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Double the Success!

Why TP Matters

Since young, twins Wong Shi Yun and Wong Shi Li have done almost

everything together, and their personalities and preferences are just so similar – from hobbies to fashion sense to even their shared dislike for tomatoes.

Yet, after their O levels, Shi Yun was looking to go to a junior college, while Shi Li was set on the polytechnic route. Things changed, when TP gave a talk at Temasek Secondary School, where Shi Yun was studying at.

“Something about that talk made me reconsider seriously just what kind of further education I wanted. I consulted my teachers and parents and they were very supportive of me choosing to do something I was passionate about. So I applied for the Accounting & Finance (A&F) course at TP,” shares Shi Yun.

Adds sister Shi Li, “I hadn’t decided at that point which course to do yet, but when Shi Yun chose A&F, she somehow managed to persuade me to take it with her! But I’m

We are pleased to bring you this newsletter which aims to give parents like you an insight into what a Temasek Polytechnic education is about. As you guide your child through his/her O-level year, we hope to help you get better informed on the polytechnic education scene and your child’s post-secondary education options. If you’re keen to get more news and updates on Temasek Polytechnic, do register at www.tp.edu.sg/tpmatters. By doing so, you will be the first to receive important updates, and information on seminars and key events that we hold for parents and O-level students. We hope you find this newsletter useful as you and your child chart this journey towards post-secondary education together. From all of us at TP Matters, have a great year ahead and all the best to your child for the upcoming O-level exams!

lecturers were a huge part of our TP experience – they were all so friendly; anytime you had a problem you could just knock on their doors and check with them,” says Shi Li.

For students considering their next step in their education pathway, Shi Yu’s advice is, “Think hard: What is your passion? Take the step to pursue your dreams, and at TP you’ll find lots of opportunities to do so.”

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The Way We Learn

Spirit of Caring

Hard at Work

Well Done, Grads!

Rewarding Excellence

Welcome to the World

Invitation to Parents

At TP, students learn from the best teacher – experience

A TP education goes beyond studies to shape tomorrow’s leaders

Spotlight on the lecturers

TP alumni show that success comes in many forms

Students make a name for themselves through wins

TP launches the Glocal Connect Village

Benefit from the upcoming PG Seminar at TP

2 1 TA m P I n e S AV e n u e 1 , S I n G A P O r e 5 2 9 7 5 7 | T e L : + 6 5 6 7 8 8 2 0 0 0 | FA x : + 6 5 6 7 8 9 8 2 2 0 | W W W. T P. e d u. S G

very glad she did, because it was a very good choice in the end.”

True enough, Shi Yun was her course’s top student and secured the nanyang Scholarship, and Shi Li received her diploma with merit and was awarded the Khoo Teck Puat Scholarship. Last year, both of them graduated from nanyang Technological university’s three-year direct honours Accountancy course – Shi Yun with First Class Honours and Shi Li with Second upper Honours. They are both currently working as auditors in Big-4 accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP.

Says Shi Yun, “Our TP background really made a difference when we went to university. A lot of our peers had difficulty understanding even the basics, whereas for us, it was like second nature! Having that solid foundation really enabled us to excel at nTu, and helps us now in the workplace.”

“TP prepared us well for university because the style of studying is very similar. Our

“A lot of our peers had difficulty understanding even the basics, whereas for us, it was like second nature!”Wong Shi Yun, Auditor, deloitte & Touche LLP

Both Shi Li (left) and Shi Yun (right) are now auditors for a Big-4 firm.

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Designing For a Better World

Hands-on learning experiences in overseas environments help TP prepare our students effectively for work and the world. This is done through several platforms including overseas internships and exchanges, or community involvement programmes. Third-year Product & Industrial design student Jarron Tham tells us about his learning opportunities which have taken him from Cambodia to Japan.

“my first overseas experience was in August 2011, when I went on a student exchange programme at the

Sozosha College of design in Osaka, Japan with a group of TP students. We actually came in first in a design challenge that they organised. I made a lot of friends there, whom I still keep in contact with.In October that year, I travelled to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with local social enterprise Saught. We designed jewellery made from deactivated land mines and bomb shells, and worked with the Cambodian artisans from nGOs to create them. It was a really eye-opening experience to be a part of

this project; to work with these remnants of war that still pose a threat to citizens, and to help post-war communities support themselves. I still continue to work with them and I enjoy every bit of it.

my next trip brought me to nagoya, Japan, where I did my internship with automotive company Hayashi Telempu. It was a bit of a culture shock for me as I wasn’t used to the fast pace, and I had to work within quite a number of constraints as well as adhere to the strict timelines. But through it I learnt to plan my work ahead of time, and to be prepared for almost anything. A lot of it was learning on the job, whether in terms of research and technical skills, or soft skills such as managing relationships with vendors and being politically correct and professional.

While in Japan I also travelled to Osaka university to meet well-known designers like dr Kazuo Kawasaki, and I also visited the nagoya university of Arts where I stayed for a week.

my most recent trip was to Cambodia, this time to visit the Cambodia Trust, which provides free prosthetic services to disabled people, and also to visit COSI orphanage. This was part of my research for my final-year project, ‘Hands That Speak’. The absence of a limb can affect the development of language and learning in children, thus making them socially withdrawn. my idea was to design a

prosthetic arm to help them express themselves confidently.

