A publication of Ngee Ann Polytechnic Issue 2 of 2014 Y R E EV ENT D U ST TTERS MA ate the e r c s canstory at y t n e s ud em All st n succeusth Acad ow nn Yo r i e h t gee A N Medicine Woman Our first female grad to enter local medical school Training Cyber Cops A new diploma grooms IT security pros 06 Contents 01 02 newsroom Ngee Ann Wins President’s Award for the Environment Singapore’s highest environmental accolade is a nod to the polytechnic’s environmental commitment The School of InfoComm Technology’s fifth diploma will offer cyber security internships with key partners 03 Heeding the Call to be a Doctor 04 Engineering a Route to Success 05 Free Eye Checks for Cabbies 06 08 12 New Diploma to Boost Cyber Security Lim Xin Yan is Ngee Ann’s first female graduate to enter local medical school The pioneer batch of Engineering Science graduates proves their diploma is a gateway to great opportunities Taxi drivers enjoy better eye health, thanks to eye checks at Ngee Ann’s Optometry Centre 10 The Ngee Ann Youth Academy enables students to create their own success stories Tapping on technology to develop smart solutions Talent in the Arts Grant recipients attend masterclasses and overseas summer school A Harmony of Arts and Heart 12 My Global Classroom 14 16 tech talk IT Gets Innovative Lessons from Masters of the Arts 11 cover story Making Every Opportunity Count highlights 17 Campus arts festival raises funds for needy students Our students traverse the globe on unique learning journeys heart Going Places with Kindness Staff and students bring cheer to the needy – both locally and overseas people When Less is More Hear from two students who survived on a meagre income to better understand the plight of Singapore’s needy the last page Going Baldly Where Few Girls Have Gone CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE EDITOR Jeanine Tan ASSISTANT EDITOR Melanie Wee SENIOR DESIGNER Frances Sim Cover photo: Sam Chin For enquiries, contact us at askNP@np.edu.sg or call 6466 6555. Newsroom NGEE ANN WINS PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT The polytechnic is awarded Singapore’s highest environmental accolade for its efforts in environmental sustainability For its environmental advocacy efforts spanning over 20 years, Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) received the President’s Award for the Environment in September. The award, Singapore’s highest environmental accolade, was presented to NP's Principal Mr Clarence Ti by President Tony Tan Keng Yam at an award ceremony held at the Istana. Ngee Ann's environmental charter aims to incorporate environmental awareness into campus life. Every year, about 200 students graduate from environmental-related courses, and green champions are nurtured via student clubs. Facilities like the Environmental & Water Technology Centre of Innovation and Solar Technology Centre tap on new technologies to further the environmental cause. Three new campus buildings were recently conferred the BCA Green Mark Platinum Awards, and NP hopes to obtain similar certifications for 80 per cent of its campus buildings by 2020. Reasserting NP’s commitment to environmental excellence, Mr Ti said, “We are honoured to receive this award, and we pledge to continue doing our utmost to inculcate environmental awareness and responsibility.” CHAMPIONING THE GREEN CAUSE 1000 Related diplomas 4 Students & staff driving environmental efforts every year 200 Students trained per year 130 17 100 Environmental projects spearheaded by students and funded by NP from 2011 to 2013 Environmental Rangers (Student club) Green Volunteers (Student club) 1700 Students trained since 1998 27 Staff Green Champions (From left) Principal of Ngee Ann Polytechnic Mr Clarence Ti, President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources. 1 newsroom NEW DIPLOMA TO boost cyber security School of InfoComm Technology partners key players for internship opportunities The launch of the new Diploma in Information Security & Forensics in April 2015 is a timely response to the recent slew of cyber security breaches and Internet crimes. It is the fifth diploma to be offered by Ngee Ann’s School of InfoComm Technology. Besides gaining a strong foundation in IT security and digital forensics, students will learn to set up secured networks, develop secure software applications and investigate cyber crimes. Master classes by information security professionals are also on the cards, as are internships with leading IT security organisations such as CrimsonLogic, Microsoft and Palo Alto Networks. With the global shortage of IT security professionals, students can look forward to careers as digital forensics investigators, secure software developers and malware analysts with security agencies worldwide. The new Information Security & Forensics course will train students to investigate and fight cyber crimes. A $7.97 MILLION GIFT FROM NGEE ANN KONGSI (From left) Principal