RP PRESS Published By Republic Polytechnic
共和工院 教 零售
房
Republic Polytechnic launches teaching retail pharmacy
Pelajar Poly Republic wakili S’pura dalam peraduan masak Republic Polytechnic alumni to represent Singapore in cooking competition
Reaching his goal to become a sports trainer
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RP’s sonic arts course sounds like a winner By ISABELLE LIEW
He had his eyes set on Republic Polytechnic’s (RP) sonic arts course ever since he was in Secondary 2 as he wanted to pursue a singing career. But through the course, Mr Muhammad Arshad, 19, a Year 2 student in RP’s School of Technology for the Arts, discovered his passion for live sound engineering. He told The New Paper: “I thought it would be difficult to earn a living in the audio industry, but I found out that the industry is actually big. There are many career choices for us. “I thought (the course) was only on music, but I realised I like doing mixing for live performances.” Graduates of the course, which is unique to RP, can become audio post-production editors, live sound engineers, audio designers and more. RP is having the last day of its open house today from 10am to 6pm. Post-secondary school students can visit to find out more about the various courses the polytechnic has to offer. Mr Arshad will be at the sonic arts’ booth to share his experience in the course. “We do all sorts of things to get the sound effects we want. For example, for a galaxy door opening scene, we layered toilet flushing sounds,” he said.
7 January 2017 | The New Paper
“In Year 1, as part of the sonic art studio module, I made a track for an album that is now being played at 9th Avenue (RP’s training restaurant and kitchen). I used a musical instrument digital interface to compose the musical notes in Protools (an audio software).” The sonic art studio module teaches students to author their own works. In December, RP completed the building of their Foley studio, where students can record sounds in synchronisation with moving pictures. Foley is the reproduction of everyday sound effects that are added to films in postproduction to enhance audio quality. The state-of-the-art studio was built with six pits filled with material such as sand, gravel, asphalt, marble and creaky wood to simulate sounds such as footsteps on these materials. SKILL SETS Mr Andrew Wong, programme chair of the Diploma in Sonic Arts, said the course equips students with the necessary skill sets for the audio industry. He said: “The course covers everything from location sound recording to the fundamentals of studio recording to audio post-production.” Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung was at RP’s open house yesterday and he visited the various booths.
Mr Muhammad Arshad, a Year 2 sonic arts student at Republic Polytechnic. TNP PHOTO: ISABELLE LIEW
Speaking to TNP, he said: “At a secondary school level, we are trying to help students uncover their strengths and passions, and how to leverage on that.
“In a poly, there are a wide array of options for young people to explore, understand themselves and pursue their interests. That’s an important direction we are going towards for higher learning.”
“We see many courses that are unique to RP like sonic arts, sports coaching, and arts and theatre management.
9 Woodlands Avenue 9, Singapore 738964 6510 3000 |
one-stop@rp.edu.sg |
www.rp.edu.sg
Sources: Berita Harian, Lianhe Zaobao, Tamil Murasu, The Business Times, The New Paper and The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.
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Republic Polytechnic students get international exposure with internships abroad
Enjoying the sun & sand as he works
25 March 2017 | The New Paper
While interning at the Maldivean luxury resort Gili-Lankanfushi, Mr Kirwin Lee had to work barefoot. PHOTO: REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC By SIM YAN LING
Ever wanted to spend months in paradise, feeling the fine sand on your bare feet, with scenic views of the sea as your backdrop? Mr Kirwin Lee, 21, got to experience that — but with a twist. The final-year Republic Polytechnic (RP) student stayed in the Maldives for six months, during which he interned at luxury resort Gili-Lankanfushi. This was possible with the help of the RP Industry Immersion Programme (IIP), designed to give students a first-hand experience of the work environment and let them apply the knowledge they have gained from the classroom.
OVERSEAS OPPORTUNITY Selected students have the opportunity to travel overseas, and even receive financial support from RP’s Overseas Internship Fund and International Enterprise (IE) Singapore’s Young Talent Programme. Mr Lee, who is pursuing a Diploma in Hotel and Hospitality Management, took on a variety of roles at the resort, from management trainee to butler. He got to work with colleagues and guests from over 20 different nationalities in the Maldives, teaching him to be more culturally aware, and sensitive to his surroundings and the body language of those around him. When asked about differences between Singapore and the Maldives, Mr Lee immediately brought up the slower pace of life.
He said: “Singapore’s environment is competitive, and learning is extremely fast-paced. In the Maldives, the culture is one with a slower pace.” In the Maldives, Mr Lee also had to work barefoot, which helped him connect with “Mother Earth”. This led to him adopting a more eco-friendly stance in his work. His lecturer Mr Kunihiro Iwakiri said Mr Lee has become more polished and mature after the internship. Though Mr Lee was sometimes unable to apply standard operating procedures taught in school due to unexpected situations, he took each challenge as a learning opportunity. He said: “I went in with an open mind and to learn. “Whatever happened, I learnt from it.”
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Widening her horizons in Guangzhou At the age of 22, few can claim to have worked for a government agency for almost half a year. Miss Veronica Low was fortunate enough to have interned in China at government agency International Enterprise (IE) Singapore for five months under Republic Polytechnic’s (RP) Industry Immersion Programme (IIP). A student at RP’s School of Management and Communication, with a Diploma in Social Enterprise Management, Miss Low worked in the Guangzhou Overseas Centre. TRADE MISSIONS During the internship, she got to experience how businesses operated in the Chinese market, and assisted in marketing and trade missions between Singapore and the Chinese government and enterprises.
“Working in IE Singapore Guangzhou has helped me widen my horizons and balance speed and quality,” she said of the internship. “I (also) learnt to stay humble.” Her work with the local organisations in China taught her to be more shrewd during negotiations, and to be more open to cultural differences. Ms Joanna Tay, Miss Low’s lecturer and internship supervisor, praised her student: “(Veronica) has a can-do attitude, and is a very responsible student.” She said that the internship has helped Miss Low develop into a fast thinker and a more decisive and mature individual. ylsim@sph.com.sg
These experiences revealed how cross-border relations between Singapore and its partners work.
Republic Polytechnic student Veronica Low. PHOTO: REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC
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共和工院
教
零售
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6 January 2017 | Lianhe Zaobao
共和工院与职总保健 合作社签署合作协议，正式成立共和工院 — 仁益教学零售药房 这是本地工院中，唯一一家专为零售配药培训而设的教学药房。 陈劲禾 报道 共和理工学院设立教学零售药房，加强学生在零售配药运作上 的培训，让他们在毕业前就具备职场上所需的技能，以提高学 生受雇的机会。
无人机培训中心正式开幕 也供私企与政府职员受训 同时，共和工院的无人机培训中心也于昨日正式开幕，除了培训 学生之外，也让私人企业与政府机构的职员前来受训。 共和工院昨日与全国职工总会保健合作社签署合作协议，正 式成立共和工院－仁益教学零售药房（RP-Unity Teaching Retail Pharmacy）。 这是本地工院中，唯一一家专为零售配药培训而设的教学药房。 该药房模拟实际零售药房，设有配药处、病人辅导处、零售摆 设，以及促进讨论的教学空间，旨在让学生在贴近真实工作环 境的场所受训。 职总秘书长陈振声昨日在教学零售药房开幕典礼上致词时 说： “我们的学生很聪明、很好学。他们对过去不感兴趣，而是 对现在、对未来感兴趣。 “ 我们希望通过这类合作，把业界最新的知识引进高等学府，确 保学生为未来做好准备。” 他说，除了制药业之外，希望未来会有更多业者与学府合作。 根据共和工院的资料，每年约有350名制药科学系专业文凭课 程的学生会在这个教学零售药房学习，培训内容包括零售配药 与商品展示设计等。 教学药房也具备远程药房（telepharmacy）设备，让学生熟悉 其中的运作。 远程药房指的是当顾客上门而药剂师又不在时，药房店员可利 用视讯设备拨电给另一家分店的药剂师，让药剂师通过视讯了 解顾客的需求，给顾客配药。
共和理工学院的教学零售药房具备远程药房设备，让学生熟悉其中的运作。 (周柏荣摄)
除了培训学生之外，也让私企与政府机构的职员前来受训，所 涵盖的领域包括农业、建筑业、供应链，以及搜寻与援救运作。 从前年开始收生至今，中心已培训了120名私企与政府机构职员。
培训课程也向公众开放 培训课程也开放给公众参与，公众可使用“技能创前程培训补 助金” （SkillsFuture Credit）支付学费。 无人机培训中心导师郑荣杰受访时说，私企与政府机构都开始 利用无人机提高生产力，可见市场对无人机的需求会继续增长。
共和工院制药科学系二年级生王会钦（18岁）受访时说，工院 的教学注重如何解决问题，模拟实境学习与原本的课业内容相 辅相成。
建筑公司和合私人有限公司的安全执行人员李惠敏（26岁）被 公司派去参与无人机培训课程。
她举例说： “在行销课程中，我们可以体验实际的点货程序、学 习如何向顾客推介药物等等。”
她说，应工作所需，她可通过无人机摄像，检查建筑高处是否有 瑕疵。 “这包括建筑外观、屋顶等等。基本上人工够不着的地方 都可使用无人机。”
另外，共和工院的无人机培训中心昨日正式开幕。这是本地高 等学府中第一家无人机培训中心。
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jinhet@sph.com.sg
Republic Polytechnic launches teaching retail pharmacy Republic Polytechnic (RP) and NTUC Health signed a Collaboration Agreement to jointly set up a teaching retail pharmacy at RP. Aimed at enhancing students’ training in pharmaceutical practice, the RP-Unity Teaching Retail Pharmacy is the only local retail pharmacy established for teaching purposes. Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress, hoped that students will be able to acquire more knowledge to prepare for the future through such industry collaborations. Wong Hui Qin, a second-year Diploma in Pharmaceutical Sciences student, said that the polytechnic teaching approach focuses on problem-solving, and a simulated learning environment complements the course content.
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Hive for drone enthusiasts
2 January 2017 | The Straits Times
By TOH WEN LI
A new drone centre at Republic Polytechnic will also open its doors to people who want to learn how to fly these unmanned craft. Students can try their hand at tinkering with them too. The Republic Polytechnic UAV Centre – to be officially launched at the poly’s open house on Thursday – was developed in line with growing interest in drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), from students, the public and organisations. The $200,000 centre houses more than 50 drones with wing spans ranging from 150mm to 1.2m. Student at the polytechnic who stand to benefit from the centre include those pursuing diploma courses in aerospace avionics, aerospace engineering as well as interactive and digital media. The public can also sign up for a two-day basic drone flying course for $1,380 at the centre. Mr Muhammad Firman Jumat, 20, an interactive and digital media student, is looking forward to the centre’s opening. “You can use drones to help capture whatever you can’t get using hand-held cameras and videos on the ground,” he said. Occupying 118 sq m, the centre can accommodate 50 students. It has an application lab where students can carry out simulations and image processing on computers, as well as an integration lab, similar to a workshop, where students can tinker with drone components. Drone-flying lessons are conducted on the school’s field. Said Mr Sasidharan Nair, 39, a trainer at the centre: “One of the most important things we want our students to take away from this is safety. Flying a drone requires a lot of responsibility: A drone is not a toy.” tohwenli@sph.com.sg
Trainers at the Republic Polytechnic UAV Centre Mark Tay (left) and Sasidharan Nair at work. The centre, which will be officially launched on Thursday, will also offer training courses for the public. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
Republic Poly launches top-notch audio facility By TOH WEN LI
Students at Republic Polytechnic (RP) can now enjoy a new aural playground which facilitates industry-quality sound design. The 102 sq m Foley Arts Studio is built to support the Diploma in Sonic Arts curriculum at the polytechnic’s School of Technology for the Arts. Located in the School of Technology for the Arts, the $400,000 facility contains three rooms where students can produce everyday sounds suitable for use in movies and broadcast. The Foley Live Room contains a range of props and materials to create sounds, including walking “pits” made of concrete, asphalt, gravel, sand, marble and wood, as well as a water trough. The Foley Control Room contains post-production equipment such as industry-grade audio interface and monitoring
21 June 2017 | The Straits Times
systems. Students can also head to the Dubbing Room to record voiceovers and re-record dialogue for film.
all about having everything in one studio... And we can create original sound effects without having to use stock audios.”
At the studio’s official launch yesterday attended by Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim, the polytechnic in Woodlands signed two memoranda of understanding with production houses Yellow Box Studios and Beach House Pictures.
Director of RP’s School of Technology for the Arts Sharen Liu said the studio will broaden and deepen students’ skills to prepare them for work in the entertainment industry.
The partnerships will allow staff and students to collaborate with the production houses. These tie-ups will provide internship and mentorship opportunities, as well as academic awards for the top performing students from RP’s School of Technology for the Arts. Additionally, RP will work with Yellow Box Studios to develop training programmes to help working adults keep up with the fast-paced audio production industry.
“The digital sounds from sound libraries cannot replicate sounds as naturally as Foley artists. The artists need to be imaginative (and) find the right objects and the creative means to replicate and enhance sound effects,” she said. “We’re preparing our future workforce to get jobs beyond Singapore, perhaps to even win an Oscar one day,” she added, with a nod to Singaporean Ai-Ling Lee, who was nominated for two Oscars for her sound work in 2016’s La La Land. tohwenli@sph.com.sg
Second-year sonic arts student Ashsiddiq Hussin, 21, said the studio would make sound design more convenient. “It’s
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快
人手
共和工院研
手机
用追
物流 22 February 2017 | Lianhe Zaobao
供应链管理创新中心成立后，共和理工学院生有机会参与和企业的合作，并且到企业实习。 (共和理工学院提供)
黄伟曼 报道 不管是中国“双十一”购物节或美国“黑色星期五”大促销，购 物季造成的消费激增现象总是让面对人手短缺的货运公司感到 头痛。本地一家为电子商务平台提供区域快递服务的公司最近 决定提升货物探测与追踪系统，利用科技缓解问题。 总部设在新加坡的DPEX Worldwide，目前为亚洲17个国家 的电子商务平台提供船运与快递服务，其中包括中国淘宝网等 大型平台。公司去年开始与设于共和理工学院的供应链管理创 新中心合作，前后展开两项可行性研究后，开始改良货物追踪 流程，也进行新研发，改以手机应用为新追踪平台。 新的应用估计今年4月启用。公司营运与信息科技部总监罗伟 明受访时说： “人手不足的问题一直困扰着我们，所以我早已考 虑要改变流程，只不过不知道如何着手进行。与创新中心的合 作是个好的开始。”
77％参与业者掌握新技术 财政部长王瑞杰前天发表2017财政年预算案声明时，提到供 应链管理创新中心的例子，强调本地学府与企业合作的重要 性。自2013年正式揭幕，该中心与驻本地企业已合作完成超过 250个项目。
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供应链管理创新中心虽设在学府内，但它所扮演的角色就如一 家咨询公司，负责帮企业加强供应链流程。中心主任郭鸿凯引 述标新局调查结果说，与中心接触过的企业，有77％在过程中 掌握了新技术，也有超过一半认为他们对行业动态有更深的了解。
罗伟明指出，他也是透过中心第一次接触到机器人。他说： “如 果没有这个合作的机会，我可能不会想到机器人也能用于改善 流程，提高效率。未来一旦成本问题解决，我们或许可以考虑 进一步机械化。”
ngwaimun@sph.com.sg
Labour shortage in the courier industry: Republic Polytechnic creates mobile app for logistic tracking When DPEX Worldwide decided to upgrade its cargo detection and tracking system to solve manpower issues, it worked with RP Centre of Innovation for Supply Chain Management (COI-SCM). The e-commerce courier service provider has since launched two feasibility studies to improve its cargo tracking process. It also carried out new research and development and switched to using mobile applications as a new tracking platform. Mr Loh Wei Meng, Operations Director at DPEX Worldwide, felt the collaboration with COI-SCM was a good start to help automate the company’s processes.
At his Budget 2017 speech, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat emphasised the importance of cooperation between local institutions and businesses. He cited the collaboration between COI-SCM and DPEX Worldwide as a good example of working with companies to level up their capabilities and provide students with hands-on experience. COI-SCM has a consultancy role responsible for helping enterprises strengthen their supply chain process. Director of COI-SCM, Mr Dennis Quek, said that 77% of the companies that have worked with COI-SCM has acquired some new form of technology, and more than half gained a deeper understanding of the industry.
E X PA N DI N G H OR I Z O N S
27 February 2017 | Tamil Murasu By
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Shared resources improves performance RP Centre of Innovation for Supply Chain Management (COI-SCM) allows students to enhance their skills through hands-on experience with companies by offering them real-life solutions. The Centre serves as a one-stop platform to assist companies in enhancing innovation and improving efficiency. A collaboration between RP, Singapore Economic Development Board and SPRING Singapore, COI-SCM has provided students from institutes of higher learning with an opportunity to gain work experience through internships at the Centre. Mr Karthikeyan Shanmugam, a National University of Singapore (NUS) student who interned at COI-SCM, gained good practical experience from the stint. He could also better understand how SMEs can further optimise their operations and production capabilities.
挫折中
16 December 2016 | Lianhe Zaobao
虽然从筹备到展销会当天一路面对了不少挫折和困难，但 对成功举办体 育展销会的共和工院体育与休闲管理学系学生而言，这绝对是一次难得 的学习经历。 上个月，共和工院体育与休闲管理学系的25名 三年级学生分别成立物流、人力、客服、销售、 广告和公关六个小组，在学校里举办了一场体 育展销会。 公关之一的谢哲宇（图左二）说，因为他们的 学生身份，在联络合作品牌时吃了不少闭门羹。 “ 由于我们是学生，很多人并不看好我们，我们被 拒绝了好多次，但这却激励了我们，一定要把活 动办好，且要办得成功，证明我们可以。” (受访者提供)
杨馨若 报道 占地450平方米、多达33个合作品牌，且不乏 阿迪达斯、TYR等知名品牌，商品包括运动衣 物、鞋子及运动器材等，这样一个体育展销会， 如果不说，恐怕没人会想到主办方是共和理工 学院三年级学生，而这也是他们的毕业作业。
负责物流的王俊兴（左一）和吴岱卫（右一）则 说： “我们的场地平面图改了又改，一直到活动 开始前几个小时还在改。通过这次的活动，我 们发现想象和现实没办法完全一样。” 活动当天，负责人力的蓝耀邦（右二）遇到了最 大的问题，因为活动现场所有售货员都是志愿者， 许多人最后没有报到，导致人手吃紧。
“ 我只能随机应变，利用很有限的人手去进行 调度，几乎每个小时每个人的工作都要改变， 以配合现场情况。” 活动的合作伙伴Sportz and Fitness Team公司总经理陈丽君说， “这些学生其实 每天几乎都会有不同的问题要面对和处理，我 们也从过程中看到他们的成长，从懵懂无知， 到慢慢懂得互相帮助，解决问题，一路走来真 的很不容易。” 虽然过程困难重重，但活动最终成功举办，对 他们而言还是一段非常难得的学习经历。
yangxr@sph.com.sg
Learning from challenges 25 third-year Diploma in Sports and Leisure Management students from RP organised a sports exposition as their final year project. The exposition carried 33 participating brands such as Adidas and TYR. Student Simon Hsieh said that the students had initiated partnerships with several brands, but were turned down. However, they were motivated by the setbacks and were determined to prove their capabilities. Student Shawn Nah faced a manpower challenge when many of the sales assistant volunteers failed to show up on the day of the expo. He adapted to the situation by adjusting the volunteers’ work schedules. Although the process was difficult, the event was executed successfully and the students benefitted from the unique experience.
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Students take on hospitality challenge
18 September 2017 | The Straits Times
By SERENE LUO, ANG YIYING, NUR SYAHIIDAH ZAINAL
Some secondary students found out what the hospitality industry was really about when they participated in the second RP Hospitality Race. On Sept 8, 28 teams from 11 schools set out in a challenge around Sentosa to complete as many tasks at pitstops in as little time as possible. From trying to sell souvenir photos to customers to giving hotel guests a little personalised attention by singing them a song, the participants took on roles the staff at the island’s various tourist attractions or facilities performed daily. Republic Polytechnic’s School of Hospitality, which was behind the second edition of this race, wanted to let secondary school students learn more about this industry, said its manager, Ms Yeo May Lee. Besides dipping their toes in front-end operations, they even got to learn about branding and positioning. For instance, there was a particular pitstop located in front of a sprawling ficus tree or Johore fig – a heritage tree that gained some prominence after it appeared in a 2001 movie starring Zoe Tay, named – aptly – The Tree. Said Ms Yeo: “We wanted students to understand the whole spectrum (of jobs) in the industry. In the case of the tree, it’s about marketing, branding, being able to get attention and tell a story.” At the end of the four-hour-long challenge, it was a Nanyang Girls’ High School team, comprising Gan Hui Min, Luo Wen, and Zhu Yujia, all 15, that emerged champions. The team won $800 in UNIQGIFT vouchers, which can be used at outlets such as Cold Storage, Under Armour and Sakae Sushi, and $100 of Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel dining vouchers as well as a trophy and medals. A second team from Nanyang Girls’ High School comprising Chen Yanwen, Lee Yng-Yng, both 14, and Tong Zhixian, 15, took second place. In third place was a team from Juying Secondary School, comprising Lau Jia En, Pearlyn Tan Pei Lin and Qiu An Qi, all 16. The girls from the winning team said they did not expect to win, and in fact were a little down in spirits when they learnt during the lunch break that they were lagging behind the other teams. So they re-strategised, said Yujia.
