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Virtually Singapore, Truly ITE

Virtually Singapore, Truly ITE

by Yong Tsuey Ling

A Virtual Enterprise competition sent seven ITE College East students reeling on a thrill, literally. Joining in with nary a clue about Virtual Enterprise, or e-trading, the majority of the students were also barely two months into their Nitec in Service Skills (Retail) course. All the same, they flew to Hong Kong to compete on an international platform that was the 2006 Hong Kong International Trade Fair for Virtual Enterprises.

“Kiasu or not, we started to plan before we flew over,” said the leader among them, Joseph Wee Sui Xiong. With the help of their Accounting Lecturer, Ms Dion Lee, the students simulated a virtual tour agency, registering their entry, ITEntrepreneurs Virtual Enterprise_Merlion Tour Agency, with a blogspot in place, for virtual services.

International Act
Although prepared, the ITE team faced keen competition. “The Americans were aggressive, yet we were undeterred. What they took five days to build, we did it in two hours,” said Joseph. He was referring to the booth the competitors had to set up, so they could trade, as what is usually done at a typical trade fair.

Decked up with posters and everything Singaporean, the booth treated visitors to a unique Singapore Experience. They met with ITE’s very own Singapore Girl – one of the students donned the kebaya – while another wore a Punjabi suit to show off Singapore’s multi-cultural facets.

Winning Factor
The ITE team also demonstrated a sound sales pitch, as well as trading skills. What they lacked in trading experience, they more than made up with their attitude and easy charm. Visitors who came by the booth were won over by the students’ good customer relations skills and spontaneity. Said Mrs Tan-Lim Lai Soon, Director, School of Business & Services, ITE College East. “I am proud that the ITE team had risen to the challenge. They actually beat the teams from Hong Kong and USA and won the Best Overseas Virtual Enterprise.” The ITE team won based on the votes cast by visitors to the Trade Fair.

Equally elated, Lecturer Dion Lee, felt that the competition had given the students a first-hand experience of Virtual Enterprise and an opportunity to benchmark against students from other countries. The recently-held Competition, showcasing virtual products and services of Virtual Enterprises from all over the world, was organised by the Hong Kong Network of Virtual Enterprises, Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Morrison Hill) and Hong Kong Vocational Training Council.