Issue 2 of 2016

A publication of Ngee Ann Polytechnic

DREAM CHASERSPursuing what they love is a winning formula for this year’s top graduates

TAKING ON THE WORLD Aspiring entrepreneurs get insights with Silicon Valley internships

/ contents /highlightsAspiring Doctors Head to Medical School Three Biomedical Science graduates are a step closer to their dream vocation Building FinTech Talent for the Industry Ngee Ann students in banking and IT-related courses will gain from the polytechnics’ collaboration with Monetary Authority of Singapore Ngee Ann Launches Two New DiplomasStudent-athletes and aspiring Tamil Language teachers to benefit from Ngee Ann’s latest courses

A Triumph over Adversity Ngee Ann’s Student Excellence Awards celebrate student achievements in the non-academic arena Honouring Singapore’s “Invisible” People Students and graduates from the School of Film & Media Studies pay tribute to unsung heroes

cover storyShooting for the Stars Our graduates pursued their passions and emerged at the top of their class

features Start-up Lessons from Silicon Valley Keen entrepreneurs get business-savvy, thanks to internships at start-ups across the globe Seeing the World Differently Three Ngee Ann students ventured beyond Singapore’s shores for valuable out-of-classroom experiences The Great Escape for a Good Cause Giant “jail cell” on campus aims to encourage staff and student commitment to community service

the last pageGet Fit, the Robocoach Way

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CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

EDITOR V Prema

ASSISTANT EDITOR Melanie Wee

DESIGNER Kamaruzi Berro

For enquiries, contact us at askNP@np.edu.sg or call 6466 6555.

COVER PHOTO: MARK TEO

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NGEE ANN GRADUATES SHINE IN THEIR CHOSEN PATHSFor many Ngee Ann graduates, the pursuit of success doesn’t end when they receive their diplomas. In fact, it’s often only the beginning. We’re proud to celebrate the successes of some of them here:

JEAN CHIA recently became the 10th NP graduate to win a prestigious Public Service Commission (PSC) scholarship. Under the PSC Singapore Government Scholarship, the Class of 2016 Biomedical Science graduate will pursue a degree in Arts & Social Sciences at NUS.

lass of 2016 graduate Julia Tan got closer to fulfilling her medical ambition when she was accepted into the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Yong

Loo Lin School of Medicine. Topping her cohort this year, she was also among the three recipients of the Lee Kuan Yew Award, presented to top graduates from a technology course (see story on page 9).

“My dream is to become a humanitarian doctor so that I can help out in underprivileged communities that need aid,” shared Julia.

Last year’s top Biomedical Science graduate Brandon Lim also got a spot in the NUS medical school and will begin his studies after completing National Service.

Meanwhile, Class of 2016 alumnus Zenneth Lim became the first Ngee Ann graduate to be accepted into the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at Nanyang Technological University.

C Julia Tan is among the three Biomedical Science

graduates who were directly admitted to local medical schools this year.

ASPIRING DOCTORS HEAD TO MEDICAL SCHOOLThree graduates from the Biomedical Science course are now a step closer to their dream vocation

Julia, Brandon and Zenneth all hail from Ngee Ann’s School of Life Sciences & Chemical Technology (LSCT). “We are proud to see these outstanding graduates take the next step in their medical ambitions and feel satisfied to have journeyed with them in achieving their dreams,” said LSCT Director Dr Hedy Goh.

Their achievement brings to ten the number of Ngee Ann graduates who have gained direct admission to local medical schools.

Class of 2012 Aerospace Technology alumnus JORDAN MILLER received the Singapore Armed Forces Merit Scholarship and will pursue a degree in Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial College, London.

Mass Communication alumnus SHANNON ANG was awarded the NTU College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences International PhD Scholarship to pursue a PhD in Sociology at the University of Michigan. The Class of 2009 graduate will join NTU’s faculty after completing his doctorate.

Class of 2005 Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering (Avionics) alumnus, GANASEKAR S/O SINNAKANNU was NUS’ oldest graduate from a full-time engineering programme this year. The 42-year-old Naval Warfare System Expert (Navigations Systems) from the Republic of Singapore Navy graduated with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering with Honours (Merit). He also won the Alcatel-Lucent Technologies Prize for the best Communications Engineering final-year project.

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For budding entrepreneur Angeline Tan, spending six months at a Silicon Valley start-up was like a dream come true. Her internship there which began in September will provide practical start-up experience for the final-year Business Studies student who also runs a clothing and accessories store at the youth hub, *SCAPE.

