Speeches »

Principal

Mr. Tan Hang Cheong
Singapore Polytechnic

1

Dr Ng Eng Hen

2

Mr Lim Yoke Loon

3

Prof Cheong Hin Fatt

4

BG Lee Shiang Long

5

Mr Alrick Dorett

6

Mr Lawrence Kim

7

Mr Winson Wee

8

Mr Allan Yeo

9

Mr Foong Sew Bun

10

Mr Patrick Liew

11

Captain M Segar

Speeches by Principal and Guest Speakers.

Session	Guest-of-Honour / Guest Speaker	Speech
1	Mr Tan Hang Cheong Principal Singapore Polytechnic	Read speech
	Dr Ng Eng Hen Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence	Read speech
2	Mr Lim Yoke Loon General Manager Coatings Material Business The Dow Chemical Company South East Asia	Read speech
3	Professor Cheong Hin Fatt Department Of Civil Engineering National University of Singapore	Read speech
4	BG Lee Shiang Long Head, Joint Communications and Information Systems MINDEF	Read speech
5	Mr Alrick Dorett Chief Operating Officer TBWA Singapore Pte Ltd	Read speech
6	Mr Lawrence Kim Managing Director Ebenezer NDT Services Pte Ltd	Read speech
7	Mr Winson Wee Vice President Client Engagement And Projects Reachfield It Solutions Pte Ltd	Read speech
8	Mr Allan Yeo Group Chief Executive Thomson Medical Centre Limited	Read speech
9	Mr Foong Sew Bun IBM Distinguished Engineer/Chief Technology Officer IBM Singapore	Read speech
10	Mr Patrick Liew Chief Executive Officer Hsr International Realtors Pte Ltd	Read speech
11	Captain M Segar Group Director (Hub Port) And Director (Port) Maritime And Port Authority Of Singapore	Read speech

 

Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence;
Your Excellencies;

Chairman and Members of Singapore Polytechnic Board of Governors,
Parents; Graduands; Distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen

1. Good morning and welcome to Singapore Polytechnic’s 50th Graduation Ceremony.  We are honoured to have Dr Ng Eng Hen grace this opening session as our Guest of Honour.  Thank you, Minister, for joining our graduands as we celebrate this very special day.  And to the graduating class of 2010, I am proud of you - my heartiest congratulations!
   
   
2. Singapore’s first polytechnic was established in 1954. The primary aim then was to increase the pool of skilled workers to cater to the needs of the fast industrialising economy. Today, the external forces and challenges will remain daunting even as we continue to build upon the strengths of a first world economy and scale new heights of excellence. To support the next stage of Singapore’s economic transformation, Singapore Polytechnic shall remain true to its founding mission.
   
   
3. In more than 5 decades, we have sought to keep up with the demands of the economy with new courses, teaching methods, facilities and learning environment.  This year, for example, we will see the graduation of the first cohort of students from the Diploma in Integrated Events & Project Management, the Diploma in Environmental Management & Water Technology, and the Diploma in Experience & Product Design.  Graduates from these courses will be much sought after as Singapore gears itself to welcome investments in these new industries.
   
   
4. To help us chart our direction for the next 5 years, we have developed a new and comprehensive strategic plan called SP@60.  It is anchored in our vision that when SP celebrates its 60th Anniversary in 2014, we will become “A leading institution that prepares our students to be life ready, work ready, and world ready.”  For this to happen, a key strategic goal in our SP@60 plan is to provide every student with an enriching holistic education that develops them emotionally, socially, physically and intellectually, or ESPI for short.  We seek to nurture well-balanced T-shaped graduates with breadth and depth of knowledge and skills as well as good character, positive work and life attitude, and a rich set of soft skills.  Our graduates must have leadership ability, commitment to life-long learning and possess the nimble street-smart versatility to thrive under fast changing circumstances.  These are the essential traits we want to see in our life ready, work ready, and world ready graduates.
   
   
5. As SP continues to attract bright students to our courses, we have put in place several programmes to recognise and stretch our more capable students.  We pioneered the Diploma-Plus programme that provides our more capable students a dual certification in their core discipline and another subject at a greater depth.  This year, 303 Diploma-Plus students are graduating with a diploma together with an additional certification.  This is an increase from 259 last year.
   
   
6. Today also sees the graduation of our first batch of SP Scholars.  The SP Scholarship is awarded to top GCE ‘O’ level students when they join SP and who maintain consistent and outstanding academic performance, and are active in CCA throughout their 3 years of study.  We are pleased that all our scholars who applied to universities have secured places and several have received scholarships.
   
   
7. This year we launched the SP Engineering Scholarship with the intention of attracting more bright students to study engineering.  Our Engineering Scholars will be given greater opportunities for local and overseas R&D attachments, opportunities to attend engineering conferences, and activities to help them keep abreast of the latest developments in their engineering fields.
   
   
8. Over the years, SP continues to strengthen its curriculum by introducing new and innovative teaching methodologies. We rolled out the CDIO curriculum initiative for 13 engineering courses.  CDIO, which stands for Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate, is a design-driven curriculum framework pioneered by MIT and has since been adopted by many top universities around the world.  SP is currently a collaborator and is an active partner in this network of universities.  The intent behind this methodology is to develop a new generation of engineers who possess empathy; have deep human understanding; is able to conceptualise and prototype ideas; and is able to design solutions that creates business value in an integrated, sustainable and ethical manner. 
   
   
9. One of my pleasant duties as a principal is to attend many social and business networking events.  At these functions, consistently and almost without exception, I meet SP graduates.  It always gives me great pride each time someone comes up to me to introduce himself as an SP alumnus.  Many of our graduates have risen to the top of their companies and professions, others are successful entrepreneurs, some have excelled in the fields of arts and music, and many have gone on study at top universities in the world.   We are delighted that this year, all the guest speakers for the next 10 sessions of our graduation are our alumni.
   
   
10. Besides our illustrious alumni, I also meet many who are not necessarily the movers and shakers of their professions.  Yet in their humble ways, they are making a positive difference in their workplaces and contributing steadily to the nation.  They are the ones whom our former Prime Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong applauded as forming the backbone of Singapore’s economy.  They are the majority who faithfully ensure that our economy and nation continues to develop and grow.  And we are equally proud of them.
    
    
11.   Behind your success and achievement, is a team of lecturers, administrators and support staff who have dedicated themselves to providing you the best learning experience during your years in SP.  Many of them have gone beyond their call of duty in nurturing you.  They have not only imparted knowledge to you but have become your mentor, your friend and confidant.  I like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to them and ask you now to join me to thank them for making a difference in your lives.
    
    
12. If I were asked what characterises our SP alumni, I would say that they possess the spirit of resilience, enterprise, agility, drive and the “never say die” attitude.  I believe all of you as new graduates will bear the same hallmark.  I trust you will continue to carry the indomitable SP spirit as embodied in the motto inscribed on our crest: “Berhidmat Dengan Keahlian,” meaning “To Serve with Skill”.  SP has equipped you with skills and knowledge, helped you to build good character, hone your life skills, and instil in you a “can do” spirit.  You will be walking in the footsteps of 150,000 SP alumni who have created a well-trodden path of excellence in diverse fields of endeavour.
    
    
13. At SP, we live by a simple set of maxims:  Teaching, our passion; Students, our focus; Staff, our asset; Alumni, our pride.  Continue to keep in touch with us and make us proud.  
    
    
14. My best wishes to you all.  Thank you.
    
    

SPEECH BY DR NG ENG HEN
MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND SECOND MINSTER FOR DEFENCE
AT THE POLYTECHNIC'S 50TH GRADUATION CEREMONY
TUESDAY, 18 MAY 2010 (SESSION 1)

Mr Tan Kay Yong
Chairman, Singapore Polytechnic Board of Governors,

Mr Tan Hang Cheong
Principal, Singapore Polytechnic,

Distinguished Guests,

Parents and Graduands,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. It is my pleasure to be with all of you at Singapore Polytechnic’s 50th Graduation Ceremony.  Let me first extend my warmest congratulations to the graduands who are about to join the ranks of SP’s 150,000-strong alumni body. 

Impetus for Technical Education

2. The history of SP follows closely that of Singapore. In 1959,  Singapore became self-governing and was faced with widespread unemployment and a high rate of population growth.  To create jobs, the Singapore government embarked on industrialization. 
3. The education system had to evolve, and technical and vocational training played an important role to support industrialization and prepare our labour force to meet the “new” needs of the economy.  As former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew said in his 1970 National Day speech, victory “was won in the classrooms of vocational schools, technical institutes and polytechnics”, as it was these institutions, like SP which produced the skilled manpower critical for our industrial economy.

Singapore’s First Polytechnic

4. Even in its early days, SP’s leaders had to make many critical decisions with a clear mission to produce a technically-competent workforce for Singapore.  Then Deputy Prime Minister Dr Toh Chin Chye who was appointed Chairman of SP’s Board of Governors in 1959, decided to terminate commercial courses such as Typewriting and Stenography so that SP could focus on technical training.  Dr Toh also decided SP should set its own examinations and award its own diplomas.   These were bold moves as they departed from the practices of long-established institutions in Britain.  But they paid off and enabled SP to tailor its course offerings to meet specific, even urgent, manpower needs of new industries coming to Singapore.  Within a short time, SP had established practice-oriented courses in accountancy, architecture, building, engineering and nautical studies. SP’s DNA of always been adaptable and nimble to remain relevant was already forged in your early years.
5. At around this time, the same urgent need for technical manpower also drove the introduction of Technical Schools in Singapore.  In 1956, Queenstown Secondary Technical School and Tanjong Katong Secondary Technical School were set up as government-run schools offering a practice-oriented education.  They catered to post-PSLE students who chose a technical education, essentially an enhanced school curriculum with a few technical subjects like Woodwork, Metalwork and Technical Drawing.  In the 1960s, another seven such Technical Schools were started.
6. Such were Singapore’s early efforts in technical education.  Of course, there have been many changes since then to improve and refine how our education system can better produce technical manpower.  Our polytechnic sector has expanded, and we have built four other polytechnics since SP.  SP too has evolved over the years and responded to the changing environment, so that its graduates remain in high demand by employers.

Singapore Polytechnic’s Outcomes

7. SP has been a success in many fronts.  First, it has consistently provided a stable stream of technically-skilled labour for Singapore.   By the end of the 1970’s, SP had contributed over 19,000 graduates to the workforce. SP has come a long way. This week alone, 5,384 students will graduate and add to the 150,000 strong SP alumni. 
8. Second, it is a shining example of how an educational institution can adapt to the times and demands of a constantly-changing economy.  SP has built strong links to industry and economic agencies, co-opting practitioners and experts onto its School Advisory boards and collaborating with companies on different projects.  As testimony to this, over 88% of your graduates have been employed within six months of entering the workforce – despite weak economic conditions. 
9. Third, SP has groomed versatile, highly-driven individuals with a “can-do” spirit.  Many SP graduates have moved on to become entrepreneurs and assumed leadership positions in multinational companies.  Your Board Chairman Mr Tan Kay Yong is one good example.  An SP graduate from 1977, Kay Yong is now the Vice-President of GlaxoSmithKline or GSK, a big pharma player on the international stage.  Deputy Chairman Bill Chang, also an alumnus, is the Executive Vice-President of Singtel.  The former President of NUS Prof Shih Choon Fong, has SP as his alma mater.  Many graduate from polytechnic and move on to renowned universities locally and overseas.  I understand that this year, SP will have its first graduate accepted into the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in NUS.  Recently, SP graduate Kuriakin Zeng made the news for being accepted into Harvard on a full scholarship.  These are SP’s success stories.

