incoRPorate Issue 2 / 2017 by Republic Polytechnic

Commemorating the Memories, Embracing the Future Pg.7 Feature Celebrating our 15th Anniversary through Open House Festivities

Pg.2 Partnerships Enhancing studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; skillsets and fostering industrial growth through valued partnerships

Issue 2 / 2017 Published for industry partners of Republic Polytechnic

EDITOR’S NOTE

n this issue of incoRPorate, we invite you to share our pride and joy as we bring to you highlights from the official commencement of our 15th anniversary celebrations and our Open House in January 2017. Relive the sights and sounds of our celebrations on pages 7 to 10! With fruitful partnerships forged with industry partners, valuable learning experiences are created for our students. Learn about the exciting opportunities that await our students from our collaborations with established organisations such as SACEOS, SingEx, Koelnmesse and Surbana Jurong, to name a few. We acknowledge their contribution to RP on pages 2 to 6. Discover many exciting events that have taken place in and about our campus, like the completion of RP’s Foley Arts Studio on page 12. Also, explore how our students combine their skills and knowledge from their diploma courses to meet societal needs through community stories found in our Heart section on pages 15 and 16.

CONTENTS PARTNERSHIPS 2 Enhancing students’ skillsets and fostering industrial growth through valued partnerships FEATURE Celebrating our 15th Anniversary through Open House Festivities

NEWS & UPDATES Stay in beat with our latest happenings

HEART When every action counts: Combining RP’s expertise with the community’s needs

PROFILE Getting to know RP through Ms Wong Wai Ling and Mr Sundar W

Advisor Seto Lok Yin Editor-in-Chief Ronald Wong Editors Renee Loh, Charlene Soh and Fiona Chia

As RP rejoices in our 15th anniversary celebrations, we invite two pioneer staff, Ms Wong Wai Ling and Mr Sundar W, who have been with RP since its very start, to share on page 17 how RP has transformed through their eyes and the insights that they have gathered from their 15-year journey. Happy reading.

Ronald Wong Director, Office of Corporate Communications Republic Polytechnic

Publishing Consultant Verztec Consulting Pte Ltd

Contributors Andrew Lim Alicia Chia Azli Rahim Andrew Wong Aliza Ramli Caleb Tan Che Ser Tong Chong Hai Yen Chris Lim Cindy Neo Dawn Ong Darren Tan Elaine Tan

Eve Zeng Fahreeq Fattah Ivane Tay Joshua Hong Jeffery Koh Janice Aw Julian Soh Joanna Loh Keenan Tan Kadir Yusop Lyon Lai Lynn Yue Linus Mak

Mark Tay Patrick Seng Sasidharan Nair Shaaron Tan Sito Jia Huei Sidharta Hidayat Sharon Ng Soh Lai Seng Tan Wee Siong Terence Lim Tok Nam Huat Tan Fong Ling Udayakumar T

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. The views and opinions expressed or implied in incoRPorate do not necessarily reflect those of Republic Polytechnic or Verztec Consulting Pte Ltd. Information is correct at time of print. OCC / JUNE 2017

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Partnerships

Connecting RP Students with Key MICE Industry Players

(Front row, from left to right) Mr James Lee, Director, School of Hospitality (SOH), RP; Dr Michael Koh, Deputy Principal (Academic Services), RP; Ms Lynn Yue, Programme Chair, Diploma in Integrated Events Management (DIEM), SOH, RP; Ms Janet Tan-Collis, President, SACEOS; Ms Selina Chavry, Director of Sales, Pacific World; Mr Aloysius Arlando, CEO, SingEx; Ms Joanna Loh, Assistant Programme Chair, DIEM, SOH, RP; and Mr Eric Teo, Senior Director (Corporate Services), RP (Back row, from left to right) Mr Fong Yew Chan, Senior Director (Student Services and Planning), RP; Mr Tui Jurn Mun, Director, Office of Industry and Collaboration, RP; Mr Ralph Hendrick, General Manager, Koelnmesse; Mr Mathias Küpper, Managing Director, Koelnmesse; and Mr Michael Lim, Director, Human Resources & Information Technology, SingEx

epublic Polytechnic (RP) inked three Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with key players in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) industry. These MOUs include an MOU renewal with Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS), and two new MOUs with SingEx Holdings Pte Ltd (SingEx) and Koelnmesse Pte Ltd (Koelnmesse) respectively. The MOUs will benefit students from RP’s Diploma in Integrated Events Management (DIEM) at RP School of Hospitality by providing authentic learning experiences as part of their curriculum. Around 600 DIEM students will be exposed to

industry-based Final Year Projects (FYPs), internship placements and mentorships by company professionals. Through the partnerships, DIEM students can look forward to broadening their industrial experience through subsidised professional certifications like the Professional Exhibition Management (PEM) and Professional Conference Management (PCM) offered by SACEOS. Industry guests networking at the MOU signing event

Students can expect greater industrial support with SingEx taking a more active role in students’ FYPs. SingEx will be sponsoring Gold Medal and scholarship awards with the signing of this new MOU too. RP’s DIEM students can bring back a wealth of experience

from these partnerships into their tertiary life and eventually, into the working world. As Mathias Küpper, Managing Director for Koelnmesse aptly put across, “We have had excellent experiences

with past and present RP students in our internship programmes…(and) Koelnmesse strongly believes in contributing to developing academic capabilities and professional skills for future MICE leaders.”