Angeline’s internship, an initiative under Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s (NP) Global Entrepreneurial Internship Programme (GEIP) was made possible by funding from Ngee Ann Kongsi. The philanthropic foundation annually contributes 25 per cent of its income to the polytechnic. Half of this amount which is capped at $2 million goes

$8.7 MILLION DONATION FROM NGEE ANN KONGSI

Singapore Sports School Principal Mr Tan Teck Hock and NP Principal Mr Clarence Ti (fourth and fifth from left respectively) with potential BS-EMGT student-athletes.

efferson Cheong has always had two goals: to represent Singapore at the SEA Games

in 2019 and to follow in his father’s footsteps as an entrepreneur. Now, the secondary four fencer at the Singapore Sports School can pursue both targets, thanks to Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s (NP) Diploma in Business Studies (Entrepreneurship Management Option) or BS-EMGT.

The BS-EMGT which is catered specially to student-athletes from the Singapore Sports School will be launched in January 2017. To accommodate their training schedules, the customised diploma will adopt a

NGEE ANN LAUNCHES TWO NEW DIPLOMASStudent-athletes and aspiring Tamil Language teachers to benefit from Ngee Ann’s latest courses

Jflexible timetable. Student-athletes will also bypass the ‘O’ level examinations for seamless progression to the through-train programme that focuses on Entrepreneurship Management.

“The Diploma in Business Studies has always been one of NP’s most sought-after courses. We are happy that we can adapt it for the student-athletes at the Sports School,” said NP Principal Mr Clarence Ti.

The unique course structure which delivers one module a month will help Jefferson integrate both sports and studies. “This will let me keep abreast of my work, even with a busy competition schedule,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Diploma in Tamil Studies with Early Education will let students share their passion for the Tamil language by teaching young children. Set to be launched in April 2017, it offers a strong foundation in early childhood education settings and practices, and exposure to Tamil history, culture and literature.

Students can look forward to a five-week local or overseas immersion programme as well as a three-month internship stint. They can also apply for the Global Education Trip (GeT) programme to observe best practices in early childhood education locales overseas.

into an education fund for study grants and development programmes such as the GEIP.

This year’s cheque presentation – for the amount of $8.7 million – was witnessed by Dr Janil Puthucheary, Minister of State, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Communications & Information.

At the ceremony held on campus on 6 September, NP Council Chairman Mr Tang Kin Fei said, “Ngee Ann Kongsi’s contributions have helped NP initiate various student development programmes, both locally and overseas. These exposures are critical to help build a generation of innovative, resilient and values-based individuals.”

Memorandum of Understanding signed in October between the

Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the five polytechnics will help to develop skilled manpower for the financial technology sector, or FinTech, over the next three years.

At Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), which is the SkillsFuture co-ordinator for the Accountancy and Financial Services sector, students from the Banking & Financial Services, Financial Informatics, Information Security & Forensics and Information Technology courses can look forward to these new initiatives:

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BUILDING FINTECH TALENT FOR THE INDUSTRYNgee Ann students in banking and IT-related courses will gain from the polytechnics’ collaboration with Monetary Authority of Singapore

● Two School of Infocomm Technology students did Singapore proud at the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship held in Florida, USA in August. Information Technology student Lau Xin Wei clinched the silver medal in the Word 2013 category, while Multimedia & Animation student Chrystabelle Loh was fourth in the Adobe Certified Associates Design Challenge.

● Intergalactic Dance Battle, a 3D animated short film was showcased at this year’s Animation Day in Cannes in May. It was created by five Class of 2016 Animation & 3D Arts

graduates: Lou Zu Hao, Lim Yong Sheng, Lim Yoon Xin, Sebastian Keong and Leo Hee Xian.

● Class of 2003 graduate Boo Junfeng’s film Apprentice was selected as Singapore’s entry for the Oscar Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category. The film had won him the Rising Director award at Busan International Film Festival’s Asia Star Awards in October. The insightful death penalty drama was also screened at this year’s Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard category that recognises works by talented young filmmakers.

ACurriculum Reviews MAS will offer inputs on new developments in the FinTech sector and work with the polytechnics to review course curriculums. This will ensure that students are equipped with relevant skills to meet the challenges of the fast-evolving industry.

Joint Projects with the FinTech Community Students can work with the FinTech community on their final-year projects, and apply their technical skills in areas like mobile and cloud application development, data analytics and cybersecurity.