At Good Old Days, near Beach Station, participants had to set up tables for six, folding dining napkins into Bishop’s Hats. The team of (from left) Luo Wen, Zhu Yujia and Gan Hui Min (not pictured) from Nanyang Girls’ High School eventually came in first place.
Zhixian, from the second-place team, said of one of her more memorable experiences: “One station required us to sing a song for the guests at the hotel, and our group was singing rather loudly, but we were out of tune!” Luo Wen, from the winning team, said of her experience: “My perception of the hospitality industry before this race was limited – I thought you just have to be polite, smile, and your job is settled. “The race has shown me the other side of the hospitality industry that demands one’s professionalism, efficiency, attention to detail and sensitivity to other people.”
She added: “During the second half of the race, we were constantly checking the time and thinking of ways to be more efficient, such as walking instead of waiting for the bus. “When we reached the final pitstop and knowing that we were first, my first thought was that we could finally take a break from running.” Hui Min said she found the pitstop at the MegaZip Adventure Park – where she had to convince a customer to buy a souvenir photo of her experience – most interesting. “After all, it’s not every day that you get to sell a product to an actual customer, much less successfully convince them,” she said.
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An RP student facilitator burying a laminated card in the sand of Siloso Beach for a beachcombing activity. Participants had to literally dig in search of “buried treasure”.
Many participants at the MegaZip Adventure Park pitstop were baffled by the hooks, buckles and straps on the safety harness customers had to be secured into before they could use the 75m-high, 450m-long zipline. RP student facilitators demonstrated how the harness was secured, before the students had to try it for themselves. Several of the participants were overheard saying that they could not remember the steps.
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Home– grown talents rock 10-year-old music fest 7 August 2017 | The Straits Times By METYS NGO
At this station, participants had to learn how to turn balloons into cute figures that would engage young guests at the Rasa Sentosa hotel. Many hotels have programmes or clubs for children as part of the hotels’ services.
The front lawn of Republic Polytechnic (RP) exploded in a riot of colour and high energy last month at the 10th anniversary of the annual IGNITE! Music Festival. Two nights of performances on RP’s front lawn were the highlight of the festival. A variety of local musicians spanning several different genres, such as popular acts rapper Shigga Shay and R&B and soul singer Sam Rui as well as lesser-known up-and-comers such as Bakers In Space and Lew, wrapped up the fortnight-long affair that took place from July 17 to 29. This year, the main festival showcase drew about 13,900 attendees, an almost 6,000 increase from last year’s event. In total, the two-week festival drew an estimated 34,000 people, a number which has drastically grown over the years. It also offered fresh new additions such as the IGNITE!Capella, a showcase of 10 acapella groups, held on July 19, and IGNITE! Buskers Fiesta, a three-day event which focused on three young busking talents and their performances. For many festivalgoers, it was not the first time they had attended the event. Singapore Polytechnic student Aaron Jeremy Raj, who has attended the festival three times, was drawn to IGNITE! this year because of the line-up of its main festival showcase, citing performers such as Subsonic Eye and Shigga Shay.
Participants singing Hurry Hurry Home at the hotel lobby of Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort as part of the challenge. The staff at Rasa Sentosa regularly serenade the guests who are checking out with the New Zealand folk song.
“I really like the vibe of the place, because it’s very chill and you and your friends can just hang out,” said the 19-year-old. The event, which features only local performers, also served as an introduction to the local music scene for some people. Said 17-year-old first-time attendee Yasin Husaini, who tagged along with a friend to the main festival showcase: “I found this event to be an eye-opener because I got to see all these local talents I had never heard about before... I definitely wouldn’t mind listening to more of their music after this.”
The participants at the iFly Singapore outdoor deck simulated being in giant indoor wind diving tunnel by laying on their bellies and following hand signals from the game master. PHOTOS: REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC, ANG YIYING, SERENE LUO
The two-week festival, which featured only local performers, drew an estimated 34,000 people. PHOTO: REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC
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Game on for young developers seeking to make ‘waves’ 21 January 2017 | The Straits Times
By LESTER HIO
The game is afoot for about 240 young game developers at Republic Polytechnic (RP) this weekend, as they join thousands of other developers globally in the world’s largest game development event. As participants of the annual Global Game Jam, which kicked off here yesterday evening, they will spend the weekend designing and developing all sorts of games. Participants are given 48 hours to develop games based on a secret theme revealed only at the start of the event. This year’s theme is “Waves”, which participants can interpret in any way they want, such as ocean waves, sound waves or people waving to one another. Previous themes include “Extinction”, “Ritual” and even the question, “What do we do now?”
Participants in the annual Global Game Jam, which kicked off here yesterday. They have 48 hours to develop games based on the theme “Waves”, which they can interpret in any way they want. More than 40,000 participants from 95 countries and territories are taking part in the event this year. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
Last night, the crowd of young developers, mostly aged between 17 and 25, made themselves comfortable in one of the polytechnic’s halls, furiously brainstorming and programming away. Third-year RP game design student Lourdes Chin, 20, said: “Part of the fun is in how to keep working without sleep.”
Anything is fair game for development, from digital games for the computer, to mobile apps for Android or iOS, to non-digital games such as board or card games.
The Global Game Jam is in its ninth year globally and in its eighth edition in Singapore. It is open to all members of the public.
Mr Anthony Chong, RP’s programme chair for the Diploma in Game Design, said: “We want to encourage the participants here to learn, have fun and be creative together.”
More than 40,000 participants from 95 countries and territories are taking part, beating the record of 36,000 participants set last year.
About 230 game developers created a record 48 games at last year’s event here. Mr Chong hopes the participants this year can reach more than 50 games. Returning participant Ryan Ng, 20, a third-year RP game design student, said: “I won’t be too ambitious – I know now to focus on the main idea of the game, because we actually have only a short time.” lesterh@sph.com.sg
企 挑 中 生 商机“ 子化” 今年的比赛主题是“数码时代的社会企业”， 共有23所中学的144名学生参与，他们在 电子商务业（e-commerce）正在蓬勃发展， 电子商务和付费平台如Carousell、DBS 共和理工学院每年举办的“ 全国推车档挑战赛” PayLah!和Ezbuy的协助下，将各种商业点 （National Pushcart Challenge)，今年也 子“ 电子化”，并体验用QR码付费的交易方 加入数码平台元素，并易名为“数码企业挑战 式。 赛” （Digital Business Challenge）。 数码企业挑战赛的颁奖典礼这个星期天（27 共和理工学院举办的这个挑战赛，今年步入第 日）在榜鹅水滨坊（Waterway Point）的 11年。比赛旨在鼓励和培养本地青少年的创意 Event Square（B2）举行，现场将展出各所 和创业精神，过去10年共吸引了83所中学的 参赛学校的作品，欢迎公众前往参观和体验时 1600多名学生参加。 间是下午3时至5时30分。 罗瑱玲 报道
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23 August 2017 | Lianhe Zaobao
Digital Business Challenge: An opportunity for secondary school students to be online entrepreneurs To be in line with the booming e-commerce industry, RP’s annual event, the “National Pushcart Challenge”, has been renamed the “Digital Business Challenge” to include a digital element in 2017. The competition encouraged and nurtured the spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship among secondary school students.
Themed “Social Entrepreneurship in the Digital Age” in 2017, the Challenge saw a collaboration with e-commerce and payment platforms such as Carousell, DBS Paylah! and ezbuy.
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Sanggup tidak tidur dua hari semasa cipta permainan
27 November 2016 | Berita Minggu
By NURMAYA ALIAS
PROSES mencipta permainan video, komputer atau dalam talian amat berlainan daripada menjadi seorang pemain. Sementara pemain sanggup bersengkang mata untuk menang sesuatu permainan, seorang pereka permainan pula sanggup tidak tidur semalaman semata-mata mahu memperbaiki lagi permainan ciptaannya itu. Itulah pengalaman Encik Mohammad Shahrul Nizam Shahrudin, 23 tahun, yang ‘mengorbankan’ masa tidurnya selama dua hari semasa mencipta permainan tiga dimensi berbentuk hiburan sebagai seorang penuntut di sebuah pusat pendidikan privet di sini. “Saya sangat fokus hendak memperbaiki animasi dalam permainan itu,” ujar Encik Shahrul, kini lulusan sarjana muda sastera dalam rekaan permainan dari Institut Teknologi DigiPen Singapura. Permainan yang beliau maksudkan berjudul Michezo, sejenis permainan tembak-menembak yang tidak ganas untuk golongan kanak-kanak. Encik Shahrul turut berpeluang mengunjungi Institut Teknologi DigiPen di Amerika Syarikat bagi program pembelajaran selama tiga bulan, di mana beliau menghasilkan permainan tiga dimensi itu. “Apabila saya mula mengambil kursus rekaan permainan, barulah saya faham bagaimana permainan dicipta dan bagaimana hendak berkomunikasi dengan pemain melalui rekaan. “Kami belajar menganalisis permainan menerusi rangka kerja mekanik, dinamik dan estetik serta belajar menyelesaikan masalah dari sudut pandangan seorang pereka permainan,” kata Encik Shahrul, juga bekas pelajar diploma jurusan rekaan permainan dari Politeknik Republic. Pada peringkat awal mencipta permainan, Encik Shahrul banyak meminjam idea daripada pelbagai permainan video. Kian dengan meningkatnya pengetahuan dalam rekaan permainan, Encik Shahrul mulai faham bahawa seorang pereka permainan mesti memikirkan siapakah pemain sasaran (target audience) sebelum mencipta sebuah permainan. “Salah satu nasihat yang saya anggap sangat berguna merupakan nasihat seorang pereka permainan, James Portnow, yang telah menghasilkan siri video Extra Credits. “Katanya, pereka permainan yang baik mesti belajar semuanya kerana mereka mesti faham bagaimana permainan boleh menjejas manusia secara psikologi,” kata Encik Shahrul. Minatnya terhadap permainan video tercetus selepas mak ciknya memperkenalkan beliau pada permainan Star Wars sewaktu kanak-kanak. Beliau kemudian turut meminati permainan simulasi seperti Sim City yang banyak mengajar beliau tentang ciri-ciri pengurusan dan kepimpinan. Lantas, Encik Shahrul berpendapat bahawa permainan video, komputer atau dalam talian bukan sekadar untuk menghiburkan. “Permainan boleh digunakan untuk berkomunikasi dan mendidik. Saya berharap dapat mencipta permainan yang relevan dan bermanfaat kepada masyarakat,” kata Encik Shahrul.
PERMAINAN KANAK-KANAK: Encik Mohammad Shahrul Nizam Shahrudin telah menghasilkan permainan kanak-kanak yang dinamakannya ‘Michezo’ semasa menjalani program pembelajaran di pusat pendidikan Institut Teknologi DigiPen di Amerika Syarikat. FOTO: M.O. SALLEH
No sleep for two days while developing a game The article featured RP’s alumni in Diploma in Game Design, Mohammad Shahrul Nizam Bin Shahrudin. Shahrul shared about his passion for gaming, what he learnt while studying in RP and his life motivations. He sacrificed two days of sleep while working on a three-dimensional game as he was focused on improving
its animation. The game, Michezo, is a non-violent shooting game for young children. Shahrul believes that games can be used to communicate as well as educate, and hopes to create games that will benefit society.
Afternote: Shahrul graduated from DigiPen (Singapore) in December 2016. nurmayaa@sph.com.sg
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E X PA N DI N G H OR I Z O N S
Pioneer graduates ready to take the next step
3 May 2017 | The New Paper
By CHARMAINE SOH
Though she has always been passionate about marine life, Miss Evelyn Ee did not think she would be able to study it in school. That was until the 20-year-old stumbled on the Diploma in Marine Science and Aquaculture at the Republic Polytechnic (RP) open house in 2014. She said: “I never knew such a course existed in Singapore. When I went back home, I immediately submitted my application.” This year, she is one of 49 students graduating from the pioneer batch of the course, which is the only full-time pre-employment training (PET) diploma programme in Singapore in the field and covers areas such as aquatic species, farm operations and marine and aquatic conservation. In the last five years, RP has introduced a total of seven new PET courses, expanding its offerings “to meet demand for skilled manpower across various sectors in response to industry developments and needs”, said a polytechnic spokesman. RP will see 4,752 students graduate this year, its 15th anniversary.
Republic Polytechnic graduates Mindy Tang (left) and Evelyn Ee both plan to further their studies in university. TNP PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Miss Ee said she benefited from being in the first batch of graduates, citing more exposure to events related to her course and potentially more job opportunities.
共和工院与e2i 黄楷婷 报道 共和理工学院和全国职工总会就业与职能培训中心（e2i）合作 举办职业展，提供不同的职业选项供学生参考和选择，让他们 对各行业有更深一层的了解与认识。 超过100家公司昨天在职业展设摊位，向学生了解他们感兴趣 的范围，并介绍各自企业提供的职业选项。这些公司涵盖各个 领域如物流、航空、酒店管理、医疗保健和零售等。 除了全职工作外，也有不少公司提供兼职机会给仍在求学的学 生。据了解，这些公司各别提供的职位空缺有约六个至上百个不 等。这是共和工院第12年举办职业展，也是第二次与e2i合作。 若不确定接下来应从事什么行业，学生也能通过职业展上的一 个互动游戏“RP Enchanted”来了解可能适合自己的工作。 参与者只须回答四个有关自己性格的简单问题，并记下代表每 个答案的字母，然后从“算命师”手中接过代表这些字母的 “签” ，从“签”上看自己适合哪些工作。 “签”上也会建议学生可 考虑到访的职业摊位。
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展
这个游戏由选修共和工院活动运作管理项目单元课程的25名 学生一起构思及设计，沙菲（19岁，二年级学生）是负责该项目 的学生。 他受访时说： “即将毕业的学生也许会感到迷茫，这个游戏测试 能让他们更了解自己的性格，从中看自己的个性适合哪些工作， 希望能由此帮助他们掌握一些方向，开始策划自己的未来。” 修读健康管理学的薛名宽（21岁，三年级学生）今年5月即将毕 业。他说： “我打算先工作吸取经验，等几年后再上大学，但目前 也担心会找不到工作。这个职业展提供了很多不同的选择，而这 个游戏测试，也让我更了解自己的性格，让我知道有哪些工作可 能更适合我。”
ktwong@sph.com.sg
“I feel there are more job opportunities because companies will approach us since we are the first batch to graduate,” she said. Miss Mindy Tang, 20, is one of 42 students graduating from the pioneer batch in the Diploma in Human Resource Management with Psychology. The diploma trains students in human resource management functions such as compensation and performance management, employment law and recruitment. It also delves into the psychology of human behaviour and motivation. Though there were no seniors she could approach to find out more about student life, Miss Tang said she was assured by the lecturers and her mentors, who are also academic staff assigned to each RP student. The mentors guide and aid students should they have any issues with their learning and performance in school. She said: “I could talk to my mentors whenever I needed help and my lecturers are all easy to approach so I felt really welcomed.” Both students hope to go on to university, in fields related to what they studied at RP. jmsoh@sph.com.sg
10 February 2017 | Lianhe Zaobao
Republic Polytechnic and e2i co-organise Career Fair For the second time, RP and NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) collaborated to co-organise the 12th RP Career Fair. More than 100 companies took part in the career fair to showcase a range of career openings from varied industries. Students who are unsure of their future career pathways could take part in an interactive game called RP Enchanted. Through the game, participants answered four questions regarding their personality, before being directed to specific companies’ booths at the career fair. Third-year student Seck Min Kuan shared that the career fair has provided him with insight into various career pathways, while RP Enchanted has helped him better understand the type of career most suited to his personality.
E X PA N DI N G H OR I Z O N S
Hurai teka-teki canggih dan risik keselamatan siber 25 March 2017 | Berita Harian
“Bagaimanapun, saya tidak menyesal mengikuti kursus pengurusan keselamatan infokom ini sebab ia mendedahkan saya kepada kemahiran berguna apabila saya mencari pekerjaan kelak. “Dalam usaha Singapura menjadi sebuah Negara Bijak, banyak isu keselamatan siber yang perlu diambil kira. “Malahan, sebagai Presiden Kelab Keselamatan Teknologi Maklumat, saya banyak menjalankan kerja memupuk kesedaran ramai tentang keselamatan siber. “Pelajar tidak boleh sesuka hati memuatturun fail dan harus memelihara data mereka sebaiknya agar ia tidak terdedah pada penggodaman,” tambahnya.
TERUJA TIMBA ILMU: Sebagai belia yang terpaut pada warna-warni dunia siber, Cik Nurul Huda Mohamed Amir dan Encik Hamzah Pinadi berhasrat menceburi bidang forensik digital atau penggodaman beretika selepas tamat pengajian kursus Diploma Pengurusan Keselamatan Infokom di Politeknik Republic. FOTO: POLITEKNIK REPUBLIC
Pengerusi Program Diploma Pengurusan Keselamatan Infokom di RP, Encik James Tham, pula melihat kesungguhan Cik Nurul Huda dan Encik Hamzah dalam bidang keselamatan siber. “Pelajar perintis seperti mereka mempunyai minat mendalam terhadap isu keselamatan siber.
By HARYANI ISMAIL
SEJAK di bangku sekolah rendah lagi, Cik Nurul Huda Mohamed Amir sudah bergelar ‘hantu komputer’ yang tertarik pada isu penggodaman peralatan canggih. Beliau malahan terjumpa laman khusus yang mengajar individu menggodam secara asas menerusi peraturan langkah demi langkah. Rakan sekursusnya di Politeknik Republic (RP), Encik Hamzah Pinadi, pula sering membantu ayahnya memasang sofwe antivirus ke dalam komputer. Pengalaman sewaktu kecil dan remaja itulah yang menguatkan lagi tekad Cik Nurul Huda, 19 tahun; dan Encik Hamzah, 18 tahun, agar mengambil kursus Diploma Pengurusan Keselamatan Infokom di RP. Mereka antara pelajar kohort pertama kursus tersebut yang mencecah seramai 72 orang. Baru-baru ini, RP menekankan tentang kepentingan kursus tersebut dengan mendedahkan dua inisiatif memperkasa peluang pembangunan kemahiran pelajar Diploma Pengurusan Keselamatan Infokom pada Hari Industri Sekolah Infokomnya. Memorandum Persefahaman (MOU) ditandatangani bersama dua rakan industri, Cloud Security Alliance dan Persatuan Audit dan Kawalan Sistem Maklumat (Chapter Singapura), bagi melengkapi pelajar dengan kemahiran lanjut menganalisis data dan keselamatan siber. Lebih banyak peluang bekerja sambil belajar serta peruntukan biasiswa dapat dijangka dalam tempoh tiga tahun mendatang.
Empat makmal dengan kerjasama rakan industri, RSA Security, Palo Alto Networks, Trend Micro dan IXIA, juga dibangunkan bagi mengembangkan kajian dalam pengkomputeran awan, rangkaian komputer dan keselamatan prasarana. Ketika ditemui Gah!, Cik Nurul Huda, anak kedua dalam tiga beradik, berkata: “Teman-teman saya terkejut apabila kursus pengurusan keselamatan infokom ini menjadi pilihan. Mereka sangka saya pasti cenderung mendalami kursus seni atau reka bentuk. “Bagaimanapun, kecenderungan saya ialah pada kerja menggodam secara beretika atau tidak menyalahi undang-undang negara. “Saya juga minat menjelajah bidang forensik digital. Antara latihan yang saya gemari ialah tugasan menggodam telefon bimbit bagi membongkar maklumat termasuk foto yang tersimpan di dalamnya. “Banyak jenayah siber kini berlaku. Maka, kerja persis ejen risikan yang memanfaatkan kecanggihan teknologi itu amat saya sukai.” Dalam rangka kursusnya, Cik Nurul Huda berpeluang ke Jepun bagi satu lawatan ke pameran teknologi terkini di mana beliau sempat meninjau ciptaan seperti kaca mata bertelevisyen yang belum lagi terjual di pasaran. Encik Hamzah, yang juga dilantik sebagai Presiden Kelab Keselamatan Teknologi Maklumat di RP, pula mulanya ingin menyertai kursus kejuruteraan. “Sayangnya, saya gagal dalam mata pelajaran matematik tambahan. Lantaran itu, saya tidak dapat mengikuti sebarang kursus kejuruteraan.
“Mereka suka bertanya dan sentiasa teruja mencuba menghurai teka-teki siber menerusi proses penggodaman beretika yang kami ajar. “Selagi siasatan siber mereka belum selesai, selagi itulah mereka tidak akan penat mencuba,” katanya. Encik Tham pula melihat MOU yang ditandatangani bersama dua rakan industri itu akan lebih menyokong usaha RP membangun tenaga kerja muda yang bersedia menyumbang kepada misi Singapura menjadi Negara Bijak. “Kami juga membawa pelajar ke Jepun, Korea Selatan, Australia dan Hongkong bagi
mendedahkan mereka kepada teknologi canggih yang tercipta di negara-negara ini. “Kursus ini memandang ke depan dan menyediakan pelajar untuk ekonomi mendatang,” ujarnya. haryani@sph.com.sg
Solving sophisticated puzzles and cyber security risks Nurul Huda Mohamed Amir's and Hamzah Pinadi's early interest in the infocomm and technology field eventually saw both pursuing the Diploma in Infocomm Security Management (DISM) at RP, where they are among the first cohort of 72 students. During the School of Infocomm (SOI) Industry Day, RP signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with industry partners – Cloud Security Alliance and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) Singapore Chapter – to help equip students with advanced skills for data analysis and cyber security.
