stage balance and even at times, our wardrobe!” he said. Describing his experience at RP, it was with no doubt that TK thoroughly enjoyed his stay as a student. RP has developed not just knowledge in the course he was pursuing but life skills such as the ability to speak up as a confident and charismatic speaker from

the daily class presentations. RP also enabled him to discover his abilities and talents through the various platforms, and transform himself in achieving his aspirations in life. When asked for tips on what it takes to be an emcee, TK shared: “Emcees should have the ability to think fast, stay calm, be disciplined, have a good command of English, articulate well, be personable, be relevant and relate well with the audience.” Looking into the future, TK plans to run his own business supporting and renewing his dad’s current company Yonta Contracts & Renovation. TK also added: “I hope to be able to make a mark for myself in future, and be able to live my life to the fullest whilst still being able to share and learn from my peers.”

dREam • September 2012

Past versus Present! RPWST vs RPAST Article by Sport Development, Office of Student Graduate Affairs, Republic Polytechnic

t was many thrilling ‘kicks’ down memory lane for the female alumni soccer team, also known as the Republic Polytechnic Alumni Soccer Team (RPAST), as they returned to the Home of the Republic for a friendly kick-about with the current RP Women’s Soccer Team (RPWST). The get-together saw graduate players from the batches of 2008 to 2012 reminiscing about their good old days back in RP on the very ground that first ignited their love for football. Clearly, even after graduating from RP for some years, the love for the sport has not waned and most have remained active in the sport. RPAST won the game against the newly formed RPWST, which consists of many players who are only beginning to fall in love with the game. Of course, the win was merely a bonus; it mattered little. What mattered most was catching up with old friends, and knowing how well everyone was doing since graduating from RP. It was definitely heart-warming to see our alumni still connected and bonded as one team, one family. Football truly unites!

Let’s see what the captains have to say! It was a tough match but gratifying in many ways as we gained more experience. Playing games like this help us improve as a team and we will use this experience to progress together as a team! - Mustika Natasha (SHL); Current Captain - 2012

It was an exciting match! After years of not playing the full field with the alumni team, tonight brought back fond memories of the ups and downs we encountered both on and off the pitch. I could see many potential players in the current team. I wish them the best for the upcoming games. Enjoy every minute of football; it starts and ends as a TEAM – Tears of joy, Excitement, Attitude and Motivation from every player. - Farrah Adilah (SHL); Former Captain - 2009

RP AlumnTieam Soccer

RP Alumni Soccer Team

Back Row Left to Right: Farrah Adilah (2010), Farhanah Abdul Rashid (2010), Azhmeera Shasha (2010), Maryam Nasihah (2010), Nur Ili (2009), Fazilah (Advisor), Nurul Haryati (2010), Catherine Seow (2009), Bernice Ang (2008), Aileen Kuang (2009) Front Row Left to Right: Nur Nasyitah (2009), Teo Yiwen (2010), Marjory Kho (2008), Shuheerah Rosli (2012), Nurjannah Jamaluddin (2012), Nicole Anne Xavier (2012)

dREam • September 2012

My Partner in Technological Advancements Article by SMa Institute of Higher Learning

REam managed to interview an alumnus, Mr Tan Yong Yuan, who graduated in 2010 with a Diploma in Information Technology and is currently studying in SMa Institute of Higher Learning under the Murdoch University – Bachelor of Science (Business Information Systems and Cyber Forensics). Interested in continuing your education in SMa Institute of Higher Learning? Read on to find out his experience.

1. What prompted you to want to upgrade yourself academically? The main reason for upgrading myself academically is due to the competitive nature of the working world specifically in the IT industry. As technology is getting more advanced, there is a need to upgrade myself to learn these technologies in school and apply it at my workplace.

Tan Yong Yuan Republic Polytechnic Graduate of 2010 Diploma in Information Technology, School of Infocomm ‘Currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science (Business Information Systems and Cyber Forensics) awarded by Murdoch University at SMa Institute and working as Assistant IT Engineer at WatchData Technologies Pte Ltd.

