Where Businesses Take Flight Why Ngee Ann Poly Is the Place to Be for Young Entrepreneurs
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A publication of Ngee Ann Polytechnic Issue 1 of 2018 Where Businesses Take Flight Why Ngee Ann Poly is the place to be for young entrepreneurs FUTURE-PROOFING CAREERS: SKILLS TRAINING FOR ADULT LEARNERS AT NGEE ANN POLY / contents / GET THE The Heart of Human Resources features 13 How Ms Ho Wei Yee, Finalist, On Course for the Future President’s Award for Teachers, Ngee Ann’s Continuing Education 02 nurtures students through hands-on & Training Academy offers curated learning programmes and future skills training for adult learners TRA EDGE Getting a World of Experience Future-proofing careers through courses Innovation for the Community 14 Our students traverse Asia on 04 Find out how Ngee Ann students meaningful learning journeys 04 are changing lives for the better at Ngee Ann’s CET Academy with their final-year projects A Film about Dad 16 Touching short film by Ngee Ann 14 cover story graduates now available on Toggle What it Takes to Boost 08 Entrepreneurship EMERGING SKILLS Ngee Ann’s initiatives are nurturing the last page Data Analytics young entrepreneurs 17 A Symphony of Arts and Heart Digital Media EARN & LEARN Entrepreneurship highlights PROGRAMME A Vision for Service-Learning Financial Services & Upgrading programmes Governance 12 Partnership with World Vision to for fresh polytechnic boost Ngee Ann’s Service-Learning Tech-enabled Services efforts Advanced graduates, offered in Manufacturing partnership with the industry A publication of Ngee Ann Polytechnic Issue 1 of 2018 Where Businesses Take Flight DIPLOMAS: PART-TIME / CUSTOMISED COURSES Why Ngee Ann Poly is the place to be for young entrepreneurs CONVERSION / ADVANCED Specially tailored training / SPECIALIST programmes that help Acquire specialised knowledge companies remain in core areas or prepare for a competitive career industry switch 08 FUTURE-PROOFING CAREERS: SKILLS TRAINING FOR ADULT LEARNERS AT NGEE ANN POLY COVER PHOTO: KOH SZE KIAT TRAVEL & LEARN PROGRAMME CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE Explore new markets and EDITOR Andrea Chua WORKFORCE forge networking opportunities SKILLS through learning journeys ASSISTANT EDITOR QUALIFICATIONS across Asia Melanie Wee Get equipped with key SENIOR DESIGNER competencies and skills Frances Sim for the workforce CONTRIBUTORS Sarah Lim Sarah Oh SkillsFuture Singapore funding of up to 95% is available for selected courses. For enquiries, contact us at For more information, visit www.np.edu.sg/cet [email protected]. 2 HR and training departments interested in sending staff for these courses can also email [email protected] 3 NPnews IFC CET AD.indd 1 12/6/18 3:29 PM / features / NP’S CONTINUING EDUCATION & TRAINING (CET) ACADEMY AT A GLANCE: INCREASE STUDENT INTAKE: IN STUDENT TRAINING HOURS > INTAKE (AY2017): 3,000 FROM AY2016: > annually 27% 850,000 INCREASE IN TRAINING TRAINING PLACES* INCREASE IN HOURS FROM (AY2017): TRAINING PLACES* AY2016: FROM AY2016: 38% >15,000 30% *Each module represents one training place SNAPSHOTS OF SOME INTERESTING PROGRAMMES: environment and experience the realities of startup 1 Artificial Intelligence in Finance (AIF) businesses. It will also supply a pipeline of talent for startups to ease their hiring crunch. Artificial intelligence is shaking up the financial sector in a big way. Industry professionals can stay abreast of its 4 Travel & Learn Programme cutting-edge trends through the online 18-module AIF course, a partnership between NP and the London-based Centre for Network with seasoned entrepreneurs, hear insider business ON COURSE FOR THE FUTURE Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship. Industry thought viewpoints and visit local incubators. These are among the Ngee Ann’s Continuing Education & Training Academy leaders will share key fundamentals and real-life case studies experiences on offer in the Travel & Learn Programme, a offers curated programmes and future skills training for adult learners on topics ranging from basic artificial intelligence technology flagship initiative of Ngee Ann Polytechnic. to the implementation of strategic-level artificial intelligence. The Travel & Learn Programme which was first launched The enrolment for AIF is hitting 2,000. The programme’s in March 2017, helps business development professionals ention “skills upgrading” and many would imagine bite-sized, modular courses, many of which are eligible for anchor sponsors, OCBC Bank and UOB, alone have committed gain startup knowledge in a practical setting and connects going back to the school or classroom. But for SkillsFuture Singapore subsidies. Adult learners can get up to M more than 1,000 training places for their staff. A 70 per them with local business owners to explore potential Ms Doreen Low, learning came in the form of an speed with disruptive technologies such as fintech, robotics, cent fee subsidy from SkillsFuture Singapore is available collaborations. Through the programme, participants are overseas trip to Myanmar instead. drones, blockchain and the Internet of