Graduation Stories

10. Graduation ceremonies are opportunities to reflect on and celebrate the accomplishments of the institution and its people.  SP’s 50th Graduation Ceremony makes this even more appropriate.  SP graduated its first batch of 192 students in 1961.  In 1961, there were 17 courses.  This week, your batch will graduate from 65 different diploma and post-diploma programmes.   In fact, today, we will witness the graduation of the first batch of students from the Diploma in Environmental Management & Water Technology.  They could not be entering the workforce at a better time.  Singapore just opened its fifth and largest NEWater plant in Changi earlier this month.  By 2015, our environmental and water technology sector is set to triple to $1.7 billion, with the number of jobs doubling to 11,000 in total at skilled and professional levels. 
11. I want to take the time to acknowledge one of the graduands in your midst who exemplifies the best of SP.  Nick Ng Guo Feng had always dreamt of being a landscape architect.  In 2004, Nick completed his ‘N’ Levels at Ping Yi Secondary School. He could continue with the ‘O’ Levels but opted to study Building Drafting at Balestier ITE.  He enlisted in the Singapore Police Force for his NS but stayed on one more year as a Prison Officer to save more money to support his studies before entering SP.    
12. During his second year at SP, Nick’s project caught the attention of a landscape design company.  He was offered freelance work and his earnings lightened his financial burden.  But Nick also looked for ways to give back to society.  Together with his course mates, he donated the income he received to an old folks’ home. For his leadership and talent, Nick was also appointed the chair of this year’s Graduation Showcase, held at Suntec City.  Today Nick will be receiving the Tay Eng Soon Gold Medal, which is awarded annually to a top former-ITE student at each of the polytechnics.  Nick’s journey to a diploma may be longer than many of his peers, but his perseverance has paid off.  He is now a landscape manager at one of the most established landscaping companies in Singapore.   My warmest congratulations to Nick.

Looking Forward

13. SP has grown from strength to strength over the years, and I am pleased to note that it does not intend to rest on its laurels.  Instead, SP faculty and staff are continuously looking for ways to improve the educational experience for SP students, and enhance their employability in the workforce.  These include:
    1. Revising its curriculum to place more emphasis on values that include social responsibility and personal leadership to better prepare students for 21st century challenges;
    2. Making Creativity, Innovation and Enterprise core aspects of the SP curriculum, and teaching Critical Reasoning Skills to develop analytical and communication skills across disciplines;
    3. Introducing the Design Thinking Studio Programme to allow students to acquire new skills by participating in collaborative, multidisciplinary projects with students from different Schools – Engineering, Chemical and Life Sciences, Architecture and Built Environment, and Design. 
14. The government will also continue to invest in our Polytechnic sector:
    1. Today, about 42% of each Primary 1 cohort enters the polytechnics compared to just 5% in the early 1980s.  By 2015, we expect this to grow to 45%.   MOE will invest to increase capacity in the five polytechnics by 20%, over the next 4 years. 
    2. We will expand upgrading opportunities for polytechnic graduates.  MOE has set up the Singapore Institute of Technology, or SIT to create a pathway primarily for polytechnic graduates, which builds on their strong diploma foundations.  Partners like the Technical University of Munich, University of Newcastle, University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Digipen should make SIT very attractive.  At steady-state, SIT will offer about 2,000 full-time places each year. 
    3. Government will support the polytechnics’ efforts to draw stronger linkages with industry through building capability in innovation and enterprise.  Centres of Innovation with SPRING, such as SP’s Food Innovation Resource Centre can greatly help boost SMEs’ businesses and provide yet another source of real-world student projects.  MOE’s own Innovation Fund that supports applied research at the Polytechnics (and ITE) should also spur more collaborative activity in the private sector-poly space.  So far 34 projects have been approved.

Conclusion

15. In closing, let me congratulate all SP graduands on your achievements, particularly the 496 of you who are here today from the School of Architecture and the Built Environment.   On this occasion, I hope you will take the chance to thank those who have supported and guided you in your journey – your parents, teachers, loved ones.  I wish you success in your future endeavours.
16. Thank you.

SPEECH BY MR LIM YOKE LOON
GENERAL MANAGER, COATINGS MATERIAL BUSINESS
THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY, SOUTH EAST ASIA
AT THE POLYTECHNIC'S 50TH GRADUATION CEREMONY
TUESDAY, 18 MAY 2010 (SESSION 2)

Dr Michael Brown
Member of the Board of Governors, Singapore Polytechnic

Mr Tan Hang Cheong
Principal, Singapore Polytechnic

Distinguished Guests

Parents and Graduands

Staff of Singapore Polytechnic

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. Good afternoon.  It gives me great pleasure to be here today at the 50th Singapore Polytechnic Graduation Ceremony.  I applaud all graduands and award winners from the School of Chemical & Life Sciences (CLS) on your achievements.  This must be a proud moment for you and your family, similar to how I felt as a graduand 20 years old, something which I still have vivid memories about.  Today’s ceremony marks the end of a significant phase of your life and heralds the beginning of your next phase in the outside world.
2. Instead of fixed timetables, regular assignments and end-of-semester examinations as in polytechnic, you might be under constant assessment of your performance with each task assigned to you at the workplace and, to some degree, it will not be surprising that you will have to figure out the unwritten rules and expectations.
3. The world outside is filled with uncertainties, be it natural, economic, political or social.  Nature often reminds us of how fragile our society is.  The recent earthquakes in China, Chile, Haiti and Indonesia, as well as the volcanic eruption in Iceland are good examples.  Entire communities and economies were thrown asunder by forces beyond human control.
4. On the economic front, despite the rosy outlook for Singapore, we have always been under the shadow of the United States, an economic giant mired in the doldrums these past few years.  Thailand, a once peaceful country favoured by Singaporean travellers, is plagued by political turmoil and unrest.  In Greece, financial troubles have fanned the flames of social unrest, revealing the weaknesses in a developed country.  Living in an increasingly interdependent world, we can be sure that many of such events will impact us, directly or indirectly.  Set against a backdrop of terrorism and global pandemics, the world is now facing many unprecedented challenges.
5. Yet... opportunities abound for those with guts and the right capabilities in the global, regional and local arenas.
6. Last year, Singapore’s biomedical manufacturing grew to about S$21 billion in output and employed more than 13,000 people.  As Asia’s leading bio-cluster, Singapore is well-positioned to help biomedical sciences companies accelerate their innovation and capitalise on Asia’s growth.  In the last 2 years alone, global companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, Lonza, Roche, Abbott, 3M, Merck and Abbot Nutrition have located many strategic functions in Singapore, including regional headquarters, manufacturing facilities and R&D bases.
7. Demand for chemicals, from basic petrochemicals to specialties and advanced materials, has been growing rapidly in recent years as Asia economies continue to develop.  Output from the chemicals cluster stood at S$82 billion as reported in 2008 (it is more for 2009 but the official figures have not been released yet).  It is the largest contributor to Singapore's manufacturing output at close to 34%.  The flagship of the cluster, Jurong Island, is among the world’s top 10 petrochemical hubs.  New developments are due for completion in the near future.  They include new crackers from ExxonMobiland Shell, a US$153 million advanced material plant by Mitsui Chemicals and a €400 million butyl rubber facility byLanxess, just to name a few.
8. Numerous opportunities are also available in the environmental sector as Singapore plans to transform itself into a ‘Global Hydrohub’.  The water sector alone should see its contribution to the GDP rise from $0.5 billion in 2003 to $1.7 billion in 2015.  Jobs for this sector are expected to double to about 11,000.  Singapore is an ideal springboard for environmental and water companies looking to tap into the region, hence attracting big names like General Electric, Siemens and Veolia.  Homegrown companies have not lost out in the race to globalise, as demonstrated by Hyflux which operates one of the world’s largest membrane-based seawater desalination plants and SembCorp Environmental Management which is the largest waste management company in Southeast Asia.
9. My question to you graduates is: are you prepared to exploit these opportunities in an ever changing world?  Is your ship stocked and fuelled in this sea of uncertainties? Which direction are you going to steer your rudder? Do you have what it takes?  Only you have the answer.
10. However, I can assure you that your education in Singapore Polytechnic’s School of Chemical and Life Sciences plays a key role in your holistic preparation, whether physical, mental, emotional or intellectual.  With your diploma, you are perfectly positioned to take advantage of what this modern world has to offer.
11. It is said that graduates are the products of an academic institution.  CLS has done well to mould green and wide-eyed ‘O’ level holders into confident diploma holders such as you, ready for work, life and the world.  You should perhaps spend some time reflecting on the differences between your younger self three years ago and your current self.  You will be pleasantly surprised at the many changes that have taken place, mostly making you a stronger and more capable person.
12. In order to produce first-class graduates, the school cannot simply be a black box, its inner workings opaque to everyone.  It must base itself on a well established model of educational excellence, yet being able to adapt and innovate - in tune with or even ahead of developments in the outside world.  To this end, I am heartened to know that CLS has adopted an effective approach with strong leadership, efficient management, robust industrial and community links, first-rate teaching and quality supporting services.  I know this well, because I am a product of Singapore Polytechnic and I know it had prepared me well during my time. From my personal knowledge, many of the past graduands have excelled in their careers in positions such as business leaders in MNCs; renowned technology experts, academics professionals and successful entrepreneurs.
13. I have gathered further examples here to convince you.
14. While encouraging its students to excel in their studies, CLS has not forgotten its social responsibility to the community.  For example, working closely with the Singapore Heart Foundation for the past three years, CLS students have participated in an on-going project on mapping the health status of low-income residents with the aim of facilitating health intervention by relevant GRCs. The latest enterprise by CLS is the launch of its Nutrition, Health and Wellness Centre (NHWC) in April this year.  The new NHWC will be managed by CLS students who will participate in Ulu Pandan Wellness Management Programme. Health screenings, healthy food cooking classes and care consultancy for the elderly are part and parcel of this meaningful collaboration.  Not only does this community project help foster closer ties with society, it provides a learning opportunity for our students to better understand the situation at the grassroots level.  This experience will also help instill in our students the sense of compassion to help the less fortunate and to be aware of their social responsibility to contribute back to society.
15. It is heartening to know that CLS students have been as active overseas as in Singapore.  I was told 22 CLS students had participated in an Overseas Immersion Programme in Dalian Polytechnic University last year, learning about Chinese culture and history on top of their normal curriculum; and this year another 33 more have gone there again.  CLS students have also contributed to community projects in various parts of the world, including a water sanitation and hygiene project in Myanmar, a SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) project in India and another project to “Touch Lives” in Cambodia.  Such overseas exposure broadens the outlook of our students, allowing them to develop a sharper perspective of the world.  In time to come, their overseas experience will serve them well in collaborating with foreign partners and selling to foreign customers.  I have been thinking perhaps our graduates can even market the Singapore brand worldwide, just like what our local firm, Hyflux, has done with its water and waste technology in penetrating the markets in Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East, North Africa and India.
16. It is obvious that the school of CLS does not believe in resting on one’s laurels.  I can see that it strives to encourage students to pit themselves against the best in the field.  Besides serving as a benchmark of their capabilities, competitions provide the students with a feel of the kind of talent they will be facing in the outside world.  Knowing their own strengths and weaknesses is good but knowing that of their competitors at the same time is even better.  Ranging from Chinese Bridge, SIFE National Competition and Food Design Concept Competition to Bayer Young Environmental Envoy Award, CLS students have emerged winners amidst strong competition.  These winners with diverse capabilities exemplify the ideals of a holistic and multidisciplinary education.
17. It is said that truly precious minerals are never found on the surface of the earth.  For the graduands, I believe that the true gems you have unearthed from your polytechnic education are the positive mindset and never-say-die attitude.  These attributes are the culmination of your learning journey in Singapore Polytechnic, which for some of you, may not have been smooth sailing.  Nonetheless, all of you have emerged stronger and more resilient, and ready to take on the challenges in the next phase of your life.
18. Technology is progressing at an incredible pace, making your technical knowledge and skills obsolete sooner than you think.  In contrast, your mindset and attitude embody elements in creativity, innovation and enterprise which can serve you well in polytechnic and beyond.  These attributes are well illustrated in the various commercialised products from CLS such as your very own made-in-Singapore Romance Singapore perfumes, the XO-Kaya, Pokka’s Lemonsi Delight and Elderflower tea, many of which have already hit overseas markets.  A visit to Spinnovex 2010, a showcase of SP’s R&D capabilities revealed the same attributes in novel products such as a 100% natural body wash, a flavour emitting package and a real time PCR test that can detect the 4 serotypes of dengue virus. Very well done indeed!
19. Last but not least, soft skills like critical reasoning, problem solving, teamwork and communications will go a long way in ensuring your success in the future.  You may not even be graded in all of these skills but you undoubtedly possess them in your repertoire as they were intimately interwoven in your assignments, projects and CCAs you took up during the three years of your polytechnic education.
20. This year, 2010 seems to be especially significant for the School of Chemical and Life Sciences. Firstly, the school secured two attachment placements for its biomedical science students at the prestigious Harvard Medical School in the US. These two lucky students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in an environment filled with top brains and cutting-edge research.  Last year, a Singapore Polytechnic graduate from this school has the distinction of being the first polytechnic graduate to gain entry into the School of Dentistry, NUS.  This year, the school has its first biomedical science graduate being offered a place at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS.  Congratulations to the school and graduates on this achievement.
21. As a graduand, however it is important not to be complacent with what you have achieved.  Instead of viewing the attainment of the diploma as crossing the finishing line of your educational journey, I encourage you to see it more as a well-prepared beginning of a life-long learning. You should take advantage of the strong foundation which the school has prepared you and also the strong accreditation of the Diploma from CLS for further academic pursuits.
22. With the increasing regionalized and globalize economy, it is important that we adopt an open-mind set with working in a cross-cultural community especially with our large neighboring countries so in fact we can develop the right competencies and experiences to fully exploit the golden opportunities from this current Asia Economic Miracles.
23. I like to end by quoting from “The Matrix” as one of the main characters Morpheus subtly persuaded the hero Neo to open his eyes to the real world, “I can only show you the door.  You're the one that has to walk through it”; CLS has prepared you to be more than ready.  I am confident that you are now equipped to walk through that door.  The future is in your hands.
24. I extend my heartiest congratulations on the successful completion of your studies at Singapore Polytechnic and wish each of you success in your career and further studies.
25. Thank you.

