Education Minister Heng Swee Keat announced at a press conference on Aug 25 measures that would see graduates from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and polytechnics getting more career options, guidance and direction.
This development is among 10 key recommendations made by the Applied Study in Polytechnics and ITE Review (Aspire) committee.
Both educational institutions have evolved greatly over the years, with many graduates going on to make a name for themselves in their chosen fields. Here are 10 such illustrious graduates:
1. Sim Wong Hoo, 59
Sim Wong Hoo and his company Creative Technology are best known for blazing a trail in the portable music player industry.
The technopreneur has received numerous industry and government awards for his innovations, and in 2012, his company released the HanZpad, a tablet computer aimed at the Chinese market.
Mr Sim’s grounding in electronics came from his time in Ngee Ann Polytechnic – back then known as Ngee Ann Technical College – where he graduated with a diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering in 1975.
2. Anthony Chen, 30
At 30, an age where most are still finding their feet in their career, Singaporean director Anthony Chen is already a successful film-maker.
His debut feature film Ilo Ilo was released in 2013 to international critical acclaim, winning the prestigious Camera d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, and earning him the coveted 50th Golden Horse Award for Best Feature Film and Best New Director.
Chen’s passion for film stretched back to his days in Ngee Ann Polytechnic, where in 2004 he graduated with a diploma in Film, Sound & Video.
Leave a Reply