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Over 13,500 ITE Graduates Honoured at Annual Graduation Ceremony
28 July 2025
The graduating Class of 2025 includes graduates from the pioneer batch of three-year Higher Nitec courses and two Technical Diploma courses.
The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) held its annual Graduation Ceremony on Monday, 28 July 2025, to recognise the achievements of the Class of 2025. A total of 13,552 students graduated from ITE in Academic Year 2024/2025.
Of these, 1,748 are from the inaugural batch of the following three-year Higher Nitec programmes under ITE’s enhanced curricular structure, which was introduced in 2022 to provide graduates with deeper industry-relevant skills, enhanced employability and a strong foundation for further education and skills upgrading throughout their careers:
Higher Nitec in Accounting
Higher Nitec in Sport Management
Higher Nitec in Electronics Engineering
Higher Nitec in Security System Integration
Higher Nitec in IT Systems & Networks
Higher Nitec in Cyber & Network Security
Higher Nitec in Business Information Systems
Higher Nitec in IT Applications Development
An additional 60 students from the 2023 intake of the above-mentioned courses, and the following two 3-year Higher Nitec programmes, have also graduated via the accelerated pathway, demonstrating the flexibility of the programmes in enabling students with the abilities and aptitude to progress quickly, after just two years 3 months:
Higher Nitec in AI Applications
Higher Nitec in Immersive Applications & Game
The pioneer batch of the Technical Engineer Diploma in Civil & Structural Engineering and Technical Diploma in Beauty & Wellness Management courses were among the graduands as well. These two diploma courses were launched in 2023 in collaboration with Vocational Training Council, Hong Kong, to offer more diverse progression pathways to ITE graduates and equip them with globally recognised skills.
Outstanding ITE Graduates Acknowledged
Recognised as the top graduates of their cohort, 62 received the Diploma with Merit (DWM), 650 received the Certificate of Merit (COM) while 234 were awarded Course Medals for topping their respective courses.
ITE also honoured its outstanding graduates through the following Awards:
16 Top Graduate Awards, comprising:
3 Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medals
3 Tay Eng Soon Gold Medals
3 Ngee Ann Kongsi Gold Medals
3 Singapore National Employers Federation Gold Medals
1 Singapore Business Federation Gold Medal
1 Singapore Precision Engineering & Technology Association Gold Medal
1 e2i Gold Medal
1 IES Engineering Award
10 Tay Eng Soon Scholarships
Minister for Education, and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration, Mr Desmond Lee, presented the 16 Top Graduate Awards. Another 15 graduates also received the Outstanding Progress Award at the Ceremony, in recognition of their perseverance in overcoming challenges to complete their course.
Rising Above Challenges
Among the top graduates is Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal recipient, Moses Hee Jun Hao.
Grappling with grief after losing his father during secondary school and facing academic setbacks, Moses found a new sense of purpose at ITE. With unwavering determination, he excelled in his IT Applications Development course. He has graduated with a perfect GPA of 4.0, 13 distinctions, and earned a place on the Director’s List two years in a row. For his excellence, Moses is named Valedictorian of the Class of 2025 and recipient of the Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal – an honour reserved for the most outstanding ITE graduates.
Moses’ impact stretches well beyond academic success. As leader of the Zero Food Waste team, he guided his group to win a Silver Medal at the 2023 International Exhibition for Young Inventors, standing out against over 130 teams from nine countries. His team also secured third place in the Climate Change – Zero Waste Competition and a Silver Medal at the ITE Green Ambassador Awards. Passionate about sustainability and community service, Moses drove campus-wide recycling initiatives and organised intergenerational activities, proving that leadership is as much about heart as it is about skill. During his internship at the National University of Singapore, Moses showcased his technical prowess by automating workflows and creating data dashboards – earning a full-time job offer and a sponsored Professional Certificate from NUS SCALE.
His inspiring journey of grit, innovation, and compassionate leadership not only rewrote his own future but also lights a path for others facing challenges. Moses is now pursuing a diploma and aspires to subsequently pursue a degree in computing.
A Passion for Beauty
Another inspiring top graduate is Nurul Huda Binti Mohamed Azhar. A recipient of the Singapore Business Federation Gold Medal, Huda’s interest in cultivating holistic wellness in others led her to do a Technical Diploma (TD) in Beauty & Wellness Management after completing her Nitec in Services (Beauty & Wellness). It proved to be a serendipitous decision – she discovered her passion for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) when one of her TD modules touched on the topic.