SPEECH BY PROFESSOR CHEONG HIN FATT
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
AT THE POLYTECHNIC’S 50TH GRADUATION CEREMONY
TUESDAY, 18 MAY 2010 (SESSION 3)

Members of the Board of Governors
Mr Tan Hang Cheong, Principal, Singapore Polytechnic
Parents and graduands
Ladies and gentlemen

A very good evening to all of you.  It gives me great pleasure to join all of you in celebration of  the 50th Graduation Ceremony of the Singapore Polytechnic.  I am immensely honoured to be here to share the joys of your accomplishments with granduands,  parents, faculty and staff.  An estimated 450 graduands from the School of Chemical and Life Sciences and the School of Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering will be receiving their diploma scrolls this evening and my heartiest congratulations go to all of them for their accomplishments.

Globalisation has brought about many challenges as well as opportunities.  The world seems to be a lot smaller today– thanks to technology which has brought about many innovations which were unheard of many years ago going back to the 1960s when I was a student in the Singapore Polytechnic’s 4-year professional diploma course. 

This evening, I would like to share with you some of my experiences – as one who has gone through an education stint in the Singapore Polytechnic. I was one of the few at that time who had opted for an engineering education in the Singapore Polytechnic after ‘O’ levels.  The reasons then were very different.  The early 1960s before independence was a time of chronic high unemployment and very little economic growth prospects for an economy based heavily on entrepot trade.   There was a high dependency on the presence of the British military bases.   The general educational level then was low and the per capita GDP at current market prices was about USD500, according to the Singapore Government Statistics.  Singapore was set on the path of industrialization with the setting up of the EDB in 1961 and the development of the Jurong Industrial Estate also around 1961. The manufacturing sector led the charge. Although times were difficult and parents had to work very hard put their children in school, the educational policy then was geared towards the development of human resources to drive socio-economic growth.

It was felt then that an engineering career would hold the promise for a better future, especially after the government announced the industrialization programme. There was no degree programme in engineering in Singapore in the early 1960s, with only the Singapore Polytechnic offering professional and technician diploma courses as well as industrial trade certificates.  Scholarships were few and highly competitive.  Many of us were supported by bursaries through the generosity of donor organizations. With humble backgrounds, our modest dreams had to be severely moderated by the harsh realities at the time. Student days were very lean times with little money for books and there were nothing like the photocopying, computing and internet facilities of today.  It was also a time when Singapore went through difficult periods of Confrontation when we were a part of Malaysia from 1963 to 1965 and then separation in 1965 to become a sovereign, democratic and independent city-state.  These events were followed later in 1968 with the withdrawal of British bases at a time when there was still high unemployment. 

As students, we were naturally concerned with the unfolding events around us.  We were, however, blessed with the good fortune of having no disruption to our studies, which we indulged diligently and in great earnest, knowing then that the government’s strategy of an exported-oriented industrialization programme would have to work for us to survive and have a better future.  Not being sure of how far the professional diploma would carry us in an engineering career, the overwhelming majority of us took the Part 1 and Part 2 examinations (and even the Part 3 for some of us) of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the UK when we were in the second and third years of our course.  This represented a pathway to registration as a chartered engineer which is recognized throughout the Commonwealth.  I think my class achieved 100% passing rate. This gave us immense confidence in facing the challenges in an engineering career. In 1967, another blessing came when eligible professional diploma holders were offered the opportunity to read for another year for the degree from the University of Singapore.  Most of us took up the offer.

A few of us then went on to win scholarships to pursue higher degrees overseas.  Others joined government agencies and the new MNCs, particularly in manufacturing, which started to stream into the Singapore Jurong Industrial Estate. Yet others saw their entrepreunerial spirit spawning their own business ventures.  I was one of the very few who went overseas for graduate studies in pursuit of the dream of an academic career. 

Graduation marks a new phase in your life.  It is again a time for deep reflection on what to do next.  At every phase, you must remain mindful of the events around you and stay updated with current affairs, sifting out the trivial and keeping the ones which can have profound implications in your decision making.  You need to keep your ears close to the ground. You need to know which are the relevant and critical issues.  The economy of the future will bring along with it, among other things, greater diversification in the education landscape to support new value-added industries.  You must accept that learning will be a life-long affair.  You need to be responsive to change and decide how you are going to deal with the challenges that you face.  You also need to enhance your technological and social skills.  In short, you suddenly realize that you need to consider so many things.  I think that you can start by knowing yourself as intimately as you can.  Pursue your dreams.  And in so doing, you need to know your aspirations and recognize your abilities and strengths and hone them as best as you can as you move along.

Along with these thoughts, you also must realize that you have successfully completed a rigorous and demanding course of study in the Singapore Polytechnic which has provided you with a broad based engineering training.  I am heartened to learn that the Singapore Polytechnic has adopted a CDIO framework in its teaching and that the Institution of Chemical Engineers (UK) had in March this year, presented the School of Chemical & Life Sciences an award for Excellence and Innovation in ‘Revamping the Diploma in Chemical Engineering using the CDIO Framework” in the Education and Training category.

The government has originally targeted 25% of the Primary One cohort for subsidized university education in Singapore to be met by 2010.  This, however, was moved forward to 2008.  The plan was to extend this target to 30% by 2015. The education landscape has since evolved tremendously bringing diversification along with the expansion at the university level and it is likely to continue to do so to meet the manpower needs of a future economy.  The per capita GDP of USD35,000 today has seen a manifold increase over that in the early 1960s.

A graduate survey was conducted by the polytechnics recently and I understand that about two thirds of each cohort of Singapore Polytechnic graduates are currently pursuing or are planning to pursue a degree.   A small but growing number of those who have completed the first degree are also progressing towards post graduate degrees. Often enough, we learn that many of the Singapore Polytechnic graduates have done well in many universities abroad.  Some have graduated with top honours.  Some have been admitted to very prestigious universities such as the Imperial College, Harvard and MIT.  A Singapore Polytechnic graduate has even broken new ground by earning a place in a fiercely competitive discipline such as dentistry in NUS and another in the Mechatronics course has won a place in the University of Adelaide to pursue medicine.  This speaks volumes on the caliber of these graduates who had made it to the top universities and the conducive learning environment which was provided by the institution.   

Many of you will move into industry and take up many specialist careers.  There will also be others who will strike out on their own. These graduates have the entrepreneurial spirit.  It is a known fact that ideas and knowledge bring forth with it opportunities of wealth creation. To take on these opportunities require the courage to take risks.  

The economy seems to be turning around for Singapore although the economic outlook in many of the developed countries is rather gloomy.  Hopefully, as we emerge from the current gloom and uncertainty, our industries would be poised to grow.  For example, earlier this year, Rolls-Royce chose Singapore to be the only place outside the UK where RR’s propriety titanium fan blades are manufactured. Also, the demand for chemicals from basic petrochemicals to specialty and advanced materials have been growing rapidly.  Many new developments are due for completion in the near future, including facilities by Exxon Mobil, Shell and Mitsui Chemicals. This speaks well of the discipline and skill levels of the engineering manpower in Singapore.

