Ms Janet Ang, Chairman, Singapore Polytechnic Board of Governors
Mr Soh Wai Wah, Principal and CEO, Singapore Polytechnic
Members of the Board of Governors
Parents and family members
Graduands
1. Good morning. I am delighted to join you on this special occasion, your graduation. To our Muslim friends, graduands and their parents, Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
2. My heartiest congratulations to the 234 students from SP’s Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering, and 62 students from the Diploma in Bioengineering graduating today. To the nine graduands receiving SP’s Institutional Medals, well done. All of you should be proud of your achievements.
3. Let us also acknowledge those who have supported you through this journey – the lecturers and staff at SP, classmates, family members, and friends, many of whom are present today to celebrate this milestone with you. You have done them very proud. Congratulations!
4. As you embark on the next phase of your journey, I want to encourage you in three areas.
Keep Giving Your Best
5. First, always give your best. The past two years have been very challenging. We had to change the way we lived and the way we learnt due to the pandemic. Your cohort was particularly affected, spending two of your three years at SP under pandemic restrictions. We all know it was quite challenging for all of you, not just you, but your teachers and the lecturers too.
6. Although many aspects of regular campus life, like CCAs or overseas attachments were scaled down or pivoted online, I am heartened to see everyone make the most of the opportunities available – able to complete the requirements of your Diploma Courses and being here today to graduate.
7. Together, we found innovative ways to overcome these challenging times with resilience and adaptability. For example, the adoption of online and “flipped” learning in SP was met positively by students.
8. Many of you said that the digitalised lectures provided the flexibility of learning whenever and wherever, enhancing your school experience.
9. Your feedback and the lessons learnt over the past two years have paved the way for future generations of students to learn more effectively. Starting from this year, all of SP’s lectures will be digitalised and “flipped”. Lecturers will continue to work closely with each student to monitor their progress, and hold in-person tutorials to enhance learning. I hope that this will provide students with a more customised learning experience.
10. Many industries have also undergone significant change in the past two years. In the aerospace sector for example, demand is recovering, and companies are expanding operations once more. In the medical sector, we have seen innovations in healthcare delivery, with a greater focus on remote patient support and health management and prevention.
11. Your education in SP has equipped you with both technical skills and softer competencies for life such as critical thinking, resilience and communication skills. I am confident that you are well prepared to seize any new and exciting opportunities on the horizon.
12. Let me share one example. Three of your peers, Chua Cheng Yi, Lim Xi and Tay Wei Hao were part of a team who developed a portable air disinfection system in collaboration with ALPHALINE, a local research and development company focussing on specialised equipment. The team identified the lack of a reliable portable air disinfection system as an area of need, and set about developing solutions using the skills they learnt. Along the way, they had to adapt to the challenges arising from the pandemic, including finding alternative sources of equipment and dealing with delays in shipping. Despite these challenges, they successfully developed their product, and I hear that there is interest from companies to commercialise the product. Well done to Cheng Yi, Lim Xi and Wei Hao!
13. We are also making changes to transform our applied education landscape to better prepare students for the future.
Earlier this year, I announced the recommendations from the Review of Opportunities and Pathways in Applied Education. These recommendations were developed with the help of students like yourself, as well as alumni, staff, and industry partners. They include providing students with better and more industry exposure opportunities, a stronger focus on Lifeskills, and giving students greater flexibility in their polytechnic curriculum to explore their interests.
14. As alumni, you too can play a part in this transformation, by providing industry exposure opportunities, or volunteering your time as mentors for your juniors at your work places later on.
15. So be confident in your training, and go out there and make your mark in the world!
Keep Caring
16. Second, even as you find success in your studies or career, I ask that you keep caring for yourself, caring for your our peers, and caring for your community.
17. We want to build a culture of care and openness, so that those who are in need can receive the necessary help and resources. This culture starts from each of us, individually. While we have found new ways of connecting and working together virtually, it is equally important for us to cherish the in-person connections that we have with one another.