Things. for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. For more exposed to new business markets and opportunities available The owner of corporate services company, Aspri Group, Meanwhile, individuals looking to upgrade their skills information, visit aifinance.sg in China, India and South-east Asia. participated in the Travel & Learn Programme, which aims or switch careers will benefit from CET Academy’s formal For more information on upcoming trips, visit to provide local businesses with overseas startup knowledge courses, leading to a diploma, specialist diploma, advanced 2 www.np.edu.sg/travelandlearn and networking opportunities. The study trip is among diploma or Workforce Skills Qualifications. Corporate training SkillsFuture Series the initiatives rolled out by Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s (NP) courses can also be customised to equip employees with up- In October 2017, SkillsFuture Singapore launched a new 5 Customised Courses Continuing Education & Training (CET) Academy, in line with to-date skillsets. SkillsFuture Series of training programmes in eight emerging the government’s call to lifelong learning for all ages through “Lifelong learning will be the new norm. As a ‘poly skills areas, anchored by local polytechnics, universities Organisations seeking to upgrade their employees’ skillsets the national SkillsFuture movement. for all ages’, NP fundamentally plays a key role in helping and ITE. In line with this, NP rolled out 12 SkillsFuture can tap on CET Academy’s customised courses, which are “Through the Travel & Learn Programme, we were Singaporeans of all ages stay relevant and current in their Series courses in the areas of Entrepreneurship, Advanced tailored to meet the needs of individual companies. The introduced to international corporations in Myanmar jobs and skills,” said NP Principal, Mr Clarence Ti. Manufacturing, Tech-enabled Services and Data Analytics. The CET Academy has developed courses for organisations such including PWC and Deloitte. NP’s established network of Entrepreneurship series is led by NP, and includes curated short as PSA Singapore (Maritime Motion & Control) and SingTel trusted corporate partners and alumni have helped to pave the As a ‘poly for all ages’, NP and modular courses pitched at different proficiency levels. (Deep Dive into Python). way for the opening of our branch in Myanmar,” said Ms Low. fundamentally plays a key role Entrepreneurship, one of the eight emerging areas identified 3 by SkillsFuture Singapore last year, is led by NP. The polytechnic in helping Singaporeans of all Startup Talent Factory will drive and expand a comprehensive range of industry- ages stay relevant and current The Startup Talent Factory matches recent polytechnic relevant courses covering technopreneurship, financing, graduates to jobs in startups, lasting from nine months Check out our full range of CET courses. product and market development, and global business. in their jobs and skills. to a year, with recommended starting salaries of $2,500. Beyond entrepreneurship, the CET Academy offers – Mr Clarence Ti, NP Principal This allows them to build marketable skills in a fast-paced 4 5 / features / Jonathan Lee and Ang Hwee GRANDMA’S NEW CARER Leng developed the Vision cap, which helps users with visual impairment to move around more safely. Meet the Telebot, Mdm Chew’s robot buddy. Her new friend Singapore once a year, while my son lives with his family in INNOVATION has a screen for its head and trundles around on wheels. Yishun. Seeing their faces on the Telebot’s screen makes It can also read the news on request, and even dance to me feel as if they are physically present with me,” said catchy tunes. Mdm Chew. Developed by the students and staff from Ngee Ann Wei Feng, a final-year student who worked on the FOR THE Polytechnic’s (NP) Electrical Engineering division, the Telebot Telebot project, added: “It makes for more meaningful is a life-sized interactive humanoid that allows caregivers to communication compared to a phone call, although it may stay in touch with seniors living alone. It also keeps them not be the same as speaking with someone face-to-face. It is engaged in their daily lives, and acts as a social companion also easy to access and saves on commuting time.” COMMUNITY and guardian. For example, the “personal assistant” can help While the Telebot is programmed to function Find out how Ngee Ann students are its “human bosses” remember to take their pills, and even autonomously, caregivers can also control the robot remotely changing lives for the better with their connect them to family and medical professionals through with a web-based application. video calls. “For instance, if the user forgets where he or she has final-year projects TEXT: SARAH LIM & SARAH OH “Social isolation is a growing issue among the elderly in placed their medication, caregivers can guide the robot to Singapore. We hope that the Telebot will keep them socially, lead them to the correct location in their homes,” said Wei emotionally and mentally engaged,” said Mr Li Yinbei, the Feng. “It is not meant to replace humans; rather, it allows NP lecturer who supervised the Telebot project.