2. How did you get to know about SMa Institute? I got to know about SMa Institute while searching online for university courses, and I was attracted by the Bachelor of Science (Business Information Systems and Cyber Forensics) offered by Murdoch University.

3. Why did you choose SMa Institute and your course of study?

5. What do you hope to achieve from the degree programme?

I have chosen SMa Institute as it is very centralised and accesible from my workplace. It also offered the course that I was looking for, and from a recognised university.

I hope to achieve the knowledge that is needed in the everchanging IT industry, and apply it to good use for my company and for myself. After this degree programme, I will pursue other professional certifications so as to upgrade myself.

I have chosen Bachelor of Science (Business Information Systems and Cyber Forensics) as I want to pursue my career in the IT industry which is my passion. This course offers me the knowledge that is needed in the industry, and I believe it will come to use in my career. Business Information Systems is an important major as IT might not be the core business for all businesses; it’ll definitely come into play when IT is utilised to improve the core business and productivity of my workplace.

4. What do you like about the school and programme? (eg. environment, timing of classes, lecturers) The environment of the school is great and the programme structure is very flexible especially for working adults who want to pursue their Bachelor degrees. The lecturers are very professional in what they are teaching, and also share their own experiences before they went on to teaching. This will help students understand how certain concepts can be applied in the working world.

6. How do you think this programme can help in your professional life? This programme allows me to use what I have studied in my workplace and use the things that I have learned from my workplace and input it to my studies.

7. What was most valuable from your Republic Polytechnic experience that helped you at SMa? I feel that the PBL system is really useful to me in learning and I would recommend it to others.

8. What do you miss in Republic Polytechnic? I miss the facilitators that have taught me throughout the years in RP. They are professional and patient.

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Club Republic is an alumni club exclusively for RP graduates. With a Club Republic membership card, you will enjoy a series of privileges, which include the use of campus facilities, invites to exclusive events and waiver of the library membership fee. Plus, you get to enjoy special discounts offered by Club Republic merchants and Continuing Education & Training (CET) programmes conducted at RP and NTUedUtorium. Sign up for your Club Republic membership today and enjoy the various benefits that allow you to maintain your RP lifestyle. Please log on to the Graduates’ Portal at www.rp.edu.sg/grad

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dREam is giving away 3 pairs of Benefits Republic Polytechnic Library RP Library membership is available to graduates at $200 per year. Membership is waived for Club Republic members. Sports Facilities The privilege of being a Club Republic member also means the opportunity to use all the sporting facilities available here at RP. Continuing Education and Training Programmes For those who wish to enhance yourself with courses professionally or for personal growth, enjoy 10% off the net fees for courses conducted by ACE@RP and NTU-edUtorium programmes. Visit www.rp.edusg/ace and http://edutorium.ntu.edu.sg for more information on their courses and workshops offered. Club Republic Merchants As treasured members of the RP family, Club Republic members enjoy the best deals from our Club Republic merchants, located island-wide, offering a wide range of discounts to suit your every need.

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movie passes All you have to do is read the magazine and answer the following question correctly.

Name one of the universities in the Australian Technology Network of Universities. To participate, simply email your answer to dream@rp.edu.sg with your name, NRIC and Club Republic membership number. Closing date for the contest is 31 October 2012. All winners will be notified by email. Terms and Conditions: • Only Club Republic members qualify to participate in this contest • The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence or claim in relation to the judges’ decision will be entertained

dREam • September 2012

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dREam • September 2012

RP Alumni Continue to IGNITE Their Passion for Music Article by Tan Yanru, Class of 2012