While at the orphanage, we also realised that the surrounding village which is a two-hour drive from the city centre doesn’t have access to clean water and electricity, so we’ll be going back soon to implement some form of solar power generator for them.

I feel that if a designer’s two cents, or design input, can contribute to a better world, or alleviate the suffering of the poor, then it’s two cents well spent.”

learningat TP

“I’m glad that TP has given me so many opportunities to lend my design knowledge and skills towards helping the less fortunate, and I’ll definitely continue doing this even after I graduate.”Jarron Tham, Product & Industrial design student

Jarron (right) presents his prosthetic arm design to Guest of Honour and Winner of the 2012 Singapore President’s design Award designer of the Year, mr Hanson Ho, at the design Show 2013, TP School of design’s annual graduation show.

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Being Jack Neo’s Right-Hand Man

Whale Rescuer at WorkOverseas internships provide TP students

with opportunities to apply what they learn in school in a real-world environment. For

third-year Veterinary Technology student dylan Lau, his internship experience at Four Seasons resorts maldives’ marine discovery Centre also taught him some important lessons about life.

during his two-month internship, dylan expected dolphin or whale sightings, but he didn’t expect to be part of the rescue of an injured turtle and false killer whale. The youngest on the team, dylan was keenly involved in caring for the animals, from stitching wounds to force feeding. unfortunately, although the whale had shown signs of recovery, it eventually died.

“Seeing the whale’s progress every day spurred me on because we hoped to release it back into the wild. When it didn’t make it, it’s emotional, but you learn to deal with it. After all, life and death is all part and parcel of animal care,” says dylan.

“I was caring for the whale on my own quite a lot, so that meant long hours and overcoming challenges like sourcing for enough food from local fishermen to keep it fed. But I’m really grateful that they allowed me to learn in such a practical way and trusted me to

work independently. This internship really allowed me to learn from all the marine veterinarians on the team, and it really inspires me to study marine biology and travel the world as a marine biologist. I hope to one day be able to dive with blue whales!”

Because of his close involvement on the whale rehabilitation, dylan was also selected by his internship company to present a paper at the 1st Southeast Asian marine mammal Stranding network Symposium and Workshop, held in Philippines from 4 to 9 February 2013.

“This internship really allowed me to learn from all the marine veterinarians on the team, and it really inspires me to study marine biology and travel the world as a marine biologist. ”dylan Lau, Veterinary Technology student

Aloysius (second from left) with his cast of make me Laugh – (left to right) moses Lim, Steven Woon and nick Shen

Above: dylan Lau (second from left), rescuing a false killer whale with a team of marine biologists. Below: dylan caring for the whale in its initial stage of recovery.

learningat TP

remember when interning at a company meant making photocopies? not anymore! Just ask Aloysius Lim from TP’s moving

Images course (now renamed digital Film & Television), who had one of the hottest seats in the house right next to local director Jack neo during the filming and production of Singapore’s top-grossing film of all time, Ah Boys to Men.

At the start of his three-month internship with J Team, Aloysius was immediately assigned as an on-site editor, whose role is to edit and piece together a rough cut of each scene on location as it is shot.

“It’s a highly pressurising role!” Aloysius says, “I had to edit fast because Jack and the crew needed to look at it quickly after shooting to see if there were any missing shots needed.”

Aloysius admits that editing wasn’t exactly his strongest suit in school, and he had requested to try out different roles. However, it was Jack who saw

Aloysius’ potential and wanted to mentor him personally.

“Jack said he gave me this role because editing is the best way to get a feel of the entire production. True enough, I was able to watch and learn how every single part of production comes together to become a successful shoot. It was stressful, it was tiring – some shoots lasted more than 12 hours – but it was totally worth it. I learnt so much from this production, especially with someone as good as Jack neo giving me pointers and guidance every step of the way,” says Aloysius.

One of the highlights was also when Jack gave Aloysius the task of editing the Ah Boys to men

“recruit’s Anthem” music video, which has since secured 1.5 million views on YouTube.

His internship with J Team was just the start of great things, though, as the aspiring filmmaker was quickly on the set again, this time working on his final-year project, a 15-minute short film titled “make me Laugh” about an aging clown who rediscovers his passion again with the help of a young magician. Thanks to the contacts that he had made during his stint with J Team, Aloysius was able to cast popular actors moses Lim and nick Shen in his short film, not to mention produce it at almost only a third of the budget!

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Tomorrow’s Research Starts Here and Now “It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to

do it!” jokes Koh Teng Hua, third-year Chemical engineering student, about

his experience as part of the School of Applied Science’s differential research Programme (drP). For two months during vacation time, students come back to campus to help conduct research for consultancy projects in collaboration with industry partners.

Teng Hua was referring to sometimes getting cement mix all over him, as he was tasked to test and analyse the properties of an environmentally friendly construction material called engineered Cementitious Composites (eCC).

“eCC is eco-friendly, but at the same time, you cannot compromise strength and safety. my job is to test the different mechanical and physical properties to make sure we are creating the best material we can. It’s challenging at times as making composites can be physically demanding work, but the best part is testing the various factors and then getting the optimal results – that’s the satisfaction I get from the job,” says Teng Hua.