of Ngee Ann Polytechnic Mr Clarence Ti, Guest of Honour Minister of State Ms Sim Ann, President of Ngee Ann Kongsi Dr Lim Kee Ming, and Ngee Ann Kongsi Chairman of Education for Scholarships and Bursaries Committee Mr Goh Kim Hock. 2 Meeting a woman who stays in a one-room flat and looks after her elderly mother was what inspired final-year International Business student, Tan Kit Yee, to pursue her interest in social work. Kit Yee met her last year during the Community Adventure Challenge, one of Ngee Ann Polytechnic's (NP) development programmes made possible by a donation from Ngee Ann Kongsi. This year, the philanthropic foundation gave $7.97 million to NP. Ngee Ann Kongsi contributes 25 per cent of its income to NP every year. Up to 50 per cent of this amount – capped at $2 million – goes into an education fund for study grants and development programmes. The remaining amount will be placed in an endowment fund. The Community Adventure Challenge, which aims to develop empathy and social responsibility, saw Kit Yee and other NP students clearing tables at food centres, distributing bread to needy families and interacting with foreign workers to better understand the challenges they faced. “Even though the woman I met has very little materially, she is happy. I’ve been considering a career in social entrepreneurship or community service, and this challenge gave me exposure to the needs of others,” said Kit Yee. HEEDING THE CALL TO be a doctor Biomedical Science graduate is Ngee Ann’s first female graduate to enter National University of Singapore's Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine There were five before her. But Lim Xin Yan is Ngee Ann's first female graduate – and the sixth to date – to secure a spot in the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. The five Ngee Ann graduates who had previously gained direct admission were all male. “I’ve been interested in biology since I was in secondary three. I decided to pursue that interest with a biomedical science diploma because I wanted something more practical and focused. "Taking modules like immunology, microbiology, physiology and genetics at Ngee Ann provided an in-depth understanding of how the human body functions, and gives me an edge in my current medical studies,” shared Xin Yan, who entered NUS in August. When asked why she felt a calling to the medical profession, Xin Yan said, “During my hospital attachment as a Ngee Ann student, I saw how patients, especially the elderly, trusted their doctors implicitly. Their lives are in the doctors’ hands. I want to be able to comfort and help these patients; to reach out and really make a difference.” students care service award for ngee ann Over the past two years, students from the Clementi Students Care Service (SCS) have enjoyed outdoor activities like football kickabouts and rope adventure classes, as well as life skills workshops and study sessions held at Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP). Through these, the students gained self-esteem and confidence by interacting with NP staff, many of whom they view as mentors. For its outreach efforts to these students, NP was awarded the Friends of SCS Award at the SCS volunteers’ appreciation event in September. The events for Clementi SCS students were organised by the polytechnic's ComServe committee, which aims to provide staff with the opportunity to make a difference through acts of kindness and serve the community together. NP’s staff and students travel far and wide to reach out to the needy. Read about their community service efforts on pages 14 and 15. 3 newsroom ENGINEERINg A ROUTE to SUCCESS The pioneer batch of Engineering Science graduates have proven that their diploma is a gateway to great opportunities and rewards When Ekko Chua graduated from Ngee Ann in May with a Diploma in Engineering Science (ES), she received not one, but six different scholarship offers, including four from universities in the United Kingdom. She is among the 25 per cent of the inaugural cohort who won local or overseas undergraduate scholarships. Ekko eventually chose the Energy Market Authority Scholarship to pursue a Master of Engineering (Chemical & Energy Engineering) at the University of Leeds. An impressive 85 per cent of the cohort have been accepted into prestigious local and overseas university programmes. The national average for fresh polytechnic graduates enrolling into both full-time and part-time degree courses is about 45 per cent. “The Engineering Science course gave me a strong foundation in different engineering fields, helping me to discover my strengths and interests,” said Ekko, who hopes to work in Singapore’s energy sector in the future. The ES diploma, launched in 2011, has been attracting ‘O’ level students with excellent results. They are drawn by the rigorous, broad-based curriculum designed in collaboration with Nanyang Technological University (NTU); exposure to