Nanyang Polytechnic Parent's Guide - English

CHNIC E T Y L G PO N A Y N NA

de i u G ’s2017 t n e r Pa 2016/

ON @ I T A C EDU

OUR VISION To be a Premier Polytechnic of Global Distinction

OUR MISSION We provide quality education and training to prepare students and adult learners for work and life, equipping them to be life-long learners and to contribute to the technological, economic and social development of Singapore.

We will harness our resources, expertise, creativity and innovation to support the development of business and industry and to complement Singapore’s globalisation efforts.

Parent’s Guide 2016/2017

WELCOME NOTE Dear Parents/Guardians, Congratulations on your child’s admission to Nanyang Polytechnic.

The first semester will certainly be filled with exciting learning opportunities for your child. Hence, we have arranged a number of orientation activities and briefing sessions to help your child prepare for the start of the semester.

We welcome your participation in your child’s learning journey, and hope you will contribute to his zest for learning. To strengthen our partnership with you in this regard, we have prepared a guide for you. It provides essential information and offers access to useful resources.

Adjusting to life at a new environment takes time, and for some students and their parents, it may take longer. At Nanyang Polytechnic, we have a group of dedicated lecturers assigned as Personal Mentors to our students. Your child’s Personal Mentor will be the point of contact, and will provide all necessary support for your child throughout his stay with us. In addition, we have prepared an exciting Education & Career Guidance (ECG) programme for your child and our counsellors at our new ECG@Central together with your child’s Personal Mentor will be available to guide your child towards making informed decisions on his career or further education.

We look forward to a fulfilling journey ahead with you and your child.

Warm Regards,

Thambyrajah T Registrar

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TEACHING AND LEARNING AT NANYANG POLYTECHNIC Welcome to Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP).

It is here that your child will begin an exciting and rewarding journey which will prepare him to be a well-rounded individual, equipped to pursue a successful career and make a meaningful contribution to society.

Our courses are structured to nurture the innovative spirit within the students.

Your child will learn to be innovative and enterprising through various platforms such as internship, overseas exposure, graduation show, competitions, and cocurricular activities. Additionally, we have Innovative and Enterprising (I&E) staff as well as I&E-friendly facilities which will help groom the students. We also train students to be innovative through practice-oriented internship, Science and Technology projects and competitions. Your child will get to enjoy authentic learning experiences through a combination of the multiple platforms available.

While much of a student’s success will depend on his own diligence, we recognise that parents play important roles in the education of their child. This guide will provide you with the essential knowledge on key aspects of NYP, and on topics ranging from academic matters to student welfare and life on campus.

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ENJOYING AN ALLROUND EDUCATION At NYP, your child will enjoy a vibrant campus life that goes beyond the classroom, developing life skills and leadership qualities along the way. He will have the opportunity to participate in a broad range of activities such as overseas internships and expeditions, student clubs and community outreach programmes.

Such learning experiences will nurture your child to become a responsible and committed individual, enabling him to develop new skills while maximising his potential. We believe your child has the potential to succeed, and are ready to work together with you in supporting his development and growth in each and every way.

We have prepared the following useful information that offers insight into your child’s education at NYP: • Our Academic Programmes - The Academic Calendar - The Modular System - Examinations & Assessment • Developing All-round Excellence • Student Well-Being & Discipline • Financial Support

Parent’s Guide 2016/2017

ACADEMIC CALENDAR Regular class attendance is one of the most important factors determining a student’s success. Parents are strongly encouraged to play an active role in helping their child to benefit fully from the education that we provide.