In fact, the research process during the drP not only prepared him well for his internship and final-year project, it has also spurred him on to continue working at TP to follow up with the same

research project. It has also motivated him to apply to study Chemical engineering at Singapore Institute of Technology after serving his nS.

Adds Teng Hua, “I think besides giving you an advantage over your peers, the biggest benefit of the drP is gaining research knowledge that makes you more versatile. For me personally, it has given me direction because that was how I discovered what I want to do in future.”

Like Teng Hua, first-year Veterinary Technology student Roy Haiqel Bin Sa’adli also benefited from his drP experience, in which his role was to measure the stress tolerance of freshwater ornamental fish.

Says roy, “I learnt a lot of useful technical skills such as how to obtain and measure blood cortisol levels, and I’m glad I did it in my first year, because now I have a stronger foundation and am better prepared for the Year 2 and 3 modules. especially coming from a more Physics and Chemistry background, it helps to gain more experience from a Biology perspective. Having the

research experience, and getting to learn skills and tips from the experienced lecturers, mentors and seniors, will not only help in my final-year project but also makes me more well-rounded when I graduate.”

One Tray at a Time

“TP sTarTed The differenTial research

Programme (drP) in 2004 To Provide

oPPorTuniTies for our sTudenTs To imProve

Their research skills, which is an imPorTanT

asPecT of aPPlied science. abouT 160 sTudenTs

a year ParTiciPaTe in This enrichmenT, geTTing

closely involved wiTh research work in

The areas of food develoPmenT, analyTical

chemisTry, geneTics, chemical Processing

and so on. noT only do They conTribuTe To

real ProjecTs in collaboraTion wiTh indusTry

ParTners, buT They also gain valuable exPosure

which will benefiT Them greaTly when They

go on To work in research labs or conducT

research in Their higher sTudies.”

Mr Loh Gin Hin, Manager, Academic Development, TP School of Applied Science.

Changing mindsets is never an easy thing. But three final-year students from TP School of engineering’s mechatronics diploma

programme believe that their innovation will at least get the public thinking in the right direction.

“national campaigns have been trying to get people to return their trays after eating at hawker centres or food courts, but people still don’t seem to be doing it. So we thought, why not come up with a solution that will ensure that people will have to return their trays?” says Sanasi Sadish rao s/o Hari.

The secret of the Food returning Tray system lies in two innovations. The first part introduces new food trays that are retrofitted with a coin locking device, much like the way we currently use supermarket trolleys. Having to insert $1 in order to use the tray

will hopefully encourage diners to return their used plates and bowls – and trays.

The second component lies in “topless” tables, or frames that require diners to slot their trays in to use as table tops.

But will this really change mindsets? Says Chen I Chieh, “Once people get used to this new system, they will automatically take a tray, slot it into the table, enjoy their meal, and return the tray. I think it would make everything so much easier if everyone just played their part.”

The national environment Agency has taken an interest in this project, and are in talks to test it out in local coffeeshops. We may just be looking at the start of a whole new dining culture, probably the first of its kind in the world!

Teng Hua (left) and Roy Haiqel (right), who have benefited from the practical experience provided by the DRP.

mechatronics students Sanasi Sadish s/o Hari, Chen I Chieh and effendy Bin Parman proudly showcase their new tray system.

learningat TP

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Polytechnics often offer students a chance to graduate with more than just a diploma, perhaps with an additional certification. At TP, students graduate with something much more valuable – the spirit of caring. Because beyond just imparting knowledge, TP recognises its role in shaping tomorrow’s leaders, and that nurturing them to be both successful contributors and responsible citizens in the global community starts at school.

It Starts From the ClassroomTP’s strong culture of caring and sharing is central to how it teaches its students. This is why TP was one of the first tertiary institutions to establish the Centre of Character & Leadership education in 1996. The Centre develops one of the core subjects which all TP students must undertake, Applied Principles for effective Living (APeL), which promotes character development.

Jasmine Tan, final-year Leisure & Resort management student says that APeL taught her lessons that one doesn’t usually get from school. “APeL is all about life skills. It covers a varied range of topics, everything from time management to relationships and helping others. The lecturers share with us their life experiences, and ask us questions that get us thinking.”

Caring LecturersTP’s lecturers also set the example by showing care towards their students. They adopt an open door policy, making themselves available for consultations and advice. Students are also assigned a Care Person, or a dedicated lecturer, who will accompany them throughout their three-year journey at TP.

With 25 years of teaching experience under her belt, lecturer ms Susila Krishnasamy says that the Care Person scheme has seen many of her students through the challenges they faced. “The Care Person (CP) is very much a friend, mentor, caring guide and even ‘parent’ for the students. Our interactions, time spent together, sharing of stories and camaraderie help to nourish the students and give them stability during their stay in TP. And it continues – I still maintain contact with them after they’ve graduated and they keep me informed of their work, studies and even relationships!”

Giving Back to CommunityTP also encourages its students to spend time giving back to the community, be it locally or overseas. For example, some marketing students conducted a social enterprise feasibility study for Prolit Village in Cambodia, to promote the sale of its rattan handicrafts as an income-generating programme.

