ITE 06/18/01


Press Release No. 08/07


Information Embargoed Until
Delivery of Speeches on Tue 24 July 2007


 ITE’S FIRST TECHNICAL ENGINEER DIPLOMA PROGRAMME TO COMMENCE IN APRIL 2008


                As part of the Government’s policy to provide greater diversity and opportunities in the education system, ITE will introduce its first Diploma programme in 2008.


2              The new Technical Engineer Diploma (TED) in Machine Technology course will commence in April next year. A full-time programme, the course will fill a critical niche for highly-skilled technologists in the precision engineering industry. A collaborative effort between ITE and the Federal Republic of Germany’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEYS), Baden Wϋerttemberg, the Technical Engineer Diploma is a new progression path for ITE graduates who possess Nitec or Higher Nitec in related fields.


3              The TED programme will comprise two years of institutional training and 18 months of industry work experience. It is modeled after the ‘Staatlich Geprufter Technicker’ (or State Certified Technical Engineer) course, issued by the state of Baden Wϋerttemberg.


Minister’s Announcement on New Diploma Programme

4               Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Finance, will officially announce the new initiative in his Speech to be delivered at the ITE Graduation Ceremony on Tue 24 Jul 07. The Ceremony will be held at the University Cultural Centre Hall starting 3 pm.


5               At the Ceremony, 786 students from the graduating cohort of 11,884 students will be receiving their Certificates of Merit. Of these, 113 will be awarded Course Medals for their outstanding achievements. These Medals are donated by Professional Associations and ITE’s industry partners.


Eleven Outstanding ITE Graduands for Academic Year 2006/2007

6               The highlight of the Ceremony is the presentation of the Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal, Tay Eng Soon Gold Medal and Sng Yew Chong Gold Medal to the top three graduands of the Academic Year 2006/2007. Profiles of the three Medal winners are at Annex A.


7               Eight other top graduands will be presented with the Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation (SMa) Medal (two recipients), the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Medal (two recipients), the ITE Alumni Association Medal (two recipients) and the Continuing Education & Training (CET) Awards sponsored by Singapore Labour Foundation (two recipients). Profiles of the eight Medal winners are at Annex B.


Invitation to Media


8              ITE will be holding a Press Briefing on the new Technical Engineer Diploma in Machine Technology course on Mon 23 Jul 07 at 1500 hours at the Boardroom, Level 9, ITE Headquarters, Dover Drive. The Briefing will be chaired by Mr Bruce Poh, Director & CEO, ITE.


9              Members of the media are cordially invited to the Press Briefing on 23 Jul 07, as well as to cover the ITE Graduation Ceremony on 24 Jul 07. The programme for the ITE Graduation Ceremony is enclosed at Annex C.


10             For queries or arrangements for interviews, please communicate with Jailani Nathan, Head/Publicity, ITE, on tel: 6772 0805, or Ms Joycelyn Seet, Head/Online Communication, on tel: 6770 0744.

 

Released on: 19 Jul 07

 

The Institute of Technical Education (ITE), Singapore, was established as a post-secondary education institution in 1992 under the Ministry of Education. ITE is a principal provider of career and technical education and principal authority in developing national occupational skills certification and standards to enhance Singapore's workforce competitiveness. Under its "One ITE System, Three Colleges" Model of Education and Governance, ITE has three Colleges, comprising ITE College Central, ITE College East and ITE College West.

 

 

Annex A

ITE GRADUATION CEREMONY 2007

 

Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal Winner 2007

Nurshahidah Roslie, 19
Higher Nitec in Sports Management
ITE College East

If there is one thing that would complete Nurshahidah Roslie’s day, it would be to see the contented smiles on the faces of the physically challenged charges under her care overcoming physical and psychological barriers in sports. “What I’m doing is an extension of what I learnt in ITE. Sports is one way of integrating the disabled in mainstream society. And I’m just glad to play a part in helping them to lead fulfilling lives,” said Nurshahidah, who was also President of the Interact Club at ITE College East.

As part of her involvement with the Interact Club, Nurshahidah led a group of ITE students to represent Singapore at the Model United Nations Assembly Conference, in Nov 2006. Nurshahidah is one who knows what she wants. After all, she had chosen to study Sports & Wellness Management in ITE even though her GCE ‘O’ level grades could have given her a place in a Polytechnic. She said: “I like both the science and business aspects of sports. In ITE, I received a first-class foundation of the former.” She is currently pursuing the Diploma in Sports & Exercise Science course at the Republic Polytechnic.

 

Tay Eng Soon Gold Medal Winner 2007

Sim Wee Jin, 19
Nitec in Mechatronics (Automation Technology)
ITE College Central

During his two years in ITE, Wee Jin was fixated on robots. He took part in the national competition, WorldSkills Singapore, and competed in the skills area of Robotics. He also took part in the Robo-GP Competition, competing with Junior Colleges and secondary schools, to emerge champion with the robot he programmed. “What I like about robots is to be able to programme it for industrial application by combining the different engineering disciplines,” said he.

