In an effort to advance and build up Systems Engineering capabilities in Singapore, the Land Transport Authority (LTA), Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), a US-based not-for-profit membership organisation, signed an MOU today at the launch of Singapore Rail Academy (SGRA) at SIT@Dover.
With this MOU, LTA, SIT and INCOSE intends to develop skilled manpower in Systems Engineering to support the local public transport manpower requirements. The three parties would also develop applied learning curricula based on industrial developments for Pre-Employment Training (PET) and Continuing Education and Training (CET) programmes to prepare Systems Engineering graduates to be industry-ready.
Under the MOU, LTA, SIT and INCOSE would be advancing the practice of Systems Engineering and promote collaboration in Systems Engineering practice, education and research. LTA would work with SIT’s Systems Engineering Group on rail systems research and development, and share advice and domain knowledge on rail Systems Engineering. SIT would also plan and deliver Systems Engineering training for working professionals from LTA and other transport organisations and contractors.
Pictured from left to right: Mr Serge Landry, President, INCOSE, Singapore Chapter; Mr Chua Chong Kheng, Deputy Chief Executive, Infrastructure & Development, LTA and Dean of SGRA; Professor Tan Thiam Soon, President, SIT; Minister Khaw Boon Wan, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport; Professor Cham Tao Soon, Chairman, SGRA; Mr Ngien Hoon Ping, Chief Executive, LTA; and Professor Loh Han Tong, Deputy President (Academic) & Provost, SIT.
Opening of Systems Engineering and Transportation Systems Laboratories
The launch of SGRA also saw the opening of the Systems Engineering and Transportation Systems Labs in SIT, which supports SGRA’s role to enhance teaching and learning, and drive R&D activities related to the local transport industry. The Systems Engineering Labs will be used for specialised training in Systems Engineering and Project Management. The Transportation Systems Lab hosts the Railway Engineering Simulator (RES) software from London Underground which is currently being developed for Singapore’s rail network. With the RES, students and trainees are able to design rail networks, configure trains, and be exposed to various rail signaling operations.
These teaching labs serve to facilitate laboratory-based practical teaching and learning and Research and Development (R&D) related to Systems Engineering, Project Management and transport modelling and simulation with its servers, LED display panels and interactive classroom setup.
The labs will be used as the classrooms to conduct courses and training to students of the SIT Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering (Land) degree programme, SIT-DigiPen Systems Engineering (ElectroMechanical Systems) degree programme and practicing engineers. In addition, the Transportation Systems Lab also serves as the key simulation lab for SIT Telematics (Intelligent Transportation Systems Engineering) degree programme.
Minister Khaw Boon Wan interacting with SIT students during the tour of the labs
About Singapore Institute of Technology
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) is Singapore’s autonomous university of applied learning. It aims to be a leader in innovative university education by integrating learning, industry and community as part of its unique pedagogy. Partnering world-class universities, SIT offers applied degree programmes targeted at growth sectors of the economy. SIT also aims to cultivate in its students four distinctive traits, or the SIT-DNA, which will prepare them to be ‘thinking tinkerers’, who are ‘able to learn, unlearn and relearn’, be ‘catalysts for transformation’ and finally, become ‘grounded in the community’.