SPECIAL MENTIONS

Internship Opportunities and Mentorships An expanded range of FinTech internships will help final-year students to gain a broader perspective of regional and global markets. MAS will facilitate introductions to start-ups, financial institutions and regulatory bodies to explore internship openings and industry mentorships.

NP Principal Mr Clarence Ti said, “In 2017, we will be starting 100 FinTech internships and building a pool of 100 FinTech mentors. A new microsite will also allow companies to register their interest to provide internship or mentorship to polytechnic students.”

“This MOU represents the concerted effort by MAS and the local polytechnics to nurture a pool of skilled manpower for the growing FinTech community in Singapore and will be a key area of focus in the financial sector’s SkillsFuture drive,” said Mr Sopnendu Mohanty, MAS’ Chief FinTech Officer.

Companies can register their interest in providing internships or mentorships at www.polyfintech100.sg

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HONOURING SINGAPORE’S “INVISIBLE” PEOPLEStudents and graduates from the School of Film & Media Studies pay tribute to unsung heroes

ong working hours. Missed family dinners. Demands on his personal time. These are

just a few of the sacrifices that Nur Khairah Bte Mohd Samion’s father has made as an Assistant Station Manager at SMRT for over 20 years.

It is fitting then that Khairah’s father is the subject of Ayah, a short film which the Class of 2016 Film, Sound & Video graduate co-wrote and produced as part of her Advanced Filmmaking core module.

Ayah was among seven films produced by students and graduates from Ngee Ann’s School of Film & Media Studies (FMS) last year with funding from Honour (Singapore). The non-profit organisation’s Honour Film

Initiative seeks to reveal the stories of Singapore’s everyday heroes who labour quietly to create a better life for others.

“During the nationwide train breakdown last year, my dad had to work till past midnight, even after the faults were resolved. It’s sad when people don’t realise what happens behind the scenes when such incidents occur. I made this film to honour my dad and all the people like him who work to keep Singapore moving,” said Khairah.

The films were showcased at a screening at the National Museum jointly organised by Honour and FMS, as well as during secondary school learning journeys at the polytechnic. The films were also screened at the recent Poly Forum 2016, to an audience

Lof 300 student leaders from across all five polytechnics.

At the same time, the online response has been overwhelmingly positive, with Ayah viewed over 130,000 times on social media.

“In creating the films, the students not only put their filmmaking skills and knowledge into practice, but also had to understand, research and apply the principle of ‘honour’ into their narratives. This was a fantastic way for us to inculcate positive values and virtues in our students through the academic curriculum,” shared FMS Senior Lecturer and Supervising Producer Mr Leonard Yip.

To watch the films, visit honour.sg/short-films.

LULLABY Screened at this year’s Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival, Hawaii International Film Festival and Salamindanaw Asian Film Festival.

A devoted grandmother takes care of her grandson, while the adults go on with their own lives. Quietly, she falls ill without anyone noticing.

OTHER FILMS BY FMS STUDENTS AND GRADUATES UNDER THIS PROGRAMME INCLUDE:RIOT Features real-life, never before seen footage of the Little India riot.

Two Chinese youths relish the action of the Little India riots while hurling insults at the Indians. When chased by a gang, one of them takes refuge in an Indian provision shop. Find out if the ones despised by the Chinese youth will turn him over to the angry crowd.

A moving father-daughter story, Ayah is among

the films which pay tribute to

Singapore’s unsung heroes.

hen triathlete Jeremia Christy Suriadi was hit by a lorry two years ago while cycling,

doctors told her she might never compete on the same level again. With seven spine compression fractures as well as fractures to her hip, she was wheelchair-bound for three months.

But the second-year Environmental & Water Technology student was determined to get back on her feet. Attending gruelling physiotherapy sessions helped Christy to recover and she stayed motivated by watching triathlon races online. Less than a year later, she returned to competition, winning the Singapore International Triathlon Junior Women’s Sprint and qualifying to represent Singapore in various championships across Asia.

Such tenacity and perseverance embody the ideals of Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s annual Student Excellence Awards that recognise achievements in the non- academic arena.

At the presentation ceremony in July, Christy clinched the Outstanding Sports Award. 275 other students received awards in 12 categories spanning innovation, enterprise, sports, arts, community service and technology.