Further, in collaboration with industry partners – RSA Security, Palo Alto Networks, Trend Micro and IXIA – RP launched four labs to develop research in cloud, networks and infrastructure security. DISM Programme Chair, Mr James Tham, added that students are passionate about cyber security. He mentioned that RP takes students to Japan, South Korea, Australia and Hong Kong so as to expose them to advanced technology developed in these countries. He also hopes that RP’s efforts will help to prepare the students for the future economy.
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LIFELONG LE A R N ING
Logistics work-study scheme sees its first grads
5 January 2017 | The Straits Times
Ms Mok (left) with her mentor at Toll Logistics Asia, freight management manager Tan Yoke Hkeng. Ms Mok said she enjoyed putting theory into practice and will continue in her job at the company. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR By TIFFANY FUMIKO TAY
Like many fresh graduates, Ms Pearlyn Mok faced a dilemma after earning her Diploma in Supply Chain Management in 2015: Should she further her studies, or enter the workforce? In the end, she did not have to choose, thanks to a SkillsFuture programme for the logistics sector. It allows diploma holders to work full-time while furthering their education.
Graduates of the year-long programme earn a Specialist Diploma in Supply Chain Management. Speaking to graduates and company representatives at Republic Polytechnic yesterday, Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling said the programme has “allowed companies to gauge the potential of young talents” and make longer-term succession plans.
Yesterday, Ms Mok, 22, was among 35 graduates of the pioneer batch of the sector’s Earn and Learn Programme (ELP).
Ms Mok, who will continue in her job as a logistics executive at Toll Logistics Asia, said that she enjoyed putting theory into practice.
Out of these, 33 will continue their careers at their current placements at logistics firms such as ST Logistics and Yusen Logistics.
While balancing daily work and school projects was a challenge, she had two mentors to turn to – one from the polytechnic and one from the company.
Managed by Republic Polytechnic (RP) in partnership with SkillsFuture Singapore, the logistics ELP provides participants on-the-job training and mentorship from one of 25 partner companies while studying one day a week.
Drawing a salary while studying was a bonus, said Ms Mok, who earned $1,800 a month and received an $80 pay increment after her first year.
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RP principal Yeo Li Pheow said that many of the graduates had received a salary increment, or expansion or rotation of their job scope within the year. Their progress “reflects the emphasis that the companies have placed on recognising skill development and providing more opportunities for career progression”, he said. The ELP, a work-study programme for polytechnic and Institute of Technical Education graduates, has been rolled out in phases since 2015 to sectors such as food manufacturing and hotels. tiffanyt@sph.com.sg
LIFELONG LE A R N ING
Minat bidang hospitaliti melalui pekerjaan
3 November 2016 | Berita Harian
By NURMAYA ALIAS
ENCIK Muhammad Shairazi Suhaimi, 22 tahun, sudah berminat dalam bidang hospitaliti sejak tamat persekolahan peringkat menengah. Namun, beliau mengikuti jurusan teknologi kemudahan peringkat Nitec di Institut Pendidikan Teknikal (ITE) Kolej Barat. Sejurus tamat Perkhidmatan Negara, Encik Muhammad Shairazi menyertai The Ascott Limited – Ascott Raffles Place Singapore selaku teknisyen dengan melakukan kerja penyelenggaraan. Semasa di situ, beliau mendapati beliau berminat beramah mesra dengan tetamu daripada pelbagai budaya. Beliau juga bertambah minat apabila mendapat tahu tentang tugasan dalam bidang hospitaliti daripada rakan sekerjanya. Lantas, apabila beliau mendapat tahu tentang Program Bekerja dan Belajar (ELP) SkillsFuture bagi sektor hotel untuk lulusan ITE di Politeknik Republic, Encik Muhammad Shairazi melahirkan minat mahu mempelajari jurusan hospitaliti kepada majikannya. Politeknik Republic telah memulakan kelas ELP SkillsFuture bagi sektor hotel untuk lulusan ITE pada Oktober lalu. Dalam sesi networking antara lulusan ITE dengan rakan industri hotel di politeknik itu semalam, Timbalan Pengetua (Khidmat Akademik), Dr Michael Koh, mengumumkan bahawa seramai 26 lulusan ITE sedang mengikuti program ELP tersebut. Oleh sebab jurusan teknologi kemudahan tidak tersenarai dalam program tersebut, Encik Muhammad Shairazi layak mengikuti program ELP menjurus peringkat diploma dalam jurusan Amalan Perniagaan (Pengurusan Hospitaliti) di Politeknik Republic.
BEKERJA SAMBIL BELAJAR: Minat dalam bidang hospitaliti mendorong Encik Muhammad Shairazi Suhaimi dan Cik Seri Aminah Mohammad Amin mengikuti Program Bekerja dan Belajar (ELP) SkillsFuture bagi sektor hotel untuk lulusan Institut Pendidikan Teknikal (ITE) yang menjurus ke peringkat diploma dalam jurusan Amalan Perniagaan (Pengurusan Hospitaliti) di Politeknik Republic. FOTO: M.O. SALLEH
Menerusi kursus itu, pelatih dikehendaki mengikuti tiga modul wajib – pengurusan khidmat, pengurusan hotel serta pengurusan makanan dan minuman – bagi menerima sijil modular pada akhir setiap modul.
Sebelum ini, beliau mempunyai kelulusan Nitec dalam jurusan pastri dan membuat kuih dan Higher Nitec dalam bidang hospitaliti daripada ITE Kolej Barat.
Pelatih kemudian boleh melengkapkan pengajian dengan mengambil dua lagi modul bagi menerima diploma dalam jurusan tersebut. Encik Muhammad Shairazi yang kini bertugas sebagai pegawai perkhidmatan tetamu di The Ascott Limited – Ascott Raffles Place berniat menghabiskan pengajiannya sehingga peringkat diploma. “Program ELP ini telah meluaskan pengetahuan saya terhadap bidang hospitaliti, antaranya saya belajar bagaimana saya boleh menyesuaikan khidmat saya buat tetamu yang mungkin mempunyai bayi atau anak kecil,” katanya.
“Saya mahu mempertingkat kemahiran saya dalam bidang hospitaliti dan program ELP membolehkan saya menjalani latihan sambil bekerja (OTJ),” kata Cik Seri Aminah. Menurut Penolong Pengarah (Keupayaan dan Industri) dan Ketua Program (Diploma dalam Pengurusan Hospitaliti dan Hotel), Sekolah Hospitaliti Politeknik Republic, Encik Fu Chuan Chong: “Program ELP memberi pelatih peluang mengamalkan pembelajaran sepanjang hayat dan membolehkan mereka menjalani latihan sambil bekerja supaya mereka dapat mempertingkat kemahiran.” nurmayaa@sph.com.sg
Seorang lagi pelatih dalam program ELP jurusan sama itu ialah Cik Seri Aminah Mohammad Amin, 24 tahun, yang kini bertugas di Hotel Pan Pacific.
Passion for the field of hospitality through work RP School of Hospitality (SOH) held a networking session for trainees of the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme (ELP) for ITE graduates. The inaugural cohort commenced classes in early October 2016. As part of this programme, trainees are required to take three compulsory modules – service management, hotel management and food and beverage management – to receive a modular certificate at the end of each module. Trainees can then complete their studies by taking two additional modular certificates to receive a Diploma in Business Practice (Hospitality Management) by RP. According to Mr Fu Chuan Chong, Programme Chair of RP's Diploma in Hotel and Hospitality Management, the ELP provides trainees with the opportunity to enhance their skills while undergoing on-the-job training.
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LIFELONG LE A R N ING
Polytechnics start part-time courses for fresh graduates
6 April 2017 | The Business Times
SkillsFuture S’pore expanding earn-learn programme by 50%; ITE to also start such courses By LEILA LAI
UNIVERSITIES are not the only ones this year coming up with new courses geared towards meeting Singapore’s workforce needs. Since the beginning of this year, local polytechnics have launched eight new part-time programmes for fresh graduates, with about 24 more planned for the rest of 2017. Working adults can also look forward to more modular courses under the Continuing Education and Training (CET) programme. Last Wednesday (March 29), SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) announced that it is expanding its Earn and Learn Programme (ELP) this year to include 60 programmes, up from 40 in 2016. A work-learn programme targeted at recent polytechnic and ITE graduates, the ELP helps participants build on skills acquired in school to smoothen their transition into the workforce. While ELPs are currently only available at polytechnics, the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) will begin offering the programmes this year, leading to an ITE Technical Diploma. SSG chief executive Ng Cher Pong said: “The enhancements to the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme will allow more polytechnic and ITE students to combine gaining work experience with pursuing more structured learning. By doing so, they will be better placed to achieve their career goals and work towards skills mastery.” The ELPs will also be available to more recent graduates starting this year, as the eligibility period will be increased from
one year to three years after graduation, or the National Service Operationally Ready Date (ORD) for male Singaporeans. At the polytechnics, most of the new courses are ELPs, with more CET programmes planned later this year. At Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), the ELP in Digital Media Production took in its first cohort on March 20. Upon completing the 12-month work-study programme, participants will be awarded the Specialist Diploma in Digital Media Production. NYP plans to roll out 18 more programmes by the end of the year, in various industries such as healthcare, media, retail, design and precision engineering. Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) has announced the launch of four ELPs so far, offering Specialist Diplomas in Analytical Science, Community Gerontology Nursing, Digital Branding and Social Media Strategies, and Consumer Banking. The first two will start in April, while the second two will only begin in October. In the light of the rapid expansion of the early childhood education sector and increased demand for trained preschool teachers, NP is also adding a new full-time diploma course in Tamil Studies with Early Education, commencing in April. The polytechnic plans to add ELPs related to early childhood education in the coming months. In March, NP conducted the inaugural run of its new Travel and Learn Programme for PMEs (professionals, managers and executives) and local startup and business owners, as an opportunity to tap regional and global markets.
The four-day programme was conducted in Yangon, Myanmar, and a post-trip survey by NP’s CET Academy found that close to 86 per cent of the participants had received business leads or employment opportunities through the programme. At Temasek Polytechnic (TP), the school has launched two CETs and one ELP this year. The CET for the Diploma in Engineering (Aviation Management) will begin in April, while the ELP for Information and Communications Technology is slated for June. The CET for an Advanced Diploma in Early Childhood Teaching and Learning (ADECT) is expected to commence in October. Republic Polytechnic is launching a CET for the Specialist Diploma in Communication Strategies for Social Media in April, with two ELPs for ITE graduates planned for this year. The Sports and Wellness ELP will begin in May, while the launch date for a Human Resource ELP has yet to be confirmed. While Singapore Polytechnic has not yet rolled out any new programmes, it has plans to increase its current offering of 10 ELPs and 102 CET courses to 16 and more than 250 respectively, by end 2017. Its Professional and Adult Continuing Education (PACE) Academy sees individuals in various stages of working life looking to upskill through its bite-sized CET courses, from those looking to add skills needed in their current jobs, to others acquiring new ones to move to another department, company or industry. “As technology advances and disruption innovation becomes prevalent, it is important for all individuals at different stages of their working life to be lifelong learners,” said an SP spokesman. leilal@sph.com.sg
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LIFELONG LE A R N ING
呈上升
去10年工院新生增
一
31 December 2016 | Lianhe Zaobao
根 据教育部11月出炉的常年报告所列出的10年数 据，五所工院招收的新生人数 从2006年起 逐年上升，但在2013年达到2万6879人的高峰之后出现微 跌 迹象。 邓华贵 报道 理工学院招收的学生过去10年总体上有增加的趋势，与2006 年相比，去年入读工院的新生总数增加约9％。不过，这个“好 景”随着我国生育率过去20多年来往下跌，往后工院生的人数 预料将相应减少。 根据教育部11月出炉的常年报告所列出的10年数据，五所工院 招收的新生人数从2006年起逐年上升，但在2013年达到2万 6879人的高峰之后出现微跌迹象，2014年是2万5777人，去 年则是2万4251人。不过，去年工院招收的这个人数，总体上依 然比10年前多出约9％。
共和工院校龄最轻 学生人数增幅最大 2002年成立、五所工院当中校龄最轻的共和工院，学生人数增 幅最大。它在2006年招收2620名学生，隔年搬入兀兰现址后 有了大展拳脚的空间，招收的人数得以大幅增长。去年是4806 人，与10年前相比，涨幅多达83％。这个人数已和其他四所工 院的新生数目不相上下。
义安工院教育与职业辅导员陈芝玲指出，工院的三年课程有别 于初级学院，规定学生在第三个学年到职场实习三到六个月，实 践课堂上所学到的知识。
开办新课程 确保学生与时并进
陈芝玲说： “这类实习让学生接触社会，对职场拥有一个基本 概念，了解现实生活中的公司企业是如何运作的。他们从中所 获得的经验，对未来的职业选择有所帮助；日后若要回到同 一家公司工作，之前所建立起来的人脉将对他们有好处。”
为确保毕业生能顺利与不断转型的经济体接轨，一些工院也推 出新课程，确保学生与时并进。
义安工院大众传媒系三年级学生陈嬿蓉（20岁）中学毕业后原 本可报读初院，最后却选择了工院。她认为，工院的教育制度更 符合自己的学习方式，允许她在学习方面更有自主权，课堂上所 学到的知识也非常适用于现实生活。
譬如共和工院将在明年4月开办新课程“ 社交媒体通讯策 略专科文凭” （Specialist Diploma in Communication Strategies for Social Media）课程，为宣传公关和市场营 销通讯的专业人士提供社交媒体通讯方面的在职培训。这个为 期一年的持续教育与培训课程，也是本地工院推出的首个相关 课程。
今年3月至8月，陈嬿蓉到新加坡航空公司行销部门实习，负责 社交媒体宣传，增进了她对传媒业的认识。
共和工院发言人透露，一些受欢迎的专业文凭课程包括海洋科 学与水产养殖、人力资源管理心理学、工程系统与管理等。
她说： “无论之前在学校做了多少准备，踏入职场后总令人大开 眼界。那次的实习经验也让我更确定将来毕业后，要从事大众 传媒业。”
五所工院一律从1月5日至7日，上午10时至傍晚6时举行开放 日；南洋工院在1月6日则将开放日时间延长至晚上11时。各所 工院除了介绍课程外，也将展示一些优秀学生的作品。 例如，新加坡工院将展出一些工程系学生的作品，有垂直飞 轮种植技术、智能脚踏车防盗系统，及灾难救援信号塔等。其 中，智能脚踏车防盗系统一旦被启动，若有小偷试图移动脚踏 车，将发出响亮的警告声，同时发送简讯到车主的手机，并传达 脚踏车所在位置。目前已有商家打算将系统商品化，预料会在 改良后推出。
thwakwee@sph.com.sg
Polytechnic enrolment rate increased by 10 percent over the last 10 years According to the Ministry of Education, the number of students enrolling into the five polytechnics has been increasing — with RP seeing the greatest increase in enrolment. Further, polytechnics have also introduced new courses to ensure that their graduates can keep up with the changing economic climates. For example, RP launched its Specialist Diploma in Communication Strategies for Social Media.
五所工院将在1月5日至7日举行开放日，介绍课程和展示一些优秀学生的作品。图为义安工院往年举行的开放日，吸引不少 中学生参观。 (义安工院提供)
Some of the newer diploma programmes in RP that have seen strong interest among applicants include the Diploma in Marine Science and Aquaculture, Diploma in Human Resource Management with Psychology, and the Diploma in Engineering Systems and Management.
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LIFELONG LE A R N ING SkillsFuture diploma grad didn’t let mistakes hamper him from learning on the job
He didn’t let his slip-up get him down
11 January 2017 | The New Paper
By JOSEPH LEE
Sometimes, people make mistakes. The important thing is to learn from them. And Mr Don Chua Say Yeow learnt that lesson the hard way — all because he wanted to go home early. The 27-year-old was on a one-year work attachment at Yang Kee Logistics while studying for a Specialist Diploma in Supply Chain Management at Republic Polytechnic (RP). This diploma — his second — is part of the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme for Logistics. As a junior customer service executive, Mr Chua oversaw the export of goods for a lubricant company. One day, in a hurry to knock off work, he cleared a lorry even though the goods that were being transferred to Malaysia had not been checked. Unbeknownst to him, some bottles of lubricant were leaking and damaged three to four crates. The affected crates, containing 10 bottles each, had to be thrown away. The client was furious, and Mr Chua’s manager warned him not to make the same mistake again. SECOND CHANCE Said Mr Chua: “I was disappointed in myself. Through this mistake, I learnt that everything must be done responsibly.” Yang Kee Logistics gave him a second chance and even selected him as a potential candidate for leadership development. In the Earn and Learn Programme, graduates from polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education colleges can earn a special diploma where they study and work at the same time. Mr Chua was introduced to the programme by a lecturer who taught him during his studies in supply chain management in RP from 2010 to 2013. He completed his national service in 2015 before starting on the programme later that year. Juggling work and studies during his oneyear stint was tricky. Mr Chua worked from Mondays to Thursdays and went for classes at RP on Fridays. Mr Chua said: “It was tough at first but colleagues and mentors helped me manage well.”
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Mr Don Chua Say Yeow (left) with Mr Ong Swee Keong, his company mentor. TNP PHOTO: JOSEPH GAN
Mr Ong Swee Keong, 43, senior general manager at Yang Kee Logistics and one of Mr Chua’s mentors said the company never viewed him as a student. In fact, despite working only four days, Mr Chua was given full-time pay. After he completed his programme in September, Mr Chua accepted a full-time position at Yang Kee.
When asked about Mr Chua’s mistake, Mr Ong said: “We recognise that making mistakes is a part of learning. The important thing is that they learn from them so that we become better.” Last Wednesday, Mr Chua and 34 others received their completion certificates.
Mr Ong said Yang Kee Logistics is happy to be part of the programme. “It is a win-win for schools and companies. Logistics is not a sexy sector, and it is difficult to recruit people because of the labour crunch,” he said. leeganjp@sph.com.sg
They are the programme’s pioneer batch. Now in its third batch, there are a total of 80 participants so far and 25 partner companies.
LIFELONG LE A R N ING
ELP kuatkan semangat ceburi perhotelan lepas kegagalan
26 March 2017 | Berita Minggu
TEBUS KEGAGALAN: Cik Nurfarhanie bersemangat memburu diploma spesialis layanan tamu dan pengurusan perniagaan di Politeknik Republic sambil bekerja di Hotel Holiday Inn Express Singapore Katong. FOTO: M.O. SALLEH
By HARYANI ISMAIL
KEGAGALAN dalam Matematik dan Sains dalam GCE peringkat ‘O’ pernah melemahkan semangat Cik Nurfarhanie Omar. Beliau berasa dirinya kurang cekap hingga hanya layak mengikuti kursus Nitec Lanjutan dalam pengurusan acara di Institut Pendidikan Teknikal (ITE). Permohonannya bagi kursus diploma pengurusan hotel dan layanan tamu di Politeknik Republic (RP) juga ditolak, dan beliau perlu membuat rayuan, termasuk melahirkan minat mendalam dalam bidang itu. Mujurlah, bapanya, Encik Omar Sadli, kini pemandu teksi berusia 58 tahun, mendorong dan menasihatinya jangan mudah putus asa serta melihat laluan jauh yang perlu direntasnya sebagai mengandungi hikmah tersendiri. Kini, Cik Nurfarhanie, 23 tahun, bersyukur dapat mengikuti kursus setahun diploma spesialis layanan tamu dan pengurusan perniagaan di RP, di bawah Program Bekerja dan Belajar (ELP) SkillsFuture. Di bawah kursus itu, beliau berpeluang mengendalikan meja penyambut tamu Hotel Holiday Inn Express Singapore Katong. Beliau seronok bersembang dengan pelancong beg galas (backpacker), kebanyakan dari China dan Vietnam, yang menginap di hotel itu. Kerap, beliau menyarankan mereka pergi ke tempat bukan destinasi pelancong, seperti Simpang Bedok, bagi menikmati makanan tempatan.
Menceritakan perjalanannya dalam kerjaya perhotelan, Cik Nurfarhanie berkata: “Saya sudah tempuhi dua kegagalan dalam hidup. Dek saya pernah terjejas oleh pandangan negatif orang terhadap pelajar ITE, saya berfikir dua kali sebelum mengikuti kursus Nitec Lanjutan. “Alhamdulillah, ayah saya, seorang bapa tunggal selepas kematian ibu saya kerana barah 12 tahun lalu, menenangkan saya dan mengembalikan keyakinan saya. “Beliau berkata saya masih ada masa untuk memperbaiki diri dan mengambil kursus sesuai dengan personaliti saya yang suka bertemu orang dan buat kawan.” Sebagai pekerja hotel kecil yang menyediakan hanya sarapan tanpa perkhidmatan bilik, Cik Nurfarhanie perlu tangkas mengendalikan kaunter pendaftaran hotel serta bagasi. “Ia tugas yang menuntut daya fikizal dan stamina anda. Kalau ada tamu hotel ‘kaki mengadu’ atau mudah naik angin, saya belajar bersabar dan berusaha menenangkannya. Pada awalnya, memang saya terjejas dan sedih apabila dimarahi. “Tapi saya seronok memberi tetamu panduan berkunjung ke tempat menarik. Seorang pesara berbangsa India yang tinggal di Britain memuji saya dan berkata saya harus menjadi pemandu pelancong kerana menyarankan beliau ke Arab Street bagi menikmati teh sarbat paling menyegarkan!” Cik Nurfarhanie berkata ELP membuka matanya tentang dunia pekerjaan sebenar, yang memerlukan komunikasi berkesan dan pemahaman tentang tetamu pelbagai budaya.