Huda’s learning was enriched through two overseas stints in Asia. These international experiences have given her new industry insights and further fuelled her passion to become a professional in the wellness industry.
Huda’s keen interest in TCM and how it can play a part in holistic wellness has motivated her to actively learn the Chinese language. She’s now looking forward to taking up TCM certification to complement what she has learnt at ITE.
Gearing Up For Success
Ashok Kumar S/O Santarakasan is a recipient of the Ngee Ann Kongsi Gold Medal. After watching his first “Fast & Furious” film at the age of nine, Ashok developed a fascination with cars. This passion led him to join the Nitec in Automotive Technology course. Ashok then went on to pursue Mechanical Engineering at Singapore Polytechnic, believing it to be the closest course to automotive technology. However, he found himself missing his automotive studies and eventually returned to ITE to pursue the Higher Nitec in Automotive Engineering course.
Back on familiar grounds, Ashok flourished and distinguished himself as a high achiever. An active participant in several community initiatives, Ashok discovered his proficiency in Mandarin was particularly helpful in connecting with the elderly and found much fulfilment in such activities.
Annex A - Details on ITE Top Graduate Awards
At the ITE Graduation Ceremony each year, ITE recognises graduates who have performed well in their courses with various awards.
Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) Gold Medal [3 awardees]
Donated in 1999 by the then Senior Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, from the sale of his memoirs, the Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) Gold Medal is awarded to the top ITE graduate of each ITE College, who has excelled in his or her course of study and co-curricular activities, and has made contributions to the community or in enriching College life. He/she will receive the LKY Gold Medal and $600 cash.
Tay Eng Soon (TES) Gold Medal [3 awardees]
The Tay Eng Soon (TES) Gold Medal was introduced in 1994, following the establishment of the TES Scholarship Fund to promote technical and polytechnic education. The Fund was established in 1993 through donations from companies, individuals and staff of ITE and the polytechnics, in memory of the late Dr Tay Eng Soon, former Chairman of ITE, and Minister in-charge of polytechnic and technical education (1981 – 1993).
An outstanding ITE graduate from each ITE College, who has achieved excellent course performance, participated actively in co-curricular activities and contributed to the well-being and development of his or her college, will receive the TES Gold Medal and $600 cash funded by the TES Scholarship Fund.
The Ngee Ann Kongsi (TNAK) Gold Medal [3 awardees]
The Ngee Ann Kongsi Gold Medal is awarded to an outstanding ITE graduate from each ITE College, for his or her excellent course performance, active participation in co-curricular activities and contributions to his or her College.
The gold medals, first presented in 2018, are funded by The Ngee Ann Kongsi, a non-profit Teochew philanthropic foundation actively involved in educational, cultural and charitable activities in Singapore. Over the years, the Kongsi has made significant contributions towards the enrichment of Singapore society and its education scene. The recipient of the award will receive the TNAK Gold Medal and $600 cash.
Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) Gold Medal [3 awardees]
The SNEF Gold Medal is awarded to the top performing graduates of the ITE Work Study Diploma Programme who has excelled in his or her course of study and has made contributions to workplace training, company projects and activities. The recipient will receive the SNEF Gold Medal and $600 cash.
Singapore Business Federation (SBF) Gold Medal [1 awardee]
The SBF Gold Medal is awarded to the top graduate of the Technical Engineer Diploma / Technical Diploma Programme for outstanding course performance. Introduced in 2022, the SBF Gold Medal is sponsored by the Singapore Business Federation. The recipient will receive the SBF Gold Medal and $600 cash.
Singapore Precision Engineering & Technology Association (SPETA) Gold Medal [1 awardee]
The SPETA Gold Medal is awarded to a top performing graduate of the Work-Study Diploma Programme (Engineering/IT-related), working in the manufacturing industry and has made outstanding contributions at the workplace. Introduced in 2023, the SPETA Gold Medal is sponsored by the Singapore Precision Engineering & Technology Association (SPETA). The recipient will receive the SPETA Gold Medal and $600 cash.
e2i Gold Medal [1 awardee]
The e2i Gold Medal was introduced in 2016 to promote lifelong learning among adult learners to increase their employability, and to motivate and give recognition to ITE Continuing Education & Training (CET) graduates for their upgrading efforts and achievements. Top ITE CET graduates will receive the e2i Gold Medal and $600 cash, donated by the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i).