“I love competing, stretching my limits and bettering myself,” said Christy who hopes to pursue the sport as a professional athlete. “I have always been an ambitious person who dreams big and I won’t give up till I’ve fulfilled those dreams.”

Ngee Ann’s Student Excellence Awards celebrate student achievements in the non-academic arena

A TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY

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NP CHARACTER AWARDJacob Tan WeiHealth Sciences (Nursing), Class of 2016

Patients at the heart of all that he does – that’s Jacob’s philosophy. During his 16-week attachment at the surgical ward of the National Heart Centre, he was tasked with looking after patients before and after surgery, coordinating their care by different healthcare professionals and educating them on post-surgery care before their discharge. Showing compassion for both patients and their family members, it is no wonder that Jacob received 18 service award nominations from his patients.

OTHER WINNERS OF NP'S STUDENT EXCELLENCE AWARDS INCLUDE:CHAIRMAN'S AWARDMohamed Sharian Bin MohamedArts Business Management, Class of 2016

Sharian is no stranger to leadership and community service. As a youth leader of a grassroots community service group, Sharian has visited underprivileged families, organised a canned food distribution drive and co-created an eight-storey artwork with 500 residents of Ulu Pandan as part of an SG50 façade art project last year. Despite his active involvement in grassroots activities, Sharian maintained his spot among the top five students of his cohort.

OUTSTANDING ENTERPRISE AWARDVanessa WanBusiness Studies, Class of 2016

Vanessa had a rocky start to her entrepreneurial venture two years ago when her business partners quit to pursue their own interests. Left to cope on her own, she single-handedly launched Frameyewear, an online store offering affordable, trendy eyewear. She overcame her initial struggle to balance her studies and business, and moved on to set up a booth for Frameyewear at Suntec City. Vanessa hopes to further establish the brand in the coming years.

After recovering from a road accident, Jeremia Christy Suriadi returned to win local triathlons and clinch NP’s Outstanding Sports Award.

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WONG KEE HUI Course: Network Systems & Security Formerly from: ITE College West & Westwood Secondary School Award: Tay Eng Soon Gold Medal

oing the extra mile – that’s what Wong Kee Hui strives to do and it is a key reason for his success.For instance, when challenged to develop a cloud

computing system to store personal data, Kee Hui – unlike his classmates – tapped on a virtual private server instead of settling for the NP network, which enabled him to access data even when he was outside campus. This earned him a top prize.

Then, during his internship, his extra effort paid off again. “I had to develop a programme that would allow data from various computer systems to be easily retrieved and presented. It required a lot of self-learning but in the end, we had a happy client!” he said.

Coming from a humble background, Kee Hui worked hard to make ends meet, taking on a part-time job in a computer firm. Starting out by installing security software on clients’ computers, Kee Hui quickly proved his mettle and was entrusted with bigger responsibilities including software development.

Because his father works in Indonesia and returns home only on weekends, Kee Hui also steps in as the man of the house. “As the oldest child of three, I have to help my mom with housework and be the handyman,” he said.

the Ministry of Education to the most outstanding graduate across all polytechnics.

Bryan’s entrepreneurial aspirations first led him to pursue a business course at NP. But a change in career was on the cards when he attended a Navy exhibition two years ago. “I was fascinated by defence diplomacy and how international disputes were resolved. My interest in law and its application in the military field was ignited,” said Bryan.

Travelling to New Zealand on an Overseas Merit Fellowship also gave him an opportunity to broaden his perspectives. “It was fascinating to learn about Maori culture. I also saw homeless people living on the streets, which made me appreciate Singapore even more,” said Bryan, who now plans to study law and ultimately serve in Singapore’s defence force.

Balancing multiple CCA and voluntary commitments with a full academic schedule meant that Bryan’s Ngee Ann journey was hectic, but fulfilling. “My competitive swimming background taught me discipline and resilience. Tough times won’t last, but tough people do,” he said.

“I feel blessed to have been given so many opportunities at Ngee Ann that I might not have gotten elsewhere,” he added.

While he has secured a spot in Nanyang Technological University to study Computer Science, Kee Hui is also considering entering the IT industry and taking up certification courses along the way to become an IT security specialist.

