incoRPorate - Inaugural issue

Published for industry partners of Republic Polytechnic

inCelebration 03 Official Opening of RP Continuing Education & Training Centre

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inFocus 07

Centre for Innovation and Enterprise

inConversation 11 Talk Shop with Seto

2010 Inaugural Issue

inReality 13 Giving Back to Community

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Editor’s Message

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t is with great anticipation that I pen this message for Republic Polytechnic’s (RP) inaugural issue of incoRPorate – a quarterly newsletter dedicated to our valued partners in the industry who have supported us in so many ways. This is a celebration of partnership between industry and academia.

Allow me to introduce you to a few interesting features of incoRPorate. The Official Opening of the Continuing Education & Training Centre is one of the recent highlights for RP. In this issue, we also catch up with Mr Seto Lok Yin, who oversees whole-ofRP effort in engaging industry.

Features

inCelebration Official Opening of the Continuing Education & Training Centre

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inPartnership Industry Partners of RP

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inNovation Innovative Technologies, Creative Applications inFocus Centre for Innovation and Enterprise inConversation Talk Shop with Seto inExchange Sharing Knowledge & Best Practices inReality Giving Back to Community inProfile Man of Material

Under inFocus, the spotlight is on RP Centre for Innovation and Enterprise where we showcase its research capabilities and some of the industry projects that it has successfully undertaken. inPartnership and inExchange present some of the collaboration with our partners.

As RP’s editorial team put the brand new publication together, we are also in the midst of organising the first RP Partners Appreciation Nite on 29 October 2010. We hope these modest gestures will resonate loudly to show our deep appreciation to our partners and look forward to building stronger, lasting relationships.

With the festivities around the corner, may I take this opportunity to wish you blessed holidays as we herald a fruitful new year.

Enjoy the issue and happy reading.

Ronald Wong

www.rp.sg

Adviser Seto Lok Yin Editor-in-Chief Ronald Wong Editors Josephine Teo • Joey Tang Contributors Desiree Koh • Edmund Chan • Hong Ling Tim • Julian Wong • Mandy Lin • Michelle Siow • Pandiyan • Tio Wee Leng Design Charles Chong We welcome inputs from our readers. If you have an article or suggestion to improve incoRPorate, please email help_occ@rp.sg incoRPorate is published by the Office of Corporate Communications, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Information is correct at time of printing.

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inCelebration

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Opening of RP Continuing Education and Training Centre The Republic Polytechnic’s (RP) Continuing Education and Training (CET) Centre was officially opened on 21 September 2010 by Mr Richard Seow, Chairman of RP Board of Governors.

Productivity will be a key component to Singapore staying competitive in the global market place. Whether to attract new investment onshore or to grow our own champions domestically – a productive workforce will be an essential edge.

– Mr Richard Seow Chairman, Board of Governors, Republic Polytechnic

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itnessed by industry partners from People’s Association, NTUC Learning Hub (LHUB) and the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME), the official opening of RP CET Centre was timely with the increased focus on expanding CET options by the Ministry of Manpower and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency.

(L-R): RP Principal/CEO Mr Yeo Li Pheow, Chairman of RP Board of Governors Mr Richard Seow, and Director of RP Centre for Professional Development Mr Tan Huan Peow officiating the opening.

CEO of ASME Mr Bryan Teh (L) and Mr Yeo (R) Mr Yeo (R) presenting a token of exchanging the signed MOU. appreciation to CEO of NTUC LearningHub Mr Zee Yoong Kang (L).

Mr Yeo (R) presenting a token of appreciation to CED of People’s Association Mr Yam Ah Mee (L).

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RP CET Centre aims to provide a comprehensive and conducive facility, and offer relevant and high quality skills-upgrading programmes to add value to the community of adult learners and professionals.

In conjunction with the opening, RP also signed two Memoranda of Understanding and one Collaboration Agreement with ASME, LHUB and the National Community Leadership Institute (NACLi) respectively. RP and NACLi will collaborate to offer certificates in Community Development, Community Leadership and Advanced Community Leadership to grassroots leaders. These certificates will equip grassroots leaders with skills to better understand and manage diversity in the community, and implement measures to promote active citizenry, racial harmony and community bonding.

Together with LHUB, RP will launch the first WSQ programme for Higher Certificate in Pharmacy Support to train pharmacy and healthcare assistants. The tie-up with ASME will give higher accessibility to member companies of ASME to RP CET programmes in various areas such as productivity, understanding market insights and supply chain management.