technological developments through visits to overseas universities; and prospects of working on research projects and attending classes at NTU, National University of Singapore (NUS) or Singapore University of Technology & Design. ES graduate Koh Hui Fang, who was awarded a Defence Science & Technology Agency Undergraduate Scholarship, relished the diploma’s learning opportunities. “We took additional modules in programming and maths. This gave us in-depth knowledge, greatly reducing the learning curve when we study similar modules in university,” shared Hui Fang, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) at NUS. Fellow graduate Benjamin Chia considers the diploma’s focus on applied research one of its strengths. “The research projects I did in NTU and NUS provided an ideal platform to apply my theoretical knowledge in real life,” he said. Benjamin won the SPRING Executive Development Scholarship and will study Engineering Science in NUS when he completes national service in 2016. THE ENGINEERING SCIENCE DIPLOMA IN NUMBERS 85% secured a place in one or more universities. Ekko Chua is among the inaugural batch of Engineering Science graduates who received prestigious scholarships. 5 1 Number of secondyear ES students who received the A*STAR Science Awards (Poly) 2014, which provide R&D internship opportunities at A*STAR’s research institutes. in 3 first-year ES students received the NP Engineering Scholarship or Merit Award 4 25% Pioneer batch of graduates who accepted scholarships from local universities and organisations. 5 second and third-year ES students were offered the Diploma Scholarship by DSO National Laboratories, which includes an internship at the national defence R&D organisation FREE EYE CHECKS FOR CABBIES Optometry students perform eye examinations for taxi drivers in new initiative Optometry students performed free eye checks for taxi drivers at Ngee Ann’s Optometry Centre. Second and final-year Optometry students had the opportunity to conduct comprehensive eye checks for taxi drivers at Ngee Ann Polytechnic's (NP) Optometry Centre. This was part of the Taxi Drivers Eyecare Ambassador Programme, launched in October. It was a tie-up by optics company Essilor Singapore, the National Taxi Association, Singapore Polytechnic and NP. Under the initiative, about 2,000 taxi drivers could visit the optometry centres at either polytechnic from October 20 to December 6 to have their vision and eye health assessed. The programme aims to engage these taxi drivers as eye care ambassadors to spread the importance of annual eye checks to the passengers they pick up daily. “We are pleased to help raise awareness of the importance of primary eye care in Singapore through this collaboration with our partners. The community project provided a valuable learning platform for our Optometry students who were involved in conducting general eye examinations for the taxi drivers under the supervision of their lecturers,” said Dr Phang Chiew Hun, Director of NP's School of Health Sciences, which oversees the Optometry course. SPECIAL MENTIONS • Ngee Ann Polytechnic received a $2.12 million donation from the Daisy Phay Foundation to provide financial assistance to needy students. The cheque was presented to Principal, Mr Clarence Ti in July by Mr Ng Hark Cheng, a trustee of Dr Phay's estate. The late Dr Phay – who was Chairman of the Public Service Commission from 1962 to 1975 – set up the foundation in memory of his wife, Daisy. • Ngee Ann Polytechnic was among the three recipients of an $8.3 million grant awarded by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) in July. Under BCA's Building Energy Efficiency Grant Call, researchers will develop energy-efficient, cost-effective technologies for buildings in the tropics, focusing on air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation, and building management and information systems. • Temasek Foundation, Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Myanmar's Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement (MSWRR) in August to enhance Myanmar's local enterprise development. The initiative will see the two polytechnics facilitate the training of MSWRR senior government officials in strategic planning, capability building and policy development over a period of two-and-a-half years, with $973,000 in funding support from Temasek Foundation. 