Partnerships

Furthering the Cause of Healthcare with Parkway Laboratory Services Management (COI-SCM) have also worked with PLS on a project to develop a phlebotomy cart and a project to enhance the dispatch services of specimen transportation respectively. To take our partnership further, PLS and RP have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

(From left to right) Ms Koh Guat Mui, Manager (Technology and Development), PLS; Mr Ashley Chua, Senior Director (Special Projects) and Director, School of Applied Science, RP; Mr Ho Juan San, COO, PLS; Dr Yong Chern Chet, CEO, PLS; Mr Alvin Sim, Assistant Vice President, Technical Excellence, PLS; Mr Seto Lok Yin, Deputy Principal (Industry Services), RP; and Mr Yeo Li Pheow, Principal/CEO, RP

wenty-two of RP’s Diploma in Biomedical Sciences (DBMS) students have had the opportunity of interning at Parkway Laboratory Services Ltd’s (PLS) clinical laboratories across hospitals like

Gleneagles, Mount Elizabeth, and Mount Elizabeth Novena. PLS has been providing internships to RP School of Applied Science (SAS) students since 2012.

This MOU reaffirms a meaningful partnership that will benefit the healthcare industry in Singapore.

As a testament to our graduates’ capabilities, PLS has employed many of our alumni over the years as well. SAS and RP Centre of Innovation for Supply Chain

UnaBiz: Preparing Students for the Digital World

naBiz, an end-to-end Internet of Things (IoT) solutions company and the exclusive Sigfox operator for the region, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with RP in February 2017.

Sigfox, the world’s leading provider of global IoT connectivity, has patented a technology using Ultra Narrow Band (UNB) modulation, enabling data to be transmitted at lower costs and energy consumption levels.

Through this MOU, RP School of Infocomm (SOI) students will be exposed to Sigfox technology when they participate in industryrelated activities, Final Year Projects, internship

(From left to right) Mr Henri Bong, CEO & Founder, UnaBiz; Mr Seto Lok Yin, Deputy Principal (Industry Services), RP; Mr Sng Hong Lian, Deputy Director, School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Singapore Polytechnic; Mr C K Vishwakarma, Founder, IoTSG and ATCAlliance Singapore; and Mr Lee Lup Yuen, Group CTO, UnaBiz

programmes, and Student Overseas Trips (SOTs) to UnaBiz’s international offices. The development of our staff has also been considered with collaborative staff projects utilising Sigfox technology and staff attachment to UnaBiz in the works. As a commitment to remaining relevant in the infocomm field and to the newly-inked MOU, RP will be introducing Sigfox technology into our infocomm curriculum and installing a Sigfox base station to facilitate experiments and deploy IoT solutions to turn RP into a Smart Campus.

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Partnerships

Stronger Synergy with Surbana Jurong through New MOU

P inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with leading urbanisation and infrastructure development consultancy company, Surbana Jurong Private Limited (Surbana Jurong), to explore joint activities in research and development, as well as training programmes for our staff and students.

(From left to right) Mr Ramanathan Mohandas, Assistant Director (Capability & Industry), School of Engineering (SEG), RP; Dr Wang Jianguo, Director, SEG, RP; Mr Jonathan Ng Chung Hoe, Group Director, Strategy & Corporate Development, Surbana Jurong; and Ms Astee Lim Yinghui, Senior Executive, Sustainable Urban Solutions, Surbana Jurong

Surbana Jurong has won over 600 international and local awards by effectively providing industry-leading solutions to their wide array of projects completed across 207 cities in more than 51 countries.

Armed with a strong expertise in delivering urbanisation, infrastructure and engineering solutions, Surbana Jurong is a valuable source of learning for our students who can then take these skills into the workforce upon graduation. The three-year MOU will facilitate collaborations between RP and Surbana Jurong on staff and student attachment programmes, student Final Year Projects, company visits, industry talks and staff research projects.

Bringing Enhanced Aerospace Opportunities to RP: Thales Solutions Asia A total of 58 students across RP School of Engineering (SEG), School of Infocomm (SOI) and School of Technology for the Arts (STA) have undergone internship placements at Thales.