“RP has been training adult learners since 2005. We believe in providing our participants with comprehensive options, and by pooling resources with our industry partners, we ensure that our training would be current and relevant for employment,” says Mr Yeo Li Pheow, Principal/CEO of RP. The launch of RP CET Centre marked an important milestone and signified RP‘s commitment to lifelong learning.

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inPartnership Republic Polytechnic (RP) actively forges links with the industry. In 2010, industry collaborations in the form of research, internships, scholarships and sponsorships have increased significantly. The endorsements by the industry is testimony of RP’s capabilities in solving real business problems and developing quality students for the marketplace.

IBM & RP to groom mainframe professionals in ASEAN

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BM and RP signed an agreement on 27 July 2010 that makes RP the first institution in Singapore as IBM’s Authorised Training Partner to offer professional certification and training in mainframe technology in ASEAN. Under this agreement, RP staff will be trained and certified by IBM to conduct mainframe courses to industry professionals.

RP Principal/CEO Mr Yeo Li Pheow (L) and Ms Phong Taylor (R).

This initiative is an extension of partnership between IBM and RP, which together in 2006 had set up a RP Enterprise Computing Learning Centre that trains students on IBM System Z mainframe.

We are pleased at this continued partnership with RP in creating new talent and local expertise in mainframe technology for our increasingly globalised economy.

– Ms Phong Taylor, Director of Systems & Technology Group, IBM ASEAN

Eu Yan Sang Herbal Tea Story

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ou may have seen the newly-launched Eu Yan Sang Herbal Tea at its stores. These drinks are the brainchild of RP School of Applied Science (SAS) and Eu Yan Sang Singapore (EYSS).

“We were approached by EYSS in August last year to partner them in developing herbal drinks for a new market. Besides experimenting with brewing techniques, we also conducted sensory surveys before selecting the three flavours to be launched in the market,” says Dr Michelle Siow, Assistant Director (Administration) of SAS and adviser to the development team.

The newly-launched herbal tea in 3 flavours: Rose-roselle, Plum-hawthorn and Luohanguo-dates.

From product formulation and development led by SAS, to market research and design of bottle labels by the Centre for Innovation and Enterprise, RP staff and students jointly contributed to the successful commercialisation of the Eu Yan Sang ready-to-drink herbal tea.

Working with the academic staff and students of Republic Polytechnic for our Ready-to-Drink herbal tea project was an enriching experience.

– Mr Vincent Lim, Managing Director, Eu Yan Sang Singapore

IET Students’ Chapter in RP

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he collaboration between Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Singapore and RP School of Engineering was formalised on 23 September 2010. With the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC), RP becomes the first polytechnic to set up the IET students’ chapter.

Chairman of IET Singapore Mr Michael Wan (L) and Director of RP School of Engineering Dr Wang Jianguo (R).

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The signing was held in the presence of Mr Nigel Fine, the Chief Executive of IET.

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Marina Bay Sands Scholarships

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arina Bay Sands (MBS) and RP formalised their partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 9 September 2010. Under the MOU, MBS will provide 10 scholarships and internship opportunities for outstanding RP hospitality students.

RP School of Hospitality will also be working with MBS in joint research and exchange programmes to further enhance existing curriculum.

RP’s link with MBS started during the preview and grand opening of the integrated resort, whereby 160 RP students were deployed as Service Ambassadors.

Image courtesy of Marina Bay Sands.

The potential for the students from Republic Polytechnic is great and we are here to support and cultivate their passion for the hospitality industry.

– Mr Thomas Arasi, President and CEO, Marina Bay Sands

Raising Standards in Spa & Wellness Industry

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he Spa and Wellness Association of Singapore (SWAS) introduced an insurance scheme in July 2010 to restore the level of confidence in the spa and wellness industry. In a bid to investigate how this scheme fares, SWAS collaborated with RP School of Hospitality to conduct a study titled “An Exploratory Study on Consumers’ Response to the Spa, Beauty and Wellness Warranty Insurance Plan in Singapore”. The study revealed interesting findings which could help SWAS form a basis to raise the overall standards of the industry.

Building on the partnership, SWAS and RP signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 14 September to provide students from School of Hospitality with internship opportunities and additional industry exposure to ensure they are well placed for management roles in the industry. Talks of further collaborative research are also underway.

RP is keen to ensure that standards are in place across the industry. As such, we train our students to meet or even exceed the expectation of the industry.