epublic Polytechnic (RP) held their annual IGNITE! Music Festival on 6 and 7 July 2012. The two-day music festival, by students for students, was all about letting the audience enjoy good local music and for a good cause as well. Several Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs), like Hair for Hope and Operation Smile, joined us in our village to help spread the act of compassion to our fellow students and staff. This year, many of our RP alumni came back to play onstage with their bands, and they shared with us their thoughts about the show, the paths they chose and how RP has helped them on their musical journey. The bands reminisced about the times where they weren’t on stage but in the audience instead. Cashew Chemist’s singer, Yuji Kumagai, commented: “Elliot and I are both from RP, and we remember rushing out after 6 Problems (6P) just to hang out with the guys at IGNITE!... We made a lot of friends here.” With the many music-related Interest Groups (IG) in RP, like Jammerz Arena and Replug, it provided a place for peers with similar interests to come together to share their talents and ideas. Yuji, who used to be with Jammerz Arena, said: “RP has really helped me out in making new friends, and expanding my influences.” Shawal Ziyad, from The Sallys, also agreed: “I’m from Replug IG; it has given me many opportunities to perform in and out of school. I get the chance to learn from my peers and from teaching people. It’s pretty holistic.” Natalie’s Plight, a band consisting of RP alumni which formed as part of a Final Year Project (FYP), shared about how RP has helped them on their musical journey: “I think being in RP has given us the opportunity to have this playground, and through our FYP we could do anything we wanted, and have the full support of the school, with awesome equipment and venues – because of that, this band came about. RP has given us this creative space to refine our talents.”

▲ Crowd surfing really gets the audience into the action

▲ Yuji Kumagai from Cashew Chemist

Another band that formed in RP was Bear Culture. They said: “They (RP) brought us together as a band, as we met through an IG (Jammerz Arena), and they gave us a venue to work on our music. As a band, we have to be close as friends, but be serious at the same time, and I guess RP has given us those opportunities for that close friendship and the environment to work on our music.” Sharin Syazwan from Bear Culture shared a tip to all the aspiring musicians out there: “Don’t give up. At times it may be hard, or the band isn’t on the same page as you, but you’ve to work over it. In the end, like what I told my friends, what matters is not how many times you fall down, but as long as you get up one more time – that’s what counts.”

▲Ashlee Tan from Natalie’s Plight

▲ Sharin Syazwan from Bear Culture

dREam • September 2012

Bonding Through RP Alumni Events Article by Yeo Xin Ying, Graduate of 2011

he Republic Run was a blast! Coming back to Republic Polytechnic (RP) as an alumnus brought back countless beautiful memories. The nostalgic event was also a chance to gather my fellow alumni friends to do something fun together, and at the same time have a nice get-together after the event. I managed to catch up with a few of my diploma mates as well as facilitators, and was presently surprised that they still remembered my name! As many of the alumni members, like myself, are working or schooling and do not have the time to make a trip down to register for the event, the Republic Polytechnic Alumni Club Management Committee (RPAC MC) members made it possible by registering on our behalves. They also made a trip down to RP to make the payment and collect our goodie bags! Thus, we only needed to come down to RP on the race day, which was much more convenient! With such exciting events which the RPAC MC members help organise, such as the Republic Run, the RP alumni cohort is growing stronger over the years. I am looking forward to more of such events where I can catch up with more of my ex-classmates. Having the RPAC MC members organise other upcoming events such as “Movie Under the Stars” and basketball friendly matches will definitely give me opportunities to chill out with my friends as well as strengthen my identity as an RP alumnus.

Thank You

to all our Alumni who have participated in the Republic Run 2012. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Peters Cyril Anthony, Graduate of 2006 Sequeena Ong, Graduate of 2007 Goh Yoock Siong, Graduate of 2008 Hasbullah Bin Kamaruizaman, Graduate of 2008 Hazmi Bin Hasan, Graduate of 2008 Lee Ying Yi Mabel, Graduate of 2008 Ng Si Xiu Melissa, Graduate of 2008 Toh Yong Jie Terence, Graduate of 2008 Woon Wee Phuay, Graduate of 2008 Ang Jin Long Eugene, Graduate of 2009 Arif Bin Bakar, Graduate of 2009 Dilys Goh, Graduate of 2009 Joshua, Graduate of 2009 Lin Weiguo, Graduate of 2009 Muhammad Zulhilmi, Graduate of 2009 Yong Woon Thing, Andrea, Graduate of 2009 Nikita Sharda, Graduate of 2010 Shakir Hozefa Shabbir, Graduate of 2010 Chua Chin Yang, Graduate of 2011 Johnathan Lim Xiande, Graduate of 2011 Lim An Ni, Graduate of 2011 Quek Kwan Zheng, Graduate of 2011 Yeo Xin Ying, Graduate of 2011 Khairul Ismail, Graduate of 2012 Luqman Hakim Bin Zahaid, Graduate of 2012 Phua Yong Xun, Graduate of 2012 Rony Lim, Graduate of 2012 Russell Wong Tian Hao, Graduate of 2012 Tan Guan Yu, Graduate of 2012 Tan Ming Min, Graduate of 2012 Yeo Kar Wei, Graduate of 2012