“Saya hanya perlu kuatkan semangat, membahagikan masa antara tugas syif, masa kuliah, pembelajaran elektronik dan peperiksaan. Mulanya memang penat tetapi kerana saya sudah melangkah sejauh ini dan hanya tinggal dua bulan lagi sebelum tamat pengajian diploma spesialis, saya tidak akan sia-siakan peluang yang diberi,” tambahnya. haryani@sph.com.sg
Earn and Learn Programme (ELP) strengthened her spirit of hospitality despite previous setbacks Failing two subjects during her O-Level examinations may have weakened Nurfarhanie Omar's spirit in the past. Despite that, she never gave up and was grateful to be accepted into the one-year Specialist Diploma in Hospitality Business Management course under the SkillsFuture ELP. Under the work and study scheme, she was able to work at the front desk at Holiday Inn Express Singapore Katong. She added that ELP opened her eyes to the real working world, which requires effective communication to understand guests of many cultures.
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LIFELONG LE A R N ING Jobs for the future
Milking technology for all it’s worth as Mr Bean expands
24 April 2017 | The Straits Times
In the fifth of a weekly series on job creation, we look at food manufacturing By JOANNA SEOW
It took about 60 workers to cook up soya milk for customers at Mr Bean outlets islandwide 10 years ago. Back then, they made about 200 litres of the beverage per day at each of the company’s 32 outlets. Since then, Mr Bean has made use of automation to double its production. It now churns out some 12,000 litres of soya milk per day at a central kitchen in Paya Lebar. It takes only six workers to man machines that soak and grind the beans, and then steam and package the milk for delivery to the 53 outlets now run by Mr Bean. The workers are supervised by central kitchen manager Jerome Ang, 42, who was tasked with managing the back-end transformation when the company started charting its new course. “We knew we needed to use retail space to do business, and not production,” he told The Straits Times. Automation is one of the factors that will help drive change in the food manufacturing industry, which contributed $3.7 billion to Singapore’s gross domestic product in 2015
Plans to boost innovation in the sector were set out in the Industry Transformation Map launched in November last year.
The Industry Transformation Map also includes suggestions for local companies regarding how to expand their presence abroad. In February, the Singapore Food Manufacturers’ Association (SFMA) and International Enterprise Singapore led a group of 57 local food companies to take part in the Gulfood 2017 exhibition in Dubai.
“I wanted to know more and more about the different aspects, from front end to back end and now production,” he says.
These include shared R&D and production facilities to help smaller firms innovate. The aim is to develop Singapore into the leading food and nutrition hub in Asia with globally competitive food companies, and to create some 2,000 new jobs for professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) in the industry by 2020.
He started working straight after graduating with a Nitec 2 from hospitality institute Shatec, and spent 15 years in food and beverage (F&B) operations and management before going into manufacturing.
The director of Workforce Singapore’s manufacturing division, Mr Ang Chai Soon, says food manufacturing is “a top hiring industry” that is being transformed through technological adoption and innovation.
SFMA also collaborates with the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry to organise study trips and bring in overseas consultants to train local workers in areas such as packaging design.
Along the way, he signed up for several short courses to improve himself. He has just started the second of five semesters for a Diploma in Applied Science (Nutrition and Food Science) at Republic Polytechnic, sponsored by his employer.
“Workers need to adapt to the changes and deepen their skills and knowledge in areas like food science, food production methods, quality assurance and system operations... to embark on careers as food technologists and food process engineers and in quality assurance roles,” he says.
SFMA president Thomas Pek says food safety management and innovation are two areas where workers in the industry will need to upgrade their knowledge and skills.
and employed about 40,000 workers. The sector has been identified as a growth industry. Mr Ang had no experience in food manufacturing before joining Mr Bean in 2007, but his passion for food led him to pick up new skills on the job, like how to analyse production data to minimise wastage.
Through the course, which covers technical subjects such as food biochemistry, he is now getting involved in research and development (R&D) at the firm to help it come up with new products.
Training is available to help workers join or move within the industry, as well as upgrade their skills.
At the fair, they showcased “healthier choice” and creative Singapore food products.
“Food safety is important for the Singapore brand. New products and new packaging will also allow companies to attract more customers,” he says. He hopes that more Singaporeans will take an interest in jobs in the industry as they see creative products launched and as factories and warehouses become more high-tech and air-conditioned. With the push from the Government to explore opportunities abroad – one of the recommendations made by the Committee on the Future Economy earlier this year – food manufacturing businesses should be the first to “march out there”, Mr Pek adds. “Singapore’s market is not big, so I always encourage firms to internationalise and look for a brighter future. This will let their workers get overseas experience and, by expanding their production, they can also raise wages,” he says. Mr Bean, which has franchises in Japan and the Philippines, is making plans to expand further in South-east Asia, says Mr Ang. “Our dream is to have our products all over the world.” He adds: “When you see ‘Made in Japan’ products, you say ‘wow’ because there’s a certain standard. I’d like to see ‘Made in Singapore’ food reaching that level in terms of food safety and appeal.” joseow@sph.com.sg
Mr Bean’s central kitchen manager, Mr Jerome Ang (in yellow), with (from left) production crew member Chua Zheng Beng, assistant central kitchen manager Tan Hock Ting, line leader Heong Chen Kheong and line supervisor Lam Wing Phong. Automation has enabled the company to ramp up its soya milk production to 12,000 litres a day, employing just a small team at a central kitchen in Paya Lebar. ST PHOTO: JONATHAN CHOO
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LIFELONG LE A R N ING
More help for patients in hospital-to-home transition
28 June 2017 | The Straits Times
New scheme aims to train people to check on discharged patients of SingHealth institutions By FELICIA CHOO
Patients in hospital with multiple chronic conditions will receive more help in managing their transition to home care with the launch of a programme yesterday. The Care Coordinator Associate Programme aims to train people, including mid-career Singaporeans, to check on discharged patients of SingHealth institutions, which include Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH). Such care coordinators will be full-time employees of SingHealth institutions and draw a salary of $1,600 to $2,200. They will be taught how to conduct telephone follow-ups and make home visits to ensure patients and their caregivers are able to keep to the discharge care plan drawn up by a team of “patient navigators”, who are registered nurses. Care coordinators will also assess the safety of the patient’s home and his risk of suffering falls. They are tasked with educating patients on lifestyle and dietary changes, and connecting them to social support services such as home and day care, financial assistance and meals-on-wheels.
“As the main liaison between patients and health and social care providers, care coordinator associates are instrumental in ensuring that patients transit smoothly from one care setting to another,” said Professor Fong Kok Yong, deputy group chief executive officer of regional health and medical at SingHealth. “By keeping a close eye on patients post-discharge, the care team can spot complications early and intervene before they worsen, helping patients to remain well supported in the community.” In March, Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor announced that more mid-career Singaporeans will be trained as care coordinator associates. Anyone can sign up for the programme, paying $5,350 in fees. After completing the three month full-time course, they will be awarded a certificate in integrated care. The first intake of up to 20 trainees will start their training in September, and be deployed to SGH and KKH. Singaporeans making a mid-career switch to the healthcare sector as care coordinators will get 90 per cent of their training
Pengalaman lebih 30 tahun jadikan ‘pakar basikal’ peniaga basikal Melayu paling lama bertahan 11 July 2017 | Berita Harian
By SAINI SALLEH
ENCIK Sulaiman Sahat tidak lagi mengambil tempahan membuat bingkai basikal daripada bahan komposit serat karbon – bidang pengkhususan dan kepakarannya – kerana semakin kurang permintaan terhadapnya di sini. Tambahan pula, kerja-kerja membuat bingkai basikal daripada bahan yang lebih kuat daripada besi keluli yang tinggi harganya itu memakan masa yang lama, rumit dan tidak menguntungkan. Bagi memastikan penakatan perniagaannya, beliau sebaliknya mengalihkan perhatian kepada kerja- kerja membaiki bahagian dan alat ganti yang diperbuat daripada bahan itu yang rosak – lebih cepat dan menguntungkan. “Membuat bingkai basikal daripada bahan komposit serat karbon ini bukannya mudah... perlu tepat segala-galanya. “Baik ukuran, timbangan berat mahupun bahan yang digunakan tidak boleh sikit lebih kurang,’’ kata Encik Sulaiman, 53 tahun, dan mempunyai diploma pakar dalam jurusan komposit lanjutan (SDAC) daripada Politeknik Republic (RP). YAKIN MASA DEPAN CERAH: Encik Sulaiman Sahat yakin masa depan perniagaan berkaitan basikal ini cerah kerana semakin ramai menjadikan kegiatan mengayuh basikal sebagai hobi mereka. FOTO: KHALID BABA
Ayah seorang anak yang pernah mengikuti kursus membaiki dan menyenggara basikal di Oregon, Amerika Syarikat, itu beroperasi di dua bengkelnya di Estet perindustrian Geylang East dekat Masjid Wak Tanjong.
fees funded under the Professional Conversion Programme, with the remaining fees covered by participating employers. Interested applicants will need to be hired by participating employers before undergoing training. Applications for the first intake are open from now till July 31. SingHealth is also partnering Republic Polytechnic (RP) to develop a new Specialist Diploma in Transitional Care Management. The part-time programme will start in October and students can later join SingHealth as care coordinator associate executives. The two institutes are also working to incorporate a transitional care module into the curriculum of RP’s Diploma in Health Services Management. The module will start in October next year for Year 2 students, who can join SingHealth as senior care coordinator associates. Other healthcare institutions also offer similar services such as transitional care, which helps ease patients back into their homes after discharge. feliciac@sph.com.sg
Dua bengkel berasingan yang serba lengkap dengan mesin dan peralatan canggih itu adalah bagi kerja pemasangan dan membaiki basikal. Kepakaran membaiki pelbagai jenis basikal daripada jenis biasa hinggalah bagi kegiatan riadah, lasak dan perlumbaan meletakkan Encik Sulaiman antara yang ke depan dalam insustri basikal. Dengan menceburi bidang membaiki basikal sejak lebih 30 tahun lalu dan membuka perniagaan sendiri dalam 1994, Encik Sulaiman menjadi antara peniaga Melayu yang pertama dan paling lama bertahan dalam bidang tersebut. “Masa depan industri ini cerah kerana hobi mengayuh basikal untuk tujuan riadah dan kegiatan lasak semakin berkembang di sini hasil sokongan pemerintah yang juga menyediakan lebih banyak kemudahan berbasikal di sini,’’ tamahnya. saini@sph.com.sg
With more than 30 years of experience, Sulaiman has one of the longest-surviving bicycle businesses owned by a Malay in Singapore Along with completing a course in repairing, maintaining and building a bicycle frame at the United Bicycle Institute in Oregon, USA, Mr Sulaiman Sahat also earned his Specialist Diploma in Advanced Composites (SDAC) from RP in 2015. He estimates that there are about 10 Malay bicycle shop owners who are able to carry out complicated bicycle repairs here, one of them being Mr Adenan Salamat. Like Mr Sulaiman, Mr Salamat was also among the first batch of students graduating with a SDAC from RP in November 2015.
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LIFELONG LE A R N ING
Classes still on at night at the polys – for adults
11 September 2017 | The Straits Times
Polytechnics are ramping up offerings for older learners as full-time enrolments fall By AMELIA TENG
While the declining birth rate has led to fewer full-time students at the five polytechnics during the day, the campuses are a hub of activity at night, thanks to adult learners. The number of training places that were filled by these older students grew from 42,000 in 2012 to 77,000 last year, according to figures from the Ministry of Education (MOE). A participant can take more than one course. An MOE spokesman said: “The expected decline in cohort sizes frees up resources for the post-secondary education institutions to ramp up their efforts in other ways, while at the same time working closely with external partners to meet industry demands.” In 2015, the latest year for which such figures are available, 24,251 full-time students entered the polytechnics, compared with more than 26,000 in 2012. Cohort sizes are projected to fall between 10 per cent and 15 per cent by 2025. Although
the polys would still have a critical mass of students, they are paying closer attention to the adult learning space. They have relooked their offerings to make them more relevant to the jobs and skills needed in today’s economy, said poly officials. The polytechnics are also ramping up courses in in-demand areas such as data science, business intelligence and cyber security. In total, some 1,800 courses catered to working adults were offered across the five polys last year, compared with about 1,000 in 2012. These programmes – which include the Earn and Learn courses, specialist and advanced diplomas, and shorter modules – are funded by MOE and SkillsFuture Singapore. Mr Albert Toh, director of Republic Polytechnic’s (RP) Academy of Continuing Education, said: “From focusing primarily on pre-employment education, we’re moving to a mix of pre-employment and
continuing education and training. Beyond full qualifications like a diploma or a degree, the call today is for workers to upskill, or learn a second skill.” Mr Suresh Punjabi, director of the Professional and Adult Continuing Education Academy at Singapore Polytechnic (SP), said some 1,500 students attend night classes every week. One of them is Madam Annie Ng, who went for evening classes at SP twice a week for a year. She completed the specialist diploma in Web development technology in April. The 49-year-old sales administrator in a company that manufactures satellite communication equipment wanted to learn IT-related skills. “If I wanted to switch industries, the Internet, information technology is the way to go,” said Madam Ng, who hopes to take up courses in areas such as data analytics and cyber security next year.
learn new skills. For instance, RP has been conducting short courses on drones since 2015 for government agencies and firms in the construction business. “It’s not just about flying drones. Organisations are now looking at using drones to inspect buildings and superstructures like cranes and oil rigs,” said Mr Toh. Another example is a short course on social media, which RP started this year. Said Mr Toh: “More companies are using social media to drive their marketing and outreach, and older people are learning to use such platforms as a new skill. We cannot afford not to study... because you will find yourself lacking and left behind.” ateng@sph.com.sg
In the last two years, the polys have even started to customise training for firms looking to upgrade their workers’ skills or help them
lifelong Republic Polytechnic Deepen your knowledge and skills for the workforce through our wide range of Continuing Education and Training programmes.
e for Eligibl uture F s l l i k S Credit
Our programmes are designed to meet corporate learning and development needs. • Part-time Diplomas • Specialist Diplomas • SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programmes • Skills Certification Courses • Executive Courses • Customised Corporate Training Contact us for a discussion: www.rp.edu.sg/ACE ACE-help@rp.edu.sg
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DI S C OV E R I N G P O S SI BI L I T I E S
Giving housekeeping more ‘zoom’ at hotels
6 June 2017 | The Straits Times
Republic Poly team gets MOH grant to build motorised cart that takes load off cleaners
PERSONAL OBSERVATION
I know the struggles of housekeepers because we see the work they do. I hold that very close to my heart and I want to do something to make it easier. MR NG YU LIK, who spent 25 years in the hotel industry before becoming a lecturer.
The team of Republic Polytechnic lecturers developing the motorised housekeeping cart includes Mr Michael Loke (from left), Dr Alex Ong, Mr Hong Ling Tim, Mr Tan Wee Siong, Mr Kelver Choo and Dr Jernice Tan. The cart in the picture is a regular non-motorised trolley. ST PHOTO: JONATHAN CHOO
By CAMILLIA DEBORAH DASS
It looks compact and mobile, but that cart that hotel housekeepers push along carpeted corridors can weigh more than 100kg. The strenuous work – and its ill effects on one’s physical health – is making it difficult for the hotel industry to keep people in this job, say industry players. But a new project by a team of lecturers from Republic Polytechnic, supported by the Ministry of Health (MOH), may help to ease the problem by early next year. The idea is simple: to make a motorised housekeeping cart, not from scratch, but by taking an existing cart and mounting it on a platform that can be manoeuvred by the housekeeper electronically. With a push of a few buttons, users can set the cart in motion, stop it or make it go around corners. “ We wanted to make sure that it was as costeffective as possible for hotels so that they
would see the value of buying it and using it,” said team member Michael Loke, 39, a lecturer at the School of Sports, Health and Leisure.
“Housekeeping is one of the departments that has been under pressure because of the current labour crunch situation,” he said.
The team is now in the process of building a prototype after being awarded part of a $3 million fund from the MOH under its Ageless Workplaces Innovation Grant.
A spokesman for Sheraton Towers said: “Motorised carts could possibly make work easier for elderly housekeepers while increasing their efficiency.”
This grant, which was launched last year, is aimed at supporting innovative ideas and research related to ageing that can be translated into practical solutions.
The idea was inspired by Mr Ng Yu Lik, who spent 25 years in the hotel industry before becoming a lecturer.
Two other teams were awarded the grant this year – Nanyang Technological University and Singapore General Hospital – to develop an assistive shelver to help older workers in supermarkets and a robotic arm that could assist ultrasound radiographers respectively. Mr Patrick Fiat, general manager of Royal Plaza on Scotts, said that it is challenging to attract talent to the hospitality industry as hotels operate round the clock.
“I know the struggles of housekeepers because we see the work they do. I hold that very close to my heart and I want to do something to make it easier,” said Mr Ng, who now teaches at Republic Polytechnic’s School of Hospitality. He and his team hope to help older workers and encourage them to stay in the hotel industry for a longer time, as well as to persuade more people to join it. They are currently observing how housekeepers work
and getting their feedback, and hope to launch their invention by early next year. Housekeeper Chee Ai Chin, 60, said that the invention will help make her work easier. “The motorised trolleys would take off some of the workload,” said Madam Chee, a housekeeper who has worked at Royal Plaza on Scotts for 43 years. But she was sceptical as to whether these motorised carts would encourage her to stay in her job for a longer period. “It would not be the key factor that determines my length of service. What is more important would be to be able to keep up with my active lifestyle, be happy and have fun at work,” she said. cdass@sph.com.sg
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DI S C OV E R I N G P O S SI BI L I T I E S
共和理工研
豆渣制
谷
能量棒
18 September 2017 | Lianhe Zaobao
豆渣原本是厨余，但经过共和理工师生的研发 后，转变为食材，结合燕麦、蔓 越莓干、南瓜子等 材料，制作成谷粮能量棒，将于本月底开始销售。 胡洁梅 报道 共和理工学院为业者“豆先生”开发食品配方，利用豆渣作为谷粮能量棒的其中 材料。这款由双方协作开发的新食品将推出市场。 配合共和理工日前举行的“应用科学系与企业联系日”活动，院方与豆先生代表 为能量棒主持推介，产品料月底起陆续在各分行销售。 共和理工应用科学系的一组师生应豆先生的邀请研究食品配方，接受对方反馈 后改良配方，供业者生产。 豆先生高级品牌经理洪淑婷受访时说，公司之前也与共和理工有其他协作项 目。 “我们这次想借助院方在应用科学与营养学方面的强项，希望他们能将豆渣 转为食材，开发富有营养价值的食品。” 她指出，豆渣一般会交由厨余回收公司处理，转为饲料或肥料等，但豆渣仍含 有一些纤维，因此公司打算善加利用，转为食材。共和理工根据反馈，研究并改 良配方。例如，原有材料包括牛油，但公司要推出“不含乳制品”产品，因此不用 牛油。 这款谷粮能量棒的其他材料包括燕麦、蔓越莓干、南瓜子等。豆先生将与共和理 工继续协作，开发其他口味的能量棒。 参与食品开发工作的苏欣慧（23岁）是共和理工校友，目前念大学。她受访时 说： “我从中发现，豆渣可作为食材，制作营养食品。我在过程中也实践所学，认 识食品制作的不同元素，还得考虑食品的营养价值。” 共和理工应用科学系高级讲师王禄城指出，与企业的合作对校方是宝贵的学习 经验。他们发现豆渣的质感适合作能量棒的材料，也能提升食品的营养价值。 应用科学系也曾与其他企业合作开发新食品，例如全麦蛋糕、凉茶等。
与不同业者合作 理工生获更多实习机会 另一方面，共和理工也与水产养殖业者Shrimp Improvement Systems（简称 SIS）签署合作备忘录。修读海洋与水产养殖课程的学生有机会到养殖场实习，包 括海外的养殖场，以加深对养殖技术的认识。 共和理工海洋与水产养殖学系主任陈维龙指出，水产养殖业者能提供实际的场 地供学生实践。院方也将与SIS协作发展虾只基因排列的技术，鉴定虾类的品 质。 此外，共和理工也与化学公司巴斯夫（BASF）更新备忘录，提升设在共和理工 的药剂技术实验室设施。这所实验室于2008年由双方设立，为修读药剂科学的 学生提供培训与研究的场地。 16家企业也支持共和理工推出的药剂科学在职培训计划（Earn and Learn Programme)，为学员提供实习机会。这项在职培训计划是“技能创前程”下的 项目，为工艺教育学院毕业生提供进修机会。
ohkm@sph.com.sg
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共和理工师生利用豆渣制成谷粮能量棒。 (何家俊摄)
Republic Polytechnic develops new soy granola bar RP and Mr Bean developed and later unveiled a soy granola bar at RP School of Applied Science (SAS) Industry Day. The soy granola bar was launched in Mr Bean’s branches in September 2017. Mr Bean will continue to work with RP to develop more flavours for the soy granola bar. In addition to Mr Bean, RP SAS has collaborated with other companies to develop food products such as wholegrain cakes, herbal tea, and many more. At the SAS Industry Day event, RP also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Shrimp Improvement Systems (SIS), which will provide students from the Diploma in Marine Science and Aquaculture with local and overseas internship opportunities. RP also officially launched the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme (ELP) for ITE graduates leading to the part-time Diploma in Applied Science (Pharmaceutical Sciences) at the event.