– Mr Albert Toh, Director, School of Hospitality, Republic Polytechnic

New Partnership for a New Diploma

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reative Eateries and RP School of Hospitality signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 21 July 2010. Creative Eateries, the managing company of popular restaurants in Singapore such as Siam Kitchen, Al Dente Trattoria, Shabuya and Hot Stones, will be providing RP hospitality students academic scholarships, book prize awards, and industry attachment opportunities for both academic staff and students.

Director of RP School of Hospitality Mr Albert Toh (L) and Director of Creative Eateries Mr Anthony Wong (R).

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The partnership with Creative Eateries is testament to the quality of RP’s robust and industry-relevant curriculum, in particular the new Diploma in Restaurant and Culinary Operations.

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inNovation Everyday innovative ideas and technologies are aplenty. The challenge is turning these ideas into workable prototypes and bringing them to life through commercialisation.

On the Right Track

RF wireless prototype

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ommonly-used proximity sensing systems like the Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking system and other sensing systems using Radio Frequency (RF) have their limitations. Therefore, Republic Polytechnic’s (RP) School of Engineering has developed a wireless solution.

By making proper use and configuration of wireless network topologies, RP has created a proximity sensing system that can track up to 24 moving objects/people indoors and outdoors.

RP identified and collaborated with a childcare centre to conduct trials of their system. The trials had proven to be successful and reduced man-hour cost for the childcare centre.

The principal investigator of this project, Hong Ling Tim, says, “We have completed the first batch of prototypes. We are enhancing the display and adding more features to the system such as checking current status, mute alarm etc.”

Children wearing the prototypes, participating in the trial.

The project has aroused interest from the industry. A leading solutions provider is in the midst of talks with RP to conduct a market survey using the prototypes.

Green Screen Technology

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he new Marina Bay Sands (MBS) SkyPark is the latest and highest attraction in Singapore. Perched some 200 metres in the air, the observation deck presents a panoramic view of the island.

However due to weather conditions, the observation deck needs to be closed sometimes to the public. In those situations, in order not to disappoint visitors, MBS still hopes to let the visitors take a picture of themselves with the background of the scenery.

Together with AV8 Media (a local digital content systems integrator), students from RP School of Information & Communications Technology came up with a green-screen photo studio system that is able to superimpose objects onto a desired backdrop without actually needing a physical green screen.

RP students testing out their system at MBS photo studio.

So pleased with the solution, MBS set up the photo studio at two locations, one at the lobby area and another on the 57th floor. What started as a finalyear project for the RP students has become a permanent feature at the integrated resort.

NDP OnTheGo

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or those who could not be at the Padang at this year’s National Day Parade (NDP), they might have watched it on their iPhones or Android phones using the NDP OnTheGo application – a first for the NDP. The app was jointly developed by RP staff Morgan Heijdemann, Rahim Low and Friso Kluit from the School of Information & Communications Technology and the NDP team. The unique augmented reality (AR) feature of the app allows users to find out more about a parade item just by pointing their phone cameras at it.

It took the trio about four months to complete the project, and feedback from some of the 2,000 users has largely been positive.

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inFocus

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This issue takes a look at how market research can make or break a business. In the world where consumers are spoilt with choices, knowing what customers want is vital for the success, or even, survival.

Tapping into Consumer Insights

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n the ongoing battle for customers, it is critical for companies, from multinationals to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to remain up to date with what the market wants and adjust their product or service offerings to remain competitive.

Market research therefore plays a critical role in staying informed, identifying new opportunities and generating fresh ideas in today’s globalised economy.

Unfortunately, market research is often overlooked by SMEs as it is perceived as a time-consuming and expensive process. SMEs typically do not have the luxury of in-house market research capabilities, and hence often rely on intuition or anecdotal sources of market information for decision-making. This is risky. “In this dynamic environment, relying on trial and error to figure out what works and doesn’t work in the market raises the question of how much time can these companies spend on getting it right and how many mistakes can they afford to make,” explains Ms Tio Wee Leng, Senior Manager at Republic Polytechnic’s (RP) Centre for Innovation and Enterprise (CIE).

The value of market research On 29 July 2010, RP hosted about 135 industry players to discuss the importance of market research and how it can give companies insights that lead to competitive advantage at an event titled “Business Growth Through Great Customer Insights”.

The event’s keynote speaker, Mr Viswa Sadasivan, Nominated Member of Parliament and CEO of communications consultancy Strategic Moves, spoke passionately about the importance of market research. “To grow your business, you need to understand your company’s strengths and weaknesses, your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses and your customers’ needs and preferences. Consumers make purchasing decisions based on what the company stands for, and market research offers a clear understanding of the company’s strengths and weaknesses.”