dREam • September 2012

Hair for Hope 2012 Article by Faiz Karim, Graduate of 2012

aughter, music and cheering from supporters filled the air at the Hair For Hope event as the “shavees” gathered together for the same cause. Meeting my juniors and schoolmates reminded me of the good old days during my three years at RP. I bumped into other alumni members – Shakir Hozefa Shabbier, Cai Jianxiong, Goh Yock Siong and Ng Hong Quan – who also chose to get their heads shaved. It was great opportunity for a purposeful meet up after our graduation – this is what we call One RP. Hair For Hope 2012 in RP has been a great experience for me. Although I have previously participated in the same event organised by a different event partner, the experience at RP was truly unique. The different clubs and IGs lent great support with their music and vibrant energy at the IGNITE! Music Festival, which was held in conjunction with Hair For Hope. As an alumnus of RP, I am delighted to still be a part of the RP community and participate in RP events. As a participant, it is not about shaving and becoming a quondam. Every participant has a story to tell, and there is a sense of mission as well as sincerity behind every shaved head. For me, having a family member who has been battling with cancer and also, befriending cancer patients for the past few years were part of my motivation to be a participant; I understood their frustration and humiliation of their hair loss. Through this act, I want to pledge to them that it is okay to be bald, and that they have our support. By shaving, I put myself in their shoes and go through life being bald. This learning process helps me to understand how cancer patients go through their daily lives, and enable me to fully empathise with them.

Thank You to all our

Alumni who have participated in the Hair for Hope 2012. • • • •

Goh Yock Siong, Graduate of 2008 Cai Jianxiong, Graduate of 2010 Shakir Hozefa Shabbir, Graduate of 2010 Muhammad Faiz Bin Abdul Karim, Graduate of 2012 • Ng Hong Quan, Graduate of 2012 • Tham Chee Yuen, Graduate of 2012

5 Ways to Stay Connected with Your Alma Mater!

1 2 3

Let your alma mater organise your gathering

Have your professional, social and personal needs met through our diverse range of alumni programmes.

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.rp.edu.sg/grad

Read dREam Magazine

Be updated on campus activities through this complimentary quarterly publication. Also available online at www.rp.edu.sg/grad

4 5

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

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.rp.edu.sg/grad

dREam • September 2012

A Lesson Learnt: An RP Graduate’s Life Experience Article by Ruzanna Bte Abdul Rahman, Graduate of 2012

You can take me out of Science but you can’t take Science out of me.

That’s the first thing Widiah Halwa Bte Sawandi, a biology major, said when asked why she decided to take up teaching. She further explained: “Science or biology is a big part of our lives. When we look around, we’re basked in it. I don’t need to be confined in a laboratory to practice science. Imparting scientific knowledge to my students is a way for me to share… fascinating facts about science.” A graduate of the Diploma in Biomedical Science from School of Applied Science (SAS), Widiah Halwa’s journey in Republic Polytechnic (RP) was nothing but fun – half of her time in RP was spent in organising events. She was part of the 5th Student Council secretary team, and covered administrative elements such as minutes-taking and logistics. Widiah Halwa was also privileged to be part of the organising committee of several events such as Mr and Miss RP ’07, Republic Quest and Night Cycling.

