Assistant Professor Ernest Tan, 37, from the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), developed his passion for computers through games like MapleStory and Counter-Strike. Despite struggling academically—especially in mathematics—he pursued a longer educational path starting from the Normal (Technical) stream. After completing his N levels in 2004, he took a Nitec course at ITE, followed by engineering at SP, then NTU, where he earned a doctorate in computer engineering in 2020. Now a lecturer and researcher at SIT, Prof Tan was one of 21 recipients of the Singapore Teaching and Academic Research Talent Scheme Awards, which support Singaporeans in academic careers. On 1 August, another 146 students received the MOE Teaching Scholarships and Teaching Awards, which offer tuition sponsorship, monthly allowances, and leadership development opportunities.
Singapore Polytechnic
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