In his address, Mr Sadasivan also encouraged local industry players to turn to market research as a mean of determining the types of products and services that are likely to be profitable when introduced in the market. He shared the example of local ornamental fish company Qian Hu. Through research, Qian Hu learned that its customers spend 50% of their total fish-related expenditure on fish accessories. This insight prompted the company to start manufacturing and distributing fish and pet accessories, and by 2009 this business segment made up 39% of Qian Hu’s revenue.

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Nominated MP and CEO of Strategic Moves Mr Viswa Sadasivan giving the keynote address.

Consumers make purchasing decisions based on what the company stands for, and market research offers a clear understanding of the company’s strengths and weaknesses.

– Mr Viswa Sadasivan Nominated Member of Parliament and CEO of Strategic Moves

Getting started Market research offers almost limitless potential to gather data, from broad market analysis to highly detailed information about preferences, demand and perceptions.

Through CIE, RP offers customised market research designed to yield useful market intelligence to help companies, particularly SMEs, boost productivity, reduce costs and work smarter. CIE’s Market Research Laboratory has state-of-the-art facilities and makes use of advanced technologies to offer a wide range of market research services. (Find out more about CIE on the next page.)

With its extensive market research capabilities, RP hopes to bridge the gap and ensure that local SMEs not only remain relevant, but also flourish. As Mr Seto Lok Yin, Deputy Principal (Industry Services) sums up, “In the coming years, we expect to see the growing importance of SMEs to Singapore’s economy.

RP wants to be a partner for Singapore SMEs’ growth and globalisation.”

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inFocus

Market Research for SMEs made easy Part of Republic Polytechnic’s (RP) Centre for Innovation and Enterprise, the Market Research Laboratory (MR Lab) offers opportunities for businesses to conduct leading-edge market research in a controlled environment, without burning a hole in the pocket.

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quipped with state-of-the-art facilities and experienced professionals, the MR Lab allows clients to simulate, observe, record and evaluate consumer behaviour. It offers customised market research to yield fact-based market intelligence to support businesses in their strategic decisionmaking. Clients can benefit from both quantitative and qualitative research methods, and advanced physiological testing to gain in-depth consumer insights.

A focus group in action.

Activotes – electronic voting system.

An eye tracker that track responses to visual stimuli.

1. Research design, data collection and processing The MR Lab team can help clients design research studies, create questionnaires, analyse responses and conduct telephone interviews. The facilities available are: • SPSS workstations with Dimensions and CATI • Audio input-output devices • High-definition microphones 2. Focus group research The laboratory features both a comfortable living room and a corporate boardroom, allowing focus groups to be conducted in either an informal or formal setting. Observation rooms located behind one-way mirrors allow researchers and clients to observe the participants and record group discussions. Activotes (an electronic voting system) is also available for respondents.

3. Physiological testing Industry-leading physiological testing technologies enable researchers and clients to observe, quantify and interpret physiological feedback from respondents as they are exposed to stimuli such as print advertisements and websites. These advanced technologies can be found at the MR Lab: • Biopac (record physiological responses using Galvanic Skin Response, Electro-encephalogram and Electro-cardiogram) • Face reader (read, record and interpret facial expressions) • Eye tracker (track responses to visual stimuli) More information can be found at www.rp.sg/cie. In the next two pages, we take a look at two companies who have used the MR Lab services to redesign their marketing efforts.

The Biopac that can record physiological responses using Galvanic Skin Response, Electro-encephalogram and Electro-cardiogram.

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A Peek into the Teenage Mind Focus groups help Teenage magazine remain current and fresh.

We had 27,314 members on our Facebook page in June, and as of late July we have 30,795 members. That’s a 3,000-member jump in less than two months. This is what you can gain from getting customer insights.

– Mr Muhammad Mahfuz Marketing and Circulation Manager, Key Editions

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ake a look at the youth magazine section of any newsstand and you’ll find a dizzying array of magazine choices. Facing such heavy competition, magazines that want to capture the young readers must be able to speak their language, move with the latest trends and reach out to readers with hip, fresh and exciting content.

It was this challenge that led Key Editions Pte Ltd, the publisher of Teenage magazine, to approach Republic Polytechnic’s (RP) Centre for Innovation and Enterprise (CIE) for assistance in conducting market research to better understand the magazine’s target audience. With input from Key Editions, market research specialists at CIE designed a focus group study and find out what teenagers look for in a magazine.