DI S C OV E R I N G P O S SI BI L I T I E S
Poly students win recognition for R&D breakthroughs
27 March 2017 | The Straits Times
Among award-winning projects are a sunlight-activated larvicide and a real-time sensor that detects track faults
RISK-TAKERS
It is important for Singapore to develop a strong pool of research talent... Students who are driven to make a difference and not afraid of taking risks.
PROFESSOR JACKIE YING, executive director of A*Star’s Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, on the type of students who are primed to contribute to Singapore’s R&D.
The project of Republic Polytechnic students (from left) Fennatika Salim, Lhu Ying Xuan, Ong Joo Kian and Tan Min Hui, all aged 21, was among 10 recognised with a Polytechnic Student Research Programme Award. Their sunlight-activated larvicide is 1,000 times less toxic for other aquatic animals than the usual larvicide. ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM By ANNIKA MOCK
With their novel sunlight-activated larvicide, four students from Republic Polytechnic (RP) are turning up the heat in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases. Their project was among the 10 that were recognised with a Polytechnic Student Research Programme (PSRP) Award, given out in a ceremony at Nanyang Polytechnic’s auditorium last Wednesday. Speaking on behalf of her four member team of pharmaceutical science students, Ms Fennatika Salim, 21, said their product is 1,000 times less toxic for other aquatic animals than the usual larvicide. It is also able to reduce the resistance of larvae, making them easier to eradicate.
This year, the programme assisted more than 100 different projects across all polytechnics, and the top 10 received the award. Sponsored by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star), the PSRP selects third year students with outstanding ideas and offers them support in their final-year projects through tie-ups with local universities and research institutes.
The PSRP also acknowledged the brains behind a sensor that monitors conditions of LRT rail systems. The sensor allows real-time detection of track faults, which would expedite maintenance and cut costs. Devised by Ngee Ann Polytechnic students Brandon Koh Wei-Han, 19, and Tan Jian-Hui, 20, the sensor will be developed further before SBS Transit considers installing it.
For instance, some of this year’s projects were supported by Tan Tock Seng Hospital, National University of Singapore and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.
Professor Jackie Ying, executive director of A*Star’s Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, who was guest of honour, said in her speech that polytechnic students in particular are primed to contribute to the country’s R&D.
In the RP larvicide project, the support came in the form of larvae and expertise from the National Environment Agency (NEA), which helped the students’ supervisors handle and hatch the specimens during the six-month project.
“It is important for Singapore to develop a strong pool of research talent and that’s why we need polytechnic students like you. Students who are driven to make a difference and not afraid of taking risks,” she said.
She said: “We hope our product will minimise the number of Singaporeans infected by these diseases, while maintaining the balance of the ecosystem.”
The team is in discussions with NEA and hopes to develop the larvicide further to commercialise it.
Since 1997, the PSRP has aimed to nurture students in research and development (R&D) through immersion in scientific and engineering research environments.
Their supervisor, Dr Susmita Ban, 39, said: “The students had valuable hands-on experience as they could create their own compounds. They’ve learnt problem-solving skills, teamwork and perseverance as well.”
amock@sph.com.sg
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DI S C OV E R I N G P O S SI BI L I T I E S
RP students showcase creative solutions to real-world problems 31 March 2017 | The Straits Times
By SELINA XU
Mr Don Chua, 20, hates getting soaked when it rains. “I frequently turn up to class drenched when dashing across the unsheltered walkways on my daily commute from Bartley to Woodlands MRT,” said the Republic Polytechnic (RP) student. He does not like having a wet brolly in his bag for the rest of the school day too. This dampener was why he and three other RP students – all enrolled in the diploma in design for user experience course – decided to start an umbrella-sharing initiative for their final-year project. The initiative, called Sharella, is done in partnership with the Land Transport Authority.
During a 10-day trial in January, the team of four set up umbrella kiosks along unsheltered paths near Woodlands and Admiralty MRT stations.
The two-day exhibition, titled Symbiosis, was part of an annual showcase of the best projects spanning the polytechnic’s creative arts courses.
On average, around 200 commuters used the umbrellas in one hour, said team member Chan Min Yi, 21.
Close to 400 people had visited the event when it ended yesterday, said organisers.
“We conducted the trials throughout both light drizzles and heavy downpours. There was a 100 per cent rate of return. No umbrellas were stolen,” she added.
There was a record number of projects developed in collaboration with industry partners on show this year.
Sharella was one of 54 graduation projects by students from RP’s School of Technology for the Arts (STA) that were on display at *Scape in Orchard Road.
One team, for instance, came up with an educational game with the Ministry of Education that teaches users about food and nutrition. Another team managed an exhibition that showcased works by artists with disabilities. Mr Joshua Hong, 43, STA’s assistant director (capability and industry), said: “In the years to come, we hope for more meaningful industry engagement, spanning disciplines, as the world faces increasingly complex challenges today.” selinaxu@sph.com.sg
RP students Don Chua and Chan n Min Yi started an umbrella-sharing initiative, tiative, s. They set along with two other teammates. up umbrella kiosks along footpaths aths with no shelter near Woodlands and Admiralty miralty MRT stations during a 10-day trial. ST PHOTO: FELINE LIM
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DI S C OV E R I N G P O S SI BI L I T I E S
When hotel guests need something, Aura delivers
12 August 2017 | The Straits Times
Following a successful pilot, service robots will be on the job at five Millennium group hotels over the next year By MELISSA LIN
When the room’s door is opened, the robot’s sensors will detect it and the robot will lift its hatch to reveal a compartment holding the item.
If you see a waist-high metal cylinder zipping along a hotel corridor and riding the elevator on its own, do not be afraid.
“Guests love it. There is a wow factor,” said Mr Mayandi.
It could well be Aura, which will be at the service of guests at five hotels here in the next 12 months.
M Social Singapore is also piloting an automated egg station at its restaurant. A robotic arm will serve up eggs in three ways – scrambled, omelette or sunny side-up.
Aura – which stands for Automated Roomservice Associate – is a robot that is able to find its own way around the hotel to deliver room amenities such as linens and bottled water to guests.
The robotics project at M Social Singapore was spearheaded by Republic Polytechnic’s (RP) Hospitality Solution Centre.
The Millennium Hotels and Resorts group has piloted the use of Aura at one of its hotels, and will roll out the robots to four others in the next 12 months, in the biggest push to deploy robots in hotels here so far.
The school yesterday signed agreements with 14 industry partners from across the hotel, hospitality, events, wellness, and food and beverage sectors to test-bed technologies.
Park Avenue Rochester Hotel deployed two robot housemaids last year, but the latest initiative will involve at least five robots.
Mr Ng Yu Lik, a principal lecturer at RP’s School of Hospitality, noted that it is necessary for hotels to turn to robotics as “the manpower challenges here are quite acute”.
The Millennium group declined to say how much each robot costs.
Robotics can allow existing staff to “focus more on the guest and less on the task”, he said.
The group’s 293-room M Social Singapore piloted the use of its first Aura eight months ago.
“If a guest asks for an item to be delivered, they want it delivered and don’t care if there is a human being or not,” he added.
Following its success, the hotel group will be rolling out the robots in four other hotels – Grand Copthorne Waterfront, Studio M Hotel Singapore, M Hotel Singapore and Orchard Hotel Singapore.
Senior lecturer in tourism at Ngee Ann Polytechnic Michael Chiam said Singapore is on a par with other countries – save for Japan – when it comes to using robots in hotels. One hotel in south-west Japan, for instance, has been staffed almost entirely by robots since July 2015.
At M Social Singapore, one robot can do the work of two to three people, and takes an average of six to eight minutes to make a room delivery. While the robot moves around without human help, it will stop when its sensors detect movement within a 5m radius so it does not endanger guests, said the hotel’s general manager Pjey Mayandi.
“Most people are still experimenting and being cautious in the way they do it,” he said. It is important to implement robots in a way that is acceptable to guests. For example, most people don’t want to talk to robots after a long flight.”
“We have also got feedback from ladies that rather than a man opening the door when they ask for room service, they feel a bit safer when it is a robot,” he added.
mellinjm@sph.com.sg
When a guest calls the front desk with a request, the guest relations manager or duty manager will program Aura to make the delivery. Once the robot has reached the guest room, it will “call” the guest on the phone with a voice that says: “The items you have requested are delivered, please open the door.”
Aura the robot delivering bottled water to a hotel room at M Social Singapore. The robot is able to find its own way around the hotel to deliver room amenities to guests. At the hotel, one robot can do the work of two to three people, and takes an average of six to eight minutes to make a room delivery. ST PHOTO: JONATHAN CHOO
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DI S C OV E R I N G P O S SI BI L I T I E S
Republic Polytechnic team finds way to ‘clean’ incineration ash
9 September 2017 | TODAYonline
Colloidal silica nanoparticle (left) and treated fly ash (right) before going into the Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor that is able to produce 'clean' fly ash. PHOTO: ESTHER LEONG/TODAY
By LOUISA TANG
SINGAPORE — Fly ash produced from burning garbage could soon be used to make concrete, reducing the amount of waste that will have to be dumped in landfills.
By doing so, the metals will not leach out of structures that are made of concrete containing treated IFA, when it rains. Such leaching could result in the toxic metals contaminating rainwater that runs into the reservoirs, which poses a serious health risk.
the product “on a commercial scale for it to be viable, and to develop and optimise an integrated continuous process for the chemical stabilisation of incineration ash, and to recycle the water to minimise its usage,” it added.
A research team from Republic Polytechnic (RP) has come up with a new nano-silica product that “cleans” incineration ash, building on a similar product created in Europe to deal with waste management. Silica is a common mineral found in many materials, such as sand.
Treated IFA is considered to be a greener alternative to sand and cement, which are traditionally used to make concrete. The cement manufacturing industry is one of the primary producers of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas.
Last year, an average of 250 tonnes of incineration fly ash (IFA) and 1,350 tonnes of incineration bottom ash (IBA) were generated a day in Singapore’s four incineration plants.
Apart from being a greener alternative, the RP team noted that using treated IFA to make concrete will reduce pressure on the Semakau Landfill — Singapore’s only landfill that is expected to be filled up by 2035 — where all incinerator ash and non-incinerable waste are currently disposed of.
The four-man RP team, who completed their research in January after three years, tappped the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) Environment Technology Research Programme grant scheme for their project.
While both types of ash contain toxic heavy metals such as zinc and lead, IFA has higher concentrations of such metals, and they tend to “leach out more”, or escape from the ash, said research project principal investigator Dr Goh Chee Keong. The amount of metals in the ash is not high enough to offset the cost of extracting them, he added. Hence, to stabilise the heavy metals in the ash, the RP team mixes its nano-silica product with the ash. The silica nanoparticles then bind and trap the heavy metals — a process that is about 20 to 30 per cent more efficient than current methods, Dr Goh said.
First launched in 2009, the scheme aims to help Singapore-based companies and researchers develop and commercialise advanced technologies for making better use of waste. The team has filed for a patent for their nano-silica product, and is in talks with several firms to explore how they can use it in their industry operations. In response to TODAY’s queries, the NEA said that the RP project has shown positive results. However, since it is a lab research project, further study will be required to produce
©Copyright 2017 Mediacorp Press Ltd. Article first appeared in TODAYonline.
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Waste generation in Singapore has increased steadily from 7.67 million tonnes in 2015 to 7.81 tonnes last year, said the NEA. Dr Goh said the treated incineration ash produced by his team is expected to comply with current European standards. The NEA added that it is working on the development of environmental guidelines for the use of IBA in land reclamation and construction. Treated IBA has been used successfully in trials for road pavement construction in Singapore, while a S$15 million recovery facility to salvage metals from IBA opened in Tuas in 2015. louisa.tang@mediacorp.com.sg
DI S C OV E R I N G P O S SI BI L I T I E S
Poly students’ eco-friendly car has bike engine, bicycle wheels
16 March 2017 | The New Paper
(From left) Mr Chai Jie Shen, Mr Ong Songrui, Mr Maznoh bin Snain, Mr Irfan Arif Bin Mohd Shah, Mr Tan Jun Wei, Mr He Cheng Wei, Mr Tan Jian Wei, Miss Justica Tan, with the RP Endeavor 1. TNP PHOTO: SALWA NADHIRAH
By ADELINE TAN
To find the engine they needed, a group of 12 engineering students from Republic Polytechnic (RP) bought a motorcycle, removed its engine and connected it with two bicycle wheels to form a car. They are one of the nine Singaporean teams who have designed energy-efficient cars for the Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2017 competition, held in Singapore for the first time. More than 120 student teams from 20 countries are participating. In its eighth year in Asia, the competition requires students to design and build a car that
can travel the furthest with the least amount of energy. Held at the Changi Exhibition Centre, the competition is part of Shell Make the Future Singapore, a festival that features ideas for energy efficiency. The festival runs from today till March 19.
Their three-wheeler car, the RP Endeavor 1, is made of lightweight materials and boasts a streamlined shape to reduce air resistance so less energy will be needed to move the car. The team decided to use a motorcycle engine because it took time for car parts to be shipped from overseas.
The RP team was handpicked by their Diploma in Engineering Systems and Management lecturer, Mr Loh Tick Boon, last June.
But then they could not figure out how to connect the various parts to get the car moving.
Team manager Chai Jie Shen, 20, said: “We changed the design of the car countless times. If we couldn’t complete it in time, we would be disqualified.”
The team completed the car in two months. Miss Justica Tan, 19, who will drive the car at the competition to test its energy efficiency, said: “Being the pioneer batch, we want to
bring honour to the school so our juniors will be encouraged to join as well.” Mr Loh said: “Being able to put the car at the starting line is already satisfying. Winning is just a bonus. I just wanted my students to have the experience of making the car.” Shell Eco-marathon’s general manager, Mr Norman Koch, said: “Singapore is a dynamic hotbed of innovation, so it’s only natural for the Shell Ecomarathon legacy to continue here. “It is the perfect location to launch the first Shell Make the Future Festival in Asia, where we feature bright energy ideas and solutions.” tanpya@sph.com.sg
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DI S C OV E R I N G P O S SI BI L I T I E S
Fast-track poly scheme gives them a boost
2 May 2017 | The Straits Times
First batch of Polytechnic Foundation Programme graduates delivers encouraging results, says MOE By CALVIN YANG
The pioneer batch of students who got into polytechnics through a fast-track scheme has set the bar high for its juniors.
Mr Chia, who hopes to enter a university after his national service, said the programme was a fresh start for him. “I was determined to do my best and not be a failure like I was in secondary school,” he added.
Some have gone on to top their cohorts, while others have won awards for outstanding performance in various fields.
PFP students are given provisional places in diploma courses. They will secure their places if they pass all their PFP modules.
They are the pioneers of the Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP), which is offered by all five polytechnics to prepare Secondary 4 Normal (Academic) students for direct entry into diploma courses.
At Ngee Ann Polytechnic, 132 students from the first PFP cohort will graduate. Nine of them are gold or silver medallists of their course. These medals are awarded to outstanding graduates of each course.
The year-long programme offers a practiceoriented curriculum with modules taught by polytechnic lecturers and allows students to skip Secondary 5 and the O-levels.
At Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), 163 students from the first PFP batch will graduate this year, with 15 getting top awards. Nearly half (44 per cent) of this pioneer cohort have made it to the director’s list – by excelling academically in the semester at least once during their three-year diploma programme.
The first batch of some 800 PFP students, who were placed on the programme four years ago, will graduate at various polytechnic ceremonies this month. The Ministry of Education (MOE) told The Straits Times that the first PFP batch has performed well. It added that some students will be receiving institution-level awards and prizes in recognition of their holistic achievements.
The polytechnic said PFP students generally do very well when they move on to their first year as they take domain-specific foundation modules designed to help them adapt to their diploma studies.
“Many have outperformed their O-level peers,” it added. NYP animation student Rebecca Lou, 20, who opted for the PFP despite acing her N-Levels, felt the alternative route would allow her to pursue her passion earlier. “I love animations. They were a huge part of my childhood,” she said. The former Anderson Secondary student graduates this month with a GPA of 3.96, and will receive the Lee Hsien Loong Award for outstanding all-round achievement. She has received at least five job offers from companies such as The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia and Infinite Studios. She said the PFP allowed her to adjust to the polytechnic system ahead of her peers. “It has definitely given me more than just a head start. It worked as a more relevant and exciting pathway to my dream course,” she said. “If I came in by any other way, I would have turned out a little different.” calyang@sph.com.sg
While it would not give figures on how the cohort performed, the ministry cited “encouraging results from our pioneer PFP batch”. MOE said “students enjoy similar education and development opportunities in the polytechnics”, regardless of their admissions pathway. Among the many PFP graduates who have done well is Republic Polytechnic’s Clive Chia Chun. The 21-year-old, who studied electrical and electronic engineering, topped his cohort with a perfect 4.0 grade point average (GPA). He will receive the Lee Kuan Yew Award for Mathematics and Science given to the top technology or computer science graduates. It was not all rosy, though. At the end of Secondary 2, he had to transfer from the Express to the Normal (Academic) stream at Chung Cheng High School (Yishun). “I failed my exams and I hated going to school,” he said. In fact, he got through the N-levels five years ago “by memorising everything”. He later applied for the PFP, allowing him to skip Secondary 5.
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Mr Clive Chia Chun, who topped his electrical and electronic engineering cohort at Republic Polytechnic, said the PFP was a fresh start for him as he had failed his exams in Secondary 2. ST PHOTO: FELINE LIM
DI S C OV E R I N G P O S SI BI L I T I E S
Foundation course prepped her well for poly 20 December 2016 | The New Paper By ISABELLE LIEW
Miss Jolene Soh, 20, is among the pioneer batch of the Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP) at Republic Polytechnic (RP). The PFP is a one-year programme that offers a practice-oriented curriculum taught by polytechnic lecturers to prepare Normal (Academic) students for entry into their polytechnic diploma courses. If N-level students score 11 points and below, they qualify for the PFP. If they score 19 points and below, they can be promoted to Secondary 5 Normal (Academic) or apply for the ITE Direct Entry Scheme to Polytechnic Programme.
Miss Jolene Soh is from the pioneer batch of the Polytechnic Foundation Programme in Republic Polytechnic. PHOTO: COURTESY OF JOLENE SOH
Miss Soh, a third-year biotechnology student at RP’s School of Applied Science told TNP: “I had the choice of going to the Express or Normal (Academic) stream in secondary school.
“I chose the Normal stream because the pace of learning was slower, which suited me better.” Her goal in Swiss Cottage Secondary School was to enter a polytechnic, so the PFP route was a natural choice for her. She scored nine points for her N-levels, qualifying her for PFP. “RP’s biotechnology course offered Problembased Learning, so it was more on selflearning, which I liked. PFP helped me to better prepare myself for year one,” Miss Soh, who received the PFP scholarship, said. During the foundation programme, she took subjects such as English, maths and science, alongside modules like computing and project management, which were more relevant to the diploma course. She said: “Lessons during PFP were conducted in a similar manner to the actual diploma programme.
Lessons during PFP were conducted in a similar manner to the actual diploma programme. We were given a problem statement at the start of each day, and we had to do research and solve the problem in groups of five. Then we presented it to the facilitator.
Miss Jolene Soh “We were given a problem statement at the start of each day, and we had to do research and solve the problem in groups of five. “Then we presented it to the facilitator.” bxliew@sph.com.sg
Smooth transition when he took the direct-entry route 27 December 2016 | The Straits Times
By YUEN SIN
When he was in Secondary 3, Mr Lek Tai Yong picked up the personal finance best-seller Rich Dad, Poor Dad and decided that he wanted to be an entrepreneur. “It opened my eyes to the world of business, and I wanted to innovate and come up with something interesting,” recalled Mr Lek, now 19. The former Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School student, whose father used to own a business in the mariculture industry, set his sights on joining the Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP). He qualified with a score of 11 points when he took his N-levels in 2013. Mr Lek did his research and found out that Republic Polytechnic offered a business course with a twist – a Diploma in Social Enterprise Management. He applied for the course through the oneyear PFP, which subsequently allowed him to skip the O-levels and enter the diploma programme directly.
“I believe the future of business is not just in doing well, but doing good,” said Mr Lek, who is now in his second year. He is working with friends to launch a personal and career development platform for youth. While he reckons that he would not have had the chance to learn about entrepreneurship if he had moved on to Sec 5, he said that the polytechnic also gave him many opportunities to explore his interests. On top of joining a youth entrepreneurship and co-operative interest group when he was in the PFP, he learnt how to set up a website using programming languages and picked up skills like project management and marketing. He also appreciated being able to experience life on a polytechnic campus. “The transition to polytechnic is smoother and I got to interact with older students who give you a different perspective of life,” he said. While student life in the PFP can be busy at
Student Lek Tai Yong did his research after sitting the N-levels and decided he wanted a Diploma in Social Enterprise Management from Republic Polytechnic. He qualified for the course through the Polytechnic Foundation Programme. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
times, Mr Lek said that the environment at school is not a competitive one. “Because of the culture in PFP, everyone wants to do well and succeed. But it’s not a
zero-sum game, and people will be happy for you if you achieve something.” yuensin@sph.com.sg
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DI S C OV E R I N G P O S SI BI L I T I E S Dua anak muda Encik Ahmad Irfan Moktar dan Cik Sarah Rahim berkongsi bagaimana Program Asas Politeknik (PFP) membantu mereka memupuk kemahiran asas yang diperlukan sebelum mengikuti kursus diploma sepenuh masa di peringkat politeknik. Ikuti laporan NURMAYA ALIAS (nurmayaa@sph.com.sg). 29 December 2016 | Berita Harian
Program sesuaikan diri di Poly MELANJUTKAN pengajian dari sekolah menengah ke politeknik tidak berasa kekok buat Encik Ahmad Irfan Moktar dan Cik Sarah Rahim (gambar) yang telah mengikuti Program Asas Politeknik (PFP) selepas peperiksaan GCE peringkat ‘N’. Mereka merupakan antara kelompok perintis PFP di Politeknik Republic yang tidak mengambil peperiksaan GCE Peringkat ‘O’
di menengah lima selepas tamat menduduki peperiksaan GCE peringkat ‘N’ di menengah empat. “Program PFP telah membantu saya bersiap sedia bagi meneruskan pengajian ke peringkat diploma dalam kursus yang saya inginkan dengan lebih konfiden,” kata Cik Sarah Rahim, 19 tahun.