I had to develop a programme that would allow data from various computer systems to be easily retrieved and presented. It required a lot of self-learning but in the end, we had a happy client!– Wong Kee Hui

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SHOOTING FOR THE STARSBRYAN LIM Course: Business Studies Formerly from: St Joseph’s Institution Awards: Ngee Ann Kongsi Gold Medal, Lien Ying Chow Gold Medal & Lee Hsien Loong Award for Outstanding All-Round Achievement

ne of the things that stand out about Bryan Lim is his well-roundedness, striking a perfect balance in sports, community service and studies. Juggling

myriad roles as the captain of Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s (NP) swim team and Vice-President of the Red Cross Youth Chapter, Bryan is also a certified rescue diver, an Aikido exponent and a community service volunteer.

It’s no wonder then, that all-rounder Bryan is Ngee Ann’s top graduate this year. He won the Ngee Ann Kongsi Gold Medal that includes a bond-free scholarship to study at any university worldwide, as well as the Lien Ying Chow Gold Medal, which is awarded to NP’s top non-engineering graduate. Bryan also clinched this year’s Lee Hsien Loong Award for Outstanding All-Round Achievement, presented by

These graduates pursued their passions and emerged at the top of their class TEXT: MELANIE WEE & V PREMA

I was fascinated by defence diplomacy and how international disputes were resolved. My interest in law and its application in the military field was ignited.– Bryan Lim

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MERVIN TAN Course: Aerospace Electronics Formerly from: Catholic High School Awards: Lee Kuan Yew Award & Ngee Ann Polytechnic Outstanding Achievement Award

ilitary history buff. Budding aerospace engineer. Talented dancer. Mervin Tan is all these and more. He is among the three recipients of the

Lee Kuan Yew Award – presented to top graduates from a technology course – as well as the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Outstanding Achievement Award that recognises all-round excellence.

“I’ve always had a passion for military history and aviation. I used to spend hours watching documentaries as I was fascinated by how military aircraft operated,” he said. “I hope to be a military aerospace engineer, which combines my passion for aviation with my desire to serve the country.”

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JULIA TAN Course: Biomedical Science Formerly from: Anderson Secondary School Awards: Lee Kuan Yew Award & Ngee Ann Polytechnic Outstanding Achievement Award

n injection or blood test is something that many people shy away from. But spunky Julia Tan actually has a penchant for all things

haemoglobin-related, so much so that she is pursuing a career as a doctor (see story on page 1).

As part of her Clinical Laboratory Technology specialisation, Julia spent two years on an internship at the National University Hospital. “The internship stints were what made me truly excited about joining Ngee Ann. I knew that getting such practical exposure would give me a good head start in the healthcare field,” she said.

“During my internship, I conducted laboratory tests, but I couldn’t reveal the results to patients to ease their anxiety as that wasn’t my role. I thought, ‘If I were a doctor, I would be able to use my knowledge to better reassure and help patients,’” added Julia.

Julia’s community service trip to Laos during her second year at NP also inspired her medical dreams. “Our team visited a rural village there. When a small boy fell down and scratched his knee, the teacher simply brushed away the blood roughly,” she said.

“As a certified first-aider, it broke my heart to witness these villagers being deprived of proper care. One day, I hope to fulfil my childhood dream of becoming a humanitarian doctor, and serve in communities that need medical aid.”

Mervin’s NP journey has been a rewarding one. He and his course mates built a flying car, which was entered for a South Korean competition. “Although the competition was cancelled because of the MERS outbreak, we felt a sense of fulfilment in integrating our knowledge and skills to make the machine work,” he shared.

His overseas immersion trip to Copenhagen was another eye-opening experience. “I was bowled over by how the Danish university used history to teach business concepts,” said Mervin. “I also learnt more about Singapore and her policies, such as why a welfare system might not work in our country.”

Having been a dancer since he was nine years old, Mervin also helped to lead NP’s BBoys Club for breakdancers, transforming the club from a recreational group to a competitive one.

Attributing his success at NP to his mother’s support, Mervin said, “She single-handedly raised my sister and me. I really appreciate her sacrifices and what she has done for us.”

VHORA SHRAYANS SURESH Course: Mechanical Engineering Formerly from: Manjusri Secondary School Awards: Lee Kuan Yew Award & Ngee Ann Polytechnic Outstanding Achievement Award

hen Vhora Shrayans Suresh’s parents discarded their faulty household appliances years ago, they did not guess that this would spark their son’s

interest in machines and technology. “I would retrieve old fans, toasters and blenders and

dismantle them because I was curious about how they worked. I wasn’t so skilled in putting them back together though!” recalled Shrayans.

This curiosity – and the innovative spirit of American business tycoon Howard Hughes, as portrayed in the movie, The Aviator – was what drove Shryans to pursue his studies in an engineering discipline.

