A record number of over 2,200 graduates for Class of 2022, including the pioneer cohort of Air Transport Management graduates and SIT’s first Honorary Graduate.
More than 2,200 graduates received their degree scrolls this year. (SIT Photo: Keng Photography/Wang Zhixiang)
The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) is celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2022 with its Graduation Ceremonies from 12 to 14 October 2022. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr Lawrence Wong, graced the main graduation session held at The Theatre at MediaCorp today.
This year, over 2,200 graduates from 47 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes will be conferred their degree scrolls. The Class of 2022 is made up of 960 graduates from SIT-conferred programmes, 958 graduates from SIT-overseas university (OU) joint programmes1, and 323 graduates from degrees conferred by SIT OU partners2.
Mr Lawrence Wong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, graced the event as Guest-of-Honour. (SIT photo: Keng Photography/Tan Eng Keng)
Pioneer Cohort of Air Transport Management Graduates
The occasion marks the graduation of the inaugural cohort of 52 students from the Air Transport Management (ATM) degree programme. The first of its kind by an autonomous university in Singapore, the three-year Bachelor’s Degree with Honours programme is developed in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and other key members of the aviation industry.
The ATM programme aims to produce future-ready professionals for the Singapore air transport sector. Under SIT’s flagship Integrated Work Study Programme3 (IWSP), ATM students undergo an eight-month work attachment at airlines, airports, ground handlers, freight agencies and travel technology firms, where they gain practical knowledge and skills in the analytical, business, management, operations and strategic aspects of the air transport industry.
The pioneer cohort of ATM graduates will further strengthen the pipeline of skilled aviation professionals and address manpower needs within the industry, especially with the upcoming Changi Airport’s Terminal 5 project. According to the University’s preliminary employment survey4, 63% of ATM graduates secured employment within one month of completing their studies in companies including SATS, Changi Airport Group, Singapore Airlines and Jetstar Asia Airways. 90% of them received an advance offer from SIT’s industry partners following their IWSP.
“The air transport sector was decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the difficult period, the Industry Advisory Committee of SIT’s ATM programme worked alongside industry partners in the air transport ecosystem to provide work attachment places for SIT students. With borders reopening, the demand for air travel is soaring back. The future of the air transport sector remains bright and will continue to grow. My heartiest congratulations to the inaugural batch of ATM graduates, who have soldiered on during the pandemic and are now ready to pursue their dreams,” said Mr Ho Yuen Sang, Industry Advisory Committee Member, ATM degree programme.
Pioneer Graduates from MSc Civil Engineering and SIT-UofG Joint Degree Programmes
SIT is also celebrating its first batch of 17 graduates from the Master of Science in Civil Engineering programme conferred by SIT, as well as 226 graduates from the SIT-University of Glasgow (UofG) joint degree programmes in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Computing Science.
Customised to suit working professionals’ needs, the MSc Civil Engineering programme is designed to equip engineers with specialised and advanced technical and practical skills to support the industry in addressing complex civil engineering problems in creative and sustainable ways. The three SIT-UofG joint programmes, co-developed and co-taught by both universities, focus on emerging technologies that reshape business models and strategies in the Engineering and ICT sectors.
Mr Bill Chang, Chairman, Board of Trustees, SIT, presented the Honorary Degree to Dr Ng Yat Chung. (SIT Photo: Keng Photography/Tan Eng Keng)
SIT Confers First Honorary Graduate
This year’s graduation ceremony also saw the conferment of the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters for the first time. The recipient is Mr. Ng Yat Chung, founding Chairman of SIT’s Board of Trustees. During his tenure from September 2009 to March 2022, Mr. Ng steered the growth and development of SIT as the first university of applied learning in Singapore. He was a strong proponent of the University’s applied learning pedagogy, placing strong emphasis on practice-oriented learning, industry partnerships and the integration of work and study in the curriculum.
Furthermore, Mr. Ng cemented SIT’s forward-looking vision by guiding several initiatives. These included the provision of upskilling opportunities for industry practitioners through the University’s Continuing Education and Training programmes and advocating for SIT’s consolidated campus that is being built in the Punggol Digital District.
More details on Mr Ng's contributions are available here.
SIT President Professor Chua Kee Chaing said, “We thank Mr. Ng for his remarkable contributions and the strong foundations he has laid to support SIT’s development as a pioneer of Singapore’s applied learning pathway in university education. At the heart of the holistic education that our students receive is our applied learning pedagogy that pushes them to learn off real-world problems. Through our industry-relevant programmes and the IWSP, we hope to continue nurturing the talent pipeline needed by the various economic sectors in Singapore. It has been encouraging to see employment outcomes surpassing pre-pandemic levels.”
Professor Chua Kee Chaing, President, SIT, delivered his welcome address at the graduation ceremony. (SIT Photo: Keng Photography/Tan Eng Keng)
Career Prospects of SIT Graduates
According to SIT’s preliminary employment survey, two-thirds of its Class of 2022 graduates who responded to the survey have found employment after completing their studies. In particular, graduates from Infocomm Technology, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering, and Healthcare programmes (Diagnostic Radiography, Radiation Therapy, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, and Physiotherapy) secured between 90-100% employment.
During the height of the pandemic in end-2021, SIT Healthcare students answered the call to relieve the workload of healthcare workers. Many of them volunteered at various social, rehabilitation and healthcare facilities to support the over-stretched services and frontliners.
For livestreaming, schedule and details of SIT Graduation Ceremony 2022, please visit https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/graduation-2022.
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[1] OU partners conferring joint degrees with SIT: DigiPen Institute of Technology, Massey University, Newcastle University, Trinity College Dublin, and University of Glasgow.
[2] OU partners conferring their own degrees: DigiPen Institute of Technology, Technical University of Munich, The Culinary Institute of America, and University of Liverpool.
[3] The IWSP is a distinctive feature of SIT’s degree programmes and compulsory for all students in SIT-conferred and SIT-joint degree programmes. Students undertake 8-12 months of relevant work within the course of their studies, allowing them to integrate theory and practice and develop deep specialist skills in their chosen field.
[4] Data is accurate as of 24 August 2022 and obtained from the Class of 2022 who responded to the preliminary employment survey conducted by SIT.
About the Singapore Institute of Technology
The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) is Singapore’s first University of Applied Learning, offering industry-relevant degree programmes that prepare its graduates to be work- and future-ready professionals. Its mission is to maximise the potential of its learners and to innovate with industry, through an integrated applied learning and research approach, so as to contribute to the economy and society.
The University’s unique pedagogy integrates work and study, embracing authentic learning in a real-world environment through collaborations with key strategic partners. Its focus on applied research with business impact is aimed at helping industry innovate and grow. Targeted to be ready in 2024, SIT’s centralised campus within the larger Punggol Digital District will feature a vibrant learning environment where academia and industry will be tightly integrated with the community.
For more information, visit www.SingaporeTech.edu.sg.