(From left to right) Ms Sharon Ng, Assistant Director, Office of Industry and Collaboration, RP; Dr Wang Jianguo, Director, School of Engineering (SEG), RP; Mr Tan Seak Tee, Senior Operations Manager, Thales; Ms Suncia Efe Halim, Technical Specialist, Thales; Mr Udayakumar T, Programme Chair, Diploma in Aerospace Avionics, SEG, RP; Mr Seto Lok Yin, Deputy Principal (Industry Services), RP; Mr Joshua Hong, Assistant Director (Capability & Industry), School of Technology for the Arts, RP; Mr Ramanathan Mohandas, Assistant Director (Capability & Industry), SEG, RP; Mr James Tham, Programme Chair, Diploma in Infocomm Security Management, School of Infocomm (SOI), RP; and Mr Seow Khee Wei, Assistant Director (Capability & Industry), SOI, RP

hales Solutions Asia Pte Ltd (Thales), a recognised player in the aerospace, defence, security and transportation sector of Singapore, has taken its partnership with RP to the

next level by the forging of a Memorandum of Understanding. Thales, whose partnership with RP began in 2010, has since provided many

invaluable experiences to our students in the form of student internship and mentorship programmes, industry talks and visits, Final Year Projects and employment opportunities.

Apart from offering internship opportunities to our students, Thales also supported RP by providing career guidance in the form of industry mentorship. For instance, our students have received valuable guidance from Thalesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; management staff under SEGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Engineering Leadership Programme (eLeap). Three of our graduates from the Diploma in Aerospace Avionics who were previously interns at Thales have signed on as full-time staff upon graduation too.

Partnerships

Heightening Industrial Growth with ST Kinetics Through a Renewed MOU

ingapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd (ST Kinetics) and RP have renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in January 2017. The renewed MOU will enable RP and ST Kinetics to forge greater bonds in the areas of student internships, educational activities like industry talks, workshops and field trips, Final Year

Project supervisions and collaborative research projects with our staff. Both parties will also co-develop Pre-Employment Training (PET) and Continuing Education and Training (CET) curriculum in the field of advanced materials and composites. The partnership with ST Kinetics will provide an enriching experience for staff

and students, and further their knowledge

of the composite industry and its related fields.

RP’s Diploma in Materials Science students with their Final Year Project mentors from ST Kinetics and RP School of Applied Science

Advancing a Technology Ecosystem with GovTech

n 13 February 2017, RP and the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the intent to develop the next generation of tech talent that will help build a Smart Nation. Our students are expected to gain industry-relevant expertise from the partnership as they leverage technology to resolve problems faced by public agencies and enhance the delivery of services in the public sector.

Among the activities planned are the provision of short courses and/or part-time diploma courses for public officers focusing on drone-based aerial videography, Internet of Things or mobile app development and the cooperation on trials or pilot projects under the Smart Nation initiatives at RP’s facilities. As Mr Yeo Li Pheow, Principal/CEO of RP, affirmed, “This partnership will allow our infocomm and engineering students and staff to contribute

(From left to right) Ms Jacqueline Poh, Chief Executive, GovTech; Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-incharge of Muslim Affairs; and Mr Yeo Li Pheow, Principal/CEO, RP at the MOU signing event

(From left to right) Mr Peter Lam, Principal & CEO, Temasek Polytechnic; Prof Chong Tow Chong, Provost, Singapore University of Technology and Design; Ms Jeanne Liew, Principal & CEO, Nanyang Polytechnic; Ms Jacqueline Poh, Chief Executive, GovTech; Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs; Mr Soh Wai Wah, Principal & CEO, Singapore Polytechnic; Ms Low Khah Gek, CEO, Institute of Technical Education; Assoc Prof Ivan Lee, Vice President (Industry & Community), Singapore Institute of Technology; Mr Yeo Li Pheow, Principal/CEO, RP; and Mr Clarence Ti, Principal, Ngee Ann Polytechnic 5

towards the development and implementation of citizen-centric solutions. The collaboration activities, which include internships, final-year and test-bedding projects, will provide our students with valuable industry exposure that is aligned with Singapore’s Smart Nation Drive.” GovTech also signed five other individual MOUs and two other Memorandums of Intent (MOIs) with other Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) on the same day. incoRPorate

Partnerships

A Continued Partnership for RP & Teleperformance

Strengthening the Foundations of Hospitality with One Farrer

Dr Michael Koh, Deputy Principal (Academic Services), RP (left) and Mr Sam Chong, Chief Executive Officer, Teleperformance Singapore (right) were all smiles after inking the agreement

ontinuing its fruitful collaboration, Teleperformance Singapore and RP have re-entered into a threeyear Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). A supportive industry partner of RP since 2010, Teleperformance has offered 112 internship placements and 17 scholarship awards to our students. The renewed MOU heralds joint programmes

and projects, student opportunities for overseas learning stints and continued bonded scholarship awards with a value of S$5,000 each, as well as opportunities for staff collaboration and exchanges. Teleperformance, who contributed to the RP Needy Student Fund during its last MOU extension with RP in 2013, pledged S$2,000 to the Fund in this third MOU signing too.