In order to help you do so, we provide herewith, our 2016/17 academic calendar for full-time diploma courses:

STUDY STAGE 1, 2 & 3 SEMESTER 1 Instruction

18 Apr – 12 Jun 2016

8 weeks

Mid-Sem Break 13 Jun – 26 Jun 2016

2 weeks

Instruction

27 Jun – 14 Aug 2016

7 weeks

Study/Exam

15 Aug – 4 Sep 2016

3 weeks

Vacation

5 Sep – 16 Oct 2016

6 weeks

17 Oct – 18 Dec 2016

9 weeks

SEMESTER 2 Instruction

Mid-Sem Break 19 Dec 2016 – 2 Jan 2017

2 weeks

Instruction

3 Jan – 12 Feb 2017

6 weeks

Study/Exam

13 Feb – 5 Mar 2017

3 weeks

Vacation

6 Mar – 16 Apr 2017

6 weeks

There may be variations in the academic calendars across Schools, as different Schools within NYP have their own set of specific requirements. To view the academic calendar of your child’s specific school, please visit: NYP Homepage Current Students Academic Matters Academic Calendar

IMPORTANT DATES There are certain periods during your child’s studies at NYP that may require your attention. The following are some important dates within the academic calendar that you may want to look out for each year: • Orientation & Semester 1 Commencement in April • Examinations in August • Release of Semester 1 Examination Results in the 3rd week of September • Semester 2 Commencement in October • Examinations in February • Release of Semester 2 Examination Results in the 4th week of March

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MODULAR SYSTEM Like many tertiary institutions across the world, all the courses offered at NYP follow a modular and credit-based academic system. Each course consists of different modules. Each module carries a specific number of credits.

As long as a student passes a module, he earns the full amount of credits that comes with it.

These modules cover various subject areas relevant to the course and are broadly classified as follows:

CORE MODULES The Core modules ensure that your child receive a strong foundation in the fundamentals of his field of study. He is required to pass all relevant core modules to graduate.

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PRESCRIBED ELECTIVES Your child will need to choose electives from different clusters of recommended modules, to develop a specific focus and field of specialisation within his chosen course.

GENERAL STUDIES MODULES The General Studies Modules provide your child with broad-based and holistic learning. He will select from a suite of modules to match his interests.

These include foreign languages, communication and interpersonal skills, leadership and teamwork, values and society, general knowledge and interests, and many more.

Parent’s Guide 2016/2017

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSESSMENTS While NYP believes in offering a flexible, balanced and well-rounded education for the benefit of each student, a structured system of assessment and examination is still required to gauge the progress of your child throughout the course of his study.

SEMESTRAL ASSESSMENT RESULTS These will be released to students in September and March, respectively.

A Statement of Results will be made available online in the Student Portal.

GRADING SYSTEM The following briefly highlights important aspects of our examination system:

COMPLETION OF COURSE All students must take and pass modules specified for their course of study within a stipulated time-frame. A typical 3-year diploma course may actually be completed over a maximum of 6 years.

METHODS OF ASSESSMENT A module may be graded entirely using in-course assessments and projects, both of which carry equal weight, or in combination with semestral examinations.

SEMESTRAL EXAMINATIONS These usually take place in August/ September in Semester 1 and February/ March in Semester 2 of each academic year.

The examination timetable will be given to students at least 2 weeks in advance.

Our 2-tier grading system is based on both individual modules and overall performance. A module may come with a letter grade such as A, B or C, or a Pass/Fail grade. Letter-graded modules are usually factored into the Grade Point Average, which is used to assess a student’s overall performance.

Credit value is distinct from and not tied to grade points. As long as a student passes a module, he will earn the full credits associated with the module, regardless of the grade scored.

DIPLOMA WITH MERIT The Diploma with Merit recognises students who have excelled academically.

In general, it is awarded to only the top 10% of the graduating cohort from each course.

For more information on assessment regulations and the grading system, please visit: NYP Homepage Current Students Academic Matters Examination Matters

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DEVELOPING ALL-ROUND EXCELLENCE At NYP, your child will enjoy all the benefits of a well-balanced education that goes far beyond the classroom.

While enabling him to achieve academic success and equipping him with skills to thrive in his future career, we also emphasise nurturing your child to become a responsible and well-rounded individual who is able to take on a meaningful role in the society.