The career that you choose to embark upon now is going to be a momentous one.  Although Singapore has moved from a third world status to one which many have said to be a first world economy, the decision you face now is very much harder than your predecessors.  No one owes us a living.  In what ever career that you choose to embark upon your graduation, you should follow your dream and remain committed to the aspirations which you have set to achieve and fulfill.  The problems out there in the working world are awesome and open-ended.  Initiative and the ability to the face such problems successfully differentiates one person from the other. Maintain your credibility as one who is trustworthy.  Hopefully, the workplace is one where the environment allows you to grow to your fullest potential.  My best wishes go to all of you in all your endeavours.

Thank you.

SPEECH BY BG LEE SHIANG LONG
HEAD, JOINT COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS, MINDEF
AT THE POLYTECHNIC’S 50TH GRADUATION CEREMONY
WEDNESDAY, 19 MAY 2010 (SESSION 4)

Members of the Board of Governors,
Principal and Staff,
Distinguished Guests,
Parents and Graduands,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning,

It is my pleasure and honour to be here to say a few words. A graduation day like this brings back fond memories. I was in your position over 20 years ago, sitting in the audience, waiting to receive my diploma. I was excited but also uncertain. Why? Because I was unsure whether Poly had prepared me well enough for my further studies or my workplace. Some of you may feel this way too. As I look back, I can say with confidence that Poly education gave me a strong foundation. This is my main message to you today. Singapore Poly has given you a strong foundation that will enable you to surge ahead and LIVE your best. The word “LIVE” here is an acronym that stands for Learning, Innovation, Values and Experience.

Our Poly has given us a strong foundation in engineering. In particular I would like to emphasise systems engineering. Unlike today when you have systems engineering options, systems engineering was not a subject I took in Poly. But I had a glimpse of it in my final year when I did a subject on Engineering Design. For this subject, a comprehensive body of basic knowledge that I learnt in Poly was brought together to create complex systems. The ability to see things from a systems perspective and a deep understanding of how various components were integrated into a coherent whole proved key to my university studies and my workplace.

Let me elaborate on systems engineering. In Poly, we studied complex systems like stream power plants and, for the aeronautical students, aircraft turbine engines and avionics. We learnt theories on kinematics, dynamics, thermofluids, materials and many other subjects to know how the turbine system worked. From a systems perspective, we took subjects on control and instrumentation, and avionics, to learn how to control the system. Beyond the theories, I realised that the most valuable knowledge Poly had given me came from the many laborious practical lab sessions, which you're familiar with. Because of these sessions, when you step into a stream power plant, besides knowing how the turbine works, you will also know the piping system simply by looking at its colour-coding, and you will know how the systems are designed for easy maintenance by looking at its components. I also remember spending time in a lab trying to align the shafts of a pump and motor in order to install a locking pin and coupling. It was a very simple task to make sure the pump would turn as the motor ran. Alignment of the shaft was needed to reduce wear and tear, and prevent machine failure. These seemingly “low level” tasks ironically gave me great confidence that I could design and operate the complex systems since I had fully understood its small components.

Now, let me move on to the first pillar of living your best: Learning. I am sure you know that in today's fast changing world, you have to embrace continuous learning. Many of you will go on to a Degree course but learning never ends there. During my National Service, I was assigned to become a Signal Officer and had to learn new topics such as radio and communications engineering and how radios are used to enable troops to talk to each other. In the IT world, technologies move so fast that continuous learning is the norm. If you get into Signal School today, you will be learning about the latest networking wireless technologies. To be at the front end of the technological curve, we linked up with CISCO Academy and IT industry partners to impart knowledge to our people quickly. We also sent soldiers that were doing IT work back to Singapore and Nanyang Polytechnic to learn advanced networking and computer security. As the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) transformed itself into a networked force, we adopted a systems perspective and learnt how to apply technology to wire up the Army, Airforce and Navy into an effective fighting system. So, learning never ends and the systems engineering foundation helped us bring together a wide range of knowledge.

Next, let's move on to Innovation. As you know, today's world is very competitive, and key to thriving in the marketplace is innovation. Take the iPhone and iPad for example. They are successful because they innovatively merge many diverse technologies and knowledge such as touch-screen, miniaturised hardware and very user-friendly software to create a whole new lifestyle. On top of that, they are beautiful. They are about both function and form. So the secret in innovation lies in seeing the hidden connections between apparently irrelevant types of knowledge.

For my work in the SAF, beyond learning about networking technology, we seek to constantly innovate and create new ways of fighting. The networking technology enables a whole new range of information exchanges and collaboration among the forces. We tested new ways of putting sensors far out to see what the enemy was doing, and sending this information quickly back for our commanders to make sense of what was happening. We tested out new cognitive science to enable our commanders to assimilate large amounts of information and make wise decisions. In the last few years, we practised this new type of fighting in training exercises in the US and Australia. We connected commando teams with spy planes, fighter jets, attack helicopters, and rocket launchers to practise locating enemies quickly and conducting coordinated attacks. So, innovation allows us to create game-changing strategies and products both in the marketplace and military.

The third pillar is Values, which, in the military, means things like loyalty to country, fighting spirit, and so on. But of course I won't talk to you about loyalty today. More relevant to you is something like business ethics. And through my interaction with industry, my observation is that for people who are doing well and assuming leadership positions, business ethics plays an important role because their business partners need to trust them. Within the organisation, business leaders must bring people together to work towards a common vision and goal. For this to work, people need to trust you. And ethics and values like discipline, perseverance, courage, and sincerity, will help you earn that trust.

The final pillar is Experience. From looking at successful companies, we know that a positive working experience is important. The idea is that when people are continuously learning on the job while having a good working experience with their colleagues and bosses, they naturally perform better. Therefore I encourage you to contribute to this kind of positive experience in your workplace so that people will have fun learning together and feel good about being part of the organisation. In this way, by taking small steps individually, you will soon create a conducive culture and environment for an enjoyable journey. This is why people often say the journey is as important as the end. It is appropriate at this point, therefore, to thank the lecturers and staff at SP who've worked so hard to give you and I, an excellent learning experience. If you don't mind, I would like you to join me in thanking them for their commitment, their belief in us, and their professionalism in playing important roles in our life. Let's put our hands together, please.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to end by congratulating you on your hard work and the strong foundation you have achieved. I wish you the very best to surge ahead to live your best for yourself and your family.

Thank you.

SPEECH BY ALRICK DORETT
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
TBWA SINGAPORE PTE LTD
AT THE POLYTECHNIC’S 50TH GRADUATION CEREMONY
WEDNESDAY, 19 MAY 2010 (SESSION 5)

Mr Tan Hang Cheong
Principal, Singapore Polytechnic

Distinguished Guests

Parents and Graduands

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is an honor to be here today.

Like you, some 15 years ago, I sat in one of these seats thinking what was ahead for me in life. I was keen to face the real world and to get on with life.

I was then 24 years old then, (and I am still 24). Slightly older than some of you here!

I didn't do well in my O levels, I couldn't follow the norm at that time - get into a
JC and go on to University. I was termed “a slow starter”.

The only option I had then was the National Institute of Commerce, where I studied for the next 2 years. Don’t get me wrong, It gave me a strong fundamental foundation.

After that I joined the Army for another 2 years. During the Army, I managed to obtain the AAT certification (Association of Accounting Technicians Diploma).

But 6 months before getting out of the Army, I panicked. I wasn't sure if I was ready academically and I also felt that I was missing out from a proper Tertiary school life.

My initial plan was to do my ACCA while working.

I signed up for SP as a mature student and was amongst the first batch of DAC students to graduate.

I couldn't afford the cost of education at SP. My family was not doing well then. They pooled money together somehow, a term at a time, and got me through. I worked as a tuition teacher to subsidize expenses.

In my second year, I got a bursary from the kind people at Insurance Corporation of Singapore.

With help from these channels and also with the invaluable assistance and support from SP, I graduated.

I am now going to talk briefly about my career. Don't worry, it’s a short one.

I was lucky, I managed to get a job before I graduated and I joined a company named Cuno whose primary business was in water filtration and filters distribution in the Asia Pacific region. I was an Accounts Executive in a 3-man finance department.

I left after a year as they moved to Tuas and I wasn't always able to get the company transport on time. That's my excuse.

I next joined an Advertising company named Batey Ads, which is famous for bringing the Singapore Girl to the World for Singapore Airlines. I was Finance Manager on the SIA account.

I kept asking myself regularly whether this was what I wanted to do and could I be really passionate about it?

I knew water filters were not going to be my cup of tea but there was something about advertising that made me think that this could be it. I did a little bit of research and thought, yes this is it!

The point here I am making is to quickly find out what you are good at and enjoy doing and settle down, because in the next couple of years, the aim of your job in whatever industry or company you join, is not to make money. It is to learn. And learning never stops.

Think of yourself as an apprentice (not the TV show) but as someone learning to become a Master. This attitude will see you go a long way.

But I left Batey Ads too, after a year, for a smaller company. Batey Ads then, was at its peak.

But I wanted to be in the thick of the action. I wanted to be part of the company, but at a level that allowed me to influence decisions.

I joined TEQUILA in 1997. Not the drink company but an advertising company which was engaged in more specialised advertising. It was what is termed a “Below the Line Agency”.

It was a 12-man agency and I was the only one in Finance. Till that day, I had never even written a cheque, and so you can imagine…! I did everything including IT and HR!

After 13 years I am still with TEQUILA, having survived two acquisitions and one merger. The company TBWA and TEQUILA now employs about 200+ people and we work for some of the very best brands like:
- Adidas
- Apple
- VISA
- Pernod Ricard
- Singapore Airlines
- Standard Chartered Bank
just to name a few.

In 2003, I went to Hong Kong to take up the Regional Controller position for the TBWA group in Asia Pacific. I returned in 2005 to Singapore to be CFO of TBWA Group which includes TEQUILA and some smaller companies.

Last year, I was made COO of the group in Singapore.

The brief given to me for this talk was to make it inspiring. It is difficult to be inspiring when the components of my success are a few non glamorous principles that I have lived by all these years. However, I strongly believe that these humble principles are fundamentally responsible for the success in my career.

I have just 6 short points:

1. Hard work – it is not going to be easy. In everything you do, make sure you put your best into it.

   I am sorry to say, but it gets harder as you climb the corporate ladder.

   I put in on average of between 12 to 16 hours a day; I am not asking you to do the same, also (joke) don't forget I'm a slow starter.

   But seriously it is not good and as you get tired, you get less productive; however, having a wife (whom, by the way, is my real CEO) and 2 young kids (4 and 2 and a half years) helps put things into perspective;

2. Respect - treat everyone with respect, from the auntie who clears your coffee mugs to the receptionists that you see when you come through the doors, the people you look after, your subordinates, the people who are your peers and upwards. EVERYBODY.

   When you treat everyone equally and with respect, people around will notice. They will know that you are genuine.

   The world today is very small, so remember this - a colleague or subordinate today might one day be your client or your boss. I have seen it happen so many times in my industry. In the end, it is the respect and kindness that you have shown them that they will remember.

3. Humility - never show off. There is no need to. Accept praise when it is offered and reciprocate with a simple “Thank You”. But more importantly, remember to dish out praise to those who deserve it.