▲ Widiah Halwa with her friends in the 5th Student Council

“I had the most positive and productive team in the 5th Student Council. We rallied and supported each other when organising events as well as during our contact with RP staff and students. We learnt to work well with each other even though there were some bumps here and there along the way. When I was in the Council, I realised that I had to liaise with many parties. As a result, I made many acquaintances along the way. I’ve also learnt that when you’re organising events, anything may happen. So the best way to deal with it is to take a breather and a step back, then look at it with a bigger perspective and answers will appear.” She also reminisced about the other memorable moments she had in RP. “Completing my Final Year Project (FYP) with my team was a big accomplishment. Everyone who went through that may share the same sentiment. It took a lot of time and effort to produce an end result that you should be proud of. Also, the countless number of friendships gained from the whole of my three years - I have no way to put in words to show how blessed and fortunate I am to get to know many people in my polytechnic journey.” It is also in RP where she first met her fiancé, Muhammad Arif Bin Suhaimi, graduate of the Diploma in Business Computing. Having come so far in life, Widiah Halwah feels blessed as she never could have imagined to be where she is right now. Advising her RP juniors, she says: “No matter what people might say about you or when the going gets really tough, never let it get to you. Sometimes, getting to where you want to be may be hard but when you persevere, I’m sure you’ll eventually find your way.”

▲ Widiah Halwa with her RP friends Widiah Halwa and her fiancé ►

dREam • September 2012

Snag Your Dream Job Article by JobStreet.com

ob satisfaction is a hot topic at the moment, and according to recruitment experts Hays there are many people now actively looking for their dream job. “Over the years I’ve heard many people talking about finding their dream job. Most candidates, however, have no idea what their dream job is let alone how to find it,” says Chris Mead, general manager of Hays in Singapore. Chris says there are no quick or easy answers, but there are a few things you can do to help you find your way.

List your skills

You need to think of the big picture and consider not only what professional experience you have, but also your talents and hobbies. List the things you are good at and highlight those you enjoy doing.

Describe your personality

The next step is to develop a loose description of your dream job. Chris suggests you start by asking yourself these questions • Who/what would you like to work with? • Where do you want to work? • What type of tasks do you want to work on?

Collating this information will provide you with a synopsis of who you are, and will help you determine your dream job.

Plan to snag your dream job

“Once you know what your dream job is, you just need to develop a plan to get it,” says Chris. He suggests you:

List your priorities

List what is most important to you in your career as well as your values. For example, are you looking for a career that challenges and rewards you? Should it be something you are passionate about and inspired by? Is money more important to you than work/life balance?

Define your dream job

• What type of work will make you truly happy? This could be anything from working with animals to working with computers.

To help you determine what type of career you are best suited for, think about your personality traits. Are you meticulous with an eye for detail or are you strategic with a big picture view? Do you enjoy working in a team or do you prefer to work on your own?

Identify what your dream job isn’t

Here you should not only think about what type of roles but also what things you are not willing to compromise on, such as hours worked, pay and location. Consider also your values in this context; for example, your dream job wouldn’t undermine your values or take you away from the things that are important to you in life.

• Research the industry as well as the knowledge and skills you will need. • Network and get to know people in the industry. Not only will this help you get a better understanding of the industry and an inkling of whether you will like it, but it will also put you in contact with potential employers. • Take action. If you don’t already have the skills, how do you get them? Will you need training? Maybe you just need to update your résumé to highlight a different skill set you already have. Chris knows the value of snagging your dream job. “At Hays we work with thousands of people everyday to connect them with the right job, which can transform their lives for the better.”

dREam • September 2012

Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES!) Start-ups @ RP Article by Centre for Innovation and Enterprise, Republic Polytechnic

aunched by SPRING Singapore, YES! Start-ups is a scheme designed to provide funding support to youths in their start-up. Its objective is to nurture and encourage youths to be enterprising and innovative through hands-on entrepreneurship learning. Through Yes! Start-ups, the student entrepreneurs will also gain access to a wide network of mentors, advisors and external investors to help their businesses grow. SPRING will match $4 for every $1 raised by the applicant through self-funding, schools or any other third-party sources. The maximum amount of grant provided under YES! Start-ups is $50,000. To complement the existing funding scheme, RP will also provide value-added services to help applicants develop their business ideas and equip them with the business-writing skill sets to successfully obtain funding. YES! Start-ups is open to all RP Graduates who are first-time entrepreneurs under the age of 26. There will be no open call for submission. Centre for Innovation & Enterprise (CIE) will be working with applicants upon submission of business plans. For any enquiries, please email to the following • Mr Leslie Sim Senior Manager, Entrepreneurship Centre for Innovation and Enterprise Republic Polytechnic leslie_sim@rp.edu.sg • Mr Kenneth Ong Academic Staff, Entrepreneurship Centre for Innovation and Enterprise Republic Polytechnic kenneth_ong@rp.edu.sg