5 Cover Story MAKING EVERY OPPORTUNITY COUNT At Ngee Ann Polytechnic, every student gets to create their own success story In a seminar room, Ngee Ann students huddle around in groups, furiously brain-storming ideas as a facilitator shouts words of encouragement. After a few minutes, they fall into their “lanes” as it is time for the race to begin – each group needs to form a human “car” with “working parts” like tyres, lights and wipers, and navigate it around a set course in the fastest possible time. Aimed at encouraging out-of-the-box thinking, the activity was part of the Empowerment Camp, one of the many programmes organised by the Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) Youth Academy. Set up in 2012, the Youth Academy seeks to provide every student a wealth of opportunities to develop their fullest potential, pursue their passions and deliver their best 6 –­ a “best” that may not necessarily be defined by winning trophies or scoring a perfect GPA. The Youth Academy programmes are specially tailored for each level, and open to all NP students pursuing fulltime diplomas. Freshmen can sign up for empowerment camps to discover their personality profiles, strengths and weaknesses, while second-year students build on this foundation with leadership and communication workshops. Final-year students can look forward to training in resume writing and interview techniques, to better equip them for work and university when they graduate. “The Youth Academy was set up to provide every student in Ngee Ann the opportunity to benefit from enrichment programmes as an extra top-up beyond academic pursuits. Over their three years in NP, students will go through the process of self-discovery, broadening their horizons and gaining real-world insights,” said Mr Mun Kwok On, Director of the Student Development & Alumni Relations Office which oversees the academy. Through the Youth Academy, NP students are also imbued with values that will anchor them for life. Programme facilitators are required to be familiar with NP’s six core values – responsibility, respect, resilience, integrity, compassion and gratitude – and integrate them seamlessly in the design and delivery of all programmes, encompassing leadership, character building and personal development. The polytechnic’s core values are also infused through the INSPIRE Speaker Series, where society's changemakers and community leaders share their success stories. Most recently, Group President of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation and former Head of the Civil Service, Mr Lim Siong Guan, addressed students on the topic of “The Social Leader as a Change Maker”. At the end of the day, we hope that every NP student will be empowered to create his or her own success story — one that may not be measured by conventional standards. – Mr Mun Kwok On Director, Student Development & Alumni Relations “The response to our programmes has been positive,” shared Mr Mun. “We continue to listen to feedback from our stakeholders, thought leaders and practitioners to improve our programme content, design and delivery to make them more effective, interesting and relevant.” The Youth Academy's programmes drew over 1,400 students in its first year, with another 2,000 participants expected by the end of its second financial year next March. Next up for the Youth Academy is the inaugural Social Leadership Challenge, where final-year students will embark on an overseas learning journey with anchor host partners reputed for their social leadership practices and initiatives. Through their interactions with these advocates, students will be inspired to consider how they can “pay it forward” by giving back to the community. “At the end of the day, we hope that every NP student will be empowered to create his or her own success story – one that may not be measured by conventional standards,” said Mr Mun. NURTURING TALENTS FOR THE FUTURE While catering to all NP students, the Youth Academy also has a talent development programme for those with special talents and high ability. Known as The Christieara Programme (TCP), it is designed to stretch these students beyond academic excellence, through exposure to global affairs and critical thinking skills, as well as provide mentorship and guidance for their scholastic pursuits. TCP was started in 2002, and now comes under the Youth Academy to provide greater synergy in delivering quality development programmes. TCP students have since gone on to pursue degrees in renowned universities worldwide and secure multiple scholarship offers, including those from the Public Service Commission. 7 Tech Talk The ColourLife application has various functions to aid the colour-blind in day-to-day activities. itgets INNOVATIVE Ngee Ann’s staff and students tap on technology to develop smart solutions that make life simpler HELPING THE COLOUR-BLIND TO SEE Computer enthusiast Hang Zhi Cheng loves joining cables together, but that hobby poses a great challenge to him because he is colour-blind. To overcome that, Zhi Cheng was inspired to create ColourLife – a mobile application to help others like him to accurately identify colours. “I needed help from my parents to differentiate the colourcoded computer cables,” said the Class of 2013 Information Technology graduate, who suffers from red-green colour blindness. “So I decided to come up with an application to help colour-blind users track colours on the fly.” ColourLife, which was launched late last year for Android phones, was developed