Singapore’s first polytechnic reaches 200,000 graduates milestone at its 58th graduation ceremony

02 May 2018

Singapore, 2 May 2018 – Singapore Polytechnic (SP) today hosted its 58^th graduation ceremony with Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Mr Teo Chee Hean, as the Guest-of-Honour. More than 5,200 graduates will receive their diplomas, advanced diplomas, specialist diplomas and certificates over 16 sessions.

With the latest batch of graduates, the number of SP alumni will cross the 200,000^th mark, making SP the first polytechnic to reach this significant milestone. The institution has played a major role in training and producing a growing pool of skilled individuals to help build the nation over the last six decades.

Going forward, SP will be rolling out new measures to support the country’s longer term growth, and continue with its tradition of helping Singaporeans stay relevant in the future economy.

Preparing graduates for the future economy

To thrive in an environment of technological disruptions, the future workforce will need to possess key attributes; deep skills, learn throughout their lives and entrepreneurial mindset.

Lifelong learning will provide opportunities for individuals to develop deep skills and stay relevant. To this end, SP has launched new industry relevant CET courses which will allow working adults to upgrade and reskill as the economy changes. There are over 300 CET courses available, including modular courses offered by SP.

SP has recently set up an entrepreneurship centre, known as SPiNOFF, to foster entrepreneurial mindset among students to help them build on opportunities created by disruptive innovations. The new centre will introduce an institution-wide elective module, which challenges students to solve real-world problems with disruptive solutions that are scalable and sustainable. This will be facilitated under the unique mentorship of key industry experts who have co-located on campus.

Building on the institution-wide elective, a unique Continuing Education and Training (CET) course will be launched for aspiring entrepreneurs in Singapore. This new course will also see full-time students learning with adult learners, allowing value exchange and creation of innovative ideas and solutions.

Graduates who are future-ready

Exemplifying entrepreneurial and global mindset is SP’s 200,000^th graduate, Lee Zheng De. Even as he graduates with a Diploma in Engineering with Business, Zheng De is already a successful young entrepreneur who owns an online travel planner, known as Packdat.com. It offers a simple and personalised way for group travellers to plan an itinerary in just 30 minutes.

Zheng De faced many challenges, failures and disappointments in his early attempts at innovation. Soon, he realised that starting a successful business was about perseverance and conviction, not just skills. He built on his past lessons and continued experimenting with new ideas, and subsequently created Packdat.com. Today, the online planner has seen over 5,000 successful itineraries created for 16 countries across Asia. It has recently been awarded the Top 3 Millennial Traveller Award by CNBC and Accenture. It has also attracted the attention of an Indonesian digital travel company, Passpod, which is making a strategic investment in Packdat.

SP Institutional Medallists from the Class of 2018 with Guest-of-Honour, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Mr Teo Chee Hean, and SP Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Soh Wai Wah.Diploma in Engineering with Business graduate Lee Zheng De (2nd from right) receiving his 200,000th graduate memento from Guest-of-Honour, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Mr Teo Chee Hean. Flanking them is Mr Bill Chang, Chairman, Singapore Polytechnic Board of Governors (1st from left) and Mr Soh Wai Wah, Principal & Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Polytechnic (1st from right).

SP Institutional Medallists from the Class of 2018 with Guest-of-Honour, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Mr Teo Chee Hean, and SP Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Soh Wai Wah.

From left to right:

Diploma in Perfumery and Cosmetic Science graduate and Chua Chor Teck Gold Medal winner, Lim Jing Ying,
Diploma in Mechanical Engineering graduate and Tay Eng Soon Gold Medal winner, Chiew Kang Lin,
Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering graduate and Lee Kuan Yew Award winner, Lee Wen Wei,
Diploma in Energy Systems and Management graduate and Lee Kuan Yew Award winner, Dominic Li Guoming,
SP Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Soh Wai Wah,
Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Mr Teo Chee Hean,
Diploma in Accountancy graduate and Low Guan Onn Gold Medal winner, Tan Yu Yang,
Diploma in Creative Writing for TV and New Media graduate and Toh Chin Chye Gold Medal winner, Kirstin Yip Su Jun,
Diploma in Digital Animation graduate and Tan Kay Yong Gold Medal winner, Erica Tan Xi-Wen,
Diploma in Marine Engineering graduate and Lee Kuan Yew Award winner, Muhammad Khairul Afiq Bin Juma’at.

For enquiries:

Frank Chua                                                      Deanna Bonaparte
Communications Specialist Communications Executive
T: 6870 7043 T: 6590 2782
M: 9771 7871                                                   M: 9270 1790
Email: frank_chua@sp.edu.sg                         Email: Deanna_bonaparte@sp.edu.sg

About Singapore Polytechnic (www.sp.edu.sg)

Established in 1954, Singapore Polytechnic (SP) is Singapore’s first polytechnic. It has 10 schools that offer 46 full-time courses for close to 16,000 students. SP adopts a proven creative teaching and learning framework and offers students a holistic, authentic and industry-relevant curriculum, innovative and vibrant learning spaces, and enriching overseas programmes.

The Polytechnic is committed to producing competent and versatile graduates who are also imbued with sound values, so that they can be work ready, life ready and world-ready. SP has more than 200,000 graduates and among them are successful entrepreneurs, top executives in multi-national and public-listed corporations, and well-known professionals across various industries and leaders in government.

SP clinched the inaugural ASEAN People’s Award in 2015 for its contributions toward the region’s community-building efforts. SP is also the first polytechnic to be awarded the President’s Award for the Environment in 2010 and the President's Social Service Award in 2011.

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