Mr Seto Lok Yin, Deputy Principal (Industry Services), RP (left) and Dr Richard Charles Helfer, Chairman, One Farrer Pte Ltd (right) at the MOU signing ceremony

ince 2013, One Farrer Hotel and Spa (One Farrer) has been collaborating with our students and staff on a variety of learning programmes including student internships, staff exchanges and research and development projects to enhance the curriculum in the hospitality field. To date, 88 RP School of Hospitality (SOH) students have undergone the Industry Immersion Programme (IIP) where they are exposed to authentic work-life circumstances within the operating departments of One Farrer.

Apart from student internships and apprenticeships, One Farrer has also sponsored S$15,000 worth of scholarships and book prizes for our students. To mark our continued partnership, One Farrer and RP renewed a Memorandum of Understanding for another three years in February 2017. With this renewal, our students can look forward to strengthening their knowledge and refining their skills in the hospitality industry.

(From left to right) Mr James Lee, Director, School of Hospitality, RP; Dr Michael Koh, Deputy Principal (Academic Services), RP; Mr Sam Chong, Chief Executive Officer, Teleperformance Singapore; and Ms Li Li Ng, Director Support Services, Teleperformance Singapore 6

Feature

COMMENCEMENT OF OUR

RY A S R A N NIVE

CELEBRATION AT THE OPEN HOUSE

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Feature

GIVING THANKS FOR BEGINNINGS

rom a unique Problem-based Learning approach, to an ecofriendly campus architecture and finally to an all-digital learning environment, Republic Polytechnic (RP) has come a long way since opening our doors 15 years ago. Memories from our 15-year journey have now been captured in RP’s ‘Giving Thanks’ campaign. Through the RP15 ‘Giving Thanks Campaign’, our alumni, staff, students and friends of RP can share their respective recollections of the institution and find these displayed on the ‘Giving Thanks Tree’, a significant icon of our 15th anniversary celebrations.

HONING SKILLS BEYOND CLASSROOMS RP is a lifelong learning institution that is guided by the underlying principles of developing entrepreneurial and innovative problem solvers. This was seen in our 2017 Open House, where two new RP training facilities targeted at the enhancement and deepening of our students’ skillsets were unveiled. The RP-Unity Teaching Retail Pharmacy and the RP UAV Training Centre were both officially launched on 5 January 2017, the first day of RP’s Open House. The RP-Unity Teaching Retail Pharmacy’s launch, officiated by Guest-of-Honour,

Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, also saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NTUC Health Co-operative Ltd (NTUC Health) and RP.

Beyond the education sector, the UAV Training Centre aims to provide support and training to local government and private agencies that wish to employ UAV technologies in their operations.

The MOU facilitates deeper collaboration between both parties in areas like student internships, staff exchanges, community services, continuing education, and training.

OPEN HOUSE EXTRAVAGANZA

Students from RP’s Diploma in Pharmaceutical Sciences will benefit from this teaching retail pharmacy, the only such dedicated training facility among the polytechnics, which aims to impart core skillsets in retail pharmacy practice and operations, visual merchandising and related business functions.

TRAINING FUTURE-READY PROFESSIONALS FOR THE WORKFORCE The RP UAV Training Centre, set up to meet the growing need of equipping industry personnel and the public with skillsets relating to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), saw Open House visitors having a go at flight simulators. The first of such drone facilities among Singapore’s tertiary institutions, the UAV Training Centre also allows our School of Infocomm (SOI) and School of Engineering (SEG) students to hone their UAV-flying skills via flight simulators before operating actual drones.

There was also a myriad of activities, including music performances, balloon sculpting, photo-booths and interactive booths showcasing each of the courses offered by the institution at RP’s Open House. Both Minister Chan Chun Sing and Minister Ong Ye Kung visited RP school booths and interacted with the students, learning more about the various courses on offer. The School of Technology for the Arts (STA) held their STA Portfolio Day on the second day of the Open House. At this event, STA students had the chance to display their portfolio and works to our industry partners and receive spontaneous interviews for potential employment. Industry partners’ appreciation of the event was evident from the rise of attendees to 65 companies, an increase from the 55 attendees of the previous year.

RP – UNLIKE ANY OTHER RP Open House 2017, made even more special as it was RP’s 15th anniversary year, concluded on a successful note and affirmed RP’s status as an innovative and enterprising institution. It looks like the thrust to make RP an educational institution encompassing diversity and innovation was just right.