Conducted at CIE’s Market Research Laboratory, the focus groups brought together small groups of teenagers to speak candidly about their likes and dislikes regarding magazines that are catered for them. Specifically, the research provided Key Editions with insights into the teens’ purchasing and reading habits, content preferences, perception regarding advertisements, and thoughts on the type of events the magazine should host in future.

What are they thinking?

The focus group sessions revealed many interesting insights into how readers think about Teenage magazine. Interestingly, covers featuring images or text considered too sexy or scandalous have an adverse effect on sales, as teenagers do not want to feel self-conscious while reading the magazine in public or in front of their parents. On the other hand, the use of images on the cover to promote free posters inside the magazine results in a significant positive impact on teens’ purchasing decisions.

“We knew some teenagers would buy the magazines for posters, but we didn’t know how strong the demand was,” says Mr Muhammad Mahfuz, Marketing and Circulation Manager at Key Editions. Armed with these insights, Key Editions made changes to Teenage covers such as ensuring that thumbnail images of free posters are displayed prominently near the magazine’s top left corner. Other ideas gleaned from the focus groups were applied in subsequent Teenage’s events, overhaul of its website and Facebook page.

Image courtesy of Key Editions Pte Ltd.

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“Teenage started in 1988 and has been around for 22 years, and in that time a lot of things have changed. The reason why we’re still around and we’re the most well-read teenage magazine in Singapore is that we are always putting our ears to the ground and trying to listen to what teenagers are saying so we can give them what they want,” explains Mr Mahfuz.

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inFocus

A Focus on Loyalty Market research helps the Restaurant Association of Singapore develop a recipe for success.

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midst heavy competition and high consumer expectations, companies from coffee shops to clothing boutiques are rolling out loyalty programmes aimed at building a loyal customer base. Unfortunately, some businesses are overly eager when starting a loyalty card programme and do not take the time to truly understand the objectives and requirements. This is where market research comes in.

In 2009, the Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS) – an organisation that promotes cooperation among its more than 280 member restaurants and chains, making it the largest representative body for food and beverage establishments in Singapore – was keen to introduce a loyalty dining card programme for its member restaurants. However, as many members had their own existing card programmes, RAS wanted to hear their thoughts on a new dining card programme and identify potential conflicts with existing card programmes.

With these objectives in mind, RAS approached Republic Polytechnic’s (RP) Centre for Innovation and Enterprise (CIE) to conduct a focus group study to explore the possibilities of a loyalty card for member restaurants.

CIE hosted four focus groups at its Market Research Laboratory, with a facilitator to guide the discussion. Participant feedback was analysed by researchers behind a one-way mirror, and audio and video recordings of each session were captured for future reference.

Drawing upon the findings of the study, RAS gained a deeper understanding of its members’ key objectives and concerns regarding the loyalty card programme. RAS decided to start off with a prepaid card during the Great Singapore Feast 2010 promotion. The GSF2010 card - which will replace the physical dining vouchers used during the Great Singapore Feast 2009 - will allow member restaurants to collect crucial information about the demographics and spending patterns of their customers, which can then be used to enable targeted advertising.

Conscious of the focus group’s feedback about poorly-planned loyalty programmes that end up failing, Mr Sim Khee Lian, former Chief Executive of RAS, notes that the research findings played an important role in determining RAS’ approach to developing its own programme. “We took it a little step forward so that we can test this idea of whether a loyalty card will stick.”

The market research helped RAS to realise what the member restaurants want: a loyalty card rather than a discount card, to benefit from the collective strength of RAS and not to lose their own unique identity.

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inConversation

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Talk Shop with Seto After spending 20 years promoting investment and industry at Economic Development Board (EDB), National Science & Technology Board (NSTB) and Media Development Authority (MDA), Seto Lok Yin joined Republic Polytechnic (RP) as Deputy Principal (Industry Services) last year with a specific mission – to develop strong links with industry partners for RP. incoRPorate catches up with Seto for a chat.

The vision is for RP to be the ‘GO TO’ institution for companies looking for partners in their projects, knowledge exchange or various forms of collaboration.

Q: Hello Seto, how was the past one year for you in RP? A: Since joining RP in December 2009, I have enjoyed every moment here. We

have a beautiful campus and state-of-the-art facilities. Enthusiastic and friendly colleagues, vibrant and passionate students, they have made my work here very enjoyable.

Q: What is your role in RP? A: My role is to lead and support RP colleagues to develop collaborative

relationships with industry partners and other stakeholders.

Q: Can you share with us what are some of your plans for RP’s industry programme?

A: The first order of business is to ensure all our Year 3 students get a chance

to do a semester worth of internship with industry. I would love to see us engaging companies to work on projects undertaken by our students, our staff and our Technology Development Centres (TDC).