The TP Community Service Club (TPCSC) is also extremely active in organising activities that involve staff and students on campus, including events like Hair for Hope, Walk for rice, Books for a Cause, and the annual Blood donation drive.

The spirit of caring also extends to the community within TP. A signature event of TP’s Campus Care network (CCn), the CCn day Carnival is held twice a year on campus. It brings the entire polytechnic together as staff and students set up stalls to raise funds for students in need of financial assistance. The CCn day Carnival is met with enthusiastic participation from staff and students every time it is held, and it’s always successful in raising thousands of dollars for the CCn Crisis Assistance Scheme and CCn emergency Scheme.

Says Albert Pang, second-year Business student, “The CCn day Carnival is not just a tradition, it is something that characterises TP. It brings out the best of us – we cooperate, get creative, and embrace the entrepreneurial spirit – to raise funds for our peers in need.”

The Poly that Cares

“As a Care Person, I take a very personal interest in the students in my care group.”Susila Krishnasamy, Lecturer

Lecturer, Susila Krishnasamy, invests much of her time and resources to support the students in her care group.

Students heartily market products and services in the name of fundraising.Happily shaving it all off to raise awareness for children with cancer.

learningat TP

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Heartcore Gamer

At the age of five, his elder brother brought home a mini video game, and from then onwards, michael Gerard Garry was hooked.

This fascination for games led him to working in the video games industry in the united Kingdom and europe as a programmer for close to a decade, and finally to TP as a lecturer for the Game & entertainment Technology course.

His résumé includes projects for Playstation 1 through to Playstation 3, as well as xbox 360, Windows and other platforms. The most popular game that he worked on is Grand Theft Auto 4 (GTA IV), which has sold over 20 million copies worldwide.

even with this wealth of experience, michael recognises the importance of keeping himself updated in the world of games, learning new languages, new technologies and new techniques. That’s probably why he can usually be spotted at

the local Independent Game developers Association (IGdA) chapter’s talks here.

He also keeps in close touch with ex-colleagues, and attends trade shows and conferences where possible. not to mention, he still plays games on his phone and tablet any chance he gets!

But it’s not just about having fun. “Creating a game requires logic, concentration and single-mindedness. You need to understand how it works, how to build upon it, and explore what you can do in different situations. It’s just like learning a new language from scratch,” he says.

The biggest challenge for michael comes from the fact that programming is not easy especially for students who enter the course with no prior experience. “But it’s a challenge that I enjoy, to help with their learning journey and to make that learning curve a little less steep for them,” he says.

our lecturers

In the Media Spotlight Having made her way into the media spotlight

via the polytechnic route herself, Hazlina Abdul Halim knows just how important it is to

keep things real for the students that she now teaches.

With nine years of experience in radio and television, Hazlina is glad to be able to share her personal and professional insights with Communications

& media management (Cmm) students in the various modules she teaches, such as radio Studio Production and Broadcast Journalism.

“I became a lecturer because I was inspired to share what I have learnt. So I teach what I did, and what I’m doing,” she says, referring to her current stint fronting a live digital forum, Voices Today, on Channel 5. “It’s important for me to remain involved in media so I can continue to practice, sharpen and hone my craft.”

She is clear on her role as a lecturer. “This is a very creative and network-based industry. There’s no way that you can just teach them the theories and make them do assignments. Our motivation as lecturers is to get our students’ works out there, to be seen by the industry, to give them a platform to showcase their talent and creativity. At the same time, we are continually expanding our network to include our

students; we always want to get them involved as much as possible,” she says.

“Students joining us can have faith that the lecturers here are committed to enhancing your learning experience – we’ll dance around to make your lessons interesting and make sure you get the opportunities to get ahead!”, she promises.

Above and BeyondTP’s Aviation management & Services (AmS)

senior lecturer Andrew Tan’s 15 years in the aviation industry, mostly with Singapore

Airlines (SIA), has seen him in various roles from customer service, operations and administration, to marketing and sales, and living and working in 10 cities in eight different countries. He also started SIA’s flights to Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi, as well as set up an Integrated Operations Control Centre in mumbai.

“After 15 years, I felt I wanted and needed to give back. And what better way to do so by sharing my knowledge and experiences with an enthusiastic and

intelligent group of young adults,” says Andrew.

Together with the team of AmS lecturers, Andrew also works closely with the industry on other education programmes. For example, they are currently working with Changi Airports International to provide training for a group of Saudi airport executives.

“These opportunities allow us to share industry best practices, and also learn from practitioners around the world. Changi may be the top aviation hub in Asia, but the challenge is how we can adapt to different global challenges and constraints, be they operational or cultural. This is what we aim to teach our students too, so they can always apply the principles to real-life situations,” he says.

Andrew also acknowledges that staying in touch with industry contacts enables the team to create more opportunities for students such as industry training, collaborative projects, internships, as well as overseas study trips, like the one to embry-riddle Aeronautical university in uSA.

“That’s the great thing about a polytechnic education – hands-on opportunities and valuable experiences. At the same time, students get to learn from faculty with many years of experience in the industry,” he says.

Hazlina Abdul Halim, Communications & media management

Andrew Tan, Aviation management & Services

michael Gerard GarryGame & entertainment Technology

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The Storyteller

our lecturers

did you know that behind many of our most well-loved drama and sitcom programmes on local television was the storyteller, and TP’s

digital Film & Television lecturer, Andrew ngin?