Feature

Minister Chan Chun Sing with RPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Diploma in Biomedical Sciences students at the RP Open House

RP UAV training instructors with drones from the UAV courses

Secondary school visitors having fun at an STA photobooth

A secondary school visitor gleefully participating in the activities of RP Open House 9

RP Open House student ambassadors all ready to welcome the Open House visitors incoRPorate

Feature

Minister Chan Chun Sing having a first-hand experience of the simulated operations at the RP-Unity Teaching Retail Pharmacy’s launch Come, let’s take a wefie! - Minister Ong Ye Kung and RP students enjoying the moment while Principal/CEO of RP Mr Yeo Li Pheow and Deputy Principal (Industry Services) Mr Seto Lok Yin look on

Minister Ong Ye Kung appreciating a musical piece performed by a Diploma in Sonic Arts (DSA) student on Singapore’s first native ethnic sounds-integrated musical keyboard. The keyboard was developed by RP’s industry partner, City Music Co. Pte Ltd, with contributions from DSA students

Ms Ho Sz Ting, Lecturer, Diploma in Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Applied Science, RP, and students roleplaying at RP-Unity Teaching Retail Pharmacy’s launch

Minister Ong Ye Kung posing with RP’s Diploma in Restaurant and Culinary Operations students after adding the finishing touches to the carp’s colours

Happy memorabilia at RP Open House 2017, reflecting the upbeat mood of the festivities 10

News & Updates

RP Career Fair 2017: Preparing Our Students for the Working World

ointly organised with the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), Republic Polytechnic’s (RP) Career Fair 2017, which took place on 9 February 2017, saw participation from over 100 companies ranging from sectors like aerospace to the biomedical sciences. The annual Career Fair, revolving around the theme of “Explore and Be Ready”, allowed students to uncover the various possible career pathways and be ready for the working world. The presence of companies like the Far East Hospitality, National Healthcare Group, Singapore Airlines, and United Overseas Bank ensured that a wide multitude of opportunities were available for the various students who attended the Fair.

A dedicated online job portal, where details of the participating employers could be found, ensured that student absentees of the Fair still received a platform to explore the available career opportunities. Our Education and Career Guidance (ECG) Counsellors were also on hand to deliver Advanced Career Workshops that aided the students towards career preparations and the transition into working life.

Fair as students could immediately explore participating exhibitors that matched their game results.

ready for working life, while enabling the latter to interact and interview prospective employees.

RP Career Fair 2017 was a platform that benefited both students and participating industry partners alike as it supported the former in exploring and being

RP thanks all partners for participating in our Career Fair 2017 and we look forward to yet another spirited Fair for 2018.

“RP Enchanted”, an interactive game designed by students from RP School of Hospitality (SOH) was showcased at the Fair too. The game, which points students towards recommended career options based on their personality traits, complemented the Our staff and industry partners from Wildlife Reserves Singapore sharing a genial moment at the RP Career Fair 2017

Groups of students and exhibitors actively interacting at the RP Career Fair 2017

e2i, our co-organiser for the Career Fair, providing interview tips and career guidance to our student participants

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News & Updates

DSLM Students Hold Inaugural Public Sports Exposition

eld for three days in November 2016, Republic Sports Xposition 2016 was the firstever sports exposition of its kind organised by an institute of higher learning. Open to the public, the sports exposition was organised by 25 final year students from RP’s Diploma in Sports and Leisure Management (DSLM) and featured 28 renowned sporting brands. Through organising the exposition, the students gained hands-on experience and valuable skills in areas such as event management, marketing, social media and risk assessment management.

The students also dabbled in sponsorship sourcing and picked up the importance of proper budgeting.

invaluable practical experience for these DSLM students in taking their theoretical knowledge to the field. Due to the benefits gained by our

students, a second run will be conducted at the end of this year and will encompass a greater scale.

To ensure a more comprehensive and exhaustive event, fringe activities like health and fitness programmes were also integrated into the exposition. Free Traditional Chinese Medicine consultations with physicians, sports rehabilitation, and pain management therapy trials were all made available to participants. Although the students faced challenges such as lastminute logistical changes and manpower shortage, Republic Sports Xposition 2016 was an

(From front to back) Third-year Diploma in Sports and Leisure Management students from RP School of Sports, Health and Leisure, Goh Tai Wee, Hsieh Che Yu, Nah Yeow Pang Shawn and Benedict Wee Jun Xing, formed part of the organising committee for Republic Sports Xposition 2016

Creating New Experiences for Students with Foley Arts Studio

P continuously brings innovative and entrepreneurial experiences to our students. A recent development to our teaching and learning facilities, the completion of a Foley Arts Studio delivered experimental opportunities to students from RP’s Diploma in Sonic Arts (DSA). The Foley Arts Studio acts as an integrated classroom learning lab where DSA students can record sounds in synchronisation with moving pictures. The Studio was built with inputs from both the Beijing Film Academy where alumni like Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige hailed from, and the Yellowbox Studios,

Singapore’s most established audio production company. Offered by RP School of Technology for the Arts (STA), the unique DSA trains students to become audio post-production editors, live sound engineers, audio designers and more. Students learn about location sound recording, studio recording and audio post-production among the numerous modules in the course. The addition of the Foley Arts Studio will bring a breadth of learning experiences for our students. Recording sound effects like the rustling of clothes and the breaking of glass are just some of the fun experiences in store for them.