Programme to help adapt to polytechnic life Ahmad Irfan Moktar and Sarah Rahim enrolled in the Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP) after their GCE N-Level examinations. They were among the first few batches of students who did not sit for their O-Level examinations in Secondary 5 after completing their N-Level examinations in Secondary 4. FOTO: KHALID BABA
Kian yakin bercakap depan kelas di poly SIFAT pemalu Cik Sarah Rahim semasa di sekolah menengah membuatnya sukar melakukan perkongsian depan kelas. Namun, hari ini, Cik Sarah, 19 tahun, yakin menyampaikan pelbagai idea kepada pensyarah dan rakan-rakan dalam bilik darjah. Menurut Cik Sarah, keyakinannya bercakap depan kelas kian meningkat sejak mengikuti Program Asas Politeknik (PFP) kendalian Politeknik Republic (RP). Lulusan Sekolah Menengah Bartley itu layak mengikuti kursus PFP dengan 11 mata apabila beliau menduduki peperiksaan GCE peringkat ‘N’ pada 2013.
“Kami berpeluang mengunjungi jabatan sumber manusia gedung Ikea dan mengetahui bagaimana gedung itu beroperasi. “Ia pengalaman membuka mata kerana sebelum ini, kami sekadar seorang pengguna dan hanya tahu membeli barang di Ikea,” kata Cik Sarah, juga anggota jawatankuasa eksekutif majlis pelajar di RP. Beliau yang bakal menjalani latihan bekerja sambil belajar pada tahun ketiga berhasrat melanjutkan pengajian ke universiti. “Saya percaya saya boleh menggunakan semua kemahiran yang saya pelajari di RP dalam pengajian atau pekerjaan pada masa depan,” kata Cik Sarah.
Beliau kini penuntut Diploma Pengurusan Sumber Manusia dan Psikologi RP. YAKINI DIRI: Menerusi PFP, Cik Sarah Rahim mempelajari kemahiran komunikasi yang membantu meningkatkan tahap keyakinannya. FOTO: KHALID BABA
Menganggap dirinya pelajar yang lebih senang belajar melalui kegiatan amali, Cik Sarah percaya PFP telah membantunya gapai kecemerlangan dalam pembelajaran di politeknik. “Menerusi PFP, saya belajar pelbagai jenis kemahiran asas, antaranya komunikasi. Latihan ini sangat berguna sebelum menyertai diploma. “Sekarang, saya rasa yakin apabila berdiri depan kelas kerana kami dikehendaki melakukan perkongsian atau berkongsi idea hampir setiap hari,” kata Cik Sarah. Penuntut diploma tahun kedua itu juga mendapati kursusnya menarik, terutama apabila penuntut diberi peluang melihat cara bekerja dalam jabatan sumber manusia sebuah syarikat.
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More confident speaking in front of class in poly Being shy during secondary school made it difficult for Sarah Rahim to speak in front of the class. However today, Sarah is confident when conveying her ideas to her faculty and peers in the classroom.
According to Sarah, her confidence in speaking in front of the class has improved since she enrolled in the PFP in RP. She is currently a second year student pursuing RP’s Diploma in Human Resource Management with Psychology.
Sarah shared that through the PFP, she was able to acquire relevant communication skills that boosted her confidence in public speaking. Sarah believes that she will be able to apply the knowledge she is learning in RP in her studies or her job in the future.
DI S C OV E R I N G P O S SI BI L I T I E S
Lebih sedia, ghairah ke Poly ENCIK Ahmad Irfan Moktar, 20 tahun, suka mencabar dirinya daripada segi mental dan jasmani. Apabila mengetahui tentang kursus diploma yang menawarkan pembelajaran kegiatan luar darjah di Politeknik Republic (RP) semasa di peringkat sekolah menengah empat, beliau membuat keputusan menyertai Program Asas Politeknik (PFP). Lulusan Sekolah Menengah Woodlands Ring itu antara pelajar kelompok perintis PFP di RP. PFP ialah program setahun berteras amalan yang dikendalikan pensyarah politeknik untuk mempersiap bakal pelajar politeknik sebelum memasuki kursus diploma relevan. Program itu merupakan alternatif kepada peringkat menengah lima, memandangkan lulusan peperiksaan GCE peringkat ‘N’ di bawah PFP tidak akan menduduki peperiksaan GCE peringkat ‘O’. Encik Ahmad Irfan layak menyertai PFP dengan sembilan mata semasa menduduki peperiksaan GCE peringkat ‘N’ pada 2012. “Saya sedar saya lebih senang belajar dengan melakukan kegiatan. Justeru, saya lebih mudah memahami subjek akademik seperti bahasa Inggeris dan Matematik menerusi cara pembelajaran di Program Asas Politeknik. “Selain itu, menerusi PFP, ia membantu membentuk perwatakan saya. Saya menjadi lebih optimistik, lebih berani bercakap di depan orang ramai dan lebih berani mengambil risiko,” katanya. Beliau kini penuntut tahun akhir Diploma Pembelajaran Luar Bilik Darjah dan Pengembaraan. Terdorong mahu menimba pengalaman baru di luar negara, Encik Ahmad Irfan telah menyahut cabaran menjalani latihan perantisan selaku jurulatih program di kem Outward Bound Sabah dari April hingga Ogos lalu. Di sana, Encik Ahmad Irfan membimbing peserta Sabah melakukan kegiatan di kem tersebut. Beliau juga mempelajari budaya rencam suku kaum Sabah dan menikmati sambutan Hari Raya Aidilfitri di sana. “Saya berpeluang mengikuti seorang teman dari Sabah balik ke rumahnya di kawasan Tuaran semasa Lebaran. Ia satu pengalaman menarik melihat mereka menyambut Hari Raya bersama keluarga,” kata Encik Ahmad Irfan. Rancangan Encik Ahmad Irfan seterusnya adalah menjadi jurulatih yang akan memberi dorongan dan membantu bina keyakinan anak muda lain. PFP ditawarkan di kesemua lima politeknik di sini – Politeknik Nanyang; Ngee Ann; Republic; Temasek; dan Singapura. Pendaftaran PFP bermula bulan depan apabila keputusan peperiksaan GCE peringkat ‘O’ diumum. Layari laman pfp.polytechnic.edu.sg/PFP/index.html bagi mendapatkan maklumat lanjut.
PELUANG KE SABAH: Encik Ahmad Irfan Moktar kini bersikap lebih optimistik dan berani mengambil risiko, sekali gus mendorongnya menjalani latihan perantisan di kem Outward Bound Sabah. FOTO: KHALID BABA
More ready, eager to enter poly Ahmad Irfan Moktar likes to challenge himself both mentally and physically. When he learnt about the Diploma in Outdoor and Adventure Learning at RP, he decided to join the PFP. Irfan shared that the PFP has helped shape his character and he is thus more optimistic about the future.
During his internship at Outward Bound Sabah in April 2016, he helped to guide camp participants and had the opportunity to meet and interact with the locals in Sabah. Irfan plans to become a coach to provide encouragement and help build confidence in youth.
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DI S C OV E R I N G P O S SI BI L I T I E S
Taking EAE route to pursue passion in performing arts By CALVIN YANG
Ms Suvetha Rajalingam, 18, loves the performing arts. But she may not have got a place in Republic Polytechnic to do arts and theatre management if not for the Early Admissions Exercise (EAE). The scheme allows polytechnics to select students based on criteria other than academic results, like their suitability for certain courses. Ms Suvetha, who will start her diploma studies next month, is not a whizz in her academic studies. She got an L1R4 score of 25 points – for English and four relevant subjects – in her O-level examinations last year. Had she applied through the normal admissions route, her score would have put most of the courses out of her reach. But she found out about the EAE from a school talk, leading her to apply for her desired course before the O-level examinations. Ms Suvetha Rajalingam said the Early Admissions Exercise gives students like her a chance to study what they love. She has been interested in theatre production since her childhood. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
“I was afraid I might not be able to make it through with just my O-levels, so I applied through the EAE,” she told The Straits Times. The former St Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School student, who played the angklung as her co-curricular activity, has been interested in theatre production since she was a child, and has participated in several performances. To be selected for the course, she produced a portfolio of her achievements. She also had to undergo an interview, during which she was quizzed about her interests. She is pleased that from the next academic year, more students can use EAE to enter their desired courses. Ms Suvetha, who aspires to be a production manager in plays, said the EAE gives students like her a chance to pursue their passion. “I know it is not going to be a walk in the park, but I am ready to put in the hard work,” she added. calyang@sph.com.sg
Put away e-devices in class? No way!
9 January 2017 | The Straits Times
Gamification and 3D printers are among high-tech teaching tools polys are using By TOH WEN LI
In some game design and development classrooms at Temasek Polytechnic, students are “wizards” and teachers are “game masters”. When students answer questions in class or consume e-learning material, they can use their “powers” to unlock rewards – such as a five-minute tea break or a one-on-one session with their teacher. Their avatars and the number of points they earn in class are tallied on an online leaderboard. This is part of a new teaching method which the school calls “gamification” – the use of gaming elements in non-game scenarios. Said the diploma’s course manager Jonathan Pillai, 40: “We realised that today’s teenagers
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are very exposed to digital culture, and they want lessons to be engaging.” The aim, Mr Pillai added, is to get students to be more actively engaged in their own learning, rather than passively consuming content. Gamification was first tried out at Temasek Polytechnic in its Diploma in Game Design and Development classrooms two years ago and enjoyed a positive response. After a year of research funded by the Ministry of Education (MOE), gamification will be officially re-launched in April and the school hopes to implement it in all classrooms by the end of this year. It is not the only polytechnic experimenting with high-tech ways of engaging students. At Republic Polytechnic, a Swivl robot, used to help take video recordings of lecturers and student presenters in classrooms, has been turning heads. It received the Silver Innergy Award from MOE in 2015. The robot - which has a round rotating base capable of propping up a tablet device – swivels so the tablet faces and takes video
8 March 2017 | The Straits Times
recordings of the person who is speaking. The robot, introduced two years ago, is often mounted on a tripod for a better view. People can also use remote-control-like markers to get the Swivl robot to orient the tablet towards them. The video recordings are uploaded onto an online portal that students can access after class. Diploma in Sports Coaching student Spencer See Toh, 18, said the robot has helped him improve his presentation skills. He said: “With the video camera (recording me), I felt quite nervous at first. As time went by, I found I could spot my mistakes, and knew what to improve on.”
to simulate airport operations such as maintenance checks on aircraft. From April, Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s School of Infocomm Technology classrooms in the new Smart Learning Spaces @ NP will boast facial recognition sensors to track students’ attendance. Interactive whiteboards will also allow lecture notes to be transferred directly to students’ tablets. Singapore Polytechnic’s Food Innovation and Resource Centre has a new 3D printer, to which students can add puree, powder or batter. The machine squeezes the food out, layer by layer, to form custom shapes. Food science and technology student Danielle Wong, 18, said: “It allows us to customise each nutrient, to formulate different food and recipes for each target consumer.” Ms Wong, who has used the machine to “print” soya pulp cookie batter into various shapes, said: “It makes food fun. The possibilities are endless.” tohwenli@sph.com.sg
When revising for exams, he was able to rewatch key points that he might have missed in class, he said. Over at Nanyang Polytechnic, more diploma courses have been incorporating virtual reality technology into their curriculum. Its engineering students, for instance, can use a 3D immersive virtual reality software
Republic Polytechnic classrooms use the self-rotating Swivl robot to record presentations. PHOTO: REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC
T R A N SFOR M I N G L I V E S Her clothes usually sell for about $20 and range in size from small to six extra large
Little variety for plus-size women sparks big dreams
14 February 2017 | The New Paper
By RACHEL CHAN
Big, bold and beautiful. Miss Nur Syahirah, 20, hopes that is what women will feel when they wear clothes from her online shop, Syeracloset. Finding clothes has always been a headache for Miss Syahirah, who is plus-size. She told The New Paper: “I found it hard to find apparel in my size. (A few months ago), there was a sale at Forever 21 and I asked the salesperson if they carried a plus-size collection, and he said yes. “But the biggest size he pointed me to was a large, and my size is a six extra large, so I walked out feeling very disappointed. “I had to get a top for my internship and remember buying one for $60, and I thought it was overpriced. (I’m not rich) so why should I spend so much on daily wear?” The final-year Republic Polytechnic student, who is doing a Diploma in Customer Experience Management with Business, said finding clothes that cater to larger people is hard, especially here. If she does find it, the material is usually jersey, which hugs the body unfavourably.
And so Miss Syahirah started Syeracloset in September 2014, when she was a first-year student. “I was selling viscose shawls at the start on Instagram at $9.50 a piece, and it was more meant for those wearing the hijab,” she said, adding that she invested $150 to bring in the stock. “After a while, I thought I should... include clothes for plus-size women, so I spent 1½ years doing research, and finally found a supplier in Shanghai for plus-size casual wear. “My main aim is to make it affordable, and the sizes start from a small to six extra large. The clothes usually retail for about $20.” A year later, a proper website — which is now being revamped — was created, and Miss Syahirah also designed a Hari Raya line of baju kurung in songket fabric. “I find songket to be very elegant for Hari Raya, and it’ll never go out of style. I realised most Malay women are still wearing skirts, so I thought why not design pants (as part of the baju kurung)? DIFFERENT “I’m not a girly person and I thought pants were easy to come up with.
It’s different but simple, and can be worn for other occasions,” she said. The clothes were designed with her size, shape and preferences in mind. Miss Syahirah found a textile supplier on Instagram, while her tailor contacted her on Facebook, knowing she was selling plus-size clothes. Miss Syahirah said: “I have no background in drawing. But I knew what I wanted and came up with sketches for the tailor, and she would settle the measurements.” Using her designs and textiles, the tailor would stitch the clothes.
Stress got the better of her once. Said Miss Syahirah: “I was hospitalised for a week in May 2015 due to heart palpitations caused by stress. I had to learn to prioritise and find time to do my own things.” Since Syerascloset started, its Instagram page has grown to 3,950 followers, and Miss Syahirah could not be happier. She is taking a break from her business to focus on her final-year project and exams, but will launch her revamped website next month. Another Hari Raya collection designed by her is also in the pipeline.
Said Miss Syahirah: “I designed the whole collection in two weeks.”
Miss Syahirah said: “The first two years were tough. Business grew at a slow pace with no profits. I had my first customer only after a month.”
She added that the baju kurung were designed as a set, but buyers could mix and match.
She wants to empower women to be confident, no matter their size.
On juggling school and her business, she said: “I’ve managed to maintain my grades, and my friends and family are supportive.
Miss Syahirah said: “I want to inspire people to think positive and be comfortable in their own skin. They should always feel as powerful as Beyonce.”
“I usually head home in the evening, complete my school work and pack the items from 8pm to 2am, in time for mailing.”
shiyunc@sph.com.sg
Miss Nur Syahirah finds it hard to find clothes in her size at affordable prices. TNP PHOTO: BENJAMIN SEETOR
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T R A N SFOR M I N G L I V E S Republic Polytechnic’s guidance counsellor helps students with their future
Putting them on the right career path By AFIQ ROSLAN
Every year, about 200 students walk into Madam Noormala Atan’s office to seek help for their future. As an Education and Career Guidance (ECG) counsellor in Republic Polytechnic (RP), it is her job to put these students on a prospective career path that would be most suited for them. Madam Noormala, 53, said: “Identifying the student’s strengths and interests is the first step. We then provide them with information about the industry they wish to enter and what jobs they can consider.” She has also seen students with their parents, in hope that the sessions would help inform both parties about the possible careers available. Madam Noormala added that ECG in RP is a holistic experience that involves the cooperation of the school’s management, parents and students. Madam Noormala was previously a lecturer, but her deputy principal, Dr Michael Koh, convinced her to make the switch and focus her efforts on helping students progress past the classroom.
Madam Noormala is one of the 85 ECG counsellors the Ministry of Education has recruited since 2015 as part of the national SkillsFuture movement. That figure is expected to increase to 100 by the end of this year. TRAINING Newly recruited counsellors undergo mandatory training in education and career guidance facilitation as well as counselling before they are deployed to secondary schools, junior colleges or the Millennia Institute, the Institute of Technical Education or polytechnics. Madam Noormala said: “My training and experiences have convinced me that what I do will be able to make a difference in the lives of the students.” A student who has been impacted by her counselling is Miss Dhania Bahrim, 22, who is studying for her Diploma in Outdoor and Adventure Learning. Miss Dhania said: “I have always liked working with kids, but I was unsure how my diploma could get me a job that aligned with my interests.”
With Madam Noormala’s help, she is now looking at a career as a physical education teacher. Another student, Mr Kumara Karthik, 31, who is studying for his Diploma in Health Management and Promotion, also approached Madam Noormala. He said: “I was interested in the health sector, so I wanted to know what jobs were waiting for me once I graduated.”
Taking inspiration from celebrity chefs gave an all-male pair a third-place win in the sixth iChef Challenge competition. Gan Ga-Lan and Benjamin Khalil Adnan, both 15, from St Patrick’s School, were the only all-male team in the final round of a cooking competition organised by Republic Polytechnic’s School of Hospitality on June 8. The winning team from Kent Ridge secondary school were Charis Neo and Tan Xin Lei, both 15, while the first runner up team from Shuqun Secondary School were Chua Wanxin and Beatrice Lim, both 15.
Gan Ga-Lan and Benjamin Khalil Adnan prepared a three-course meal that included salmon with sweet potato mash with poached egg and salad for the iChef Challenge finals held at Republic Polytechnic on June 8. PHOTO: REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC
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Identifying the student’s strengths and interests is the first step. MADAM NOORMALA ATAN
With the counselling, Mr Karthik now wants to focus on physiotherapy and helping the elderly. He aims to further his education with a specialist diploma or a degree before heading into the health sector as a professional. In addition to the counsellors, ECG is also woven into RP’s curriculum through existing academic modules and career-related lessons conducted by their mentors. RP students are also exposed to workshops and events such as Industry Days and Career Fairs, which inform them about their future options. tnp@sph.com.sg
Healthy Eating Gets Spicy By CRISTIE KENNEDY
2 August 2017 | The New Paper
Mr Kumara Karthik with Education and Career Guidance counsellor Noormala Atan. TNP PHOTO: SALWA NADHIRAH SUANDI
26 June 2017 | The Straits Times
herb butter and jasmine green tea infused panna cotta for dessert.
of dishes that could be made from simple ingredients.
Ga-Lan and Benjamin served up spaghetti with prawns, bechamel sauce and shaved black truffles for starters, salmon with sweet potato mash with poached egg and salad as the mains, and an earl grey dark chocolate truffle for dessert.
The winners won supermarket vouchers worth $2,000, while the first and second-runners up won retail vouchers worth $1,000 and $500.
Said Ga-Lan of using salmon as the main ingredient: “It has omega 3 acids and helps your body. ” Both boys are keen cooks who have been experimenting with dishes for the past two years.
In line with the competition theme “Spice Up Your Health”, the participants had to prepare three-course lunchboxes using healthier oils, tea, spices and herbs, as well as develop posters marketing their creations.
Benjamin finds inspiration in celebrity chef Marco Pierre White’s show The Great British Feast. Saying that cooking helps him to de-stress, he added: “ I feel cooking really helps me with patience and planning.”
The winning meal by Charis and Xin Lei was an Indian-styled tomato soup as appetiser, wagyu beef ribeye served on spiced pilaf and curry
Ga-Lan, meanwhile, had his interest piqued from observing his mother prepare meals. He said he was intrigued by the vast array
The competition, which is open to 14- to 16-year-olds, was launched in 2011 to get more students interested in the food industry and help them discover their potential for cooking. This was the first time competitors were required to present their dishes using a bento concept in the form of a three-course takeaway. Said Mr James Lee, director of the School of Hospitality at Republic Polytechnic: “As Singaporeans live in a fast-paced environment and are used to a lifestyle of packing food on the go, we would like the finalists to think of appealing food in a ‘takeaway’ format through this competition.”