“I love studying how machines are made. I’m also fascinated by how we can apply the laws of physics to create something useful,” he said.

And something useful was just what Shryans and his course-mates developed during their final-year project, setting up a solar panel system to power up the Waterways Watch Society (WWS) office at Kallang Riverside Park.

“The solar-powered office is part of WWS’ efforts to create an eco water park. It showcases how clean energy can be harnessed to meet daily needs. Seeing the fruit of our labour gave us a sense of achievement,” said Shrayans.

Inspired by NP lecturers who constantly encouraged him, Shrayans looks forward to returning to the polytechnic as a lecturer in future.

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I hope to be a military aerospace engineer, which combines my passion for aviation with my desire to serve the country.– Mervin Tan

One day, I hope to fulfil my childhood dream of becoming a humanitarian doctor, and serve in communities that need medical aid. – Julia Tan

I love studying how machines are made. I’m also fascinated by how we can apply the laws of physics to create something useful.– Vhora Shrayans Suresh

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START-UP LESSONS FROM SILICON VALLEY

or a budding entrepreneur, any stint with a start-up would probably be a cool

enough learning experience. But ten Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) students went one step further as they embarked on six-month internships – not just at any start-up, but at start-ups located in California’s Silicon Valley, one of the world’s top innovation hubs that is home to technology giants Google, Apple and Facebook.

As interns, they experienced the realities of developing and running a business, while being mentored by entrepreneurs. They also attended networking sessions and other events organised by well-known incubators.

This valuable business exposure was made possible by NP’s Global Entrepreneurial Internship Programme (GEIP) which was piloted in March this year. The students were selected based on their entrepreneurial qualities, passion, maturity and independence.

Final-year Business Information Technology student Daphne Goh, who was an intern at social media marketing

company NewzSocial, benefitted from the cross-cultural exposure. “As Silicon Valley was an entrepreneurs’ hub, I got to meet new people and be introduced to different start-up ideas. This has given me a clearer understanding of entrepreneurship on a global scale and strengthened my determination to start my own business one day,” she shared.

“We put in great effort to curate this pilot run,” said NP Principal Mr Clarence Ti. “We roped in alumni who made introductions and met with start-up founders to find inspirational mentors. After just two months, over half the companies wanted our students to extend their internships to a year and requested for more of our students to join them.”

Following the success of the pilot batch, the second run of the GEIP began in October and was extended to include Jakarta and Shanghai to expose students to regional markets. The programme is fully sponsored by NP and supported with funding from International Enterprise (IE) Singapore.

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Keen entrepreneurs get business-savvy, thanks to internships at start-ups across the globe TEXT: MELANIE WEE

We roped in alumni who made introductions and met with start-up founders to find inspirational mentors. After just two months, over half the companies wanted our students to extend their internships to a year and requested for more of our students to join them. – NP Principal Mr Clarence Ti

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How the Global Entrepreneurial Internship Programme

(GEIP) began

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STUDENTS

PILOT RUN STARTED

START-UPS ACROSSSILICON VALLEY

IN 86 months

Inspired by the lessons learnt during their Silicon Valley internships, these Ngee Ann students are all set to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

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JOSHUA OW-YONG DIPLOMA IN FILM, SOUND & VIDEO COMPANY: Video production house, 1Light Media JOB SCOPE: 1Light handles live productions like TV shows with live cameras. Because it’s a start-up, there isn’t a fixed job scope. I got to do a bit of everything from setting up lights to manning live and remote cameras. Some days were spent editing videos and visual effects. Not a single day was boring! YOUR EXPERIENCE AS AN INTERN IN A START-UP: The culture is so different in a start-up firm. Everyone is open and nurturing towards new ideas. People work hard at an idea and if it fails, they simply take it as an experience and move on. Work-wise, much of what I learnt at NP like live production and shooting for events came in useful. My boss (who is Singaporean) says that “NP interns can always hit the ground running!” LESSONS LEARNT: Seeing how the entrepreneurs around me have learnt from their failures, I’ve developed a “just do it” attitude, even though things may seem scary. I don’t fear failure any more.

