Speech by Guest-Of-Honour Minister of State for Education Ms Gan Siow Huang at Ngee Ann Polytechnic Graduation Ceremony

Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, Chairman, Ngee Ann Polytechnic Council,

Mr Lim Kok Kiang, Principal & CEO, Ngee Ann Polytechnic,

Ngee Ann Polytechnic Council Members,

Colleagues and Graduands,

Parents and family members,

1. I am happy to be here today to join you in celebrating a significant milestone - the successful completion of your Diplomas.

1. To the 425 of you from the School of InfoComm Technology,
2. And our six institutional award recipients
3. A round of applause for the graduates!

2. As you celebrate the successful conclusion of your NP journey, do look around you, at the people who have supported you along the way, some of whom are here today.

1. Your families, friends, and mentors
2. Let's give them a well-deserved round of applause too!

3. Graduands, you are embarking on an exciting new phase of your lives. I would like to take the opportunity to share with you three simple principles to guide you along:

1. One, keep innovating;
2. Two, care for the community;
3. Three, never stop learning and follow your passions.

Keep Innovating

4. First, keep innovating.

5. The world you live in today looks very different from the one your parents grew up in. And the world you enter after your graduation will evolve further.

6. For the graduands, you too have grown up in a much richer place and there are things you can learn and try. I hope you see these opportunities. And most importantly, make sure you pay it forward for your children and future Singaporeans.

1. I am confident that all of you are prepared for these changes, will seize the trends around us, and turn them into opportunities.

7. NP places innovation at the top of its agenda, to equip students with skills for a digital future.

1. For example, NP collaborated with cybersecurity company Group-IB to set up Singapore's first Threat Intelligence and Defence Centre.
2. The centre will prepare over 200 Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics students over the next three years to tackle emerging cyber threats.
3. It is also fitting that we celebrate the graduation of the pioneer cohort of NP's Diploma in Data Science today.
4. With the new specialisations in Data Engineering and Generative A.I, many of you had the opportunity to work on industry projects with companies like Amazon Web Services and Denodo to employ cutting-edge technologies to solve problems.
5. These experiences will put you in good stead to contribute to our society's digital transformation.

8. One student who has already done so is Koh En Yang. Deeply interested in entrepreneurship, En Yang transformed his learnings into real-world innovations.

1. In 2020, En Yang co-founded Cyberlife AI, a healthcare start-up that employed virtual assistants.
2. These assistants take on the routine parts of a doctor's work, which frees up the doctor's time to provide patients with more personalised care.
3. For his efforts, En Yang was awarded the SAF Young Leaders Award in 2023.
4. He has also been awarded the Public Service Commission Scholarship and we look forward to his future contributions to Singapore.
5. Congratulations, En Yang!

9. Stories of innovation are inspiring, and they motivate us to never stop trying.

1. So, keep innovating and devising solutions that impact the world around you.

Care for the Community

10. Second, care for the community.

1. As ICT graduates, you are equipped with cutting-edge skills and knowledge, not just for knowledge's sake.
2. You can put your skills to good use, and help others in the community to embrace digitalisation.

11. Muhammad Shahid and Ong Sze Hwee Alec studied Data Science, and are passionate about empowering others through technology.

1. Shahid mentored students with learning disabilities from Pathlight School to use tech tools such as Spark AR and Photoshop. This was Shahid's way to build a more inclusive Singapore.
2. Meanwhile, Alec spearheaded school-based initiatives, such as organising a Digital Clinic, to help students resolve software issues.
3. Alec led a team of fifteen students to teach seniors how to adopt technology under an initiative called 'Silver Click'. Through a series of workshops conducted in English and Chinese, Alec taught digital literacy skills to around 80 seniors. I hope to invite Alec to Marymount to help our seniors with digital skills!
4. I was told that after graduation, Alec hopes to start an NGO in Vietnam to empower disadvantaged students with entrepreneurial skills.
5. All the best, Alec and Shahid!

12. I believe each of you will find meaningful ways to serve the community with the skills you have learnt, both now and in the years to come.

Transform Learning into Passion

13. Finally, never stop learning, and keep following your passions.

14. Ngui Jia Le Sherlena is an example of someone who pursued her passion. Sherlena graduated from ITE with a Higher Nitec in Cyber and Network Security in 2021, and enrolled into the Diploma in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics.

1. During her time in NP, Sherlena went beyond her academics to pursue her interest in cybersecurity.
2. As a leader of the NullSec Cybersecurity Interest Group, Sherlena worked with industry professionals to grow her perspectives and expertise.
3. She worked with the Cybersecurity Agency of Singapore to curate cybersecurity training content and equip secondary school students with relevant skills.
4. She also applied her learning by organising various inter-polytechnic events and competitions and built a strong cybersecurity community in NP.
5. Today, Sherlena will be graduating with a Diploma in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics and a Minor in Internet of Things. She is also receiving the Tay Eng Soon Gold Medal. I'm always very proud to see young woman stepping up, seizing opportunities, and venturing into new areas as exciting as cybersecurity.
6. Congratulations, Sherlena, and keep striving for your dreams!

15. To all graduands, I hope you transform your learning into something you are deeply passionate about.

1. Keep learning, and keep growing these passions.
2. Never let the flame die, even when the going gets tough.
3. It will take you far.

Closing

16. To the Class of 2024, your time at NP is coming to an end, but your journey is just beginning.

1. You can make a real difference to our society, community, and nation in your own unique ways, and we cannot wait to see how your innovation, empathy, and passions will make this world a better place.

17. Congratulations once again, and I wish you all the very best in your journey ahead.

18. Thank you.