T R A N SFOR M I N G L I V E S
起致
活
四人 嘉
10 April 2017 | Lianhe Zaobao
第七届工运“青年精神奖”前天 颁 发，旨在肯定由青年发 起并富有显著社会意义的活动。 当天 颁 发了八个奖项，共有120名青年与年轻工会 领袖获得肯定。 陈劲禾 报道 四名年轻人发起一项活动邀请公众向巴士司机、地铁操作员和 公共交通后勤人员致谢，让这群默默耕耘的劳动者获得肯定。
他与队友在工院与工艺教育学院办分享会，与将要实习的学生 分享资讯，如实习生的权利、如何善用实习机会等。他们也举办 论坛，邀请雇主与实习生参与，让双方有机会交流。
傅泳顺说： “拥有一纸文凭不代表一个人已做好准备踏入职场。 他们与一群义工在巴士转换站邀请公众在卡片上写下想对公交 只有职场经验才能让你清楚知道你是否准备好踏入这个行业。 从业员说的话，再把收集到的300张卡片转交给这些工作人员， 从这个角度来看，实习非常重要。” 为他们带来惊喜。
jinhet@sph.com.sg 发起活动的成员之一郑家翔（29岁，银行业）受访时说，现在不 少通勤者常沉浸在手机世界里，鲜少注意周围环境，他希望这 项活动能让公众重新关注周围的人事物。 这项名为“带着感谢上车” （Gratitude on Board）的活动去 年8月进行，郑家翔与三名队友林莉琪（23岁）、刘善宁（25岁） 和庄凯利（25岁）是全国职工总会青年团成员，他们上周六获 颁第七届工运“青年精神奖”的“非凡项目奖”。该奖项旨在肯 定由青年发起并富有显著社会意义的活动。
The seventh edition of nEbO’s “Spirit of Youth Awards” recognised 120 youths and young union leaders for their contributions to society. The award winners include nine students from RP’s Diploma in Human Resource Management with Psychology (DHRMP), who were awarded the “Team Spirit Award”. The students initiated a series of activities to improve the quality of internships in Singapore. DHRMP student Poh Yong Shun’s team hopes to change employers’ perceptions of their interns and not to regard interns as “cheap labour”. Yong Shun reiterated the importance of internships, adding that having a diploma does not necessarily mean a person is ready to enter the workforce. It is through work experience that one will discover if he or she is equipped for a particular industry.
职总秘书长陈振声担任颁奖嘉宾，他也是总理公署部长。当天 共颁发了八个奖项，并有120名青年与年轻工会领袖获得肯定。 获得“团队精神奖”的是共和理工学院人力资源管理系的九名 学生。他们去年推行一系列活动，如分享会与论坛，希望提高实 习工作的素质。 成员傅泳顺（19岁）说，通过这些活动，他与队友希望改变雇主 与实习生的思维，希望雇主不要把实习生当成“廉价劳工”，同 时鼓励实习生把握实习的机会学习。
Four individuals given awards for contributions
职总青年团成员郑家翔（左）与林莉琪发起活动，邀请公众向 公交从业员致谢，获颁工运“青年精神奖”的“非凡项目奖”。 另两名队友刘善宁与庄凯利无法出席颁奖典礼。 (梁麒麟摄)
He juggles studies and two part-time jobs By AFIQ ROSLAN
His journey to Republic Polytechnic (RP) has been a long and winding one. After completing national service, Mr Kumara Karthik had only a Nitec in precision engineering and with nowhere else to go, he immediately went into working contract-based jobs. In 2012, his father suffered a heart attack. The medical bills forced the rest of his family, his mum and his younger sister, to find part-time work to get by. Mr Karthik worked, among other things, at a car wash and as a packer, and one job even had him cleaning containers. He often juggled two to three jobs at once and soon work consumed his life, and he felt lost. Mr Karthik, now 31, told The New Paper: “I did not see a future with these contract-based jobs, I was sick and tired of it.”
Mr Kumara Karthik is studying health management and promotion. TNP PHOTO: SALWA NADHIRAH
A chance encounter with an intern from the ITE working at a private hospital with him changed his life.
7 June 2017 | The New Paper
He found out there was a fitness training course at ITE College Central and he was still eligible to enrol as a full-time student. His family history of health problems and a year’s worth of experience working in the health sector fuelled his desire to make a difference in patient care, and Mr Karthik enrolled in the course the following year. This time around, he managed to do well enough to further his education at RP. HEALTH MANAGEMENT Currently a second-year health management and promotion student, Mr Karthik still juggles two part-time jobs, one with an events company and another at the Singapore Cruise Centre, to fund his education. But Mr Karthik is not done yet. He admitted that he would like to pursue either a specialist diploma or even a degree in the health sector. He said: “Without a doubt, going back to school at my age has been the most risky but also the most rewarding decision of my life.” armuhd@sph.com.sg
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T R A N SFOR M I N G L I V E S
All about his students
15 July 2017 | The Straits Times
Mr Eugene Lee Kee Puay made the switch from marketing and communications to teaching as he wanted to make a difference in and out of the classroom
Equipping students with the know-how to turn consumer insights into business success is an exciting challenge for Mr Lee. PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG By ESTHER TEO
When he first started lecturing, Mr Eugene Lee Kee Puay, 43, would get “butterflies in his stomach” when he stood in front of a new class for the very first time. He would wonder if his students were keeping pace with the lesson.
and focuses on nurturing industry-ready graduates who are entrepreneurial and innovative problem solvers.
innovative and entrepreneurial skills through the consumer insights, marketing and business knowledge acquired.
The School of Management and Communication is one of RP’s seven schools, and its DCBR team comprises about 20 academic staff from various disciplines and industry backgrounds.
MORE THAN JUST WORK Mr Lee’s job is far from being desk- or even classroom-bound.
The senior lecturer teaches the Diploma in Consumer Behaviour and Research (DCBR) programme at the School of Management and Communication, Republic Polytechnic (RP).
Mr Lee says: “With our diverse experience and knowledge, we deliver one of the first Business Psychology diplomas in Singapore that specialises in a unique blend of business, psychology and market research fields.
He has since learnt that the best way to connect with his students is by delivering concepts in a simple and youth-relevant context.
“Our exciting challenge is to equip students with the know-how of turning consumer insights into business success.”
“On a daily basis, my students’ high level of energy and inquisitiveness is highly infectious. Just as I hope they learn as much as they can from me, I’ve also learnt new things from them as well, for example, the latest mobile apps and fashion trends,” he says. Mr Lee’s acumen in communications was honed during a 15-year career in marketing and communications where he rose to the position of director. When the holder of a Bachelor in Communication Studies and Master of Mass Communication decided to make the switch to teaching, his former colleagues were not surprised. “The thought of being an educator crossed my mind often. So when the RP teaching opportunity came along, I decided to pursue it,” he says. A MULTI-FACETED ROLE The fifth polytechnic in Singapore, RP’s unique Problem-based Learning (PBL) curriculum is geared towards applied learning
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On class days, Mr Lee spends about six to seven curriculum hours with his students, inclusive of four-and-a-half hours of contact time. After class ends, lecturers spend about three to four hours evaluating students’ daily work and providing feedback for their continuous improvement. The students’ daily reflection journals, along with their class participation and group presentation, are evaluated as part of their daily grades. Another major aspect of Mr Lee’s work is mentoring and coaching students in planning and organising events, inter-school competitions and even student-led industry collaboration projects like the Youth Panel that delivers youth consumer insights. The lecturers also collaborate with industry partners in areas such as curriculum projects, industry internships and final-year projects. The industry projects enable students to hone their
“My working environment is very diverse — you’ll find me on campus at the library, study corners and our Market Research Lab where we spend considerable time coaching and mentoring our students,” he says. “RP is an employer that focuses on creating a work culture that strikes a work-life balance. In addition, it also promotes healthy living,” he adds. The polytechnic organises regular talks, seminars, workshops and activities that cater to a wide range of employee interests from health, wellness, professional improvement. Other examples of its people-oriented policies and programmes are staggered working hours, telecommuting, Blue-Sky Fridays and Eat-with-your-Family Day. At the end of the day, teaching to Mr Lee is all about the students. He says: “As a facilitator, it is a privilege to be part of the students’ growing and learning journey. I impart not just domain knowledge but most importantly, the right guidance in attitude and values. “It is the start of their lifelong journey in continuous education and enriching their minds. I hope my students live a life driven by a sense of purpose, and through various pathways, attain meaningful success and happiness.”
T R A N SFOR M I N G L I V E S
Blind student thrives in poly, thanks to support
13 September 2017 | The New Paper
Republic Polytechnic has about 300 special-needs students By CHARMAINE SOH
He lost his sight after surviving stage four eye cancer when he was two years old. But that is not stopping Republic Polytechnic (RP) student John Danesh, 18, from pursuing his dream of becoming a lawyer. The Diploma in Social Enterprise and Management student is among about 300 special needs students in RP and the first who is completely blind. Yet, John, who is in his second year, topped three modules in his course. He attributes this to the support network he has at school. He told The New Paper: “I am grateful to my mentor, lecturers and friends who have helped me in school, be it with classwork materials or navigating around the poly.” The Problem-based Learning approach — where students work in teams to solve problems in class daily — has also been a boon to him, as he gets to research topics on his own. “The (Problem-based Learning) experience has been enlightening... most of my modules are interesting,” he added.
John Danesh (right) benefits from Republic Polytechnic’s support system, where his lecturer Peter Lee is trained to teach students with disabilities. TNP PHOTO: WENDY LIM
Beyond that, RP has a support system to help students with disabilities.
For instance, pictures will include captions so John can understand the content.
John, for example, is exempted from course modules that are heavily visual-based.
Graphs can be converted to Braille.
Teaching methods and materials are also customised to accommodate his learning needs. He has a software installed in his laptop to decipher content, and the programme chair of his course and lecturers will reformat materials for him.
Mr Fong Yew Chan, RP’s senior director of student services, said: “In RP, we have an inclusive learning environment, students with special educational needs are given the necessary support and accommodation to pursue their studies unencumbered.”
RP’s support system has benefited students such as John. He contributes to team assignments and presentations like any other student, said Mr Peter Lee, his mentor and lecturer. Mr Lee told TNP: “I was initially worried as I had no experience, but the school is supportive and it sends us for training to learn how to interact with these students and teach them. “He (John) is just like any other student who is hardworking, knowledgeable and up to date with current affairs.”
How RP aids students with disabilities With about 300 students with disabilities, Republic Polytechnic (RP) has in place measures to help them adapt to the rigours of their courses. Before completion of enrolment, the student, parents and staff discuss recommended courses and potential challenges faced. The school determines the type of support given to students with disabilities based on five categories — visual, hearing,
physical impairment, neurodevelopmental disorder and learning challenges. Some accommodations are made during exams, such as having a personal invigilator, bigger fonts in the exam paper or extra time, depending on the students’ different needs.
And for lecturers to learn how to interact with the special education-needs students, there are training and workshops by an external group iC2 Prephouse, a charity that supports students who are visually disabled so they can smoothly enter the mainstream education system. jmsoh@sph.com.sg
These students will also have counsellors to provide them with emotional support, on top of the mentors which all RP students are assigned.
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AC H I E V I N G SUC C E S S
林瑞生:
助
人适
型
技能与工作接 3 May 2017 | Lianhe Zaobao
人力部长林瑞生说，智慧型科技将改 变全球就业情况。在迈 入智慧时代，科技会取代一些工作， 但一些领域，例如数 据分析、网络安全等也会制造更多就业机会。 邓玮婷 报道 如要成功迈向未来经济，有关当局除了协助企业加速转型，也 必须帮助国人更好地适应这个大环境，避免员工技能和工作需 求的隔阂随着经济发展不断扩大。 人力部长林瑞生昨早在共和理工学院第12届毕业典礼上致词 时提到上述观点。 他说，科技一直是经济和生活重要的一部分，但现在不同的是， 科技的发展速度不仅比以往快，科技也变得更聪明及更普及化。 为此，全球对科技的恐惧不断扩大，担心像人工智慧一样的科 技将逐渐取代许多工作。 “ 那问题是，我们该怎么做？是将科技视为我们的竞争者？还是 创造工作的合作伙伴？在新加坡，我们相信智慧型科技将显著 改变全球就业情况。” 林瑞生指出，在迈入智能工厂、精益酒店、无人车和数码服务的 时代，科技确实会取代一些工作，但同时，也会在其他领域，如 数据分析、网络安全和创新发展方面制造更多就业机会。 他说，在科技取代和创造工作的过程中，全球的工作分配将出 现巨大变化。一些国家和经济体所创造的新工作岗位会比所失 去的多，另一些则会出现净就业损失的情况。 “ 对于我国，我们的选择明确。我们要成为赢家之一，而不是落 败者。我们立志走在科技开发的前沿。在竞争当前，善用且更快 地采纳创新措施。这么一来，我们不仅能创造工作，而是创造更 好的就业机会，为年长和年轻员工建立更好的事业。” 林瑞生提到，本地23个领域，即经济的80％已展开经济转型。 在由新一代部长领导的未来经济理事会下，经济转型的步伐将 更快、更专注，涵盖面也更广。 他说，经济转型如要成功，须协助企业加快转型，及帮助国人 更好地适应。否则，在迅速发展的同时，因工作和技能不匹配所 造成的隔阂将不断扩大。 “ 到时，我们可能会有更高的失业率，但这非因工作短缺所引起， 而是因缺乏技能所导致。我们不会让那种情况发生在我们身上。” 林瑞生说，应届毕业生是在一个极具挑战的时间点加入劳动 队伍。 “你是否能在未来的创新经济取得好的发展，靠的不仅 是你现在的本事，也包括你（对工作）的热诚，以及日后的适应 能力。”
谢俊（右二）四年前通过理工学院基础课程进入共和理工学院，昨天以4.0满分的优异成绩毕业，也荣获李光耀数学与科学奖。 他的外婆、母亲和女友都为他取得的成就感到骄傲。 (陈斌勤摄) 他受访时说，念中学时因跟不上教学步伐，成绩很差，从快捷源 流转到普通学术源流。
“ 中四那年，学校主办一些讲座分享不同的升学道路，我也第一 次听到PFP。我当时想，自己成绩那么差，O水准应该不会考得 很好，因此决定尝试。为了申请PFP，我靠着背课本资料，才成 共和工院共有4752名毕业生，包括首批通过理工学院基础课程 功应付N水准考试。” （Polytechnic Foundation Programme，简称PFP）加入 工院的学生，及363名修读持续教育与培训课程的学员。 谢俊提到，理工学院有更多思考和讨论的空间，选择的工程
从小成绩差 读工院获动力以满分毕业 谢俊（21岁）完成N水准后，通过PFP进入共和工院，昨天以 4.0满分的优异成绩毕业，也荣获李光耀数学与科学奖。
与电子学也是自己感兴趣的。他在第二年开课初期获得的第一 个“A”，是推动他继续努力的动力。 “ 从小到大，我的成绩都垫底，那是第一次得到好成绩，感觉很 棒，让我想继续努力奋斗。” 谢俊希望继续在工程方面深造，日后成为一名讲师，回到校园 与学生分享知识和经验。
tengwt@sph.com.sg
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Poly education spurs him to graduate with perfect score In May 2017, RP saw 4,752 graduates, including the first batch of Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP) students as well as 363 Continuing Education and Training (CET) students. One of which is Clive Chia Chun, who finished the PFP with a perfect 4.0 grade point average and won the Lee Kuan Yew Award for Mathematics and Science. Clive mentioned that RP provided him with more room for thinking and discussion and added that he was very interested in his course of study, the Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. He hopes to continue exploring this field of study and be a lecturer in the future.
AC H I E V I N G SUC C E S S
22 May 2017 | Tamil Murasu
By
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Reaching his goal to become a sports trainer
Since young, R. Kabilan Naidu has always been passionate about all sports, and hopes to achieve his dreams of becoming a sports trainer since young. His athletic journey in football started in secondary school, and he continued his pursuit at RP where he eventually graduated from RP's Diploma in Sports Coaching.
Kabilan said that his previous working experience in the sports industry and support from his family has been a big help in his sports journey. He added that the teaching style of his RP lecturers and the experiences they shared with him further inspired him to become a sports trainer. Through RP, he also secured a six-month internship with a fitness centre.
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AC H I E V I N G SUC C E S S
Pengalaman bersekolah di rantauan dan menjalani sistem pendidikan sekolah antarabangsa ketika bapa ditugaskan di luar negara sedikit sebanyak mencorak semangat berdikari dua lulusan Diploma Sains Bioperubatan Politeknik Republic ini. HARYANI ISMAIL (haryani@sph.com.sg) memapar kisah mereka sempena majlis tamat pengajian lulusan politeknik itu minggu ini.
Cemerlang dalam kesepian
3 May 2017 | Berita Harian
dan kesabaran ibu bapa apabila dilanda ujian. Kita tidak harus berhenti mencuba selagi terdaya. “Saya lalui kejutan budaya di Singapura selepas sekian lama belajar di Dubai dalam suasana santai dan tidak terburuburu mengejar masa. Di Singapura, keadaannya terasa berbeza. Masa berjalan terlalu cepat dan banyak perkara perlu dibereskan segera. “Dalam dua tahun pertama saya di RP, saya kesunyian. Semua pelajar lain sudah memiliki rakan mereka sendiri daripada sekolah menengah. Kadangkala nak kongsi berita gembira atau nak mengadu nasib dengan ibu bapa, mereka berjauhan. “Namun, demi cita-cita menjadi doktor, saya teruskan juga perjuangan. Saya tahu pilihan ke RP tepat kerana ia sudah menghasilkan pelajar politeknik yang kemudian diterima masuk ke sekolah perubatan ternama di Singapura. Menjadi doktor amanah murni.” Anak tunggal yang sudah memohon mendapatkan tempat di sekolah perubatan di universiti setempat itu akur beliau perlu menggandakan usaha dan ditemani sahabat yang samasama bermotivasi.
TIDAK MUDAH PATAH SEMANGAT: Walaupun diuji dengan masalah bapa diberhentikan kerja di Dubai dan ibu dikesan menghidap barah semasa di Politeknik Republic, Cik Aqilah Faaiqah Haji Shamsuri terus mencekalkan semangat ingin mengecapi keputusan terbaik bagi kursus diploma sains bioperubatan. FOTO: IZWANDI AZMAN
SEJAK kecil, Cik Aqilah Faaiqah Haji Shamsuri bercita-cita menjadi doktor. Lantaran itu, meskipun selesa menuntut di sebuah sekolah antarabangsa di Dubai selama tujuh tahun, beliau kembali ke Singapura tiga tahun lalu bagi memburu impian tersebut. Cik Aqilah memilih belajar di Politeknik Republic (RP) kerana ia telah berjaya menghasilkan beberapa pelajar jurusan sains bioperubatan yang layak memasuki sekolah perubatan Universiti Nasional Singapura (NUS).
Gabenor bagi pelajar RP paling cemerlang dalam bidang akademik dan kegiatan luar darjah dalam majlis di Pusat Kebudayaan Republic. Seramai 4,389 pelajar latihan prapekerjaan (PET) dan 363 pelajar dewasa yang melanjutkan pendidikan dan latihan (CET) menerima diploma masing-masing. Menteri Tenaga Manusia Lim Swee Say hadir sebagai tamu terhormat di sesi penyampaian diploma pertama. RP juga menyambut ulang tahun ke-15 tahun ini.
Beliau dan ibu bapanya berhijrah ke Dubai apabila bapanya ditawarkan pekerjaan sebagai pengurus operasi projek pembinaan menara pencakar langit tertinggi dunia, Burj Khalifa. Sekembalinya ke Singapura tanpa ibu bapa, banyak penyesuaian terpaksa dibuat Cik Aqilah, kini 21 tahun. Beliau tinggal bersama ibu saudaranya, belajar berdikari dan meluputkan kesunyian dengan melibatkan diri dalam pelbagai kegiatan kepimpinan dan kemasyarakatan. Apabila bapa Cik Aqilah diberhentikan kerja sekitar Oktober lalu dek penyusunan semula syarikat di Dubai, ia bak tamparan hebat yang menggugat semangatnya. Lebih menyedihkan, ibunya pula dikesan menghidap penyakit barah.
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“Banyak pasang surut emosi yang saya lalui tetapi alhamdulillah segala ujian itu menguatkan lagi semangat saya. Saya banyak belajar daripada semangat perjuangan
Beliau juga bersyukur bapanya yang sebelum ini memandu Uber sudah pun mendapat pekerjaan baru sebagai pegawai keselamatan selepas menjalani beberapa kursus kemahiran. Antara pengalaman di RP yang payah dilupakannya ialah menggalas tugas sebagai presiden Majlis Pelajar dan naib presiden (interaksi dan acara khas) Kelab Antarabangsa. Peranan tersebut mengajarnya teknik kepimpinan dengan keihsanan. Dalam dua projek berasingan, beliau menawarkan khidmat sukarela di hospital sekitar Vietnam dan membantu memasang sistem pemulih air di 20 rumah kampung Bandar Ho Chi Minh City. “Saya lebih menghargai kehidupan di Singapura apabila menawarkan khidmat sukarela di Vietnam. Saya menyaksikan sendiri kesusahan pesakit kurang berkemampuan yang dilanda kemalangan mahupun anakanak yang mengalami masalah terencat otak. Ia membuka hati saya agar ringankan tangan membantu,” katanya.
Finding excellence in solitude Since childhood, Aqilah Faaiqah Haji Shamsuri aspires to be a doctor. She was studying at an international school in Dubai for seven years and returned to Singapore on her own three years ago to pursue her dream.
Graduated from RP's Diploma in Biomedical Sciences, Aqilah was the most outstanding student with a GPA of 3.98. She also received the Board of Governors Award as the Most Outstanding Graduate this year for her exceptional achievements in her studies and extra-curricular activities.
Namun, segala ujian yang dilalui itu lebih memperkasa semangat Cik Aqilah untuk tidak mudah berputus asa.
Despite facing many challenges, Aqilah learnt a lot through her struggles and these reinforced her passion of studying medicine.
Semalam, dengan gred purata mata (GPA) 3.98, lulusan diploma sains bioperubatan itu diberi Anugerah Lembaga
Afternote: Aqilah has since been accepted into NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.