IVAN CHEONG DIPLOMA IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING WITH A MINOR IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Company: Biruni Design LLC JOB SCOPE: Biruni started out as a company which designs and manufactures electric vehicles. But it has moved on to architecture and product design projects for clients that include restaurants and home owners. I juggled multiple roles in design drafting, prototyping and 3D modelling. YOUR EXPERIENCE AS AN INTERN IN A START-UP: To get started on projects, I had to pick up Solid Works, a 3D design software used by the company. It was challenging, but I managed it on my own. And although I was just an intern, my boss – the founder of Biruni – took me under his wing and treated me like a younger brother. He encouraged me to share my ideas even if we had different opinions. LESSONS LEARNT: My boss taught me the importance of building connections and networking. He would maintain relationships with his business contacts, friends and family just by making a simple phone call. As a serial entrepreneur with multiple start-ups, he is an inspiration and role model.

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hese final-year students share how their Silicon Valley internships gave

them fresh perspectives on start-up businesses and pushed them to overcome their fears.

DAPHNE GOH DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMPANY: Social media marketing start-up NewzSocial JOB SCOPE: As a marketing intern, I was involved in business analysis, customer relationship management, putting up blog posts and managing social media accounts such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. I also attended conferences and events that taught me to pitch business ideas and helped to build up my network of contacts. YOUR EXPERIENCE AS AN INTERN IN A START-UP: The pace in America is slower compared to Singapore’s high-speed rush. In fact, we were even asked to relax on the company’s massage chairs because we were working too fast! There was no hierarchy in my company. We were encouraged to air our views (even to the boss!) as they genuinely wanted our feedback. LESSONS LEARNT: In Silicon Valley, an idea is never a bad idea. Who would have thought that the Airbnb concept – which allows complete strangers to stay in your home – would be such a success? If I hadn’t gone on this internship, I’d still be taking the safe, tried- and-tested route. But now, I’m inspired to overcome my fear of failing and pursue my dream of starting a social enterprise to help the community.

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Kwang Wei Xiong’s Service-Learning trip to Laos was a journey of firsts. Other than helping out with land surveying, he also

tried his hand at planting rice and making bricks – unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences

for a student from metropolitan Singapore.

PLANTING RICE IS EVER FUN: We thought that planting rice would be easy, since we only had to place rice grains into the holes which the locals had dug. Boy, were we wrong! After 15 minutes of squatting and bending under the sun, we started to feel the strain and perspire profusely. It was fun, but tiring.

HANDY TEXTBOOK SKILLS: We helped to survey the school compound at Ban Veng Samai. Fenced up with bamboo and steel wire, there were no proper markings of the land plot. We were able to produce a plan drawing of the area using the skills we had learnt in our course. We felt a sense of achievement in helping the school establish its land boundaries.

SIMPLE, BUT HARD: Loads of patience and energy are needed to create just one mud brick. We gathered dry earth and mixed it by hand with cement and water before placing it into a machine to churn out the brick. The very last brick we made was too compacted and it took us 30 minutes just to push it out! We brought that brick back to remind us of what we had achieved throughout the trip.

LAOSKWANG WEI XIONG

Sustainable Urban Design &

Engineering Year 2

Travelling to Chiangmai on an exchange programme for the first time, Regina Faruk found the city to be an oasis of serenity and a wellspring of cultural eye-openers. SAYING NO TO OPIUM: The Royal Project

was started by the King of Thailand to encourage hill tribes to cultivate cash crops

instead of opium. At Doi Inthanon National Park, a Royal Project site, we saw first-hand how hill tribes made a living by growing coffee and fruits with the agricultural expertise and equipment provided under the initiative. CAMPUS WITH A VIEW: While touring Chiang Mai University, I was amazed to discover that a local attraction – the Angkaew Lake – is right on its campus. The scenic spot was featured in the 2012 Chinese hit movie Lost in Thailand. At the university, we attended lectures on topics like ecotourism and national identity to gain insights into Chiangmai’s development and culture. ECO-TOURISM KNOW-HOW: I learnt to appreciate how Chiang Mai has built a sustainable tourism industry – which the natives can benefit from – without compromising their ecosystem. Tapping on Chiang Mai’s abundant natural resources, the communities support themselves by crafting art pieces and creating tasty Thai delicacies with locally-sourced goods and harvests.

THAILANDREGINA FARUK

Biomedical Science Year 2

Regina Faruk (second from left) with new-found friends

made during the trip.

Under the Royal Project initiative, hill tribes are encouraged to grow cash crops like coffee and fruits instead of opium.

Kwang Wei Xiong (foreground) taking a

wefie at That Dam (Black Stupa), a historical site

in Vientiane.