RP’s Diploma in Sonic Arts students reproducing sounds with tin cans and bicycle wheels

News & Updates

Unveiling Youth Consumer’s Insights at RP’s Inaugural Youth Marketing Summit

Mr Chan Ih-Ming, Director, Consumer Businesses, Singapore Economic Development Board (left) with Mr Yeo Li Pheow, Principal/CEO, RP (right) at the Youth Marketing Summit

(From left to right) Mr Warren Wang, Director, School of Management and Communication, RP; Mr Yeo Li Pheow, Principal/CEO, RP; Ms Joan Koh, Managing Director, Singapore and Malaysia, Nielsen; and Ms Ashley Chua, HR Director, Singapore and Malaysia, Nielsen

P’s inaugural Youth Marketing Summit (YMS) with the theme, ‘The SWAG Generation - Know Them and Win Them’, was held on 11 November 2016 at RP’s campus grounds. Riding on the theme, event organiser RP School of Management and Communication (SMC) brought together key stakeholders and allowed them to collaborate, share ideas and acquire deeper insights on engaging one of the fastest-growing consumer segments of today - our youths.

The summit gathered over 100 brand leaders, international market research consultants and public sector agencies like Walt Disney, Fraser and Neave,the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation, the Health Promotion Board, The Nielsen Company (Nielsen), and the National Youth Council. Graced by Mr Chan Ih-Ming, Director of Consumer Businesses, Economic Development Board (EDB), the summit saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between RP and global market research firm Nielsen.

RP staff, students, alumni, and guests of the Youth Marketing Summit engaging in a discussion

This MOU serves as a gateway for Nielsen to provide regular inputs to RP’s Diploma in Consumer Behaviour and Research (DCBR) curriculum, ensuring an updated curriculum responsive to industry trends. Our students will also benefit from internships and real-world consumer marketing research projects with Nielsen. Nielsen also launched its first-ever thought-leadership research project on Youth Insights, sharing new perspectives into youth engagement with brands.

YMS participants also acquired more understanding into the youth market from a presentation by our students and staff on youth behaviour and attitudes, and from the launch of a Youth Panel by students from RP’s DCBR. The Youth Panel, a studentled initiative, researches into the habits and preferences of youth through surveying young people, enabling companies or public agencies to test out their marketing ideas.

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News & Updates

RP’s SkillsFuture Logistics ELP sees its Pioneer Batch of Graduates

raced by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Trade and Industry Ms Low Yen Ling, the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme (ELP) for Logistics saw our pioneer batch of 35 graduates receiving their completion certificates in a ceremony held on 4 January 2017. The SkillsFuture ELP for Logistics is managed by RP in partnership with SkillsFuture Singapore and provides fresh diploma graduates the opportunity to attain a Specialist Diploma in Supply Chain Management while working full-time and receiving mentorship from partnering ELP companies. Ms Pearlyn Mok, a recent graduate from the pioneer batch, shared that she had feared missing out on work experience if she had

furthered her studies upon her polytechnic graduation. However, as she shared, “With this programme, I was able to accomplish both at the same time, and I learnt a lot.” Ms Mok, who is continuing her employment as a logistics executive at Toll Logistics (Asia), said she appreciated having two mentors, from RP and Toll Logistics (Asia) respectively, for guidance in the face of challenges. Since its official launch in October 2015, the Logistics ELP has been seeing growing participation from both industry players and fresh diploma graduates. The programme, into its third cohort, has 80 students now, including those from its first intake of 35 students. Similarly, industry support has grown from the initial 15 companies to 25 partner companies presently.

Ms Low Yen Ling having a tour of the various Specialist Diploma courses on offer and learning more about them

As noted by Mr Yeo Li Pheow, Principal/CEO of RP, many of the 35 graduates have since received either a salary

increment or expansion of their job scope upon attaining their qualifications.

Guest-of-Honour Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry & Ministry of Education, with Mr Yeo Li Pheow, Principal/CEO, RP, and participants at the inaugural completion ceremony of the SkillsFuture ELP for Logistics’ Specialist Diploma in Supply Chain Management

Heart

Improving Quality of Life Through Assistive Technologies

he Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) has been a community partner of Republic Polytechnic (RP) since 2012. MINDS, a voluntary welfare organisation, serves the educational and employment needs of persons with intellectual disabilities.