Starting out writing jokes and skits for the comedy sketch show The ra ra Show (remember that one?), Andrew went on to become a scriptwriter, then head writer and even executive producer for some of the most talked about TV shows including under One roof, Growing up, Triple nine, Shivers, First

Touch, Police and Thief, and Fighting Spiders, which won an award at the Seoul drama festival.

Today, Andrew teaches Scriptwriting and Creative Storytelling, amongst other modules. But he has not stopped honing his craft. “You need to keep the engine constantly oiled and the writing muscles warmed up,” he says.

recently, Andrew wrote an episode for an upcoming HBO Asia television series called Serangoon road starring Joan Chen and Chin Han. He is also writing for feature films, such as 1965, which is under development. “Knowing what the networks want is important when teaching my students Project Pitching, because it’s all about tailoring your craft to suit the needs of the network to get the job,” he says.

Clearly enjoying his job, Andrew says, “I became a teacher to impart my love for the subject. But there’s

so much more to it including providing a listening ear, being an encouraging mentor, and imparting values like responsibility and integrity. But I’m always happy when they realise that I ‘talk sense’ (in their own words).”

“I love seeing the students apply what they have learnt and hope that they will pay it forward some day. This way, I can pave the way for the next generation of local screenwriters and storytellers.”

Passion and Practice in One dr June Tan is a veterinary surgeon with

her own private practice. On Wednesdays and Fridays though, she can be seen on

the TP campus, imparting her skills to Veterinary Technology (VeT) students.

“I had the opportunity to work with some TP VeT students before, and was inspired by them to contribute to the learning experience of future VeT students,” she says. She currently teaches two modules in which students are closely involved in the preparation and monitoring of cats and

dogs undergoing sterilisation surgery at TP’s very own Animal Clinic.

Having her own practice means that dr June is able to share with students her own first-hand experiences, and how they can apply the skills they learn from the course in real life situations. It also gives her a unique perspective as a teacher. “I constantly try to see and learn things from the students’ point of view, and then weave in what I have learnt working in practice to make it relevant for them. I think it’s always a challenge to find that middle ground, so that whatever I teach is really applicable to the real-life clinical scenarios,” she says.

dr June’s dedication to teaching can also be seen in the efforts she puts in to spend time with her students after lessons and she also keeps in close contact with graduates from the course. “I am impressed by the dedication of most of the students to this course, and their love for pets and animals. So whether it’s outside of work or even after they have left, I’m very happy to maintain my friendships with them and to help them however I can.”

Spirited About Teaching

At 53, Gerontology management Studies (Gem) senior lecturer normala manap exudes youthful vitality. Teaching modules

such as Sociology of Ageing, her students know her as the cool lecturer who’s always in boots and rides a bike to work!

“my pursuits are my passions! I think if you do what you love, it gives back to you so much more,” she says of her secret.

normala has been involved in social development for close to 30 years now, over 20 of which were spent in the ageing sector. From running programmes on the ground to national level policy development in Singapore and the region, and contributing time and effort to organisations such as the national Council of Social Services and the Tsao Foundation, she has done it all.

Yet, normala realised she needed to, and could, do more. “I really felt that to make a greater impact, we need to make inroads into education, and TP’s Gem is one of only two formal programmes in gerontology in Singapore. [The other is a masters programme at

Andrew ngin, digital Film & Television

normala manap, Gerontological management Studies

dr June Tan, Veterinary Technology

uniSim.] I knew that this was where I needed to be,” normala says.

To stay relevant, normala keeps in close touch with counterparts in the sector to learn of new developments. She is also always on the lookout for possibilities to connect what her students do with the industry through projects, attachments and internships. equally important to her teaching, is that she walks the talk.

“I bring to my teaching my own life experiences – be it yoga practice and teaching, raising children, motor and mountain biking. So I’m not only teaching active or productive ageing, but I am living successful ageing myself, which I think impacts my students much more than just learning something in a classroom,” she says.

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From Interning at Interpol to International Recognition TP Cyber & digital Security graduate Teh

Kaiwen was conferred the Singapore Computer Society (SCS) IT Youth Award

2013 on 22 February 2013, the most significant national recognition in the IT community. He was selected from among nominees across the Institutions of Higher Learning because of his outstanding academic achievements as well as his contributions to the community.

In particular, Kaiwen is the man behind the Facebook Forensics Toolkit, which has received much local and international recognition. His experience while doing his internship at Interpol in France inspired him to develop a unique cloud forensic tool to aid research in law enforcement. Its capability to gather and analyse data available on Facebook will allow the Criminal Investigation department (CId) to utilise this intelligence in streamlining investigative procedures.

The application has also won Kaiwen the Tan Kah Kee Young Inventors’ Award (Silver), the Singapore IT Federation Bronze Award as well as the gold award at the International ICT Innovative Service Contest 2012 for the most distinguishing Feature in Taiwan.

not surprisingly, Kaiwen graduated from his course at Temasek Polytechnic in 2012 as the course gold medallist and was also presented the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew Award for mathematics and Science. He was also the founder and President of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) Student Chapter in TP, which organised events and workshops for fellow students.