   And if you don't get praised. forget it! That's life. You know the effort you put in.

4. Manage upwards - always manage upwards, this is important. Know what your boss wants or has in his/her mind. Not everyone can articulate well.

   There are three ways to succeed here:

   1. Think it through; and
   2. Ask questions - ask questions that show you have thought about the task, better still if you had thought outside the box;
      Have an opinion, but present it in a way to show that you are seeking clarification, although you are really using it as a platform to introduce your ideas.
      Let me give you an example: Say to your boss, “When you said that you wanted this report to be presented differently, did you mean using a dashboard to present this graphically, so that the reader can understand the big picture immediately, and have the current report as an attachment?”
   3. Feedback - most organisations have formal feedback sessions, which may be conducted yearly or more often. Don't wait for that formal session if you need to get something off your chest.
      Offer to buy your boss a coffee, give him/her a brief agenda, so he knows you are not going to resign. This also opens the door for your boss to add anything that he might want to tell you too. And as this is done at an informal level, at the actual appraisal, you know you are not going to get a bad review.
      Also, such meetings are useful for getting new ideas across or seeing a problem or solution from a different angle/perspective.
      It opens up communication channels. It strengthens relationships.
      We Asians don't like to talk. We need to talk more, but sensibly and with depth.
5. Read - Knowledge of what is happening in your industry, your client's and suppliers, world, your country, the world, new technologies and new advancements. This knowledge comes from reading.

   I assume most of you will not start out driving to work, so make use of the time on the train, on the bus, in the cab, to read. Your mobile phone, iPhone, or whatever you use these days gives you RSS feeds, etc.

   Read more, understand more, know more.

6. Last but certainly not least, remember that not everything that counts in life can be counted. Life is not just about your career. It is also about the people around you. Success alone cannot bring you happiness. Allow your family and friends to share your success. Give them back what you can, in terms of friendship and care.

   Giving back also means giving back to society. It is never too early to be actively involved in your community despite your busy life. You must live your ideals as you live your lives.

   The School of Business at SP has given you a head start. You have had the chance, in the last 3 years, to be part of the School’s many activities and achievements. Amongst these, I have been told, are “Operation Cambodia”, the China Industrial Training Programme and collaborations with industry players including the Capital Land Group.

   The last Graduate Employment Survey shows that within 3 months of graduation, 86% of the 2009 batch of SB graduands found a job. Their average salary was $1,641. This is evidence that you too will be well received by industry as you take your first few tentative steps into the working world.

Closing

The future MIGHT BE DIM with the current crisis, but it’s you that can make it bright.  Go out and make a difference and make your Alma Mater proud! I wish you success in all your endeavours. Thank you.

SPEECH BY LAWRENCE KIM
MANAGING DIRECTOR
EBENEZER NDT SERVICES PTE LTD
AT THE POLYTECHNIC’S 50TH GRADUATION CEREMONY
WEDNESDAY, 19 MAY 2010 (SESSION 6)

Mr Tan Hang Cheong
Principal, Singapore Polytechnic

Distinguished Guests

Parents and Graduands

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good afternoon.

Choice, Journey.

Every one of us makes at least a couple of major choices in our life, some more, some less. 3 years ago, all of you sitting here made a major choice of the school of your preference and the course you like. This decision led you to a journey that ends today.

Today, if you look back on the journey, as you reflect, some parts of the journey are bumpy, some are smooth and when you looked to the side, you might have friends who have already left the journey or yet to reach the destination.  

Life is about making choices and moving on with the choice you made. Today, you are going to make another major choice of your life to either start work, to further your studies or do something else. The road ahead will be tougher as the years go by, as you grow older. But, the good news is, the journey ahead will be more exciting, challenging and more dynamic.

As we embark on the journey, once decided, we continue on it. We do not give up easily nor change our course everyday. For example, when you have decided on a job, you should stay on no matter how tough the work may be as it is a journey that you need to go through. You cannot change jobs everyday; neither can you say we do not want to go to work.

At age 17, I made a choice to venture out on my own after the part time jobs that I was doing as I thought business would make me a lot of money. This is a choice that changed everything in my life. I became very busy, tired, and for the first year of my business life, I was also very poor. This also changed how I live my subsequent student life; I was unable to go out after school with friends, no weekend to go out with friends nor free time to just sit down at home to catch a TV show. But I didn’t change course.

I chose the journey as a student-entrepreneur when I entered Singapore poly and again, knowing that it was tough, enter SMU once again as a student-entrepreneur. I carried on no matter how tough the journey was.

Today, all that was achieved and accomplished was because of that  journey.

Who I am today was a decision I made 10 years ago; who you will be 10 years down the road, is something you will decide after today.

You have your whole life before you. After this, you may consider furthering your education.

After your formal education is done, the test of how much you have learned will be tested – in the workplace! You will take on higher responsibilities in the sectors that you have been trained for – education, marketing, accountancy, banking, finance, media and perhaps even the Arts! Despite the fact that our economy is not yet back on full track, I believe that if you are prepared to work hard and to learn fast, you will indeed enjoy a successful and fulfilling career.

I would like to share 3 of my personal beliefs with you. These are the beliefs that helped me get through the difficult periods in my journey.

FIRSTLY, STRIVE TO REMAIN RELEVANT. Given the fast changing environment that we live and work in, this means that you have to constantly update yourself in your particular areas of specialization. But never forget that while doing so, you need also to be aware of changes and developments beyond these areas. For example, you may be a private banker 5 or 6 years from now. While you will need to have the latest information on the most sound and profitable investments for your clients’ investment portfolios, you will also need to be aware of political instabilities, legal systems and other variables in the countries that you intend to put your clients’ money in. You cannot afford to be myopic and concentrate only on your immediate task. You need to develop your peripheral vision and awareness so that the decisions you make are thoroughly considered and sound.

SECONDLY, YOU MUST BE RESILIENT. If you have remained relevant as I have just mentioned, then you will logically, be aware of what changes you may have to make in the way that you work or even the way that you live, in order to remain afloat and thriving. Be brave. Make those changes. Do not lose faith if, along the way, your career suffers setbacks and failures. The real mark of character comes not from how you deal with your success, but rather, how you deal with the failures. Every failure is a chance to learn from.

THIRDLY, BUILD YOUR LIFE ON INTEGRITY. Live by what we have always been taught from our school days – “Honesty is the best policy”. The most serious corporate failures have resulted from a lack of integrity – from the U.S. recession that was triggered by unscrupulous sub-prime mortgage deals to the fall of Greek banks in Europe. Corporate governance will be constantly re-defined. Our role is to ensure that we do not fall short of the rules that bind us. On a personal level, build yourself a reputation of being an honest person. This will earn you the respect of your bosses, your colleagues, your subordinates, and not least of all, your family.

A FINAL WORD – remember that life is not just about your career. It is also about the people around you. Success alone cannot bring you happiness. Allow your family and friends to share your success. Give them back what you can, in terms of friendship and care.

Giving back also means giving back to society. It is never too early to be actively involved in your community despite your busy life. You must live your ideals as you live your lives.

The Polytechnic has given you a head start. You have had the chance, in the last 3 years, to be part of SP’s many activities and achievements, both at home here in Singapore as well as overseas.

The last Graduate Employment Survey shows encouraging results despite the current somewhat gloomy economy. This can only mean that SP’s graduands continue to possess good value in the marketplace.

So I wish you all every success in your further education and in your careers. Make a difference and make SP proud!

Thank you.

SPEECH BY WINSON WEE
VICE PRESIDENT, CLIENT ENGAGEMENT AND PROJECTS
REACHFIELD IT SOLUTIONS PTE LTD
AT THE POLYTECHNIC’S 50TH GRADUATION CEREMONY
THURSDAY, 20 MAY 2010 (SESSION 7)

Mr Tan Hang Cheong
Principal, Singapore Polytechnic,

Distinguished Guests,

Parents and Graduands,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. Good morning.  I am so glad to join you on this very special occasion, the 50th Graduation Ceremony of Singapore Polytechnic. This graduation is a very significant milestone for Singapore Polytechnic as the number of graduates will surpass 150,000. I recall fondly my own graduation in 1991. I have enjoyed working with some of you graduands on your final year project and internship with my company. You have demonstrated your strong skills and understanding from your course in Singapore Polytechnic and put them into practical usage.  As a result, we are able to achieve our goals and objectives.  I would like to give my thumbs up to you and Singapore Polytechnic for teaching relevant and up-to-date technologies which are applicable to the industry.
2. I wish to congratulate all of you graduands on the successful completion of your course at the Singapore Polytechnic. It marks the beginning of the next phase of your life with new and exciting challenges. I share your joy together with your parents and lecturers who are here today. 
3. Last year, Singapore was in the throes of an economic crisis. Despite the economic downturn last year, the information and communications sector was the only area that saw growth. Employment in the sector rose 1.3 per cent to 140,800 in June 2009, from 139,000 a year ago. The strongest areas of employment growth include software development, digital media and animation and R&D.
4. You are graduating at a time of great opportunities. Singapore's economy soared in the first three months of 2010, bouncing back from a contraction the previous quarter as manufacturing more than doubled. According to the Hudson survey, 60 per cent of Singapore-based IT companies plan to increase hiring in the first quarter of this year, up from 36 per cent in the preceding quarter. Recruitment firms and various HR experts generally agreed that there is now a pent-up demand for IT professionals because companies had put a freeze on hiring during the economic slowdown last year. Much of the IT hiring is for the financial sector, which saw a 50 per cent increase in employment compared to the lows experienced in the downturn of 2009.
5. Acting Information, Communications and the Arts Minister Lui Tuck Yew said recently, "For 2010, both the IDA (Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore) survey, and the SITF (Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation) survey indicated that 70 per cent or more of the companies have plans to expand their operations. 2010 will be an even better year for them. And we think that this will result in more hiring and more opportunities for people."
6. Interactive & Digital media – which includes video games, animation, and new forms of digital entertainment – has skyrocketed into a multi-billion dollar business. The global videogames industry is expected to swell to US$68.3 billion by 2012, with Asia registering the fastest growth, according to the PriceWaterhouse Coopers’ Global Entertainment & Media Outlook. Singapore’s animation and games industries are seeing rapid expansion. Singapore is seeing an influx of leading digital media companies such as Koei, Lucasfilm, Electronic Arts and Ubisoft. Local companies like Mikoishi, Peach Blossom Media and ST Electronics (Digital Media) are also producing original content for export and entering strategic partnerships with international distributors.
7. The demand for creative talent remains robust with companies still on the lookout for good staff. The MDA (Media Development Authority) and Hong Kong's Salon Films Group recently set up the Singapore-based company called SIMF Management for their media financing tie-up. SIMF aims to help produce a stable of Asia-made films, TV series and animation, as well as other projects such as computer games, over the next five years.
8. Some of you may have the opportunity to work on Hollywood productions. Just last month, a prominent Hollywood producer together with a few wealthy individuals has set up a US$50 million investment fund in Singapore that will target promising media companies in Asia and the Middle East. The Karma Media Fund will focus on publishing, television, film and digital media, as well as acquire book rights with a view towards film or TV production. Mario Kassari, Hollywood Producer, said: "I know in Singapore, they're pretty competent in IT. And if you look at the results of box offices worldwide, whether it's Dreamworks, Pixar or Disney or even Fox, their animation movies have done a lot of money. And now everything is 3D, especially after Avatar, it's like if you want to say hello to somebody, it has to be in 3D". I am glad to note that nine of your juniors have joined institutions like UCLA and the University of Southern California under the NUS-MDA SHAPE (Singapore Hollywood Attachment Programme) for their internship. It is a great opportunity to widen their exposure in the interactive & digital media industry. Being immersed in a different culture, this experience would definitely open their minds to new ideas and inspiration.
9. Many of you aspire to further your studies and opportunities abound both locally and overseas. This is a positive trend in line with the spirit of lifelong learning. The first degree programmes under SIT (Singapore Institute of Technology) will begin classes from August this year. You can also join SUTD (The Singapore University of Technology and Design) with the first batch of students expected in April 2012. I understand that some of you have already secured places at the local universities and Diploma in Digital Media graduand, Ms Lam Oi Keat, has won a full scholarship (3 years) to study BA Design (Hon) offered by Hong Kong Polytechnic University. This year our students won 16 out of 32 IDA’s Integrated Infocomm Scholarships that were awarded. The scholarship is awarded to outstanding students who have completed their ‘O’ level studies and are interested in pursuing infocomm studies from polytechnic through to university level, and a career in infocomm. This is a ringing endorsement of the quality of Singapore Polytechnic education.
10. It is heartening to note that besides excelling academically, many of you have participated in various community projects. Diploma in Infocomm Security Management graduand, Mr Justin Ross Clark is the first in the School of Digital Media and Infocomm Technology to score a perfect GPA of 4.0 and had joined an overseas community service project to Cambodia where he helped the underprivileged in using computers. I encourage you to seize the opportunities available and use your talent and skills not only for personal growth but strive to find ways to contribute to our society.
11. Many years from now, you may not be able to recall the academic materials that you have learnt. However, you will remember fondly the long nights working on projects with your classmates, the friendships that you have forged and the people that have made an impact on your life. Stay connected and build on this network as you advance in your career.
12. In closing, let me congratulate all graduands once again on your achievement.  You, your parents and loved ones have every reason to be proud.  The Singapore Polytechnic diploma is the beginning of something bigger, better and brighter in the years to come.  You can make a difference in harnessing digital media and infocomm to improve the quality of life for all Singaporeans. I wish you many good years ahead and success in all your endeavours.
13. Thank you.