One such application is the Automated Vocational Training System developed by SEG to enable students with special needs to independently acquire “workready” skills for employment. Initial trial of this Tote Board SIR funded project was conducted by our staff with support from MINDS.

RP’s commitment towards reaching out to different sectors of society can be seen through the various assistive and wellness technological applications developed between RP School of Infocomm (SOI), School of Engineering (SEG), School of Management and Communication (SMC), and MINDS.

RP SOI is also planning a volunteer management and training Android app and a speech-to-sign training mobile web app for development with MINDS this year.

RP staff and students with beneficiaries of RP’s collaborative projects with MINDS

Social enterprising projects like these not only encourage our students to give back to society but also enable the projects’ beneficiaries’ lives to be changed as well.

Weaving a More Inclusive Nation: Thread by Thread

uilding on their expertise in sports events management, eight students from RP School of Sports, Health and Leisure organised a sports fashion runway with local fashion house, Noel Caleb, as part of their Final Year Project.

Participants of Singapore Fashion Runway Finale 2016, including invited athlete models and paralympians Ms Theresa Goh and Ms Yip Pin Xiu, RP graduate and national wakeboarder Ms Sasha Christian, national netball star Ms Charmaine Soh, current RP’s DSLM student and national bowler Mr Ahmad Safwan and Club Rainbow beneficiaries, posing with Guest-of-Honour and Singapore Sports Hub’s CEO Mr Manu Sawhney and Singapore sports legend Mr C Kunalan

Singapore Fashion Runway Finale 2016 (SFR ’16) saw a marriage between sports and fashion. What was special about it too, however, was its philanthropy-focused theme. Its concept, aptly titled, “Fashion for a Social Cause”, brought together the needy, elderly and less-privileged communities to sew various sports apparel conceptualised by local designers.

The event, held on 10 December 2016, was jointlyhosted by RP, Noel Caleb and the Singapore Sports Hub. The eight Diploma of Sports and Leisure Management (DSLM) students planned and organised pre-runway show workshops and liaised with national athletes for photoshoots and interviews. They also solicited about 80% of sponsorships for SFR ’16. As a befitting finale to their project, the DLSM students and the participants’ efforts culminated in a runway show featuring the local designers’ works modelled by Singapore’s very own paraathletes and beneficiaries from SFR’s community partner – Club Rainbow. incoRPorate

Heart

Providing an Alternative Home for Bats

Spreading Warmth into Singapore’s North-West

RP’s Diploma in Environmental Science students proudly presenting the three varying bat box designs

f more than 1,000 species worldwide, at least 23 are found in Singapore. However, even then, the population is fast declining due to deforestation or extermination.

Called ‘bat boxes’, these alternative roosting sites were developed by the students with inputs from the National Parks Board (NParks) and is expected to preserve and increase the local bat population.

Just what are we talking about here? Bats.

The students also visited Pulau Ubin to better understand the behaviour of bats and surveyed the sites of the prospective bat boxes’ locations.

Singapore, home to a number of bat species, faces a deteriorating bat population and a shortage of natural roosting sites. Bats, widely known as natural pest controllers in themselves, have had their habitats destroyed due to urbanisation. Hence, environmental science students from RP School of Applied Science (SAS) decided to embark on a research project to study bat species and their habitats to design artificial roosting structures to house these bats.

SAS students presented their bat boxes to Senior Ministers Desmond Lee and Maliki Osman as part of Pulau Ubin’s heritage celebrations in November 2016. Thirty bat boxes have since been successfully installed across the offshore island. To foster closer cooperation in environmental projects, RP also inked a threeyear Memorandum of Understanding with NParks recently.

Mr Yeo Li Pheow, Principal/CEO of RP (right) strengthens our commitment in community outreach through the signing of an MOU with Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mayor of North West District (left)

ore than 2,000 beneficiaries in the North West District are expected to benefit from at least 30 community projects implemented by our students over the next three years. RP has previously collaborated with North West Community Development Council (CDC) on programmes like the North West rpBuddy Connection in 2015 and its annual Supermarket Run. The former saw about 1,000 RP students and seniors bonding over IT and drone workshops while the latter is a programme that educates families on good budgeting practices and healthy food choices.

RP’s efforts to give back to society has been strengthened through a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with North West CDC. With an annual funding support of up to S$100,000 from the North West WeCare Fund, our students are able to spearhead sustainable ground-up initiatives for the North-West community and impact residents’ lives. As Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mayor of North West District, shared, “It is important to inculcate the right social values and the spirit of giving back amongst the youths to build a strong community ownership as they are our future leaders.”

(From left to right) The three completed designs: the Rocket Bat Box, Strata Bat Box and the Inclined Wall Bat Box 16

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Walking With RP Through the Years

e have reached the 15th year of our pursuit to nurture innovative, entrepreneurial and cultured young professionals! In this 15-year journey, RP has welcomed a bevy of changes and new faces, from its intake of new batches to its graduation of

students, to its welcoming of new staff.

incoRPorate had a chat with two of our pioneer staff to discover the interesting insights they have gleaned from their journey thus far and to learn how RP has transformed through their eyes.