Says Kaiwen, “I believe that besides your studies, it’s important to get engaged in community service and contribute to the school and society, because

graduatesuccess

Getting to the Heart of ScienceIt may sound clichéd, but Solana Cheow

had one simple goal: to make the world a better place for everyone. As ambitious as

that seems, she always knew just how she would pursue her dream – through Science. She thus applied for TP’s Biomedical Science course so she could work closely with patients and improve their lives.

Today, she is currently pursuing a direct master’s degree in Pharmacy at the university of manchester in the united Kingdom, on the ministry of Health Holdings nursing and Health Science scholarship.

Solana says that her studies at TP prepared her for university in ways beyond understanding the curriculum. She says, “my journey at TP taught me crucial skills like discipline, focus, independent study, and how to manage my workload. It also made me realise that you really have to dare to try to achieve your goals. Thanks to the encouragement from my care tutor, I managed to work on my final-year project in a research institute in Australia, despite the many rejections I had faced before that. The support I got from TP also spurred me on to search and apply for scholarships, and I’m so thankful

for that because it takes a whole load off my parents’ shoulders.”

On top of schoolwork, Solana is also involved in many other activities. She is the international representative for the university of manchester in the British Pharmaceutical Student Association, which involves hosting foreign students and attending international conferences to keep abreast with policy changes.

Solana also volunteers with a children’s hospital in her spare time, and sources for her own clinical attachments with hospitals during her school holidays. “It’s heart-breaking to know you’re not able to cure some of these patients, especially those who are terminally ill, but at least you know that the medications they are on can help increase their quality of life. Attachments and volunteering really help deepen my understanding towards patient care,” she says.

She hopes to become a pharmacist ward specialist in either Oncology or Cardiology and help reduce the suffering and improve the lives of cancer and heart patients.Solana is currently pursuing a direct master’s degree in Pharmacy

at the university of manchester, uK.

Kaiwen (right) receiving the SCS IT Youth Award 2013 from SCS president mr Chak Kong Soon.

it’s these areas that will offer you excellent leadership experiences that you can’t get from just academics alone.”

Kaiwen is currently studying Information Systems management at Singapore management university, and hopes to pursue his master’s degree in the same field.

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Poly Student to Studio Director, in 3 years“It’s all about making the best of every

opportunity.” That pretty much sums up TP Communications & media

management (Cmm) graduate nadia natasha’s experience going from polytechnic student to Studio director at Channel newsAsia (CnA) within three short years.

In her final year, Nadia did her internship as a trailer producer at mediaCorp TV 12’s Creative Services department. She liked it so much, she went back to freelance there after graduation. Her lecturer from TP then informed her of a job opening as an Assistant Producer in CnA and suggested she give it a try. Having always been interested in current affairs and keen to gain more industry experience, nadia decided to go for it.

A year into the job, the mentors she had been working with encouraged her to try her hand at directing, so she started undergoing more training in directing. It was also at this point

that CnA was looking to hire more Studio directors to support a 24-hour format. They approached nadia with the role of studio direction for live productions of news and business news TV programmes.

“Being given the chance to try out different roles in broadcast modules in TP was definitely useful especially when I switched to directing, as I had done it back in school. At the same time, being trained in all the various roles also let me find out where my interest and strength truly lie,” says nadia of her Cmm training.

“my three years at TP were nothing short of amazing and enriching. And I couldn’t have asked for better mentors than the lecturers, whom I still keep in contact with now. It was certainly a stepping stone to a good start in the media industry.”

nadia is currently pursuing her part-time studies in Bachelor of Arts (Communication).

graduatesuccess

Once N(A) Student, Today Outstanding All-round AchieverIt’s rare, but every now and then you

might come across a student like Keith Lim, who exudes maturity well beyond

his years. Taking some time after his O levels to reflect upon what he wanted to do with his future, Keith says, “I realised that all the stuff I had been doing were pretty much just for me, and that’s a little egocentric. I decided I should do something that will allow me to give back to society.”

That impetus pushed the normal (Academic) student to apply for the Psychology Studies course at TP via the direct Polytechnic Admissions exercise. Though never very studious in the past, having a clear direction spurred Keith to give his best in everything he did at TP.

“I took up the Psychology Studies course and decided to join TP’s Community Services Club (CSC) as I ultimately want to join welfare organisations and help the needy, or become a relief-aid worker in war-torn countries,” says Keith.

during his three years at TP, Keith was an active member of CSC, finally taking on the mantle of President of the club and leading his fellow members in many charitable projects in collaboration with external organisations, as well as poly-wide events.

Keith made sure to manage his commitment towards CSC together with his studies, and consistently maintained excellent academic results, earning a place on the director’s List, and graduating with 11 distinctions. even before he graduated in may 2012, Keith had already received early acceptance into nanyang Technological university’s School of Humanities & Social Sciences’ Psychology programme on the nanyang Scholarship.

For his outstanding contributions, Keith was awarded the CapitaLand Award for All-round excellence at TP. He also received last year’s Lee Hsien Loong Award for Outstanding All-round Achievement, an award that is offered to only one student across all the polytechnics.

nadia started out producing trailers but soon found herself calling the shots as a Studio director.

Keith was awarded the prestigious Lee Hsien Loong Award for Oustanding All-round Achievement on 16 August 2012.