A total of 4,389 PET and 363 CET students received their diplomas at RP’s graduation ceremony this year, which also marks the school’s 15th anniversary.
AC H I E V I N G SUC C E S S
Selami misi selamatkan hidupan laut
ITE grad is RP’s most outstanding student 23 August 2017 | The Straits Times
PUTERA LAUTAN: Encik Iliya Izzudin Jalil antara pelajar perintis kursus Diploma Sains Lautan dan Ternakan Ikan Politeknik Republic, bertekad meneroka pelbagai isu pemuliharaan lautan – sesuatu yang dekat di hati sejak di bangku sekolah rendah. FOTO: IZWANDI AZMAN
CINTA Encik Iliya Izzudin Jalil kepada dunia kehidupan laut dan kerja pemuliharaan lautan tersemai semasa beliau di bangku Sekolah Rendah Telok Kurau. Ketika itu, beliau yang menganggotai Kelab Saintis Muda bermalam di pusat tarikan Underwater World Singapore dan banyak belajar tentang ikan dan cara menyelamatkan lautan. Lantas, apabila mendapat tahu Politeknik Republic (RP) menawarkan kursus perintis Diploma Sains Lautan dan Ternakan Ikan, Encik Iliya tidak melepaskan peluang mengikutinya. Pagi ini, beliau bakal menerima diploma yang diidam-idamkan, dengan tekadnya kini mahu menelaah bidang sains lautan, undang-undang sekitaran dan pemuliharaan lautan pada peringkat ijazah kelak. Ketika ditemui baru-baru ini, Encik Iliya, 20 tahun, yang merupakan penerima Biasiswa Akuarium S.E.A hasil kecemerlangan dalam pengajiannya di RP, berkata: “Pilihan kursus yang dibuat datang secara semula jadi. Kami seisi keluarga juga terdorong mengambil lesen menyelam kerana ingin dekat dengan hidupan laut dan meninjau khazanah di dasar lautan. “Tentunya yang paling saya gemari ialah peluang belajar tentang teknik ternakan ikan dan cara memastikan penakatan ikan tersebut. “Lebih gembira lagi apabila saya dapat menjalani program bekerja sambil belajar di Akuarium S.E.A
kerana selama lima bulan, saya didedahkan kepada pelbagai tugas, daripada menguji mutu air, membantu doktor haiwan, menguji najis ikan lumba-lumba dan menjaganya serta menyiapkan makanan ikan.” Kunjungan ke beberapa ladang ternakan ikan di Singapura juga memberinya pengetahuan tentang peranan ladang tersebut dalam menyelamatkan lautan. Buat masa ini, sambil menanti masa menjalani Perkhidmatan Negara, Encik Iliya bekerja sambilan di Akuarium S.E.A. Tugas hariannya adalah membersihkan tangki dan menyiapkan makanan buat hidupan yang terpelihara di situ. Menurutnya, kesedaran tentang kepentingan memulihara lautan masih kurang di Singapura. Ramai sibuk bercerita tentang mengitar semula barangan tetapi belum banyak yang diusahakan dalam menjaga hidupan laut agar tidak pupus, ujarnya. “Meskipun saya juga meminati bidang teater bahkan terlibat dalam beberapa acara pentas di dalam dan luar RP, saya sudah pun memikirkan masa depan. Bidang pemuliharaan lautan tumpuan saya. Teater dianggap sebagai hobi. “Lautan biru kita itu indah. Begitu juga dengan hidupannya. Saya berharap dapat menyelami lagi bermacam usaha menyelamatkan lautan dan hidupan laut. Kerja-kerja mendidik anak muda kita tentangnya juga perlu dirancakkan,” katanya.
Diving into mission to save marine life RP student Iliya Izzudin Jalil first fell in love with marine life and conservation during a primary school trip to Underwater World Singapore. When he learned about RP’s Diploma in Marine Science and Aquaculture, it became a natural choice for him to enrol in this course. While studying at RP, Iliya received the
Mr Tnay Teng Long says ITE gave him the skills and confidence to pursue his interests. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
S.E.A. Aquarium scholarship and interned at the S.E.A. Aquarium, where he was exposed to a variety of tasks, such as testing water quality, assisting veterinarians and preparing food for marine creatures. He received his diploma at RP’s graduation ceremony in 2017 and plans to further his studies in environmental law or embark on a conservation-related course.
By AMELIA TENG
Mr Tnay Teng Long graduated in May from the Republic Polytechnic (RP), but he still returns to school weekly to help tutor his juniors. The 29-year-old graduated this year as RP’s most outstanding student from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.81 out of 4. But he had to overcome setbacks such as failing his English O-level paper and retaking it, and dropping out of two polytechnics at different times. Mr Tnay is now working as an IT operations executive as part of the Earn and Learn Programme in cyber security, offered by Singapore Polytechnic (SP). “If not for ITE, it could have been a different story for me... ITE gave me the foundational skills and confidence to further my interests and learn how to socialise,” said Mr Tnay, whose mother is a factory worker and late father was self-employed. He has two older sisters. Fitting in was a problem when he had his first taste of poly life in 2006. He said: “In secondary school, you mostly stick to a class so you’re familiar with people. But in poly, you have to mix with a wider group of people.” He left RP after three to four months. He decided to “give ITE a shot” the next year, and did well in his higher Nitec in information technology with a GPA of 3.6. After national service, he enrolled in SP to study aerospace electronic engineering but did badly in exams, so he left after a few months. He decided to go back to RP to take up a course he was interested in: business information systems. Ms Mary Yeo, who taught Mr Tnay, said: “He’s a gem – and very mature, self-driven, interested to pick up new skills and share knowledge. His life experiences in education and national service helped him grow in maturity.”
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AC H I E V I N G SUC C E S S Pertandingan Kemahiran 2017 di Abu Dhabi
Pelajar Poly Republic wakili S’pura dalam peraduan masak 15 August 2017 | Berita Harian
By AINUN MARDHIAH MOHSIN
MINAT Encik Muhammad Danial Suboh dalam memasak bermula sewaktu beliau berumur 15 tahun. Ada kalanya, beliau menolong ibunya memasak di dapur, selain beliau sering menonton rancangan memasak di televisyen. Tetapi, pelajar Politeknik Republic itu tidak menjangka bahawa satu hari kelak, beliau akan mewakili Singapura dalam pertandingan memasak. Namun, itulah yang berlaku – Oktober ini beliau akan mewakili Singapura dalam kategori memasak dalam pertandingan WorldSkills International 2017 di Abu Dhabi. Pertandingan WorldSkills International diadakan dua tahun sekali. Ia acara pendidikan vokasional terbesar dan mempamerkan kecemerlangan kemahiran seluruh dunia yang mencerminkan industri global. “Saya rasa berbesar hati dan tidak sabar mewakili Singapura buat pertama kali. Saya berharap dapat membanggakan Singapura kerana sejak kebelakangan ini, industri masakan Singapura berada pada prestasi yang baik dan saya harap saya dapat menyambungkan prestasi baik ini,” kata Encik Muhammad Danial, 20 tahun, yang memulakan persiapan bagi pertandingan itu September tahun lalu. Menurut Encik Muhammad Danial, sebelum mengambil peperiksaan GCE ‘O’ empat tahun lalu, beliau tidak pasti bidang yang ingin didalaminya. Selepas peperiksaan itu pada 2014, beliau memasuki Politeknik Republic dan mengikuti kursus diploma bidang restoran dan operasi kulinari (DRCO). Tahun lalu, beliau dipilih Politeknik Republic bagi menyertai pertandingan WorldSkills Singapore 2016 dalam kategori memasak.
Peserta dalam pertandingan tersebut terdiri daripada beberapa institusi yang mempunyai kursus bidang memasak, seperti Politeknik Temasek, Politeknik Nanyang, Politeknik Republic, Institut Pendidikan Teknikal (ITE) dan Pusat Pendidikan Hotel dan Pelancongan Singapura (Shatec). Bagi persediaan pertandingan WorldSkills Singapore 2016, beliau berlatih selama tujuh bulan. Dalam pertandingan itu, Encik Muhammad Danial menghasilkan satu resepi cendawan bakar yang dimasak dengan daging lembu bersama dengan keledek dan sayur-sayuran. Resepi yang dihasilkan beliau itu dimasukkan ke dalam buku masak edisi terhad Great Food, Great Health: 25 Recipes for Happy Living (Makanan Hebat, Kesihatan Hebat: 25 Resipi bagi Kehidupan Gembira) yang diberi kepada tetamu bagi acara hari industri Sekolah Hospitaliti (SOH) di Politeknik Republic pada 11 Ogos lalu. “Bagi pertandingan memasak, juri melihat bukan pada hasil masakan sahaja, bahkan plating, iaitu susunan dan dan stail makanan yang diletak pada pinggan, cara memotong bahan-bahan, tekstur makanan. “Selain itu, mereka melihat cara kita menyusun bahan-bahan, peraturan menjaga kebersihan dan kebersihan kawasan memasak,” kata beliau. Menurut Encik Muhammad Danial, segala kerja keras yang diusahakan dalam tempoh latihan berbaloi. Beliau menang tempat pertama, sekali gus terpilih mewakili Singapura dalam pertandingan World- Skills International 2017 di Abu Dhabi. “Saya berasa terkejut dan tidak sangka memenangi tempat pertama bagi peraduan tersebut,” katanya. smohsin@sph.com.sg
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BERBESAR HATI: Encik Muhammad Danial Suboh ingin membanggakan Singapura dalam pertandingan di WorldSkills International 2017 di Abu Dhabi. FOTO: IQBAL FAIZAL
Republic Polytechnic alumni to represent Singapore in cooking competition In 2016, Muhammad Danial Suboh, 20, was selected by RP to participate in the cooking category for WorldSkills Singapore 2016, and competed against students from other Institutes of Higher Learning. In preparation for the competition, he trained for seven months and emerged champion. A recent graduate from RP's Diploma in Restaurant and Culinary Operations (DRCO), Danial would be representing Singapore in the cooking category for the 44th Worldskills Competition 2017 in Abu Dhabi. Danial’s award-winning recipe is also included in RP’s cookbook, “Great Food, Great Health: 25 Recipes for Happy Living”. Afternote: Danial achieved a medallion of excellence in the cooking category of WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017.
AC H I E V I N G SUC C E S S
Swee Say: Unemployment could rise in future due to shortage of skills, not jobs
3 May 2017 | The Straits Times
By WINNIE TAN
Unemployment could rise in the future, not because of the shortage of jobs, but the shortage of skills, said Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say yesterday at a graduation ceremony for Republic Polytechnic (RP) students. As intelligent technology continues to reshape industries here and globally, the Singapore Government will continue to invest in training and retraining so that skills match changing jobs. But people have to play their part as well, said Mr Lim as he urged graduates to look at technology as a job creator, not competitor, in a future where jobs will come from industries such as data analytics, cyber security and robotics engineering.
Following a May Day address in which he warned that unemployment could rise further, Mr Lim said that in the process of jobs-oftoday disappearing and jobs-of-tomorrow being created, there would be a major redistribution of jobs across the globe, with some countries experiencing net job gains and others, net losses. “For Singapore, our choice is clear,” said Mr Lim. “We want to be among the winners, not losers.” Institutions like RP help by not simply transferring knowledge, but also exposing students to real-work environments, he said.
Singapore’s fifth polytechnic will see 4,752 students graduating from its Pre-Employment Training (PET) for post-secondary students, and Continuing Education and Training (CET) for adult learners.
Foundation Programme (PFP) – both of which produced top performers.
The programmes align with the Government’s commitment to help Singaporeans learn new skills and develop new careers.
The school’s valedictorian, Ms Kristina Manik, 19, is a graduate of the DHRMP course, while Mr Clive Chia Chun, 21, the recipient of the Lee Kuan Yew Award for Mathematics and Science, finished the PFP with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
Doing well in the workforce now is no longer dependent only on competence and capability, but on passion and adaptability as well, said Mr Lim.
Teaching students to bridge their ideas in theory and practice helps them become adaptable, said Ms Beatrice Tan, programme chair of the DHRMP course.
Yesterday’s ceremony included the pioneer cohorts of two programmes – the Diploma in Human Resource Management with Psychology (DHRMP) and the Polytechnic
“Employment is based on someone’s ability to solve problems. Technology can become outdated, but the ability to solve problems will always be required.”
EMBRACING THE FUTURE
For Singapore, our choice is clear. We want to be among the winners, not losers.
Mr Clive Chia Chun receiving the Lee Kuan Yew Award for Mathematics and Science from Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say at Republic Polytechnic. He was accompanied by his grandmother Goh Hiong Guat, 66, and mother Lilin Ng, 47. With them is Mr David Wong, chairman of the board of governors of Republic Polytechnic. Mr Chia was part of the pioneer cohort of the Polytechnic Foundation Programme and finished the programme with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
MANPOWER MINISTER LIM SWEE SAY, on the redistribution of jobs across the globe, with some countries experiencing net job gains and others, net losses.
Internship helps polytechnic grad land full-time job Only a week after her final exams, Ms Ashiviny Rajendran, 19, began working full time at aAdvantage Consulting Group. But she already had a foot in the door, having worked there for 20 weeks as a management intern while she was a student. “They asked if I would consider returning full time,” said the Republic Polytechnic (RP) graduate, who went through four rounds of interviews to get the job. Republic Polytechnic graduates Ashiviny Rajendran (left) and Kristina Manik are both part of the pioneer batch from RP’s Diploma in Human Resource Management with Psychology programme. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Ms Rajendran is among the pioneer graduates of RP’s Diploma in Human Resource Management with Psychology (DHRMP) programme.
As an intern, she said, she helped guide the company in changing its core values, and trained its employees in working towards those values as well.
The school’s valedictorian, Ms Kristina Manik, 19, who also graduated from the DHRMP course, agreed there was only so much that teachers can impart.
Now, she will continue to further her studies even while she works, through the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme.
“We have to remain adaptable. Look at the problem you have, see it positively, take one step back and learn again,” said Ms Manik, who, through short internships in her threeyear course, learnt to interact with clients, interview employees and even help launch a regional human resource project with a multinational corporation.
“We want to inculcate the mindset that learning doesn’t stop, and develop discipline through allowing them to juggle multiple roles,” said her lecturer and programme chair of the DHRMP course, Ms Beatrice Tan.
winniet@sph.com.sg aAdvantage Consulting Group is sponsoring her studies towards a Specialist Diploma in Human Capital Management.
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AC H I E V I N G SUC C E S S
Disleksia diatasi hasil dorongan keluarga, cita-cita dan muzik By HARYANI ISMAIL
DISEBABKAN masalah pembelajaran disleksia, Encik Muhammad Ridznain Samsuri sering menduga kesabaran ibu bapa, abang dan gurunya di sekolah rendah. Beliau payah membaca, menghadam maklumat dan meluahkan perasaan kepada orang sekeliling. Kerana komunikasi hambar disebabkan orang payah memahami keperluannya, sering timbul ledakan kemarahan, rasa bingit dan kurang yakin diri. Encik Ridznain, kini 24 tahun, malah pernah menumbuk pintu kaca kerana payah mengawal kemarahan yang meluap-luap.
Bagaimanapun, berkat seorang abang tegas, mentelah bertugas sebagai guru disiplin, dan ibu yang berlembut dengan ragam kompleksnya, beliau kembali menghargai diri dan membangunkan cita-cita tinggi. Baru-baru ini, Encik Ridznain lulus kursus diploma pengurusan rantaian bekalan daripada Politeknik Republic (RP) selepas mengharungi perjalanan panjang memburu ilmu. Beliau daripada aliran Normal (Teknikal) tetapi dipindahkan ke aliran Normal (Akademik) hasil peningkatan dalam pelajaran dan kemudian memasuki Institut Pendidikan Teknikal (ITE), mengikuti kursus teknologi wayarles.
Encik Ridznain juga mendapat dorongan daripada bakatnya mencipta lagu dan menulis lirik. Beliau berkarya di dalam bilik tidurnya, yang dijadikan studio muzik. Tiga bulan lalu, sebuah lagu ciptaannya, Kisah Aku Dan Dia, buat penyanyi tempatan Mawar Berduri, dengan penampilan penggiat hip hop Mont Berg, mula diudarakan di radio. “Banyak kekecewaan telah saya lalui kerana diuji oleh disleksia. Saya dibuli di sekolah dan selanjutnya menjadi pelajar kaki memberontak. Pada awalnya, ibu bapa saya tak tahu masalah saya yang payah membaca dan menghafal pelajaran. “Mujurlah, ibu saya banyak bersabar dengan percakapan saya yang tidak lancar. Saya
14 May 2017 | Berita Minggu
hanya dikesan mengalami disleksia sewaktu di darjah empat,” kata Encik Ridznain. Anak bongsu daripada dua adik-beradik itu menghabiskan masa enam tahun di sekolah menengah kerana satu tahun tambahan diperlukan bagi mempersiapkannya menduduki peperiksaan Sijil Am Pelajaran (GCE) peringkat ‘O’ selepas dipindahkan daripada aliran Normal (Teknikal). “Kerana keputusan GCE ‘O’ saya yang tidak memuaskan, permohonan saya unutk mengikuti kursus seni sonik (bunyian) di RP, yang lebih sejajar dengan minat saya, ditolak. “Abang saya menasihati saya agar mengambil kursus rantaian bekalan yang pernah diikutinya kerana yakin saya mampu memahaminya dan akan jadi lebih tersusun dalam rutin harian. “Memang tak mudah. Saya selalu sukar memahami apa yang dibincangkan dalam kumpulan projek. Nak berhujah dan bentangkan penyampaian pun gagap,” ujarnya. Namun, dorongan guru dan keluarga membuatkan Encik Ridznain selesa dengan kursus itu. Kini, beliau mahu menceburi bidang logistik. “Muzik menjadi penawar kemurungan dan wadah saya meluah rasa. Kepada belia lain yang mengalami disleksia, jangan mudah putus asa dengan kelemahan anda. “Cari kekuatan anda yang akan melenyapkan segala kekurangan diri,” katanya. haryani@sph.com.sg
Overcoming dyslexia through family’s encouragement, life ambitions, and music Diagnosed with dyslexia in primary school, Muhammad Ridznain struggled with tasks that may seem simple for most – including reading, understanding subjects at school, and even expressing himself to his peers. His dyslexic condition also caused some confidence issues. With the support of his family, Ridznain recently graduated from RP with a Diploma in Supply Chain Management.
TEROKA WADAH LUAH PERASAAN: Selain menanam minat dalam bidang pengurusan rantaian bekalan, Encik Muhammad Ridznain Samsuri mencipta lagu dan menulis lirik apabila dilanda kemurungan dek masalah disleksia. FOTO: IZWANDI AZMAN
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As he looks forward to enter the logistics industry, Ridznain will also encourage other dyslexic youths to find strengths to help them overcome their shortcomings.
AC H I E V I N G SUC C E S S
Shanti’s career boost from SMU 29 March 2017 | The Straits Times
SEA Games champ is first recipient of Yip Pin Xiu Scholarship, could train in the US
National sprinter Shanti Pereira poses with Yip Pin Xiu at a reception yesterday, when she was awarded a Singapore Management University scholarship that bears the three-time Paralympic champion’s name. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN By ALVIN CHIA
Even as national sprinter Shanti Pereira begins a new phase of her life this September when she starts school at the Singapore Management University (SMU), her pursuit of glory on the running track remains a priority.
The college is famed for its athletics programme and counts two-time Olympic decathlon champion Ashton Eaton and 4x100m Olympic gold medallist English Gardner among its alumni. Shanti was excited about the prospect of studying and training in America.
The SEA Games 200m champion was named the first recipient of the university’s Yip Pin Xiu Scholarship yesterday.
“It’s a good way to enhance my track performance, so that’s a good way the school can support me,” said the Republic Polytechnic graduate, who will study accountancy.
The new bond-free bursary, launched last December, is named after Paralympic champion and SMU social sciences undergraduate Yip and is for local elite athletes.
The 20-year-old added that SMU’s flexibility in allowing student-athletes to juggle sports and studies was a boon.
It offers full waiver of tuition fees for four years and an allowance of up to $12,000 which can be used for a range of programmes, including overseas exchange courses.
“It makes me excited and I feel honoured to receive a scholarship named after Pin Xiu. I definitely want to embody the kind of spirit and (emulate her), who is both a good student and an athlete.”
It opens up the possibility for Shanti to spend at least a semester at the University of Oregon.
She will likely miss the first two weeks of her new term as she aims to retain her 200m title at the Aug 19-31 Kuala Lumpur Games. She also won a 100m bronze at the 2015 edition in Singapore.
After some indifferent performances last year, her form has picked up. She met the Games’ 100m qualifying mark (11.88sec) after she clocked 11.85sec in the heats of a New Zealand meet in January. In the final, she clocked she 11.78sec, which would have broken the national record of 11.80sec but the timing was deemed unofficial as the wind speed of 2.2 metres per second was more than the 2 metres per second allowed by the International Association of Athletics Federations. She said: “I’m having more confidence in myself now. Last year, I had one bad race and I felt like my head wasn’t in it.” She will compete in next month’s Singapore Open as part of her final preparations ahead of the biennial Games. The 25-year-old Yip, who won two gold medals at last year’s Paralympic Games, said: “It’s great that SMU is so supportive towards athletes, especially for Shanti who is aiming for greater achievements at the SEA Games and the Asian Games.” chiazya@sph.com.sg
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