Who can apply? • Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident aged 26 years or below on the date of application • Parental consent must be sought for those below 18 years old • First-time entrepreneur • Incorporation of a private limited company (upon approval) with its business activities wholly or mainly based in Singapore

Start-ups: • Existing business/company incorporated for less than 6 months • Company’s main business activities are based in Singapore • Applicant must hold at least 50% equity • Engage in high growth activities with substantial developmental contents • Company has not received funding from the iJam Microfunding scheme

How will the business plan be evaluated? SPRING will evaluate business proposal based on the following criteria: • Innovativeness of the Business Idea How different/novel the idea is against what is already available in the market? • Feasibility of the Business Model Is the business model viable and potentially sustainable? • Potential market opportunity Will the market demand and buy such an item? • Management Team Are the founders committed to the business and do they demonstrate the passion and entrepreneurial spirit to make their idea work? Do they have the technical and business skills to execute the idea?

dREam • September 2012

Calendar of Events September 2012 3 - 4 September Grammar for Adults – the ‘No fears No tears’ Approach to Learning Grammar* Venue: Nanyang Technological University Campus

15 September Study in Europe 2012

7 September Starting Your Online Enterprise*

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Venue: Republic Polytechnic Cam

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Venue: Republic Polytechnic Cam

19 - 21 September Pro Tools 101: Introduction to Pro Tools*

13 September Republic Polytechnic Alumni Club Meeting

pus

Venue: Republic Polytechnic Cam

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Venue: Republic Polytechnic Cam

October 2012 1 October Graduate Employment Survey 2012 8 - 19 October POL-ITE Games – Touch Football Venue: Ngee Ann Polytechnic Campus

9 October From Phone-nix (X) to Phonics (√) (Pronounce Phone-nix Correctly)*

Venue: Nanyang Technological University Campus

11 October Republic Polytechnic Alumni Club Meeting

12 October Leadership & Influence*

Venue: Nanyang Technological University Campus

Venue: Republic Polytechnic, South Agora

18 October - 1 November POL-ITE Games – Contact Rugby

Venue: Republic Polytechnic Campus

26 October Hari Raya Haji

19 October University Fair 2012 @RP

Venue: Republic Polytechnic Campus

27, 28, 30, 31 October Makan Place

20 October POL-ITE Games – Swimming

Venue: Republic Polytechnic Campus

25 October Reflections 2012 Opening Launch

Venue: Republic Polytechnic, TRCC Theatre

29 October Everyone! Lets WRITE Right*

Venue: TBC

Venue: Nanyang Technological University Campus

20 - 21 October Tchoukball

29 October Beats Encore

Venue: Republic Polytechnic Campus

Venue: Republic Polytechnic, South Agora

November 2012 1 - 2 November 2 Experiential Learning Forum 201 pus

Venue: Republic Polytechnic Cam

2 November Gamelan Naga Kencana

h Agora

3 November Magic

C Theatre

9 November Reflections 2012 Closing Bash

h Agora

Venue: Republic Polytechnic, Sout

19 November Managing Emotional Thinking and Impulsive Decision Making*

Venue: Republic Polytechnic, TRC

3 & 10 November POL-ITE Games – Track & Field

Venue: y Campus Nanyang Technological Universit

Venue: TBC

C Theatre

Venue: Republic Polytechnic, TRC

8 November Republic Polytechnic Alumni Club Meeting

Information is correct at time of print.