“I want to create a robot that can help people during calamities.” Wee Jin cited an example of a runway disaster where the wheel of the plane caught some metal debris and crashed. The disaster could have been avoided and lives saved if a robot was programmed to do a quick sweep of runways for stray debris. Wee Jin also got to serve the elderly as President of the Community Service Committee as part of his Co-Curricular Activities. He is certainly the successful candidate of ITE’s Hands-on, Minds-on, Hearts-on learning.

 

Sng Yew Chong Gold Medal Winner 2007

Ng Joo Seng Clement, 18
Nitec in Digital Media Design
ITE College Central

The aspiring art teacher and comic book artist intends to major in Fine Arts when he begins his full-time Diploma studies at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in July. Said Clement: “ITE has equipped me with a strong foundation in digital media software skills. My plan now is to focus on honing my techniques in traditional art media, such as drawing and painting, which I feel is important if I am going to pursue art as a profession.”

Apart from excelling in his studies, Clement also lends his artistic talent to worthy causes. In June 2005, he led a group of ITE schoolmates in a 14-day Youth Expedition Project to Bangalore, where they created a wall mural together with the students at a technical institute there. As President of the Art & Design Club and Coordinator for the Watercolour Painting group, Clement shares his knowledge readily with his peers and gives them constructive advice on their artwork. He also helped a game company, Melchiz in the designing of cartoon characters for a board game on Singapore’s history, targeted at lower secondary school students.

 

 

Annex B

ITE GRADUATION CEREMONY 2007

 

Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation Medal Winner

Davis Phua Boon Chye, 36
Higher Nitec in Mechanical Engineering
ITE College West

An Officer with the Republic of Singapore Navy, Davis Phua’s dream was to go back to school to upgrade himself. So when he was given a chance to take up a course at ITE, Davis was determined to do his best. With his working experience, organisational and leadership skills, Davis was a natural leader whom fellow course mates looked up to for guidance.

At ITE, this father of two was actively involved in technology projects and community service. His project – the Body Mass Index (BMI) Machine - won the team the Lee Kuan Yew Technology Award 2007. Another project, a cow robot that ‘dances’ to a tune topped the Open Category of the Robotics Competition 2007, beating entries from other learning institutions. Of his community work, the Vice-Chairman of SAFE Home Project in ITE College West, said: “It was challenging but at the end of the day, the smiles on the faces of the old folks make up for all the hard work.”

 

Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation Medal Winner 2007

Huang Han Xiang, 20
Nitec in Chemical Process Technology (Pharmaceuticals)
ITE College West

While others his age would immerse themselves in computer games or hang out at their favourite joints after school hours, Han Xiang worked part-time at a McDonald’s outlet when he was in Secondary 3 to supplement his family income. For his excellence in service, he was awarded the Tourism Service Quality Award (Silver) Medal in 2004. Such excellence in spirit was also evident in the way he handled his studies and co-curricular activities (CCA).

A member of the Youth Expedition Project to Sri Lanka, Han Xiang together with his team built shelters, and constructed beds and playground for the poor and needy. “It gave me an insight of our common humanity and my responsibility as a global citizen,” said Han Xiang, who will be putting his polytechnic education on hold so that he could earn a living and support his family first.

 

ITE Alumni Association Medal Winner 2007

Maggie Chia Hwee Shan, 19
Higher Nitec in Integrated Logistics Management
ITE College East

“Tenacity” is a word that immediately comes to mind when describing 19-year old Maggie Chia Hwee Shan. Talking to her about the projects that she was involved in at ITE, it was quickly apparent that the Higher Nitec in Integrated Logistics Management student from ITE College East was someone who not only tackles challenges with gusto, but, more often than not, assumed a leadership role as well.

As the Entrepreneurship Club’s President, Maggie shared her enthusiasm with fellow students and together they carried out various entrepreneurial projects which engaged the secondary schools, polytechnics and shopping centres in the heartlands. These they did with limited resources and manpower to achieve optimum results. Like how she shone through in whatever entrepreneurial projects that she led, Maggie also made a strong impression during her Industrial Attachment. So much so that her supervisor at Miele Private Limited, a multi-national corporation, offered her a position at the end of her attachment.

 

ITE Alumni Association Medal Winner 2007

Ms Zhang Ci Ping, 23
Higher Nitec in Information Technology
ITE College Central

Zhang Ci Ping aspires to be a “computer hacker” who gets paid for doing so. Sounds preposterous? Not when the “hacker” is one employed by software companies to test the robustness of their to-be-launched products, though. Said Ci Ping: “Software manufacturers sometimes hire IT professionals and computer engineers to try to ‘hack’ their newly-developed programmes, to see if there are areas to troubleshoot and improve on, before the products hit the shelves.”