by Zhi Cheng and a team of lecturers and students from Ngee Ann’s School of 8 InfoComm Technology. Its colour identification function is easy to use – simply activate the camera function on the application and point it towards a particular object. The colours of the object will then be stated on the screen. The application also helps users to identify their type of colour-deficiency, and automatically tweaks the phone accordingly. Even the fashion-conscious get a helping hand – once users have snapped a photo of their outfit and indicated the colours they are wearing, the application advises on whether their colour choices are a good match. ColourLife is a boon for the colour-blind in their dayto-day activities. Mr Andrew Tan, one of the lecturers on the team, said, “The colour identification function can help users, for example, to tell apart the red and green colours on the MRT map.” ON THE ALERT FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD CRIME The crime alert signboards you see around your neighbourhood could soon be sporting a new, hightech interface, thanks to an award-winning system developed by Electronic & Computer Engineering (ECE) students and staff. The Electronic Crime Alert Signboard was first conceptualised as a final-year project by ECE students for the Singapore Police Force. Using a secure mobile application, the police can remotely and almost instantaneously update these signboards with the latest crime alert information. Messages, which can be customised by category such as crime type, location, and date and time, will be read by a microcontroller on the board, before being updated in real-time for public viewing. “With this device, the police no longer need to visit different locations to modify each sign,” said Dr Li Yan, a lecturer from Ngee Ann’s School of Engineering which oversees the ECE course. “Based on feedback, we are now working on certain improvements such as enlarging the display and incorporating audio output. PHYSIOTHERAPY MADE FUN A simple visit to a Thye Hua Kwan centre was the inspiration behind the Integrated Hand Grip Physiotherapy System developed by Ngee Ann's School of InfoComm Technology (ICT) in collaboration with Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society. The Integrated Hand Grip Physiotherapy System incorporates gaming elements which motivate patients to complete their exercises. The crime alert signboards can be updated remotely and almost instantaneously using a secure mobile application. We are also exploring other modifications to make it tamper-proof, water-proof and more energy efficient.” The innovative, time-saving project won two awards at the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Security Awareness for Everyone competition last year. The visiting ICT lecturers had noticed many of the centre's patients doing physiotherapy with an ordinary stress ball. Because the exercises were highly repetitive, patients were unmotivated to complete them, and required constant supervision from the centre’s physiotherapists. This sparked the idea of applying digital game design techniques into an integrated computerised system to liven up these physiotherapy sessions. Consisting of a specially-designed ball with sensors that emit signals to a computer, the system can monitor the patient's performance and even store data which is accessible by doctors, nurses, therapists and caregivers. Incorporating game elements makes the exercises more enjoyable, motivating patients to complete them. Currently undergoing clinical trials, the portable system can be deployed to any Thye Hua Kwan centre when needed. The project received $153,000 in funding from the Tote Board’s Social Innovation Research Fund and Ngee Ann Polytechnic, and is an effort to capitalise on staff’s knowledge, skills and experience to develop solutions that improve lives. 9 Highlights LESSONS FROM MASTERS OF THE ARTS Talent in the Arts Grant paves the way for artistic talents to develop their full potential Loretta Lim, a second-year Arts Business Management (ABM) student, got the rare opportunity to travel to London to train under a world-class ballet dancer. Loretta is one of four winners of this year's Talent in the Arts Grant, which has been awarded annually to talented ABM students since 2011. The grant, worth up to $5,000, paved the way for Loretta to attend a two-week summer school programme from July to August at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. Her daily classes included contemporary dance techniques, contemporary jazz and intermediate ballet. The ballet lessons were taught by Liz Alpe, a former dancer from the Royal Ballet, one of the world's most esteemed dance troupes. “I never thought that I would ever meet a Royal Ballet dancer, let alone take classes under one. Ms Alpe even stayed back after lessons to help us fine-tune our techniques. To learn from the best was a dream come true, and the Talent in the