The students took 30 minutes to extract the over-compacted brick from the machine.

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SEEING THE WORLD DIFFERENTLYThese Ngee Ann students ventured beyond Singapore’s shores for valuable out-of-classroom experiences TEXT: MELANIE WEE

Viewing Japan’s famed sakura was just one of the many highlights of Joshua Lim’s study trip, which included a farm stay, industry visits and – of course – delicious local food!

A PASSION FOR PRINT: We met university students from Shizuoka who did

a presentation on their student-run newspaper Shizuoka-jidai which is circulated across the whole prefecture. Although it was only their co-curricular activity, the effort and dedication which they put into managing the newspaper was inspiring.

CHERRY BLOSSOM CHEER: Eating a bento lunch under the cherry blossom trees at Okayama’s Korakuen Garden is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Sakura petals were slowly falling from the trees and the springtime weather was perfect with fresh, crisp air.

LIVING LOCAL: At Takeshi village, we enjoyed a farmstay with an elderly Japanese couple. Their home had an actual fireplace fuelled by wood! We ate home-cooked vegetable tempura made with local ingredients and slept on futons with cosy, heavy blankets.

JAPANJOSHUA LIM

Mass Communication

Year 2

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The study trip was a perfect opportunity for Joshua Lim (above) to be immersed in Japan’s culture and colourful sights.

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GET FIT, THE ROBOCOACH WAY

Five NP Robocoaches set off for their “assignments” in July – to make workouts a little less mundane for senior citizens at Lions Befrienders Service Association

(Singapore), Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities and NTUC Health Cooperative Limited. Standing at 1.4 metres, these robotic fitness coaches can conduct 10-minute

exercise routines in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. The Robocoaches – which were commissioned by IDA Singapore and the Ministry of Social and Family

Development – are enhanced versions of Xuan, an original project developed by Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Electrical Engineering students in 2014.

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n unusual scene took place outside a campus food court in May, when over 80 staff and students of Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) took turns to get “locked

up” in a large cage resembling a jail cell.These volunteers at NP’s community service event, Bailout,

were only “freed” after their friends and colleagues pledged a donation of their time or money towards a charitable cause. Despite being held captive, spirits were high with volunteers breaking out into song as they waited patiently to be released.

“Many of us say that we would love to do community service work, but that we have no time or too many commitments. We need to free ourselves from these self-imposed constraints and ask if it’s really so hard to find the time to give back,” said NP’s Senior Director Mrs Choo Cheh Hoon who also serves as Advisor to NP’s Community Service Committee which organised the event.

The event successfully garnered 923 pledges amounting to 4,212 hours of community service. “I was actually very relieved to be let out of the cage. That set me thinking

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Giant “jail cell” on campus aims to encourage staff and student commitment to community service

THE GREAT ESCAPE FOR A GOOD CAUSE

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gee Ann Polytechnic opened its doors once again to welcome over 60 secondary school students

participating in the Str(IT)wise competition during the September school holidays.

Held annually, Str(IT)wise provides young IT enthusiasts with a head start in coding and programming through workshops conducted by Ngee Ann’s School of Infocomm Technology (ICT) students.

Staff and students volunteered to be “locked up” in the cage to raise community service funds and awareness.

about how important it is to be ‘free’. Many less fortunate people are trapped in a world of worries and issues. If all of us can contribute in a small way, we can collectively create a substantial impact,” said School of Humanities & Social Sciences Assistant Director Ms Tham Foong Chue.

GETTING THEIR GAME ON

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TEXT: SOFILIA ZAIDEE

Participants stayed on campus over three days, attending workshops on game development software GameMaker. They were exposed to the innovative application of IT knowledge and skills which would help them create an interactive programme for the competition.

After a close contest, Maris Stella High School emerged as champions with West Spring Secondary School and Jurong Secondary School taking the second and third spots respectively.

“We didn’t even know each other before this but we stayed up late and worked together,” said Ryan Tan from the winning team, describing the nights spent coding and programming with his newfound friends.

Str(IT)wise is among ICT’s key events for secondary school students which aims to inculcate IT skills through multiple interactive and engaging platforms.

ICT Senior Advisor Ms Angela Wee (left) with the winning team from Maris Stella High School.

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NP News is a production of Ngee Ann Polytechnic For enquiries, please contact:

Corporate Communications Office Ngee Ann Polytechnic

535 Clementi Road, Singapore 599489 T: 6466 6555

www.np.edu.sg