I would also like to see our TDCs playing a very active role as competency centres that industry will turn to for expert advice and solutions. The vision is for RP to be the ‘GO TO’ institution for companies looking for partners in their projects, knowledge exchange or various forms of collaboration.

Q: What is your management style?

A: It is important to have different styles for different situations. Most of the

time I operate in a consultative mode and I am open to ideas. I encourage colleagues to work as one team. I believe in sharing the big picture so that colleagues can understand why we are doing what we are doing.

Q: Finally, list 3 things that you would like the industry to know about RP. A: First, RP students or graduates have the attributes companies are looking

for in employees. For instance, problem-solving skills, people skills, and the right attitude. Next, RP staff have the capabilities to help companies solve their technical and operational problems. Last but not least, RP is a reputable institution and a worthy collaborative partner.

About Seto Lok Yin

Prior to joining RP, Seto was the Assistant CEO of MDA. He led the then newly-formed MDA in the development of the Media21 Plan. During his stint in EDB, Seto was involved in developing the Business Services sectors.

He was assigned to EDB’s Hong Kong office to promote inward investments, and was also appointed as the Economics Commissioner of the Singapore Consulate-General in Hong Kong to promote economic cooperation. A recipient of the Public Administration Silver Medal, Seto holds a Master of Arts (Economics) from the University of Michigan and has completed the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.

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inExchange Seminars and workshops are often excellent platforms for the exchange of ideas and information.

Republic Polytechnic (RP) regularly organises such events to bring industry players and academia together with the aim of working together to achieve win-win synergies.

Greening the Retail Industry

In the world of retailing today, it is no longer one company competing against another company, but rather an entire supply chain competing against other supply chains.

– Mr Png Cheong Boon Chief Executive, SPRING Singapore

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nvironmental sustainability is an emerging trend in the fashion retail industry. The Green Fashion Retail Logistics Seminar was organised to address this growing interest.

Supported by SPRING Singapore, RP and the Textile and Fashion Federation (TaFf ) organised the Green Fashion Retail Logistics Seminar on 30 June 2010. Graced by the Chief Executive of SPRING Singapore, Mr Png Cheong Boon, the seminar was the result of a tripartite arrangement that aims to bring together experts to share best practices in the processes, technology and green trends for the fashion retail industry.

RP School of Engineering has been active in collaborating with the retail industry to develop technology that helps suppliers reduce waste and resources so as to operate more efficiently.

For instance, RP is developing the interactive multimedia glass display system that provides product bundling and popularity analysis. Such information can be used by retailers to better forecast inventory and price their products competitively.

Franson International, distributor of the popular Black Hammer brand of shoes is also one of the adopters of RP’s recommended supply chain processes and system.

Guest-of-Honour Mr Png Cheong Boon addressing the participants.

Ms Elim Chew from 77th Street was one of the keynote speakers at the seminar.

The seminar recorded more than 200 participants and was supported by established organisations in the industry, such as NTUC FairPrice Co-operative, Singapore Logistics Association, DHL, Bodynits International and 77th Street.

Pharma industry looks at HME Technology

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joint seminar was held on 9 June 2010 by RP, BASF and Thermo Fisher Scientifc to address challenges in improving bio-availability and stability of drug formulations.

Themed “ExactMelt Your Active”, the two-day event drew close to 100 participants from various countries. During the seminar, the participants were introduced to what HME (Hot Melt Extrusion) technology is about and how it can help in pharmaceutical processing, as well as the benefits and challenges that HME would bring.

Invited speaker Professor Steve Hoag from University of Maryland shared about Excipients for HME.

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Practical demonstration of the tablet compression process.

In addition, RP School of Applied Science conducted a laboratory tour, showcasing the research capabilities of the school. Four different stations ranging from Pre-formulation Screening, Introduction to HME technology, Powder to Tablet and Characterisation processes were set up to help participants understand the drug formulation process.

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inReality

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Internships are the best way to immerse students into the ‘real’ working life. Whether one is a young rookie or a seasoned working adult, applying theories to hands-on learning is always a whole new experience.

Giving back to community

Collin led the Chaoyang team to overall 2nd position during the Inaugural National Special Schools Championship.

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ollin Low, 3rd year student in Republic Polytechnic’s (RP) School of Sports, Health & Leisure, shares his experience on his recent Industry Immersion Programme.

