Experiencing real world learning

01 Oct 2014

In July 2014, final year students as well as staff from the Diploma in Applied Chemistry with Pharmaceutical Science (DACP) course went on a learning journey to a chemicals manufacturing plant on Jurong Island. The visit to Mitsui Chemicals Asia Pacific included a tour of the physicial site to view storage tanks/silos for chemicals, the Operations Control Room and testing laboratories. At the plant proper, they were introduced to the manufacturing process of elastomers from raw materials to finished products.

DACP alumnus, Edmund Liew who is now working as a technician at Mitsui shared his work experience with the visitors too. Edmund was sent to Mitsui Japan for training. He is currently pursing a part-time BTech course in NUS. He said, "Try to join the industry first. You will then get to know whether you are more interested in the manufacturing field or in laboratory work before going for further studies in the relevant field."

DACP students who visited Mitsui shared the following with us.

“It was a great exposure and an eye-opener for me as we were allowed to visit the production sites. It was a fruitful trip as we were able to have a better understanding on the theories that we have learnt in school. Being able to apply what we have learnt in school actually helped us link knowledge that we have learnt from most of the related modules. Most importantly, we were able to have a feel on the working environment and gain clearer insights on the role of a chemist and technician.”

Amerlyn Chong Ming Liing

“The visit to the plant was an eye-opener for me. The manufacturing plant is so different from labs at SP, it requires multiple disciplines of science - not just in the field of chemistry to effective carryout the reactions successfully and safely. In addition, the modules covered in school have helped me understand some of the products and processes carried out in the plant. It was an overall a fun and enjoyable trip. More of such trips should be organised for our juniors.”

Jerald Lam Kai Jun

“The trip was an enriching experience. It enabled us to see first-hand how the modules; especially Industrial Chemical Processing and Materials In Practice, being applied in the real world. We get to see things like that we would not be able to see and experience in a SP lab. Trips like these provide me with valuable experience.”

Shoba Laxmi