Detail

SINGAPORE, 8 May 2026—Singapore Polytechnic (SP) will confer diplomas, advanced diplomas and specialist diplomas to over 5,500 graduands at its 66th Graduation Ceremony from 4 May to 8 May 2026. The ceremony further expands SP’s extensive alumni network, the largest among polytechnics, now exceeding 246,000 members. 

Senior Minister of State for Education and Sustainability and the Environment, Dr Janil Puthucheary, is the guest of honour at today’s graduation ceremony.

A milestone year for immersive learning

This year, SP celebrates the latest cohort of Diploma in Applied Chemistry (DAPC) students to graduate from the Industry Now Curriculum (INC). The INC Pathway integrates a 44-week immersive internship and hands-on project work, bringing real-world industry practices and technologies directly into the curriculum. Approximately 20 DAPC graduands from the Materials Science specialisation have completed extended stints with industry leaders, including Evonik, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation and Nanolumi. 

This commitment to experiential learning extends across the polytechnic as the School of Business (SB) celebrates its 40th Anniversary with the full-scale rollout of the Business Essentials Through Action (BETA) programme. Much like the INC’s deep-dive into industrial chemistry, the BETA programme immerses students in the mechanics of entrepreneurship. For the first time in the school’s history, the entire Year 1 cohort participated in venture creation, industry mentorship, and social impact projects. The milestone culminated in BETA Day, which set a record for the “Largest Students’ Bazaar” with 61 booths, and all proceeds were donated to Honour Singapore. 

Complementing these milestones is a new emphasis on essential soft skills. This year marks the first time 1,890 graduands across 28 different diplomas will be awarded the Certificate of Achievement in Teamwork. This credential recognises the cohort’s top collaborators, ensuring they enter the workforce not only with industry experience but with a proven ability to excel in high-performing teams.

Celebrating SP’s outstanding graduands of 2026

As the SP graduation ceremony marks the successful completion of their studies, we recognise the nine outstanding Institutional Medallists who have exemplified extraordinary resilience, discipline, and unwavering hard work in reaching this impressive milestone. Among them are:

• Sophia Lai [Diploma in Media, Arts & Design (DMAD)], a Tan Kay Yong Gold Medal recipient who championed emotional well-being through wellness initiatives as Co-President of the MAD Peer Supporters. Her Final Year Project, "Mind the Gap," a public exhibition at Tampines MRT aimed at fostering a more caring and inclusive commuter culture, won 2nd Runner-Up at the Singapore Psychological Society Student Research Awards 2025. Sophia, who also used art as therapy for youth in Cambodia, will further her mission by majoring in Social Work at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

• Tan Ching Yao [Diploma in Perfumery & Cosmetic Science (DPCS)], who transformed from a reserved student into a confident leader as the President of the DPCS Student Chapter. The Lee Kuan Yew Award recipient completed a 44-week internship at Evonik (SEA) Pte Ltd, where she developed a sustainable sunscreen formulation that was showcased at an international exhibition in Bangkok. Ching Yao remains dedicated to deepening her scientific expertise to contribute meaningfully to the personal care industry.

• Jay Liew [Diploma in Electrical & Electronic Engineering (EEE)], who exemplifies industry-readiness through his transition from a childhood 3D-printing hobbyist to a patented inventor for BlueAcres, where he developed a high-spatial-efficiency agricultural solution. The SP Engineering Scholar and A*STAR Poly Science Award recipient further refined his expertise through a prestigious internship at the A*STAR Institute of Microelectronics, where he mastered the semiconductor lifecycle. He is set to develop next-generation solutions at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), where he has already accepted an offer to enrol at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering under the prestigious Nanyang Global Scholarship.

Empowering the adult workforce 

In a milestone for Continuing Education and Training (CET), three adult learners will be conferred the inaugural SkillsFuture Lifelong Learning Awards (SFLLA) later today. The SFLLA recognises exemplary CET graduands who demonstrate an unwavering commitment to skills development within their professional communities.

One of the inaugural recipients is Tanuja Kapoor, a veteran educator and Mother Tongue Specialist Officer at the Board for the Teaching and Testing of South Asian Languages (BTTSAL). A graduand of the Specialist Diploma in Coaching, Guidance and Facilitation Skills, Tanuja exemplifies the growth mindset by blending her extensive teaching experience with contemporary coaching methods. Tanuja’s journey exemplifies the spirit of lifelong learning that SP champions, proving that professional excellence is not a destination, but a continuous process of evolution and discovery.

For more details on SP’s SFLLA recipients, please refer to Annex A.

Moreover, as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes the cornerstone of Singapore’s digital economy, the focus has shifted toward proactively bridging the gap between traditional experience and emerging technology. An example is Chin Wing Soon, who, at 62 years old, proves that age is no barrier to the AI revolution. A lifelong learner who first joined SP in 1985, Wing Soon recently earned a Specialist Diploma in Data Science (Artificial Intelligence). Currently a project manager, Wing Soon aspires to transition into the IT sector, where he can combine his management experience with technical knowledge in data science and AI.

SP’s Class of 2026 enters the workforce at a pivotal moment, equipped with applied skills shaped by deep industry partnerships. The polytechnic’s expanding engagement with national initiatives reflects its commitment to developing graduates who are ready for the challenges ahead. SP is proud to honour their achievements and stands ready to support them as they transition to become leaders, innovators, and stewards of the SP legacy.

###