For Collin, having served in the army for 21 years, ‘going back to

school’ was a very refreshing idea. So when he was presented with the “CLASS Award” (Continuous Learning Academic Study Scheme), an academic study award sponsored by the Singapore Ministry of Defence for outstanding serviceman, he was more than prepared to shelf his rifle and join the student population.

“I chose Republic Poly because I was interested in the Diploma in Sports & Exercise Sciences. Coming from the army, I thought this course will be relevant and I can apply what I have learnt when I go back to camp to better serve the organisation,” recalls Collin.

Indeed, even before Collin returns to the army, he has already started his contribution back to the community by choosing Chaoyang School (a school for children with special needs) as his attachment organisation for the Industry Immersion Programme.

After conducting a research on Chaoyang students’ BMI indexes, Collin started a Trim and Fit programme for the obese children who comprised more than 30% of the student population. To his surprise, there were also a significant group of children who were malnourished. Hence he requested the school to provide special breakfast and recess meals for this group of students. He personally created the menus, making sure they are nutritional and wholesome.

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Collin (in red shirt) cheering everyone on!

Collin is very passionate about making his programme work for the students and seeing it till the end to ensure the desired outcomes are reached. He has made a difference in the lives of our students.

– Mrs Sulekha Suresh Nair Senior Teacher and Supervisor of Collin, Chaoyang School

Often a decisive factor for winning in sports is the level of morale in players. “I feel it’s important for these students to be zealous and enthusiastic about the things they do. I wanted to build a rapport with them by being their friend, and not a teacher or an authoritative figure,” says Collin. With that mentality, he left behind his status of a Warrant Officer and engaged the students at their level.

Collin’s efforts paid off when students in the Trim and Fit programme managed to shed off at least 1 kg after just a month into the programme. What is more heartening is that the students continue to do their exercises even without being asked to do so and some even got their friends to join in. The students are also more participative and expressive in their other activities.

“What I have learnt from this attachment is that I see life in a different light. Every individual commands respect, even the little kids. When you are willing to go down to their level, you will discover a lot more about them. I will definitely remember this lesson and try to achieve the same with my servicemen in the future,” Collin shares.

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inProfile

Man of Material A material engineer by training, why is Willy Tan working with worms? incoRPorate finds out.

Q: Hi Willy, what do you do at Republic Polytechnic?

A: I teach in the School of Applied Science and oversee final-year

projects. Besides facilitating, I am also passionately involved in academic research and industry projects.

Q: What kind of projects are you involved in?

A: I have about five external projects on hand ranging from

smart materials to biomaterials. They are mostly funded by Singapore National Research Foundation, Defence Science & Technology Agency, and Tote Board.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: At the moment, I am evaluating artificial sports turf material,

using natural silkworm-epoxy resin composites for automobile applications and enhancing silk protein material for high performance application. In addition, I am also working on a project called Thermoelectric Micro-coolers for Electronic and Optoelectronic Applications which is funded by MOE-Innovation Fund.

Q: Is that the reason why we are seeing worms here?

A: Yes, I am rearing silkworms for materials application.

Q: That is interesting. Give us an insight about this silkworm project.

A: It is a project funded by National Research Foundation. As

it is a classified project, I would not be able to reveal much.

The research is called “Enhanced Silk Protein Materials for High Performance Application”. Basically we are trying to rear silkworms to spin stronger silk by exposing them to an electric field before they spin.

Q: So how is it like working with silkworms?

A: I am not a live animal person and I have no experience rearing

insects. But of course as part of the scientific learning curve, I have to learn and “live” with them. So I did some reading about them, got to know them better and so far it’s been good.

Q: When do you expect these toughened silk to be commercialised?

A: Maybe in about three years’ time.

Q: How do you get inspiration in the pursuit of research?

A: I keep myself up-to-date in what other researchers are doing.

By performing literature review on certain topics, sometimes it will set me pondering new or alternative approaches. Staying in touch with the industry is also important, knowing what problems they face will generate ideas for solutions.

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Willy working with worms.

About Willy Tan

Willy has a PhD in Materials Science. Currently a Senior Manager at School of Applied Science in Republic Polytechnic (RP), he is also the Centre Manager for the joint laboratory between RP and Singapore Technologies Kinetics.

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CENTRE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Nurturing Your Potential. Empowering Your Future.

Republic Polytechnic (RP) provides a conducive learning environment for students and adult learners. RP’s Centre for Professional Development offers various specialised skills and executive courses for aspiring professionals. Discover how you can enhance your career and enrich your personal growth with us. Sign up today!

SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAMMES Facilitating the Service and the Learning in a Service-Learning Project

26 Nov 2010

Introduction to Service-Learning

03 Dec 2010

Designing Service-Learning Programme for Teachers / Leaders

06 Dec 2010

Teambuilding and Experiential Learning Programmes

WSQ Programmes

Higher Certificate in Healthcare (Pharmacy Support) Process and Pack Prescription 26 Oct-20 Nov 2010 Higher Certificate in Healthcare (Pharmacy Support) Use of Medical Terminology in Work Activities

08-22 Jan 2011 Higher Certificate in Healthcare (Pharmacy Support) Handle Pharmaceutical Measuring Equipment

23 Nov-04 Dec 2010

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Workshop

17 Nov 2010

Education & Facilitation Programmes

Experiential Learning Course for Service-Learning Teams (2 days/1 night)

18-19 Nov 2010

Problem-Based Learning Foundation Course

Expedition Planning and Management: High Altitude Climbing

24 Nov 2010

Management & Communication Programmes

Sports & Health Programmes Practical Sports Nutrition

06 Dec 2010

Science & Technology Programmes IBM Training for System Z:

15-16 Nov 2010 ES05 - An Introduction to the z/OS Environment Using Failure Model and 21-22 Dec 2010 Effects Analysis (FMEA) for Better Products Warehouse Security Management IBM Training for System Z:

ES10 - Fundamental System Skills in z/OS

27-28 Dec 2010 07-10 Mar 2011

IBM Training for System Z:

04-08 Apr 2011 ES07 - z/OS Job Control Language and Utilities

17-21 Jan 2011

Demystifying Contract Law

14-17 Dec 2010

Certificate in Business Skills for Start-up

27 Nov 2010, 22 Jan 2011, 19 Feb 2011

Other Upcoming Programmes

WSQ Certificate in Hotel and Accommodation Services (Housekeeping) WSQ Certificate in Hotel and Accommodation Services (Front Office) Media Management – Making the Media Work for You Excel for Teachers – Creative Use of Excel to Engage Students Injury Prevention and Management

For more information on specific course dates and registration, please call 3100 1699, or email Enquiry_CPD@rp.sg, or visit www.rp.sg/cpd Republic Polytechnic, 9 Woodlands Avenue 9, Singapore 738964 Republic Polytechnic reserves the right to make changes to the course fees and application closing dates without prior notice. Commencement of each course is subject to sufficient number of participants. All information is accurate at time of publishing.

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Partnering Republic Polytechnic RP seeks to work with the industry in the following areas:

Republic Polytechnic (RP) has over 13,000 students and 800 staff, with six schools and one centre offering 36 courses in Information and Communications Technology, Engineering, Applied Science, Technology for the Arts, Sports, Health & Leisure, Events and Hospitality, and Culture and Communication.

The first educational institution in Singapore to adopt the Problem-Based Learning approach, RP is committed to nurturing innovation and entrepreneurial learning in an environment that develops problem-solving process skills and a life-long learning attitude. RP academic staff come with years of industry and research experience that enhances the students’ learning in practicality and depth.

• Internship Programmes • Employment Services (Career Fair, Career Talk) • Giving to RP (Scholarships, Endowment, Book Prize Awards) • Research & Development Projects • Corporate Training • Other Forms of Collaboration

Discover how RP can help meet your organisation’s needs in talent management and planning, corporate philanthropy, research and consultancy projects.

To know more, please contact onestop@rp.sg More information can also be found at http://rp.sg/industrycollaboration

Republic Polytechnic’s mandate is to nurture manpower for the economy. While RP develops industry-ready and life-ready graduates through industry-focused curriculum, synergistic partnership with the industry is also instrumental in nurturing innovation, entrepreneurial learning, professional and technical competency among the staff and student community.

inAdvance Republic Polytechnic looks forward to your participation in the upcoming events for the next 3 months. For enquiries, please email onestop@rp.sg Year 2010

20-21 Nov National Pushcart Challenge

(by Centre for Innovation and Enterprise) 24 Nov

Productivity & Quality Seminar for Manufacturing and Engineering Service (by School of Engineering)

28 Oct–19 Nov Reflections Community Arts Festival 2010 (by The Republic Cultural Centre)

29-30 Nov Marketing to Asian Women Conference

(by School of Hospitality)

1-2 Nov

Experiential Learning Forum

8 Nov

New Materials Tech Day (by School of Applied Science)

1 Dec

12 Nov

RP Charity Event: Just Jazz with Jeremy Monteiro & Friends

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Wireless Tech Series Seminar cum Exhibition (by School of Engineering)

Year 2011 6-8 Jan

RP Open House

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