Breaking News
ITE Sets up Regional Vocational Training Centre in Jordan

Singapore’s Best and
Many Firsts

International Relations
Our Distinguished Visitors

Corporate Happenings
Get Real with Authentic
Learning!

Prepping up ITE’s First Diploma Programme

ITE Educators, We Salute You

ITE-Industry Partnership
Young Entrepreneurs Rewarded, New Start-ups Recognised

Fish with Chips, a New Oceanarium Experience

Community Ties
Bringing Love to Laos

SAFE Home Programme Wins President’s Award

ITE Stars
Love Works in Mysterious Ways

The Lady Calls the Shots

SINGAPORE’S BEST AND MANY FIRSTS

by Yong Tsuey Ling

Singapore Ranks 5th for Skills Excellence
3 Golds, 1 Bronze & 6 Medallions for Excellence

Singapore shone at the so-called Olympics of Skills, which is the biennial WorldSkills Competition. One of 47 contenders, Singapore surpassed first-world countries like Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Sweden and the UK, thanks to 14 promising youths. Not only did they share the same stage with the world’s best, they also outshone their peers in 12 skills areas, at the Competition held in Shizuoka, Japan, from 14 to 21 November 2007. They were among more than 800 youths to compete in 12 of the Competition’s 47 skills areas.

This year’s performance was Singapore’s best. Mr Bruce Poh, Director & CEO, ITE, and Singapore’s Official Delegate to the Competition, said: “We climbed from twelfth to fifth place in terms of medal tally, and ranked third in terms of Average Medal Points. We have done better than countries with bigger economies and more years of experience in the Competition. Our achievement is an endorsement of the strength of our education and training system. ”ITE led Team Singapore to the Competition in Japan.

First Attempt, First Gold for Caring
Ethel Lim and Poh Pei Fen clinched a Gold in the Caring skills area. Taking part as a team for their first time, the Singapore girls beat contenders from the Netherlands, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The Nanyang Polytechnic girls tapped on their Nursing know-how to wow the Competition judges with their skilful judgment and caring ways.

First Gold for Mechanical Engineering CADD
Muhammad Sufyan b Zainalabidin not only picked up a Gold for Mechanical Engineering CADD, but also created history with a breakthrough win for Singapore. Said the Singapore Polytechnic graduate, “We have not won a Gold in this area before. The last we took part in 2001, Singapore won a Silver. To win a Gold is indeed an honour.” Sufyan surpassed 20 fellow competitors from countries like France, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan and Korea.

Continued Dominance in IT PC/Network Support
Timothy Goh Su Hwee did not disappoint: Singapore has been winning Gold for IT PC/Network Support in three successive rounds of the Competition. This year, Singapore dominated yet again with Timothy, bagging a Gold, as well as the ‘Best of Nation’ medal. How did he beat 20 other competitors? His reply: “By pretending to be a System Administrator during the Competition.”

First Medal for Industrial Control
Neo Yuan Sheng made history when he hauled in a medal for the first time for Singapore in Industrial Control. He revealed that he was ‘fearful’ of competitors from Germany, the Principality of Liechtenstein, as well as Japan and Korea. ‘Fear’ worked, evidently.
Singapore also won six Medallions for Excellence for CNC Turning, Graphic Design Technology, Industrial Electronics, IT/Software Applications, Mobile Robotics, and Web Design.