SPEECH BY ALLAN YEO
GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE
THOMSON MEDICAL CENTRE LIMITED
AT THE POLYTECHNIC’S 50TH GRADUATION CEREMONY
THURSDAY, 20 MAY 2010 (SESSION 8)

Mr Johnny Tan , Member of the Board of Governors , Singapore Polytechnic.

Mr Tan Hang Cheong , Principal , Singapore Polytechnic.

Directors, Staff , Parents and Graduands of the School of Design and School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I’m very honoured to grace this happy occasion and to deliver this address especially to the graduands. Let me first congratulate all of you on this momentous achievement.

I am glad to be delivering this address to a group consisting of future Designers and Engineers.The great architect Le Corbusier, a pioneer in modern design and one dedicated in improving design for better living conditions for the crowded cities, wrote that the concerns of man and environment are the common problems faced by engineers and architects alike in the age of mechanization. As Designers and Engineers, you play a very important role in shaping the future of our country. With the fast pace of technological advancement, information technology and globalization, you must not only shake the hands with the engineer and designer seated next to you in this convention centre, but you will also need to shake the hands of the other graduands from the other faculties, because it is very clear that you will find yourself collaborating together as you work on projects, provide solutions and implement plans to benefit a wide range of people and to society.

You are now at the threshold where you will have to take meaningful decision that will have an influence in your future. Some of you will start your career; while others will move on to pursue further education. Whichever step you take, you will reach a stage where you will join the working force, where you will face many challenges, where your decisions will be tested and where you will be rewarded for making the right decision. How far you go and how high you climb will depend on your personal ambition, your resilience and the effort you put in to develop your career. The days are long gone when students can hope to leave tertiary institutions with a set of skills that would enable them to remain gainfully employed in a particular job or appointment for the rest of their working lives. As a student or a professional, you must constantly acquire new skills, reinvent yourself, stay relevant and be on the look out for opportunity that come your way.

Some of the areas I highlighted are very real in your working life. Areas like challenges, decision making and seizing opportunities. I will share with you my personal experiences and how I dealt with these many uncertainties that confronted me in my earlier professional career. You must all be wondering how a Singapore Poly graduate moved from architectural to project management to being the Group CEO of  Thomson Medical Centre , a listed hospital in Singapore.

I graduated from Singapore Polytechnic in Architectural Draughtsmanship and went on to pursue my degree in Building Engineering in Edinburgh , Scotland and my Master in Project Management in NUS. Hence, I learned to draw, to build and to manage. I started my career with a NZ company as an Architectural Co-ordinator and even with this first job interview, I never expected the challenge that came my way. There were 12 shortlisted candidates and each of us was given the same design problem to solve. We were then interviewed by the Managing Director, and being the first job interview, we understandably were kind of nervous. When my turn came, he went through my design solution and asked me on my educational background and where I received my training. I told him, Singapore Poly, Heriot Watt University. I was taken aback when he commented that my design was a disgrace and totally wrong! I spent the next 20 minutes arguing with him and defending my design solution. I was confident that what Singapore Poly taught me could not be wrong. That was my first challenge. After the interview, he said he would call if he needed to interview me further. One week later, I was called to meet up with the Managing Director again. When I saw him, he asked me how I felt during the interview and I told him that it wasn’t the most pleasant one. He then said, “Mr Yeo, I am going to offer you the job,” and  I replied that I did not understand, as we were almost at each other throat during the interview. He then shared with me that 4 of the candidates got the design solution right and that he deliberately criticized every single one that their design was wrong and I was the only one that argued with him and vigorously defended my design solution.  I am not suggesting that in your next job interview, you argued with your prospective employer but would suggest that if you know what you are doing, be confident with your decision. I got the job and was given $3500 salary per month, not bad for a fresh graduate and that was in the early 80s.

A couple of years later, I was promoted to Project Manager managing the construction and development of the National University Hospital. Quite natural, I did what I was trained to do. 

After completing the National University Hospital project, I was offered a position by the Hospital to be one of their Hospital Administrators. This was an opportunity to get out of my comfort zone, a totally new area, another new challenge. I had to take a decision and I took the decision and turned down the offer and went instead with my Company to New Zealand where I was the Senior Project Manager for an office building, an air-terminal and a commercial complex. This was another challenge working in a foreign country with different cultures and business practices.

Upon my return to Singapore, another opportunity came. NUH called me again and now offered me a senior position with an attractive pay package. This time, I could not say no and took up the challenges. I picked up new skills, reinvented myself and quickly learned the ropes in hospital management. One of the tasks I had to do was the set up of the mortuary services and to do that, I had to meet the late Professor Chao, a Forensic Pathologist in his office. That was easy enough except that when I went to his office, he was not there and I received a call from the late Prof asking me to join him for sandwich lunch, except that lunch was in the mortuary, where he was cutting up a dead body. I began then to question whether I made the right career move and I recalled that I never had to visit the mortuary during my study in Singapore Poly. I decided to take on the challenge and stayed with NUH for a good 6 years as their Director of Operations managing both clinical and operational departments. To be honest, many of the decisions I had to take require good thinking and analytical skills and these are skills you would have learned and acquired in your training in Singapore Poly and you must have the presence of mind to apply them.

Once you have proven your professional worth and competencies, more opportunities and job offers will come your way.

After NUH, I was asked to take on the job as the CEO of the Singapore’s flagship project in India, the Bangalore Information Technology Park. That was in 1994 and I was probably then the only Chinese in Bangalore. Here I faced different kind of challenges that tested my decision making skills. As the project is an initiative between Singapore and India, I had to carefully manage the differing expectations from both parties and apart from managing the project progress, I had to manage relationship as well.

When I completed my duties in India, I was asked to assume the position of the Group CEO of a loss making hospital in Singapore, and concurrently as the Managing Director of a tertiary care hospital in Malacca. After turning around the hospital, I was asked in 2002 to join Thomson Medical Centre as its Group CEO  and got the company listed in 2005 and took the company to the region , in Vietnam in 2007 where we are the hospital project consultant and also the hospital management consultant.  This was my career road map thus far .

Yours I am sure will be a more challenging one, with huge stride in the changing landscape of economic development, technological advancement, information technology and borderless globalization. With all these dynamic of progress, you must start to prepare and plan for your future. While it is quite likely that you will start your career in Singapore, you must also set your eyes on opportunities in the region, as there are indeed excellent and exciting opportunities where your skills will be needed and in much demand.

Take Vietnam as an example. Our interest in Vietnam is the sheer size of its market potential. Thomson’s main business is in the delivery of babies. In Singapore, each year, we have 39,000 babies born. In Vietnam, one hospital does 56,000 babies. Annually, Vietnam produces 1 million babies. Vietnam has 89 million people and 65% of the population is below the age of 30. Vietnam’s infrastructure is still very inadequate and their Government knows that to attract overseas investment, they must provide good and reliable infrastructure support. Vietnam knows that they need expertise to grow and develop and have identified Singapore as the preferred partner for transfer of technology.  Designers and Engineers will be much sought after and can contribute in a huge way to Vietnam’s growth.

As you leave this convention centre today, your status will change. You are now a professional. You have acquired skills and you are ready to contribute. You must have a road map to guide you from where you are , to where you intend to go and to achieve in the future. Consider this, you went through primary education, secondary education and now tertiary care education and in each of these levels, you do your best to get the best results. Your presence here today shows that you have all done well in your academic pursuit. All these effort you put in is to prepare yourself adequately for your future ahead.

Consider John F Kennedy’s challenge to go to the moon, Ronald Reagan’s “tear down this wall” call for an end to a divided Germany, Martin Luther King Junior’s “I have a dream” on racial equality and Gandhi’s non violent liberation movement. As different as these men were, as different as their stated goals were, all had one thing in common, a clearly articulated vision of the future they hope to see and for this future to become reality.  

You too can articulate your vision of your future and work towards turning this vision into reality.

Martin Luther King not only articulated his vision with certainty,  when he said “I have a dream”, he knew precisely the future he was pointing toward, working toward, driving toward and every action he took, every idea he championed, was designed to get him towards the desired future.

James Canton, a Futurist and the Author of the book, “The Extreme Future” wrote that to improve foresight and decision , one should develop “Predictive Awareness”. Developing a predictive awareness about the future is about knowing where to look, what to see and how to apply it for benefit. He even ventured that you can plan for your future but you will need (a) a future vision (b) a sound strategy to get there (c) tools to persuade key people – colleagues, teammates, family members and so on to commit to a shared vision and strategy and importantly (d) effective execution.

