Breaking News
The Singapore VTE – Established and Adaptable

Corporate Happenings
Our Distinguished Visitors

Singapore’s Most Skilful Take Centre Stage

ITE Graduation Ceremony 2006 - All Ready in a Globalised World

Our Graduates and Students
Of High Hopes and Wise Choices

Goh-ing the Distance

International Linkages
ITE Renews MOU with Ministry Of Education, Youth and Sports, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

ITE Inks MOUs with HRD Korea and Korea Polytechnic II College

College News
The Greater Good of the Great Outdoors

Lights, Camera and …Onion!

Match-Making Portal for Youth Volunteers

Lifelong Learning
Learning and Loving It

Star Staff
Woman of Substance

Singapore’s Most Skilful Take Centre Stage

by Liang Hwee Ming

Muhammad Sufyan bin Zainalabidin, 19, did not expect to see a steady stream of visitors peering at him during the three days of the Finals of WorldSkills Singapore (WSS) 2006, organised recently by ITE with the support of the Polytechnics.

Recalled the Mechanical Engineering Drawing & Design CADD competitor from Singapore Polytechnic: “There were visitors looking at me while I work, but I did not let them distract me. Instead, I concentrated fully on the tasks I need to do and was very focused.” Sufyan’s single-mindedness paid off, when he won the Gold Medal of his competition area. He was among the 130 finalists who pitted their skills at the WSS 2006 competition areas.

Held once in every two years, WorldSkills Singapore enables technically-skilled Singaporean youths to meet and compete in their skill areas. Its aim is to promote the value of skills and raise the standards of skills excellence through competitions. The competition was officially opened by Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister of State for Education and Manpower on 13 July 2006. President S R Nathan gave away the awards to top winners at the Closing Ceremony on 20 July 2006.

Gold Medallists like Sufyan stand a chance to represent Singapore on an international platform – the 39th WorldSkills Competition, to be held in Shizuoka, Japan, in November 2007.

New Competition Areas, New Challenges
WSS 2006 saw the debut of two new competition areas this year, namely Robotics and Telecommunications Distribution Technology.

For Ivan Khor Zhi Yuan of Nanyang Polytechnic, being the pioneer Gold Medallist of the Telecommunications Distribution Technology competition area means a lot to him. Said Ivan: “Winning the medal is an affirmation that I can do well. I have always considered myself an average student, so it’s reassuring to know that I am good in this area. It is challenging to be the first competitor to represent Singapore in this competition area, as we do not know what to expect at the international competition.”

Networking with Past and Future Competitors
At the Opening Ceremony, Mr Gan announced the establishment of the WorldSkills Singapore Network (WSN) – a platform where past WSS finalists can come together to add value to the WSS competitions. Explained Mr Gan: “The WSN will provide a platform for all WorldSkills Singapore finalists – future and past – to network and promote professional interest. At the same time, they form the best resources to help Singapore raise the standards of training and preparation for the WorldSkills Competition.”

Spearheading the WSN is Tan Kian Ann, Gold Medallist in Information Technology – Software Applications in Seoul, Korea, in 2001. Said Kian Ann, who is currently an undergraduate at the National University of Singapore: “I think people who have experienced the WorldSkills Competition are very special people, and I really want to see what can happen when they work together with past and present competitors! I also hope to be able to mentor more “WorldSkills quality” youths in Singapore.”