10

studentachievements

TP Wins Third Dream Team Challenge Title

Creating aWearness

Young Designers Bag Awards

did you know that in Singapore, 7,000 domestic pets are abandoned every year? A team of 22 Financial Business Informatics

and two Interactive media Informatics students decided to make it their cause to spread the message that a pet is for life.

As part of their coursework, they set up a company called aWear, selling specially designed t-shirts to raise awareness about the issue of pet responsibility, and to raise funds on behalf of the Society for the

Hot on the heels of TP receiving the prestigious electrolux Culinary Institution of the Year Award at the World Gourmet

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Part of their campaign saw them promoting their t-shirt designs on campus, and even taking pre-orders from interested buyers.

The idea was simple: ‘Wear the message, spread the aWearness’. But what started off as just an idea for a school project has since won the students industry recognition. Five students from the team represented their company aWear to emerge champions in the Singapore final of the Junior Achievement Company Of The Year (JA COY) Competition in January 2013.

The students hope to continue aWear, even looking into promoting other causes such as global warming, anti-smoking and cyber bullying.

Temasek Polytechnic’s School of design has consistently made a name for itself with its brand of inspired and inspiring designers. Here are some of the great things TP’s young designers have been up to:

Third-year Product & Industrial design student Pang Chee Kin’s invention, the Q-Lok, was selected as one of the top five entries in the Singapore university of Technology and design (SuTd) Challenge 2012, winning him a much-coveted place on the robocon programme, designing robots with participants around the world for two weeks at Tokyo design university.

Teo Beng Wee, who graduated from the Visual Communication course, won the Best of Year Award at the d&Ad Student Awards 2012 (formerly British design & Art direction) with his re-branding solution for the City of London.

recent Apparel design & merchandising graduate Jeremy Lin’s entry entitled ‘The Artist’s Workshop’, a conceptual brand selling fashion garments and jewellery, was among close to 7000 entries from 43 countries, and was a winner of the red dot award: communication design 2012. His works were exhibited at the Alte munze in Berlin, Germany.

Five students from School of design won three gold and two silver awards, and earned two honorary mentions, in the design excellence Awards (deA) 2012 under the Spatial design Awards (SPAde) for Students. The deA is an international design

Summit Awards of excellence 2012, TP emerged third-time champions in the F&B service and production competition, dream Team Challenge, at the Food & Hotel Asia Culinary Challenge 2012. The team beat 11 others from Taiwan, malaysia and Singapore to win the gold medal and the Overall Best dream Team title, repeating its success of 2008 and 2010.

To prepare for the competition, the team of five third-year Hospitality & Tourism management students trained every day for three months, perfecting their culinary and service techniques.

“All that hard work was definitely worth it! Actually the best takeaway from the competition is really the

experience that we gained. Winning is a bonus. It’s prestigious, it looks good in our resume, it will help us in our job hunt; but ultimately, it’s the real world skills we learnt from it that counts more,” says team member Chee Shi Jing.

His teammate Khor Chia Chern adds, “The whole experience really taught us important life skills like discipline, determination, perseverance and professionalism.

These skills certainly served them well when the boys did their internships in Singapore, Vietnam and Mauritius, and no doubt will continue to benefit them when they enter the workforce.

competition organised by the Interior design Confederation (Singapore).

rudyanto Akil bin Yusoff and Paul Tan from moving Images beat competitors from India, Indonesia, malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore to clinch the first and second prizes in the Canon Photomarathon x. Their coursemate dion Lim won the Top Prize in the Junior Category of the 4th City development Limited Singapore Young Photographer Award (SYPA) 2012.

environment design student Fawwaz bin Azhar won the Outstanding Graphics Silver Award in the Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects (SILA) Student Awards 2012. His coursemates madeline Leong and mohamed Kahdri also won the Outstanding Graphics Bronze Award and the most Innovative Construction Award respectively.

Clockwise from left: Khor Chi Chern, Krystofer Charles Lam, Chow Pak Tenk, Frederick Tan and Chee Shi Jing make up TP’s dream Team champions.

Students from TP School of Informatics & IT formed aWear to promote important social messages.

11

what’s newat TP

Welcome to the World at TP

Courses at TP

At the launch, mr Boo Kheng Hua, Principal & CeO of TP said, “If Singapore’s youth are not trained to harness globalisation, our

nation will lose out. So we have tried to extend the global experience to all students by bringing the world to TP.”

GCV offers a vibrant learning space for local and international staff and students to interact in as well as be exposed to cultural diversity through community engagement and the arts.

Apart from art studios, performance and exhibition spaces, a pottery studio, language labs, activity rooms and corporate training rooms, GCV also houses TP’s Centre for TransCultural Studies, which was set up in 2005 to focus on equipping students with a global mindset. The Centre develops cross-disciplinary

subjects such as Global Citizenship and World Issues to encourage TP students to be more future- and world-oriented.

It also runs the Transnational Studies module, which requires students to complete a two-week residential stay at GCV. This offers students of different backgrounds the unique opportunity

On 23 november 2012, Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong launched the Glocal Connect Village (GCV) at TP, the first of its kind in Singapore. The unique facility was set up as part of TP’s internationalisation strategy, to help prepare its students for success in an interconnected world.