Ci Ping was also part of a duo that beat teams from the Universities and Polytechnics to clinch a coveted spot to represent Singapore at the Asia Pacific Information and Communication Technology Awards 2006, held in Macau. A big turnaround indeed considering that she barely knew how to email four years ago. Her achievements were made possible even she was busy holding a part-time job and juggling leadership positions in several CCAs.

 

National Trades Union Congress Medal Winner 2007

Chan Cheong Yew, 19
Nitec in Info-Communications Technology
ITE College East

He seemed to discover his niche early in life. At Secondary 2, to be exact. Then, the IT whiz in Cheong Yew became apparent when he produced a wireless interface control using skills that he taught himself – much to the amazement of his teachers and friends at Temasek Secondary School. “I’ll put it down to having a natural aptitude for IT and techie stuff,” he admitted smilingly.

This Vice-Chairman of his College’s ICT Club has proven that he is quite the leader too; having led his team to clinch awards at the 3G SPLASH National Info-Comm Competition and the Java Jive Technopreneur Challenge. Toss Cheong Yew a challenge and you know you will get results in return. Like how he swiftly responded to the task of setting up an IP Convergence Lab at the College. “It all started with me fiddling with a faulty IP phone. And I asked the lecturer if I could fix it. And I did, and that was how I got involved,” shared Cheong Yew.

 

National Trades Union Congress Medal Winner 2007

Wee Sui Xiong, 22
Nitec in Service Skills (Retail)
ITE College East

Joseph Wee Sui Xiong landed a job six months before he graduated. One among 10 who were offered a Retail Scholarship by C K Tang Ltd, as well as a job there, Joseph is one lucky ITE graduate. His Retail Scholarship paid for his course fee, textbooks and monthly stipend. All that immaculate service skills he picked up from ITE, he shared. He recalled how ITE got him to take part in a Hong Kong International Trade Fair for Virtual Enterprises when he was barely two months into his course. Setting up a virtual tour agency and trading booth to sell Singapore to visitors who came to the Fair, Joseph did well, even leading his team to the top prize. His leadership qualities shone.

As well as Joseph did in leading, he also scored in his studies. He aced all his Nitec modules. He was a role model to his peers, often motivating them in their studies. On many occasions, he was also ‘Big Brother’ and ‘Aunt Agony’ rolled into one, as he was looked upon for advice on various matters.

 

CET Award Winner

Hoh Koon Ann Winson, 44
Higher Nitec in Electronics Engineering
ITE College West

Winson had no choice but to “bring in the dough” after his GCE ‘O’ levels, as his younger siblings were still schooling. He recalled envying his more fortunate peers who were able to pursue their paper qualifications. Not only did he garner a string of certificates in various skill areas such as Upholstery, Automotive, Electrical, and Electronics, Winson also excelled in his pursuits. “That’s only because I have a very supportive wife, understanding peers and kind bosses,” said he with a modest smile.

The Guard Commander with the Singapore Police Force found ITE’s part-time courses most handy as these provided him with the skills he needed to fix things around the house, and in the office. “What I’ve learnt at ITE has helped me to be more competent in my full-time job as a Police Officer. I have now a deeper understanding of electronic principles and circuits, and this allows me to deal with security threats better,” said Winson.

 

CET Award Winner

Leong Kok Keoh, 48
Nitec in Building Services Technology (Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration)
ITE College East

Kok Keoh started attending industry-related courses offered in ITE, at the age of 43. Then, he had just been retrenched. Since then, he has been upgrading to raise his competencies. In May this year he graduates as the proud holder of Nitec in Building Services Technology, and a Medal winner to boot.

Moving forward, Kok Keoh wants to be ready for a career in Building Services Technology. He believes the development of the new Integrated Resorts will offer greater opportunities in career development. Kok Keoh has now progressed to the second specialisation of the Building Services Technology course which covers Mechanical and Electrical Services. With the Award, he has also set a fine example for his 12 year-old daughter. “I want her to know that one should never succumb to life’s challenges easily, but must take every opportunity to continue learning and upgrading.”

 

 

 

Annex C

 

ITE GRADUATION CEREMONY 2007


Programme
   
2.30pm Medal & Certificate Recipients to be seated
   
2.40pm Guests to be seated
   

2.55pm

Arrival of Guest-of-Honour
Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Minister for Education
& Second Minister for Finance

   

3.00pm

National Anthem

ITE Song

Video Presentation

Address by Mr Bruce Poh Geok Huat
Director & Chief Executive Officer
Institute of Technical Education

Address by Guest-of-Honour

Presentation of Certificates of Merit

Presentation of Course Medals

Presentation of Top Awards to Outstanding Graduates

Valedictory Speech by Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal Winner

Song Tribute for Class of 2007
   
5.00pm Reception