Arts Grant made that possible,” shared Loretta. Having taken ballet classes for 14 years since she was five, Loretta only picked up contemporary dance when she entered Ngee Ann. The grant will allow Loretta to continue honing her dance techniques through contemporary dance classes with local companies next year. I never thought that I would ever meet a Royal Ballet dancer, let alone take classes under one... To learn from the best was a dream come true, and the Talent in the Arts Grant made that possible. THIS YEAR’S TALENT IN THE ARTS GRANT WAS ALSO AWARDED TO: Brendan Ong } Brendan’s interest in a capella music developed when he was a choir member in St Gabriel’s Secondary School. He will be taking vocal lessons under Babes Conde, one of the Singapore's top vocal coaches. Jenson Tan } A self-taught artist since the age of 14, Jenson attended a short course on drawing using different methodology at the Slade School of Fine Art in University College London. An aspiring graphic designer and curator, Jenson uses digital software as his primary medium. Gabriel Goh } Gabriel’s interest in photography was “accidentally” piqued when he stumbled upon negatives of old family photos. Having attended the Fine Art Photography short course at the Slade School of Fine Art in University College London, Gabriel seeks to explore themes of visual cultures and history through photography. 10 Thanks to the Talent in the Arts Grant, students like Loretta Lim can pursue their passion in music, dance, theatre and visual arts. A HARMONY OF ARTS AND HEART Arts Fiesta raises over $120,000 for needy students Arts and cultural CCA groups performing the mass dance finale at the street parade. More than $120,000 was raised for a worthy cause during Ngee Ann Polytechnic's (NP) Arts Fiesta, held on campus from October to November. The amount, which came from ticket sales went towards the Student Aid Fund – established by NP and supported by several philanthropic endowments – to benefit needy students. The event opened on a high note with a colourful street parade featuring 23 CCA groups. In line with the theme “PLAY”, highlights of the Arts Fiesta included garden swings and art installations in the open field, and a Zumba dance party. CCA groups showcased their talents in key performances, culminating in the ever-popular Danzation, a dance extravaganza which brought the sixweek arts celebration to a rousing close. LIGHTING UP WITH BRIGHT IDEAS It was a race against time for over 200 secondary school students at Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) in September, as they competed to design a modular lamp within four hours in the NP-BCA Design Challenge. The inaugural event was a collaboration between NP’s School of Design & Environment (DE) and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) to encourage the creative and sustainable design of everyday items. Working in groups, the students – who came from 30 secondary schools – were tasked to create lamps comprising “modules” of the same shape without using any adhesives. They were also judged on their learning portfolios which showcased the lamp’s concept and the team’s understanding of sustainable design. "Our judging panel was amazed by the 61 teams' unique creations. We hope that through this experience, students will be able to better appreciate the importance of design – where even something as basic as a lamp The winning team from Crescent Girls' School. involves a lot of design thinking," said Mrs Pang Peck Hong, Director of DE. Crescent Girls' School won the Gold Award and the top prize of $1,200, along with a trophy. Greendale Secondary School and Tanglin Secondary School came in second and third, winning $800 and $500 respectively. 11 Highlights Students attended classes at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. MY GLOBAL CLASSROOM Teaching goes beyond just classroom lectures, as Ngee Ann students traverse the globe on rewarding learning journeys NEW YORK, USA Before he left for New York in June, final-year Aerospace Technology student Jasvinderpal Singh knew nothing about American politics. However, after a three-week visit to the city, he is now in the know about the country’s society, public policies and legal system. “I was nervous before the trip, as I had no prior knowledge of political issues. But learning about the American political system turned out to be a highlight of my trip! I was amazed by how the country and its different states are run by different levels of government,” he shared. Twenty students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) were awarded the Overseas Merit Fellowship to New York, as part of the polytechnic’s talent development programme. There, they attended lectures at Syracuse University 12 covering the local government system, legal system as well as America’s public and foreign policies. They also visited government offices and non-profit organisations. The students were also