When you plan for your future, you must also know that changes are evolving rapidly. So in facing your future and you must also be adept in managing the many changes that will come your way. As Designers and Engineers, we manipulate materials, symbols and objects and these will keep changing, as they get replaced by new ideas, objects , connections, networks, media and processes. It is only inevitable that cultures will evolve, lifestyles and behaviours will mutate and job scope of our professions will change. You too must expect this change to happen, be ready for this change and be resilient to face and manage this change to desired results. 

In design, it is quite clear that designer and engineer has to take the lead in facilitating dialogue between all the partners and stakeholders involved – and this will come in the form of a team consisting of diverse roles from different areas of life : be it psychologists, lay-persons, business people , consumers , the public , social scientists , designers and engineers. Design and Engineering was and is always inter-disciplinary – the reality of a mixed team of specialists and generalists working on project that require complex integrated solutions that spans psychology, business, engineering, arts, social sciences and any other disciplines required to complete the solution. Hence , apart from your competency in design and engineering, you must have a good understanding of the diverse views from other disciplines and as a lead professional , you must also develop good people management skills to earn their respect. One important attributes in successful professional is the ability to manage the different personalities that they have to work with. You will certainly be more effective if you have good people management skills.

Prospects for Designers and Engineers are excellent and Singapore may turn out to be a great place to graduate as a designer and engineer. If you read the recently published Economic Strategies Committee (ESC) Report, there is an economic Masterplan that is going to affect your lives in a big way, targeting Finance, Business, Energy , Arts and Design sector. The plan is to make Singapore into Asia’s Innovation Capital and specifically transform Singapore into an Asian Hub for thought and practice leadership. One of the engines that will drive this forward is design-driven innovation.

According to this masterplan, there will be more effort and emphasis to increase design research, development and industry collaboration. Even more exciting is that products and services “Designed in Singapore” will be highlighted and promoted heavily.

You don’t have to look far to see some of these efforts are already underway. If you check out the initiatives by the Design Council Singapore, you will find that there are number of business and scholarships opportunities available. Also the opening of the fourth University, Singapore University for Technology & Design, represents another milestones and another avenue for you to develop and deepen your mastery of design.  The future for Design & Engineering is bright.

In summary , you have now reached a different status, a well trained graduate from Singapore Polytechnic , a well recognised premier tertiary institution. You will be well sought after. You will start to plan for your future. You will begin to appreciate from hereon, apart from the skills you now have, you will continue to acquire new skills, reinvent yourself , stay relevant and look out for opportunity that come your way. Remember, how far you go and how high you climb will depend on your personal ambition, your road map for your future and the effort you put in.

However, there is one thing that I hope we will all embrace : that we may all continue our learning journey, collaborate and create the future together and bring the future closer to all of us.

I am hopeful and confident that all of you will do great things, to design and engineer new and vibrant works that will make us proud and make a positive difference to the lives of the people that we touch through our design.  I am certain that in the near future, I will read about the exciting accomplishments and breakthrough from our Singapore Polytechnic Alumnus. Who knows, that Alumnus could be you. 

As a parent, I must pay tribute to all the parents here today for their steadfast support and standing alongside your sons, your daughters in their academic achievements. I also offer you my congratulations.

In the first graduation session, one of the students spoke with much passion about their lecturers and the administrative staff. He said that the lectures were colourful and fun , learning was to them an enjoyable experience. To this special team of professional lecturers and administrative staff, the graduates achievements are your achievements. You have taken them in as young innocent students, groomed them , nurtured them and equipped them . Now they are ready to face the world and ready to contribute to society and to the country.  

To all graduands, you have made your parents and your lecturers proud. My congratulations on all your achievements and I wish you all a very bright future ahead.

SPEECH BY FOONG SEW BUN
IBM DISTINGUISHED ENGINEER/ CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
IBM SINGAPORE
AT THE POLYTECHNIC’S 50TH GRADUATION CEREMONY
THURSDAY, 20 MAY 2010 (SESSION 9)

Members of the Board of Governors,
Mr. Tan Hang Cheong, Principal, Singapore Polytechnic,
Distinguished Guests,
Parents and Graduands,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening.

Congratulations

1. It is my honor to be a special guest at your graduation ceremony, which marks the SP 50th Golden Graduation Ceremony.  By measure of educational standard, the 50th mark of half a century of learning is short, but Singapore Polytechnic, or SP, as usually called affectionately by us, has already graduated 150,000 talents into the industry by this graduation ceremony.  SP will be graduating 495 graduates in this session.  Congratulations to all of you, the SP 50th Golden graduands of the Diploma in Aerospace Electronics, Diploma in Electronics and Communications Engineering, Diploma in Electronics, Computer and Communications Engineering, Advanced Diploma in Building and Services Engineering, Advanced Diploma in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering, and Specialist Diploma in Network Security!  While you must be so happy that you have overcome many challenges to achieve this high level of education, I am sure your parents and family members are even happier for your achievements!
2. Singapore Polytechnic has a strong tradition of excellence in engineering trainings.  Many of the graduates are now serving key leadership roles in various industries. I, for one, graduated from SP in 1983 and have since continued to apply what I had learnt from SP into further daily improvement and studies.  SP has given you a head-start in your career as well as strong foundation for further studies. The three year program of SP is a tough program; you should feel proud that you have made it through and emerged as one of the graduates. 
3. Although you have successfully graduated, you have yet to graduate from life.  Learning does not stop here.  In fact, you have just taken the first step of a fresh departure into National Service, career or further studies.  Now that you have graduated, how do you excel in your next phase of advancement?  The world is now even more interconnected, more intelligent and more instrumented.  Advancement of technologies, engineering, infocomm and customer requirements are also changing at nerve-racking pace.  What differentiates a successful engineering professional in our fast-paced interconnected world is how that professional could leverage technologies in not just enabling business, but strategically transforms the business and improve our quality of life sustainably.  To achieve this, a top notch engineering professional must constantly strive to upgrade one’s skills into a successful T-shaped professional – deeply skilled in your area of expertise in engineering technologies, while possessing a horizontal spectrum of broad communicative skills.  T-shaped professional is especially desirable, as we are in an uptrend of service-based economy.  It is not easy to develop into a T-shaped professional.  You need passion.  You need strong determinations to keep learning and striving forward.  You need to keep winning over yourself.  So, my main message to you today is: Life is a challenge to keep setting new personal records.
4. To illustrate this message, please allow me to share with you a couple of brief episodes of Jesse Owens that I learnt from my mentor, Dr. Daisaku Ikeda.  As you may know, Jesse Owens was the proud winner of four gold medals at the 11th Olympic Games in 1936 which was held in Berlin during Hitler’s chancellorship.  Jesse was born in the same year and state, Alabama, as Rosa Parks and was the son of a poor cotton farm laborer.  Jesse was twenty-two when he became an international hero – slightly older than most of you by just a few years.  Hitler’s racist beliefs were blatantly evident at the games where he cheered the white athletes but refused to watch Black athletes compete.
5. In an account of how he felt during his gold medal winning 100m dash, Jesse wrote: “I saw the finish line, and knew that 10s would climax the work of 8 years.  One mistake would ruin those 8 years.  So, why worry about Hitler?”  The key to achievement is to advance forward along your chosen path with determination.  Jesse Owens trained for 8 years prior to the Berlin Olympics, determined to become the fastest human alive.  Whatever your field or talent, the most important thing is to aim to be the best in the world.  In fact, as a youth, you should set your ideals high, because in most cases you will only be able to realize a portion of them. 
6. Jesse Owens knew that the most important thing is to win over himself.  It was his junior high school coach who had taught him this important lesson.
7. A particular race stood out in his mind as an unforgettable event.  The race was a very close one.  Jesse passed his opponents and fell back, took the lead and fell back again.  And so it continued.  But throughout the race Jesse did his very best, squeezing out every ounce of his power and energy.  He did not win the race but, even after he sped past the finish line, he kept on running.  He ran with such power that he finally crashed into the school yard wall.
8. Immediately after this disappointing loss, Owen’s coach ran up to him.  “Congratulations!” he exclaimed.  Jesse didn’t expect to hear those words.  He looked at his coach with a puzzled expression.  His coach continued, “You won today.  And you know who you beat?”  Though it remained unspoken, Jesse knew the answer: himself.  “You didn’t beat him once, either, you beat him a hundred times out there.”
9. Jesse’s coach continued to encourage him: “Tomorrow’s a new day, and because you beat your opponent today doesn’t mean you’ll beat him tomorrow.  And next week is a new week.  Same thing.  And next year.  But … if you do beat him again tomorrow, and again next week, and again next year, and you keep on winning over him, you’ll go to the Olympics someday.”  Jesse Owens became a great runner by winning over himself day after day and year after year.  As a result of daily practice and challenge, he found himself at the starting line of the hundred meter dash at the Berlin Olympics.
10. Later, Jesse Owens remarked that life, one’s inner life, is the true Olympics.  Life itself is an Olympics where we strive each day to better our personal records.
    So, you have won today and are graduating.  You have set a record for yourself.  You need to continue to find your own way that best fits you, to blaze your own trail, and strive to win shinning gold medals in life.  When you run into a career or studies roadblock, and if you feel tired, down and depressed, I hope you remember how you had overcome all your challenges to graduate today and what I had just shared with you that “Life is a challenge to keep setting new personal records”.
11. I will conclude with this and once again, my heartiest congratulations to you and your family members on your hard-earned diploma from your alma mata Singapore

SPEECH BY PATRICK LIEW
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
HSR INTERNATIONAL REALTORS PTE LTD
AT THE POLYTECHNIC’S 50TH GRADUATION CEREMONY
FRIDAY, 21 MAY 2010 (SESSION 10)

Members of the Board of Governors,
Mr Tan Hang Cheong, Principal, 
Distinguished Guests,
Parents and Graduands,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning,

The 3 Key Questions In Life

Thank you for inviting me to your Graduation Ceremony. I feel deeply honored to be given the privilege to share with all of you.

Let me start by confessing that when I was a student of the Singapore Polytechnic, I had to struggle to earn my Diploma. I was one of the few students to have to, as the Chinese would say, ‘留级’.
In other words, I failed my exam and had to repeat the second year. Eventually, it took me four years to finish the course rather than three.

When my daughters were able to read, I thought of burning my examination result slips. They were that bad.

I hope the sight of me standing here is already an encouragement to all of you. Not only did I survive in the marketplace, I also achieved my aspiration to make a positive difference to the world around me. I hope what I share with you today will inspire you as you embark on one of the most exciting phases of your life.

I came here today not because I want to give you any advice. You are the ‘Answers Generation.’ In other words; with the Internet and other sources of information, you already have answers to most of your questions.

I came here today to give you 3 key questions to pose yourself throughout your life. How great your life will become depends on the number of great questions you continuously ask yourselves.

For example, if you wake up in the morning and you ask yourself, “Why is my life so wonderful?” You will be predisposed to enjoy a great life.