“I didn’t want to come here to just study, but also to learn the culture. This was a good chance to study cross-cultural differences up close.”

“It was a great eye-opener into how people from different backgrounds live and work together. I found it extremely enriching and fascinating to be able to make the connection between what we experienced first-hand and the theories we were taught in the classroom.

Anna LanamoFinnish exchange student at TP Aaron Yong, Year 3,

Product & Industrial design

Participants of the residential stay say:

• Applied Food Science & Nutrition

• Baking & Culinary Science• Biomedical Science• Biotechnology• Chemical Engineering• Consumer Science &

Technology• Pharmaceutical Science• Veterinary Technology

• Business Intelligence & Analytics

• Cyber & Digital Security• Digital Forensics• Financial Business Informatics• Game & Entertainment

Technology• Information Technology• Mobile & Network Services

• Accounting & Finance• Business• Business Information Technology• Communications & Media

Management• Culinary & Catering Management• Hospitality & Tourism Management• Law & Management• Leisure & Resort Management• Logistics & Operations Management• Marketing• Retail Management

• Early Childhood Studies• Gerontological Management

Studies• Psychology Studies

• Common Engineering Programme

• Electrical & Electronic Engineering Programme

• Mechatronics & Aerospace Programme

School of Applied Science

School of Business

School of Design

School of Humanities & Social Sciences

School of Informatics & IT

School of Engineering

Special Engineering Programmes

• 3D Interactive Media Technology• Aerospace Electronics• Aerospace Engineering• Aviation Management & Services• Biomedical Engineering• Business Process & Systems

Engineering• Clean Energy• Computer Engineering• Electronics• Green Building & Sustainability• Infocomm & Network

Engineering• Integrated Facility Management• Mechatronics• Media & Communication

Technology• Microelectronics

• Apparel Design & Merchandising• Digital Film & Television• Environment Design• Interior Architecture & Design• Interactive Media Design• Product & Industrial Design• Retail & Hospitality Design• Visual Communication

The six academic schools at TP offer the following market-driven diploma courses.

to gain some intercultural insight by living, working, playing and studying together.

TP started this residential stay programme in 2009 and it is open to all its students. more than 2,500 students have since benefitted from the programme.

The Glocal Connect Village, launched by Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong six months ago, will promote intercultural interaction and greater understanding of cultural diversity.

12

Guiding Your Child Through the O’sPGseminar

every time the topics of dressing and pocket money are raised during TP’s Parental Guidance (PG) Seminar, nervous laughter can be heard from parents

all around. And understandably so. Just as it is a significant transition for their children going from Secondary school to tertiary institution, it is the same for them. Suddenly, they now have to wonder about things like how much allowance they should give, and how closely they should watch their children’s dressing now that uniforms are a thing of the past.

Yes, it’s a time of big decisions and big changes, and that’s exactly why TP organises the PG Seminar every year especially for parents of students taking the O levels. The comprehensive Seminar aims to provide information on all aspects of a polytechnic education so that parents leave better informed and well-equipped to guide their children as they embark on the next stage of their educational journey.

Some of the topics that parents have found very useful:

• Admission exercises – did you know that there are six different admission exercises?

• TP’s diploma courses – Yes, TP offers 52 different courses across six schools!

• Student life at TP – most parents just want to know what their kids are going to be up to

• Post-polytechnic career and further education options• Scholarship opportunities

The Seminar will also be a good opportunity to find out more about the direct Polytechnic Admission exercise, which takes place in July. This special admission exercise offers students the opportunity to get direct entry into the course of their choice based on their interest and passion. Students who join TP via this direct route also get to be part of an exclusive Polytechnic Preparatory Programme (PPP), which gives them a head start at school.

One highlight of the Seminar is always the sharing session, in which current students, alumni and parents of students talk about their TP journey, their success stories, and their stresses (of involved parents, as always!).

Parents also get to tour any academic school of their choice, offering them a sneak peek into the learning facilities and hands-on experiences at TP, as well as the opportunity to

speak with lecturers and students, and find out more about individual courses in greater detail.

With informative topics of discussion, engaging sharing sessions and interactive tours, many parents have expressed that they were in a better position to advise their child on post-Secondary options after the event. In fact, more than 3,000 parents and students have benefited from the PG Seminar thus far. Will you be one of them?

Here are what some parents had to say about PG Seminar 2012:

“It is very informative and helped me understand more about the polytechnic.”

“The Seminar is great and informative, I really enjoyed interacting with the friendly students.”

“Well organised and informative, good job!!!”

“This seminar was very

beneficial and relevant. I really

learnt a lot.”

“Excellent seminar. Thank you.”

“Good organisation of seminar. Felt very

at home.”

“Very good work. Very useful and

informative.”

Saturday, 29 June 2013, 9.30amTemasek Convention CentreTemasek Polytechnic

register your attendance now at www.tp.edu.sg/pgseminar

Admission is free. do bring your child along!

For enquiries, please call 6780 6027 / 6556 or email outreach@tp.edu.sg

Parents and students get a close up look at what the courses have to offer on the academic tours. deputy director, Academic Planning & development, School of design, darryl david, answers enquiries during the Q & A session.

The PG Seminar has helped many parents guide their child to make an informed decision with regard to the right fit of tertiary education.