IES Engineering Award [1 awardee]
Introduced in 2013, the IES Engineering Award is awarded to a top graduate for outstanding performance in an Engineering course and contributions in Engineering-related projects and activities. The IES Engineering Award is sponsored by the Institution of Engineers, Singapore. The top Engineering graduate will receive a Plaque and $600 cash.
Other Awards
The ITE Course Medals are awarded to outstanding Certificate of Merit or Diploma with Merit holders in each course. The Major de Promotion, equivalent to the Gold Course Medal, is presented to the top performer of the Technical Diploma in Culinary Arts with Restaurant Management. Recipients will receive a Gold, Silver or Bronze Course Medal and a cash quantum of $300, $200 and $100 respectively. The Course Medal awards are donated by relevant trade/professional associations and companies.
The Tay Eng Soon Scholarship (TESS) is presented to outstanding ITE graduates who have performed well academically and attained good co-curricular activity records. The TESS is open to ITE graduates pursuing a full-time Diploma course in ITE or the polytechnics. Selection for this award is based on merit.
The TESS is funded by the TESS Fund which was established in 1993 from donations received from companies, individuals and staff of ITE, Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Nanyang Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic, in memory of the late Dr Tay Eng Soon, former Chairman of ITE and Minister-in-Charge of polytechnic and technical education from 1981 to 1993.
Introduced in 2023, the ITE Outstanding Progress Awards are awarded to exemplary graduates who have shown strong perseverance in overcoming challenges to complete their course, displayed exemplary conduct, and made valuable contributions to their College and community. The recipient will receive a Plaque and $600 cash.
Certificate of Merit (COM) / Diploma with Merit (DWM)
Certificate of Merit (COM) is generally awarded to the top 5% of the graduates from each Higher Nitec and Nitec course.
Diploma with Merit (DWM) is generally awarded to the top 8% of the graduates from each Work-Study Diploma course.
Graduates must have passed all core modules at the first attempt within normal course duration and have achieved outstanding performance in their course of study, with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above, at the point of graduation, to be considered for the award of COM/DWM.
Course Medals
Course Medals are awarded to the outstanding COM / DWM holders in each course. The number of Course Medals awarded for each course is based on the number of graduates in the course, subject to a maximum of 3 medals.
Graduates will be awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze Course Medals based on their overall performance in their course of study, CCA achievements and other contributions.
Annex B - 2025 Top Graduates
Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal | |
Teo Gek Khim Azaleagrace | Higher Nitec in Interactive Design |
|---|---|
Moses Hee Jun Yao | Higher Nitec in IT Applications Development |
Damien Koh Wen Hao | Higher Nitec in Sport Management |
Tay Eng Soon Gold Medal | |
Santos Rachael Ham | Higher Nitec in Electronics Engineering |
Jolene Chua Wen Sin | Higher Nitec in Event Management |
Tham Xiu Yu | Nitec in Western Culinary Arts |
The Ngee Ann Kongsi Gold Medal | |
Katherine Tan Pei Ling | Higher Nitec in Financial Services |
Naiema Maisarah Binte Rumaizi | Higher Nitec in Passenger Services |
Ashok Kumar S/O Santarakasan | Higher Nitec in Automotive Engineering |
Singapore National Employers Federation Gold Medal | |
Mohamad Izz Syafiq B Mohamad Ali | Work-Study Diploma in Architectural BIM & Design |
Wan Nur Shalina Binte Wan Shahrul Hidhir | Work-Study Diploma in Airport Operations |
Lee Chee Keen | Work-Study Diploma in Land Transport Engineering |
IES Engineering Award | |
Daryl Chin Jun Kai | Higher Nitec in Facility Management |
e2i Gold Medal | |
Zhuang Yingfu, Eric | Higher Nitec in Technology – Electrical Engineering |
Singapore Precision Engineering & Technology Association Gold Medal | |
Muhammad Nur'Iman Bin Badrul Hesham | Work-Study Diploma in Microelectronics |
Singapore Business Federation Gold Medal | |
Nurul Huda Binti Mohamed Azhar | Technical Diploma in Beauty & Wellness Management |