On the other hand, if you wonder, “Why is my life so miserable?” I assure you, you will go on a downward spiral.
You may need to struggle to find answers for these 3 questions throughout your life. In doing so, I hope you will find the answers to help you live a meaningful, rewarding and fulfilling life.

The first question is,

‘How Do I Measure Success And Therefore, Make My Life Count?’

In 1974, as a freshman of the Singapore Polytechnic, I was coerced into joining a beauty contest. This was a part of an orientation programme organized by the older students, otherwise known as ‘senior ladies and gentlemen.’

They needed a clown to provide additional fun and laughter – a ‘William Hung.’ I was the perfect choice.

The organizers told me I needed to put on a nice jacket during the finals. Coming from a poor family, I did not have the luxury of owning a jacket. I was desperate.

At the eleventh hour, I thankfully recalled that my secondary school’s head prefect had been given a jacket. I managed to contact him and borrow it.

My head prefect was a tall and lanky person. So, when I put on the jacket, I looked like a bumbling chimpanzee.

To make matters worse, the jacket was tailored as a student jacket and was made out of bright turquoise material. It was the oddest looking jacket for a formal occasion. Definitely, not ‘Boomz!’

I must have been the first person in the world to put on a turquoise student jacket in a beauty contest.

I took to the catwalk amidst applause, whistles and catcalls. I was told that the stronger the response, the more marks would be awarded to me. The weaker the response, the lower the marks.

I walked nervously to the centre of the stage, embarrassed and struggling to keep my balance. Suddenly, from the back of the room, a lady screamed,

“That is my former head prefect’s jacket!”

That evening, I ran all the way home with tears streaming down my cheeks.

I swore that when I grew up, I would never be poor again. I would be somebody in life. At that young naïve age, I thought that if I were more successful, I would have more personal glory and material comforts in life.

This is a belief shared by many. They measure success by the amount of money in their bank accounts. They believe that position, profit, pleasure, power and prestige are the traits of success.

But I believe there is a more compelling purpose to live a good life.

For example, the engineering profession gave rise to the industrial age and has brought about some of the greatest advancements in technology. Unfortunately, one of the by-products is environmental destruction.

Our planet as it stands today is dying. I believe the solution or part of the solution to stop and repair this destruction lies in the hands of engineering professionals like you.

As you go through life, you need to maximize your potential. You need to capitalize on every given moment. You need to do everything you can to live an honorable life, make a positive difference to others, and make our world a better home.

Ultimately, the best way to live our lives is to live our lives for others. The more we reach out to bless other lives, the better and richer our lives will be.

So, how will you measure success and therefore, make your life really count?

The second question is,

‘How Can I Learn From Failure And Rise Above It So As To Live A Meaningful, Rewarding And Fulfilling Life?’

On 21st March 2003, I received an interesting call, “Patrick, you better fly back right away. People are carrying things out of the office.”

This call started a series of events which changed my life forever.

Prior to that call, I had scaled down my personal involvement in my company and left the daily operations of it to a management team.

At the trough of the SARS outbreak, sales had dipped to their lowest point. Operational expenses were at an all time high. Our competitors took the opportunity to head-hunt my management staff and several of my key people literally left me overnight.

Subsequently, my colleagues, clients and suppliers began to leave me in droves. Vicious rumors circulated in the market and they were growing stronger by the day.

During that time, I lost an enormous amount of money. I was also carrying personal liabilities to the tune of millions of dollars.
I went through the darkest period of my life.

At night, I slept with tears in my eyes, curled up like a little baby. I lived in constant fear. I was worried about what would happen to my family and I.

It was a daily torture to wake up, drag myself to the office and face another day of pain and sorrow. I walked around like a zombie, not knowing what to do, say or believe.

I was totally helpless. I could not run away. No matter which way I turned, I would feel another huge wall collapsing on me.

It was then that I started searching my soul. I looked for wise counsel.
I looked up and asked our Creator for help. I needed a modern day miracle to turn the tide.

I sensed a divine calling to rebuild my company into more than a business, a company or an organization. I was to go beyond personal profits and gain.
The initial instruction I received was to ‘Touch Lives’.

Our company would be devoted to inspiring, motivating and helping our people to be the best they could be. Through them, we would touch lives, bless families, improve communities, and enhance society.

When I decided to take up this challenge, I felt our Creator saying that this step was only Part One – the easy part.

The most important and also the most difficult part of the message was I had to tell my people three simple words, ‘I love you.’

I knew that love is the most powerful force in business and in life. Sadly, I had barely scratched the surface to tap this awesome force.

I did not learn how to live and work with love from any guru, school or book. (I suspect most people do not even dare to talk about love in the workplace).

I had to learn how to rebuild my company on love and to live out the power of love. I had to chart a new course. I had to pioneer a different way of running the company.

I decided to make my company the extended family of our people - and our office, their second home. I endeavoured to build my organization into a warm, dynamic and caring family.

Out of that major crisis, I was forced to recreate myself, my philosophy, my business, and my aspirations. It became one of the key turning points of my life.

Today, my company is arguably the market leader and the largest company in the industry. I have personally won more than seven business awards. And all these happened because I went through a major failure in my life.

I have gone through many other failures. Failures are part and parcel of life.

I believe that had I not encountered failure, I would never have truly succeeded. The only permanent failure happens if I fail to try and push myself to a higher level of success.

I made failures my servants and not my masters. Failures are but feedback to help me learn, change, improve and grow.

Failures are mere road bumps in the expressway of life. They serve to correct me and help me live in a wiser way.

When encountering each failure, I did not run away. I took the proverbial bull by its horns. And I emerged a better person.

I want to learn how to fail successfully so as to achieve more enduring success in my life.

My third and last question is this,

‘How Can I Dream Of A Better World And Turn It Into A Reality?’

As you step out of this wonderful campus and onto the vast campus of life, I want you to know the future belongs to those who dare to dream great dreams. These people take massive action to transform their great dreams into a reality.

As long as you work towards great dreams, you will always be young. But when your dreams are replaced by just ‘hopes’ and ‘wishes’, you will start to grow old.

The size of your achievements in life will be determined by the size of your dreams and your actions.

My friends, I believe there is no better time to be alive than right here and right now.

As the economic tide flows from the West to Asia, I believe Singapore will enjoy one of its strongest economic booms in the near future. There will be tremendous opportunities waiting for all of you.

I believe this is one of the best of times to dream about a better world and make it a reality. You can also enjoy tremendous opportunities to live a meaningful, exciting and fulfilling life.
Always remember, you are in a position to transform the world for the benefit of our children and our children’s children. You can leave a positive legacy.

Please make full use of your destiny.

Thank you.

SPEECH BY CAPTAIN M SEGAR
GROUP DIRECTOR (HUB PORT) AND DIRECTOR (PORT)
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
AT THE POLYTECHNIC’S 50TH GRADUATION CEREMONY
FRIDAY, 21 MAY 2010 (SESSION 11)

Mr Tan Hang Cheong, Principal, Singapore Polytechnic
Distinguished Guests,
Parents and Graduands,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Afternoon.
1       It is my pleasure to join you at the Singapore Maritime Academy’s Graduation Ceremony 2010. I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to all the graduates of the academy on this occasion. I understand that we have with us this afternoon many parents of the graduating cohort who are here to witness the ceremony. Let me also extend my congratulations to you on your children’s achievements. They are now graduates of the Singapore Maritime Academy at the Singapore Polytechnic. They are also proud associates with the first polytechnic in Singapore, an institute that prepares her graduates to be work ready, life ready and world ready.

Singapore Maritime Academy
2       The Singapore Maritime Academy is dedicated to the maritime education and training since 1959. The academy trains about 300 diploma graduates who are relevant manpower capabilities for the maritime industry yearly. She also has an impressive record of more than 3,000 adult-learners who are maritime personnel participating in her various post diploma programmes, Certificate of Competency (CoC) courses, and the mandatory Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) courses each year. Her programmes have gained regional repute drawing some 20% of foreign students mainly from Asia into her three full-time diplomas, and 80% of foreign students in her various post diploma programmes, CoC and STCW courses.

3       Today, the academy works with schools in the engineering cluster at the Singapore Polytechnic at an interdisciplinary level, and has continued to innovate and develop new methods of delivery to further her goal of being a premier maritime education and training. One of the successful inter-departmental collaboration is the development of the Wing in Ground Simulator launched this year. With this simulator, the academy will now be able to train sea-farers to pilot a flying vessel.

4       With the talents from the academy’s academic staff, she has conceived, designed and developed another new simulator – the Dynamic Positioning Simulator, to further enhance her training capability. Dynamic positioning vessels operate in “dynamic” and usually complex marine environment.  In this environment, such vessels have to maintain their positions accurately to support dive crew in search or repair works, and to aid remotely operated vessels that source and extract oil from the seabed in deep waters. With this simulator in the design configuration which I believe is the only one of its kind in this region, the academy is now able to train sea-farers to operate such vessels in high-value offshore sectors.

5       The academy works closely with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, where I am from, to promote Singapore as an International Maritime Centre. Towards this end, the academy and MPA have jointly organised the recent MARTECH 2010 in April. The MARTECH Conference is a biennial event organised with the objective of bringing maritime professionals and businesses to network and share experiences on the application and advancement of marine technology in the maritime industry. MARTECH 2010 held in conjunction with the Singapore Maritime Week, attracted more than 200 delegates, with 32 papers presented by speakers from 13 countries. Students from the academy have benefited from this exposure, learning first-hand from both local and international experts in the maritime field.

6       Going forward, in her effort to attract more quality students to join the maritime industry, the academy has also set aside a sum of S$0.5million for the next three years in scholarship schemes to be administered by the Singapore Maritime Foundation.

7       In many ways, the story of Singapore Maritime Academy at the Singapore Polytechnic over the last 50 years mirrors the growth in vibrancy of Singapore's maritime sector from a humble beginning to where she is now with her graduates holding positions of responsibility in many sectors of the maritime industry.

How SP SMA help shaped Graduates Career Path
8       I would like to include myself as one of such example. I am a graduate from the Singapore Polytechnic, from the then Department of Nautical Studies before it was renamed as the Singapore Maritime Academy.

9       A few decades ago, I was like you all, brimming with excitement yet anxious when I was awarded by Singapore Polytechnic my diploma.  I had then made a resolution to continually learn and improve in my work career so that I can be a better person intellectually and professionally.  I had big dreams of what I hope to achieve and since then I have worked diligently to achieve each of my dreams. 

10     The French poet and writer, Mr Anatole France, once said,’’To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.’’ Pope John XXIII once said, ‘’ Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do."

11     My challenge to all of you here today is have great dreams.  You are all here for a reason, not a season.  Believe in yourself and act upon your dreams.  You have within you the strength, ability and potential to reach for the stars and make the world a better place.  So see the diploma that you are receiving today not so much as a reward but more as an opportunity and stepping stone for you to embark on your life-long process of improving yourselves and contributing towards the industry you are in as well as Singapore.  There will be roller-coaster challenges along the way, but stay on course keeping your dreams in focus.  Your dreams will then be transformed into realities.  I have done it and so can all of you.

12     So Class of 2010, go forth and shine for yourselves and the world!  Congratulations and thank you.