Which is why, apart from a well-structured academic programme, we also provide support services and regular activities to help your child in many aspects of his growth. These would include:

PERSONAL MENTOR GROUP A first-time polytechnic student may encounter difficulties in adapting to the new academic and schooling system. To facilitate a smooth transition to the new environment, your child will be placed in a Personal Mentor Group consisting of 20-25 students of the same year of entry in the same diploma course. They will share similar timetables and will be attending classes and lectures together.

Every Personal Mentor Group will be overseen by a lecturer who will play the role of a Personal Mentor (PEM). The PEM will play a key role in your child’s

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personal development and provide access to any resources required by the student. The role of the PEM is spelt out by the three respective letters: • Point of Contact • Engaging students & • Mentoring While in school, your child will also be taken care of by other dedicated lecturers besides the PEM. Every Diploma Course has a Course Manager who will ensure the smooth running of the course and at the same time ensure that the curriculum is kept current, relevant and consistent with industry requirements. The well-being and character development of your child is also his concern. He will monitor your child’s attendance and will notify you if your child fails to meet the minimum requirement of 85% attendance.

Your child will enter NYP as part of a cohort of students who have enrolled at the same time and for the same course.

Every cohort is managed by a Course Coordinator who looks after the wellbeing of all members. He will take care of all course-related matters, ensuring that your child enjoys smooth progression in his studies, from one stage to another.

Parent’s Guide 2016/2017

EDUCATION AND CAREER GUIDANCE Education and Career Guidance (ECG) at NYP aims to encourage students to explore and consider different career paths through counselling, workshops and career fairs. There are three desired outcomes that ECG at NYP will help students to achieve: Students are able to develop positive career self-concept Students can adapt and make considered decisions about their career and aspirations Students are able to transit towards work successfully The ECG curriculum in NYP provides the opportunity to all first year students to attend the Personal Career Strategy classes that would equip them with the necessary decision making and career tools. They will develop further in their personal management and selfawareness, able to write a personal career plan and recognise the importance of building a strong portfolio while with NYP. They will have opportunities to also develop their professional and interpersonal communication skills and gain valuable experience through NYP’s structured internship programmes.

ECG@Central aims to provide guidance to students in education and career decision making. Students can make appointment with our ECG Counsellors if they have any queries on their jobs, careers or further studies. The centre also offers students the resources to support them in their preparation for an interview.

Additionally, numerous events such as fairs, talks, workshops, networking sessions and other programmes in conjunction with ECG initiatives are also organised throughout the year. These help to equip students with the necessary life-skills to navigate future challenges and the know-how in being work resilient as they prepare for their transition from school to workplace.

In NYP, we uphold the view that learning does not stop upon the attainment of a diploma; in fact it is the first step of a momentous journey towards a more significant future. ECG at NYP inspires students to embrace lifelong learning and take ownership of their own career, while continually striving to stay competitive, innovative and enterprising, and thereby contribute to the technological, economic and social developments of Singapore.

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INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME At NYP, your child will undertake the Internship Programme in his final year. He will participate in a real-world project for 3-6 months with one of our industry partners.

It will be an opportunity for him to apply his knowledge and skills while enjoying first-hand exposure to the industry.

Different schools may have different forms of internships based on the nature of the industry. For example, students in Health Sciences will be placed on clinical attachments. The aim is to create an environment where students will develop essential skills, and to encourage them to adopt the right attitudes for their future working lives.

OVERSEAS PROGRAMMES Other than local internships, your child may also be selected to participate in the various overseas programmes that NYP offers. In these programmes, we aim to help him develop a global perspective; immersing him in a foreign land and culture to strengthen his adaptability, independence and interpersonal skills.

The overseas programme comes in different forms, including the Overseas Internship Programme where students are attached to companies located overseas.

We also collaborate with various overseas institutions to allow students to perform their internship there. Additionally, we offer opportunities for students to participate in youth expeditions and educational study trips in foreign countries.