18. Critical life skills like communication and networking skills continue to be relevant in future and this can only be harnessed through in-person interactions. This will also build up our capability in supporting those around us who need our support.
19. I am heartened to see the that efforts by SP and our other educational institutions to develop this culture of peer support and care continues For example, in SP, you have peer supporters who volunteer to look out for the well-being of their peers. I also hear that the School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering has a peer mentoring programme for students to help one another build stronger academic foundations.
20. To the graduands today who were peer supporters and mentors, I applaud you for all your efforts. I encourage all of you to continue to find ways to build a caring community.
21. Take for example Ng Ren Jie Dale Everett, a graduand from the Diploma in Media & Communication. When Dale was 16, his father, the sole breadwinner of the family suffered a stroke and was unable to work. Dale had to work to support and take care of his family. With SP’s support, he started his own marketing agency in 2021. Dale hopes to give back to the community through his business endeavour by providing employment and mentorship opportunities to the less privileged.
22. I am delighted that Dale has been awarded the Toh Chin Chye Gold Medal. We wish you all the best, Dale!
23. Another example is Benecia Tang, who is the recipient of the Low Guan Onn Gold Medal. Benecia is diagnosed with dyslexia, but she does not let her condition deter her from pursuing her passion in business analytics and community service.
24. Putting her business analytics and entrepreneurship skills to good use, Benecia started ThisCounted with her teammates, a student discount platform business that offers daily discounts to the student population via a Telegram channel. She also launched a mental wellness awareness campaign called Project Our Mind Our World on Instagram with her friends.
25. Well done Benecia! Your passion for the community and spirit of innovation have made a difference to those around you.
Keep Learning
26. Third, I encourage you to keep learning. Your graduation from SP today marks the start of your lifelong learning journey.
27. Given the fast pace of industry transformation, all of us will need to learn new skills throughout our lifetime. As a graduate from SP, you have access to a wide range of resources to help you do so.
28. SP’s Education and Career Guidance counselling services will continue to be available to alumni like yourselves. ECG counsellors can help you determine your strengths and interests, explore further educational pathways or employment opportunities, and assess the necessary skills required for your transition to work.
29. Career resources, such as the Big Interview Tool – a training platform to learn and practise your interviewing skills – are also available online to support you in your career planning.
30. For those who wish to broaden their skillsets and access more opportunities in the job market, SP also has a wide variety of Continuing Education and Training courses, ranging from short courses to specialist diplomas.
31. You are not the only ones who will continue to learn. Over the past few years, your lecturers have also actively refreshed their skills and participated in industry attachments. This has helped them better understand industry trends, and bring latest industry knowledge to you in your classrooms. This industry focus is one of SP’s key strengths.
32. Your time in SP has also given you the chance to direct your own learning, and explore your own interests. I understand that you are the first graduating cohort that took part in SP’s Elective Framework, where you could choose three modules from over 100 choices across the various disciplines to complement your course of study.
33. I am glad to see many of your cohort make use of the electives to broaden your learning, with over 450 of you completing a suite of related elective modules and receiving an elective certificate.
34. Starting this year, SP will expand the Elective Framework to allow students to take up to five electives over their course of study. For students who successfully complete at least four elective modules, they will be awarded a Minor with their Diploma. This is in line with our vision to give students greater flexibility in their education.
35. As you move on to your next phase of life, remember the good experiences in SP. Continue to have a positive mindset, be curious and never stop learning.
Closing
36. Keep giving your best, keep caring and keep learning. These might sound simple, but I believe that these three reminders will help you navigate life’s challenges, make a difference in the lives of others, and find meaningful opportunities throughout your journey.
37. Once again, congratulations on your graduation.
38. I wish you happiness and success in your future endeavours.
39. Finally, to all Buddhists among us today, I wish you a very happy Vesak day in advance. Thank you so much and my congratulations once again.