How do you feel RP has transformed through these years to stay relevant in the latest industry and technological trends? Wai Ling: From not having an internship scheme

in place for our pioneer intake back in 2002, to incorporating a compulsory minimum 20-week internship for all students, RP has made great transformations. We have a formalised process of regular curriculum review with industry input. In particular for SOI, industry-grade facilities such as the SOI Security Operations Centre were established to enable students to learn in authentic environments mirroring the real world. The number of industry and technology sharing events have also grown, bringing staff, students and industry partners closer together.

Do share with us a nugget of wisdom that you have taken away from your years at RP. Wai Ling: I would say it would be “To be reflective and to always be open to learning new things”.

When I complete a piece of work or approach the day’s end, reflection helps me to think back on my past experiences and how I may improve work-wise. It helps me reflect on my relationship with others, and how to make things better within my sphere of influence. Learning and staying updated on topics like education, psychology, leadership and technology gives me fresh perspectives for my work too. The different work assignments and opportunities given to me enable me to learn as well. I often say to my colleagues light-heartedly that “work arrows” are developmental opportunities. This becomes true when they are carried out with a learning mindset.

Ms Wong Wai Ling Covering Director School of Infocomm, RP

Starting off as a lecturer, Ms Wong Wai Ling is now the Covering Director for RP School of Infocomm (SOI). Academic matters and SOI’s operations run smoothly due to Wai Ling’s keen sense and astuteness which she brings into her planning.

RP is an institution committed to nurturing its students into innovative, entrepreneurial and cultured professionals. What is your personal aspiration for RP in the years to come? Wai Ling: RP will be a place that nurtures learners,

makers and budding entrepreneurs with the latest know-how and technology and where the infusion of innovative thinking, creativity and start-up skills can occur. I hope RP will be a vibrant learning hub where proliferations and the cross-pollination of ideas happen, and that these ideas get executed across multiple disciplines comprising science, technology, business, and design, bringing students, staff, industries and venture capitalists together.

incoRPorate

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Do share with us a nugget of wisdom that you have taken away from your years at RP. Sundar: As a new institute of higher learning back in 2002, there were many functions and tasks one was exposed to, to aid towards a smooth start-up. Now, as we develop through the years, we have more established structures with our work processes defined. Yet, despite this, I feel that we should not be afraid to explore beyond our designated scope of work in case we intrude into another person’s task sphere. I recall when I first started out at RP, I assisted in various roles. I was tasked to oversee the drafting of Memorandums of Understanding, industry agreements and non-disclosure agreements – I took up the challenge and learnt something new. Hence, my advice to my colleagues is to try to be open and not shy away from tasks and assignments that are beyond our areas of expertise even with the defined structures that are in place today. Given the fastchanging economic environment of today, we need to acquire more skillsets outside our areas of expertise in order to better prepare ourselves for the future.

Share with us either an inspirational or a memorable experience during your time at RP. Sundar: I had a memorable experience visiting the

residents living in Marsiling, Sembawang and Woodlands, their grassroots leaders and Members of Parliament, as well as principals of secondary schools located in the northern part of Singapore, when RP was still located at the Strathmore campus. The visits were conducted as part of our outreach efforts to spread awareness of the upcoming polytechnic in their neighbourhood. During the visits, we shared about RP and discussed possible partnerships after moving into the Woodlands campus. As we went about our outreach activities, I felt privileged to experience the residents’ excitement of hearing that the fifth and newest polytechnic was to be located within their community. This shared excitement reinforced our commitments to using RP’s unique course offerings to enhance Singapore’s educational landscape and to attract both full-time and part-time students for continuing education and re-training. The visits also re-affirmed that polytechnic education can be seen as a viable and alternative route to post-secondary education.

Mr Sundar W

Registrar Office of the Registrar, RP

Responsible for facilitating the academic experience of students from their matriculation to their graduation, Mr Sundar W holds a key position in ensuring that student enrolment, class scheduling and student-related academic matters remain smooth and seamless.

RP to me is like… Sundar: Family, complete with all the emotional

connections. The RP culture played a decisive role in cementing my decision to join the institution. I felt drawn to and wanted to work with the sharp, confident, and energetic batch of pioneer staff that I met during the formal and informal dialogue sessions. It has been satisfying to find new colleagues joining RP sharing those same values, enabling our ethos and progress to be further strengthened and advanced. Now, when I look around my colleagues, I see that RP really does attract a unique subset of individuals. They are ambitious, creative, and highly-competent individuals who can easily fit into any industry sector. Yet, they have chosen public service, in particular RP, as the place where they can grow and develop their potential to the fullest.

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