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES When your child chooses an education at NYP, we want to make sure that he leaves with more than just a diploma. We believe that his life on campus should be an enjoyable one, and upon graduation, he should have fond memories. That’s why along the way, we encourage him to adopt an active and enriching lifestyle by participating in some form of CoCurricular Activities (CCAs).

Every student is encouraged to engage in at least one of the many activities available. CCAs offer opportunities to cultivate both practical and interpersonal skills that are not easily learnt within the classroom. They also help students build up inner aspirations for the arts, music, sports or any other interests.

NYP offers a wide choice of CCA ranging from sports to special interest groups. We believe your child will be able to find one that will match his personality and interests.

For a full list of student clubs and interest groups, please visit: NYP Homepage Current Students Campus Life NYP Experience 8

Parent’s Guide 2016/2017

STUDENT WELL-BEING AND DISCIPLINE Other than imparting knowledge, we also prioritise instilling correct values and developing a good character in NYP students, hence the importance of student well-being and discipline.

The student’s well-being is important to us. In NYP all first year students will be taking Fitness for Life module. At the same time the Student Health Advisors will be available to assist students with kick-starting a healthy lifestyle and to provide health advice.

In addition to student’s well-being, we are concerned with your child’s discipline and behaviour as it will affect their image and standing in the eyes of the public.

Therefore, your child is encouraged to understand and respect our set of rules and regulations.

There are some common disciplinary offences which your child should do his best to avoid. These include: (a) Smoking within campus grounds, having long hair (for male students), littering, improper or indecent dressing, acts of disturbance, cheating or dishonesty in examinations, fighting.

(b) Vandalism, theft, disrespectful behaviour to lecturers and staff, disobeying orders from the Principal or authorised officers. (c) Possession of dangerous weapons, possession or consumption of drugs, alcohol or other intoxicating substances, immoral or indecent behaviour, forging of documents or possession of forged documents. (d) Unauthorised use or illegal copying of copyright materials whether printed or otherwise, and the disclosure of computer passwords to others. (e) Any other act, conduct or neglect that is prejudicial to the good order and discipline of NYP or is likely to affect its reputation.

While appropriate penalties may sometimes be imposed as a means to change and improve a student’s behaviour, rest assured that all cases regarding discipline will be handled fairly and with transparency.

For a comprehensive list of rules and regulations, please visit: NYP Homepage Current Students Student Handbook

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SCHOLARSHIPS The NYP Scholarship Programme offers an array of scholarships to outstanding students who are enrolled at NYP. There are more than 100 prestigious bond-free scholarships awaiting your child.

These are classified under four main categories, namely: NYP Scholarships

NYP Scholarship for ITE Upgraders

NYP-Industry Scholarships Others

FINANCIAL SUPPORT NYP believes that financial constraints should not be a reason for a student to forgo the pursuance of a quality education. As such, we offer many avenues in the form of assistance schemes, scholarships and bursaries to help ease your financial burden during the course of your child’s studies.

The financial assistance schemes currently available are as follows:

BURSARIES • CDC/CCC-Polytechnic Bursary • MOE Polytechnic Bursary • Other Bursaries

TUITION FEE SUBSIDY • PSEA Scheme • Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy (Administered by Yayasan Mendaki)

TUITION FEE AND STUDY LOAN • Tuition Fee Loan Scheme • NYP Study Loan Scheme • CPF Approved Education Scheme A wide variety of awards and grants are also available to students who meet the requirements as stipulated by the awarding body or organisation. Most of these offer assistance in the form of cash grants, although some may involve interest-free loans. Some of the sponsors may require you to apply directly to them for assistance.

For more information on financial assistance, please visit: NYP Homepage Current Students Financial Matters

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Parent’s Guide 2016/2017

PARENTS’ FAQs 1) What is the learning journey like at NYP? Your child will enjoy a balanced education and well-rounded training through a combination of classroom lessons, project work, internships, overseas exposure and co-curricular activities.