12 November os* No More Pronunciation Boo-Bo

Venue: y Campus Nanyang Technological Universit

pus

Venue: Republic Polytechnic Cam

17 November POL-ITE Games – Ultimate Frisbee Venue: Nanyang Polytechnic Campus

Venue: Republic Polytechnic, Sout

7 November Muse V

13 November Deepavali

29 November SAY What You Mean, MEAN What You Say*

Venue: y Campus Nanyang Technological Universit

*For more information on ACE@RP and NTU-edUtorium programmes, please visit www.rp.edu.sg/grad. Club Republic members will get to enjoy the ACE@RP and NTU-edUtorium programmes at a discounted rate. For more information on other RP events, please email us at help-graduate@rp.edu.sg

dREam â&#x20AC;˘ September 2012

From Diploma to Degree Article by Office of International Relations, Republic Polytechnic

s of June 2012, Republic Polytechnic (RP) has established over 1000 articulation agreements (AAs) with approximately 80 local and global universities. An AA is an official agreement matching coursework between RP diplomas and degrees of the respective universities. It allows RP graduates to receive credit exemptions of a year up to a year and a half off a degree programme upon acceptance for further studies at these universities. The result is substantial savings in annual tuition fees as well as food and accommodation costs. The top universities are from the Group of Eight (representing the top eight Australian universities), the Australian Technology Network of Universities (representing the top five Australian technological universities), the Russell Group (representing the top 20 UK universities in research and teaching), the 1994 Group (representing the 19 internationally-renowned UK universities in research) as well as top international universities from the Times Higher Education Ranking and the Quacquarelli Symonds Ranking. Local universities include the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Techonological University, Singapore Management University and the Singapore Institute of Technologies Overseas Universities (SIT OU). Studying with the best universities mean that you can get a university degree with top quality education and an international reputation in a shorter time. With a RP diploma, you can now study with the best, and graduate with a degree from the best.

ir a F y t i s r e v i Un r a e y t s a l 1 1 20

Come 19 October 2012, the best universities will be at University Fair 2012 @ RP. Come join us at the fair, and take that single journey to RP that can change your life forever!

FURTHER

STUDY?

ACE Your Career with a CET Diploma/ Post Diploma ACE@RP is the continuing education and training arm of Republic Polytechnic (RP). We promote lifelong learning amongst working adults so that they can remain valuable participants in a knowledge-based economy. ACE@RP offers various academic and executive programmes for aspiring professionals.

New courses launched in 2012 SPECIALIST DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES Specialist Diploma in Applied Learning and Teaching

Specialist Diploma in Mobile Applications

This course teaches you ways to improve the design and delivery of your lessons and improve your assessment of studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; performance.

This course allows you to hone your mobile application development skills and upgrade your qualifications in the Infocomm industry.

Post-Diploma Certificate in Teaching Practices

Post-Diploma Certificate in Android Application Development

Post-Diploma Certificate in Curriculum Design and Assessment

Post-Diploma Certificate in IOS Application Development

PART-TIME DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES Part-Time Diploma in Sports (Coaching) This course aims to provide you a pathway to upgrade your skills and knowledge in sports coaching.

Part-Time Diploma in Engineering (Operations and Engineering Management) This course provides you the opportunity to be trained in operations management, as well as quality and productivity improvement.

Part-Time Diploma in Business Practice (Hospitality Management) This course aims to provide you a flexible pathway for career development and progression in the hospitality industry.

Certificate in Coaching Pedagogy

Certificate in Quality Management

Certificate in Service Management

Certificate in Applied Sports Science

Certificate in Logistics Management

Certificate in Hotel Management

Certificate in Professional Practice in Coaching

Certificate in Productivity Improvement

Certificate in Events Management

Certificate in Sports Development

Certificate in Manufacturing Planning and Optimisation

Certificate in Spa and Wellness Management

Certificate in Sports Teams Management

Certificate in Engineering Systems Management

Certificate in Food and Beverage Management

RP Staff and Club Republic members enjoy a 10% discount off the nett fee payable.

Tel 31001699

Email ACE@rp.edu.sg

Web www.rp.edu.sg/ace