challenged to write an individual policy memo that required them to analyse and compare the public policies in America and Singapore, and address issues in either country. Final-year Chinese Media & Communication student Koh Cheng Jun said, “It was a challenging but eye-opening assignment that helped to shape my perspective of American and Singaporean politics.” Summing up the memorable trip, Jasvinderpal said, “Getting the opportunity to study in an overseas university was my biggest takeaway, and learning under different professors who were so open to discussions and debates taught me to think more critically.” WESTERN AUSTRALIA Not everyone has an opportunity to get up close and personal with a Nobel Prize winner, but that was just what Landscape Design & Horticulture student Jonathan Goh got to do when he visited Western Australia. “It was inspiring to attend a lecture by Professor Barry Marshall, who won the 2005 Nobel Prize for his discovery that the bacterium Helicobacter pylori is the cause of peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. Scientists and doctors had thought otherwise, but he proved them wrong. It taught me to be unafraid of taking risks and journeying on paths less trodden to make a difference,” said Jonathan. The lecture was part of the Overseas Merit Award – a two-week trip in October for Jonathan and 19 other third-year scholars from the School of Life Sciences & Chemical Technology. They attended lectures at the University of Western Australia on topics like forensic science and food security, and went on site visits. These included an experiential geomorphological journey around the region to study landforms and analyse soil quality, a study on marine ecology in Rottnest Island, and a trip to the volunteer-staffed Earthwise community centre to learn about composting and environmental conservation. | Jonathan Goh (right) posing with Professor Barry Marshall and the Nobel Prize medal. All the students, including Jonathan (pictured here) got a chance to play the didgeridoo, a traditional aboriginal instrument. When she wasn’t at work, Dione Lum enjoyed hiking along Hawaii’s scenic trails, including this one in Aiea. HONOLULU, HAWAII Hawaii is the “Paradise of the Pacific”, famed for its sun, sea and surf. But its idyllic shores were more than just an exotic holiday destination for recent Mass Communication graduate, Dione Lum. Dione finished her six-month internship at Pacific Telecommunications Council in Honolulu this year. It was an eye-opening experience, as she helped to organise the Pacific Telecommunications Conference 2014 which brought together the world’s largest and most influential telecommunications companies. “I met leading executives from AT&T, TATA, Equinix and CITIC Telecom,” she shared. “Experiencing such a large-scale event first-hand gave me valuable insights of the industry, and I even got to stay at the luxurious Hilton beach resort where the conference was held!” Spearheading volunteer recruitment efforts for the conference, Dione’s role covered planning media platforms for advertising, conducting outreach programmes targeting university students, scheduling rosters and volunteer training. She was also involved in co-ordinating sponsorships, designing conference materials and the stage management of keynote speakers. Reflecting on the experience, Dione said, “The many skills I picked up at Ngee Ann were put to good use during my internship – from advertising, copywriting and research, to design software and even talent management. "This internship has been an incredible learning journey. I’m now more confident of taking on the challenges of the working world.” 13 Heart Muhammad Amirrul Afiq (far right) and his coursemates enjoy a fun day out with the Vietnamese students. going places with kindness Ngee Ann staff and students bring cheer to the needy – both locally and overseas designs that make a difference His first attempt at communication was a failure, but that didn’t stop Muhammad Amirrul Afiq from trying to reach out to hearing-impaired students in Vietnam. Along with 17 other students from the Diploma in Product Design & Innovation (PDI), Amirrul visited the Lam Dong School for the Hearing Impaired on a community service trip in September. The PDI students conceptualised designs for products such as bags and stuffed toys, which the Vietnamese students worked in groups to produce. Some did embroidery, while 14 others did sewing, knitting or beading. “It was our first time relating with the hearingimpaired, so we didn’t know how to communicate our initial design ideas to the students. But we learnt some basic sign language, and with their teachers’ help, we managed to successfully finish the second and third projects,” said Amirrul. “With their new skills, the students will be able to make their own products for sale in future. I’m glad we had this chance to make a difference with our skills,” he added. SCALING HEIGHTS, BUILDING