2) How much time does my child need to spend on campus?

Your child’s timetable will depend on the diploma course and the tutorial group he is in. Lessons are held from Mondays to Fridays and could start as early as 8:00am. Most classes would end by 6:00pm but there are times when evening classes need to be held for special reasons. Students may often need to remain on campus for sports, club activities and other recreational events, to complete their projects or study at the library.

3) How long is each semester?

The new academic year starts in April.

There are two semesters of 15 weeks each. There is a mid-semester break of 2 weeks in June and December and a semester vacation of 6 weeks in September-October. There may be variations in the academic calendar across the different schools within NYP due to the specific requirements of each school.

4) How are lessons conducted?

How different are they from a mainstream school?

A mixture of lectures, tutorials and practicum is used; this is in contrast to the classroom-style lessons adopted in most secondary schools. Students will move between tutorial rooms, lecture theatres and laboratories, depending on their timetable.

5) If my child encounters difficulties in his studies, who can he turn to?

Your child will be assigned a Personal Mentor (PEM) whom he can consult if he faces any difficulties.

6) Is sports and physical exercise compulsory at NYP? Male students who are eligible for National Service are required to take the National Physical Fitness Award (NAPFA) Test before they graduate, NAPFA test is optional for the other students.

7) Is it compulsory for my child to take up Co-Curricular Activities (CCA)?

All students are encouraged to take up at least one CCA to help them discover and nurture their interests and aptitudes beyond the academic curricula, and to develop them as well-rounded individuals. CCA is also a criterion when seeking admission to local universities.

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8) Are there any opportunities for overseas exposure?

Yes, we have schemes in place that allow students to go overseas for internships or student exchange programmes.

9) Who should we speak to if we need more advice on financial matters?

Your child can approach his Personal Mentor (PEM) or Student Care and Guidance or Finance Department for assistance.

10) What are the course fees like?

The current course fees for this academic year, which include tuition and supplementary fees, is about $2,700 for Singapore Citizens. Fee payment will be on a semestral basis, usually in the month of June for semester 1 and December for semester 2. However, a wide range of financial assistance schemes are available for those who require such help.

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For more information on course fees, you can visit: NYP Homepage Current Students Financial Matters Course Fees

11) Can my child enter a university after getting a diploma from NYP? Yes, our diploma is recognised and accepted by many universities, both locally and abroad.

12) Where can my child go for advice on his future work and career?

Your child can find more information through the following: a) ECG@Central b) School-Level Fair/ Career & University Fair c) School Job Coordinators

Parent’s Guide 2016/2017

USEFUL CONTACT NUMBERS There may be times when you need to speak directly with one of our staff members to get the answers you need. The following are telephone numbers of the key departments and may be useful to you in the course of making enquiries: DEPARTMENT/SCHOOL

CONTACT NO ENQUIRIES

i@Central (Information & Service Centre)

6451 5115

General Enquiries

ECG@Central (Education and Career Guidance Centre)

6550 0333

Career-related & Further Education matters for students

Student Development

6550 1904 6550 1905

Co-curricular activities, tertiary student EZ-Link card & locker rental services

Finance Department

6550 0200

Billing-related matters, tuition fee subsidy & loan

Student Recruitment & Admissions

6455 0500

Admission matters

Examinations Office

6550 0373

Examination matters

Financial Assistance

6550 0056

Bursaries, study loan & notebook subsidy

School of Business Management

6550 1000

School of Chemical & Life Sciences

6550 1500

School of Design

6550 0600

School of Engineering

6550 0400 6550 0500

School of Health Sciences

6550 1300

School of Information Technology

6550 1600

School of Interactive & Digital Media

6550 1700

Course enquiries and School-related matters

Note: The information in this parent’s guide is correct at the time of printing.

Translation into other language shall be deemed as reference and English version shall prevail in any case.

180 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 Singapore 569830 www.nyp.edu.sg