A flurry of events kicked off SIT’s academic semester, starting with the Welcome Ceremony on 23 August where key SIT staff and representatives from the various overseas university partners gave a warm reception to the new students and their families at the Singapore Polytechnic Convention Centre.

The highlight of the ceremony was the screening of a music video, which featured an ensemble cast comprising SIT staff, faculty members and students in song and dance. Mr Ng Yat Chung, Chairman, Board of Trustees, SIT, welcomed the incoming cohort to the SIT family in a heartfelt speech. He also highlighted a major challenge faced by the freshmen who have enrolled in SIT’s new degree programmes in Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering, Information and Communications Technology, and Accountancy: “Your role as the pioneer class is to pave the way ahead for the others to follow.”

Another key event was Day Zero on 29 August, which saw the pioneer intake of SIT undergraduates streaming into the SIT@Dover campus for a day of student bonding as they were briefed on the inaugural degree programmes they would be embarking on.

Topping off commencement season was LURning Camp, a full-day event whose theme riffed off one of SIT’s DNA traits – ‘Able to Learn, Unlearn and Relearn’. Held at the SIT@Dover campus on 5 September, the camp lined up a series of group exercises to cultivate in the undergraduates a new mindset which would align with the industry-focused ethos of the university. Professor Loh Han Tong, Vice-Provost, SIT, cautioned the students during the camp’s closing address: “In the learning process, if you don’t learn how to ‘unlearn’, you will become stuck in your old ways.”

Prof Loh then dared the pioneering SIT students to blaze a new trail. “You are the pioneer batch at SIT; you need to create a path which hadn’t existed before,” he said.

Indeed 2014 is a pioneering year for SIT – it is the year SIT made its official debut as Singapore’s fifth autonomous university, as well as launched three new degree programmes: Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering (Land), Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Information and Communications Technology (Software Engineering), and Bachelor of Accountancy with Honours.

SIT speaks with three undergraduates who are reading the inaugural degree programmes and finds out more about their journeys to the university.

Vivienne Khoo Yan Yu
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering (Land)

Could you tell us more about your journey to SIT?

Prior, I studied Clean Energy for my diploma at Singapore Polytechnic. Then I worked for PSA as a procurement officer (engineering equipment and parts). The reason why I chose to join SIT is because of its unique and specialised undergraduate programme (Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering), which has a curriculum that is shaped and strongly influenced by organisations such as LTA, SMRT, Sembcorp Industries, Keppel Group and ST Kinetics. These organisations play a vital role in our public transportation system and they are acutely aware of the problems that we are facing in Singapore today. The degree programme is highly relevant, especially if I were to work in the public transport sector someday.

To date, SIT has organised various activities for the incoming students, including Orientation Camp, Welcome Ceremony, Day Zero, LURning Camp. Which events did you participate in?

I participated in all the events. And they were all great experiences! If I had to choose one from which I learned the most, it would be the LURning Camp. To me, to be ‘Able to Learn, Unlearn and Relearn’ is very important because over time, the methods which have worked for us might not work anymore. Therefore we need to ‘unlearn’ and ‘relearn’ again. This is crucial when one has to adapt to a changed or new environment.

What do you hope to achieve during your next few years at SIT?

I hope to be able to pick up new skills, broaden my horizons and widen my social circle. One day, when I am older, when SIT has become an established name, I would look back fondly on these pioneering days.

Teo Wei Wei
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in
Information and Communications Technology (Software Engineering) Information and Communications Technology (Software Engineering)

Could you tell us more about your journey to SIT?

It has been a long way since my days in EM3 stream at primary school and Normal Technical stream at secondary school. During that time, I worked hard and excelled at my studies – I got into the course of my choice at ITE; Nitec in Info-Communications, which was one of the most in-demand courses then. I managed to get a top GPA score for that course, which allowed me to advance into polytechnic directly without having to go through Higher Nitec.

After completing my National Service, I wanted to gain some work experience and held off getting a degree. I last worked as an emergency ambulance medic, which was a very fulfilling job; it gave me lots of experience, especially in medical emergency situations. Then I decided it was time to further my studies and chose SIT’s Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Information and Communications Technology (Software Engineering)

I picked SIT because the university placed a lot of emphasis on polytechnic graduates. SIT students have some form of foundational knowledge and skills when they embark on their respective degree programmes. This allows them to complete their programmes within a shorter period of time. Another unique aspect which SIT offers is the Integrated Work Study Programme (IWSP) module, which will allow me to put my knowledge and skills into real work practice.

To date, SIT has organised various activities for the incoming students, including Orientation Camp, Welcome Ceremony, Day Zero, LURning Camp. Which events did you participate in?

On the whole, the events helped to ease the students’ transition from working to university life. The Orientation Camp, for instance, was very useful in getting me ready for life in university. Also, the games were great for meeting and bonding with new people. Finally, the LURning Camp provided me with insight into SIT’s culture.

What do you hope to achieve during your next few years at SIT?

Do well in my degree programme and enjoy the fun of learning. At the same time, to experience life in university!

Dennis LeeDennis Lee
Bachelor of Accountancy with Honours Bachelor of Accountancy with Honours

Could you tell us more about your journey to SIT?

During my time in secondary school and junior college, I never knew what accounting was all about. It was only when I had set up my own company that I appreciated the importance of accountancy. As such, a year after I had begun running my own company, I decided to pursue a diploma in Accounting and Finance at Temasek Polytechnic.

Studying accountancy is one of the best things I have done in my life. Studying this subject is not like reading a textbook that comes with predetermined answers. That’s why I believe that reading a degree in Accountancy would help me keep up with the changing world.
Also, SIT’s Accountancy degree programme is structured into trimesters instead of semesters. Instead of taking up to six semesters over a three-year period to graduate, it will only take me two years. In addition, term break times are reduced compared to other autonomous universities (AUs). In this sense, the SIT course structure prepares me for life in the real world where there are no ‘school holidays’.

At the same time, SIT, being a new AU, has a university culture which is still in its infancy. That said, because of this, SIT faculty and staff are likely to be more enthusiastic when it comes to introducing and building up new concepts and ideas.

To date, SIT has organised various activities for the incoming students, including Orientation Camp, Welcome Ceremony, Day Zero, LURning Camp. Which events did you participate in?

I attended the Welcome Ceremony and LURning Camp but missed the Orientation Camp as I was down with dengue fever. All in all, I made good friends and we remain in contact even though we are from different courses.

What do you hope to achieve during your next few years at SIT?

Over the next couple of years, the most important thing for me is to do well in my degree course at SIT and to apply these skills to the real world. How the first batch performs will have significant impact on how society views SIT degree holders. Therefore I hope to contribute to building up the university culture and represent the school through my interactions with the world outside of campus.