BONDS Multi-vine. Acid River. Nitro Crossing. Many of the 67 students from the Students Care Service and Thye Hua Kwan family service centres had never heard of these words before they visited Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) for a Rope Adventure activity in September. But by the end of the event, they had not only tried out the three low-element courses that take place around ground level, but had scaled even greater heights, attempting high-element courses like abseiling and rock-climbing. Experienced students from NP’s Outdoor Adventure Club were on hand to conduct a safety briefing and belay the participants, while 30 NP staff from various divisions provided encouragement and support. The event ended with a tea reception, providing opportunities for staff and students to mingle and interact. The Rope Adventure series is an annual event organised by NP’s ComServe committee as an outreach to various community groups. SNAPSHOTS OF FAMILY FUN For four hours in June, the sounds of children’s laughter and happy chatter filled Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Staff Centre. Ten needy families from the Siglap community were invited for “Family Day Out”, a half-day event on campus organised by the School of Film & Media Studies (FMS) and volunteers from Siglap Community Centre. The children were thrilled by the balloon-sculpting workshop, as they learnt to make balloonshaped swords, flowers and animals, and engaged in impromptu “sword fights”. The families then enjoyed a sumptuous tea break with the 23 FMS staff and a screening of Ilo Ilo – an award-winning movie produced by FMS alumnus, Anthony Chen. Everyone also posed gamely for their own family portraits, taken by a team of FMS staff and students. Just before leaving, the families were presented with the framed portrait – a perfect memento of a memorable day of family fun. 15 People WHEN LESS IS MORE Living on a meagre income to empathise with the needy gave two Business & Social Enterprise students a new perspective Lewin Low (left) and Nicholas Fheng's (right) final-year project Living on Less is an unusual one. For two months, the Business & Social Enterprise students called an HDB interim rental flat home and took up low-wage jobs in an effort to experience the struggles of Singapore's lowincome groups. They lived on just $790 a month – the average amount a two-person household receives monthly from the Public Assistance Scheme. What insights into the lives of the needy did you gain? Lewin: We learnt not to judge, pity or force help on them. Some homeless people don’t want help because they simply prefer to be independent. NicHOLAS: I learnt to see their strengths, rather than their shortcomings. I was also touched by a family that qualified for financial aid, but refused it, saying, “Give it to someone who needs it more than us.” How did the idea of “Living on Less” come about? NicHOLAS: Empathy for the poor and helping people have always been in our hearts. We hoped that living on a limited budget would let us better understand the needs of those we want to help. Much as we wanted to, it was impossible for us to replicate the experience fully. We believe that in reality, it would be tougher for the elderly, the sick and families with young children. What was the most challenging aspect you faced? NicHOLAS: Losing the freedom to choose what you want to do. When you’re living in poverty, you become very practical. You work to earn money and worry about making enough to get by. But you find meaning in work, like setting new challenges for yourself. Tell us about your experience as a low-wage worker. NicHOLAS: I was a warehouse assistant for a month, lifting and loading heavy goods. Then I worked as a cleanercum-coffee stall assistant, clearing plates, taking drink orders and washing dishes. Once a week after work, we would accompany a social worker to visit needy families. 16 How has this experience changed you? Lewin: It has taught me that every job is important and it can make a difference. It’s all about finding meaning in what you’re doing. NicHOLAS: I have realised that we live with a lot of excesses, for example, having multiple pairs of shoes in different colours. These things aren’t essential for true happiness. My needs are a lot simpler now. The Last Page going baldly where few girls have gone Three female students (from left) Dawn Sim, Yong Hui Yu and Kok Hui Lin were among the 50 Ngee Ann Polytechnic staff and students who shaved their locks at Hair for Hope in July to raise awareness of childhood cancer. The satellite event, held on campus for the fourth time, raised over $15,000 for the Children's Cancer Foundation through pledge cards and donations. 17 NP News is a production of Ngee Ann Polytechnic For enquiries, please contact: Corporate Communications Office Ngee Ann Polytechnic Blk 1, Level 1 535 Clementi Road, Singapore 599489 T: 6466 6555 • F: 6489 6682 www.np.edu.sg