infinITE Issue 127 - Institute of Technical Education

iNFINiTE
ISSUE127 | nov-dec 2014
infinITE is a publication of the Institute of Technical Education
inside
Creating Delicatessen’s Signature Red Velvet Drink: (From left): Mr Bruce Poh, Mr Bob Tan, Chairman/ITE, Ms Denise Phua,
Sharon Sim Ya Li, Nitec in Food & Beverage Operations student, and Dr Yek Tiew Ming, Principal, ITE College West.
02 Quality Assurance
03 Deepening Ties
04 Food for Thought
05 Book-Pairing
06 Tribute to ITE’s Heroes
09 Our Distinguished Visitors
Expresso Yourself
ITE opens Delicatessen, an authentic training café that serves real customers
By Josephine Lefort
Something is brewing at ITE College Central.
Staff and students can now enjoy gourmet beverages and freshly baked pastries at their
doorstep. Also serving the public, Delicatessen, a training café, was officially opened on 6
November 2014 at the Zentrum, ITE Headquarters.
08
With operations and layout fashioned after European-style cafés, Delicatessen provides an
authentic learning environment for students from the Nitec in Food & Beverage Operations
and Nitec in Pastry & Baking courses. Through the commercially-functioning café, students
get to experience the conditions, challenges and rewards of working in the Food &
Beverage (F&B) industry. These are valuable lessons beyond what textbooks can offer.
Hanisah Batrisyia Bte Rashid, a first-year Nitec in Food & Beverage Operations student, said,
“Like my peers, I welcome the opportunity to work in Delicatessen, as part of my training.
This is a great way to gain industry-relevant skills before my industry attachment next year.”
11
Preparing Work-Ready, World-Ready Graduates
Delicatessen is a major feature in the ITE Epitome, which is a commercial and retail hub
with student-run shops at ITE College Central.
Expressing optimism at the potential of the café, Guest-of-Honour at Delicatessen’s Official
Opening, Ms Denise Phua, Mayor, Central Singapore District, said, “Beyond the hardware,
training and courses, it is essential that young people who wish to join the F&B sector do
so with the right attitude. I am confident that this new training facility will not only set
new benchmarks and standards for the F&B industry, but also serve as a leading training
provider for the industry.”
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InfinITE Newsletter 2014
InfinITE Newsletter 2014
Towards
One-to-One Learning
Over 20,000 staff and students to benefit
from partnership with Microsoft Singapore
ITE and Holmesglen renews Memorandum
of Understanding
By Josephine Lefort
By Jenn Tan
I
TE and Microsoft Singapore inked a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) for a new collaboration
framework towards one-to-one learning across
all Colleges. Over 20,000 ITE students and 1,500
staff members are expected to benefit from this
partnership.
Under the new framework, ITE will adopt Microsoft’s
‘Partners in Learning’ Programme, educational
technology tools and ‘partner ecosystem’ to enhance
teaching and learning opportunities. Three key
development areas – Staff Professional Development,
Student Empowerment and Innovation Initiatives
– have been identified for the adoption. Under this
collaboration, the ‘iLab’ will be set up, which is a
technology-enabling creative learning space for
educators and students to explore creative teaching
and learning approaches.
Enabling Staff and Students with Technology: Mr Bruce Poh and Ms Stephanie Hung, Public Sector Director, Microsoft
Singapore, are Signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding. The Signing took place on 10 November 2014.
ITE partners four companies to set up
Health, Safety, Environment and Quality
Assurance Centre
Mr Bruce Poh, Director & CEO/ITE, said, “IT is the
enabling technology of the 21st century. ITE’s
partnership with Microsoft has allowed us to relook at our teaching and learning methods. ITE will
continue to engage industry leaders and partners
to equip our students with work-ready, world-ready
skills.”
Quality Assurance
By Shalini Veijayaratnam
A
new, integrated Health, Safety, Environment
and Quality Assurance (HSEQ) Centre has
been set-up at ITE College West to enhance
training for engineering students. The centre is the
first-of-its-kind in an education institution.
I
Deepening Ties
TE renewed its partnership with Homesglen
Institute of TAFE for a further five years at a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing
ceremony at Holmesglen Institute’s Chadstone
Campus on 2 December 2014.
Since 2006, when the first MOU between ITE and
Holmesglen Institute was signed, both institutions
had provided opportunities for nearly 100 Health
Science and Biotechnology students to attend
lessons, and training and industry visits in both
countries. Under the new MOU, ITE expects to expand
the areas of collaboration, exchanges and capability
development projects for the next five years.
Mr Heng Guan Teck, Deputy CEO (Academic), ITE,
said, “Our partnership with Holmesglen Institute
has been a long and exceptional one. With this new
agreement in place, we hope to see an even closer
working relationship between ITE and Holmesglen,
and to further explore other avenues to create
opportunities for our staff and students.”
Eight Years and Counting: Mr Bruce Poh, Director & CEO/ITE (in silver tie), Director & CEO/ITE, and Ms Mary Farone, Chief
Executive, Homesglen Institute of TAFE (third from left), affirmed the strong partnership between both institutions with the
renewal of MOU in Melbourne, Australia.
Holmesglen Institute is one of the largest providers of vocational and higher
education in the Australian state of Victoria, delivering programmes to more than
50,000 students across four campuses: Chadstone, City, Moorabbin and Waverley.
Extending
Global Partnership
New Memorandum of Understanding inked between ITE and
Australia’s Polytechnic West
By Jenn Tan
As more companies recognise the importance
of HSEQ for better quality products and services,
without compromising safety and the environment,
the setting up of the HSEQ centre is timely. Mr Bruce
Poh, Director & CEO/ITE, said, “Observing HSEQ is
critical to business success. Having a one-stop centre
such as this will help our students appreciate the
efforts towards ensuring consistent high quality in
products and services.”
The HSEQ Centre was launched with support from
Endress+Hauser (S.E.A) Pte Ltd, Hexcel Solutions Pte
Ltd, Non-Destructive Testing Society Singapore, and
Rotary Engineering Limited. The four partners signed
a Memorandum of Understanding with ITE on 31
October 2014 to collaborate in developing HSEQready manpower.
03
C
ome 2015, students from Polytechnic West’s
Diploma of Fashion can look forward to
experience the Singapore Fashion Week 2015
during their study abroad stint in ITE.
This opportunity is made possible with the new
five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
between ITE and Polytechnic West.
Under the newly-minted partnership, signed on 27
November 2014 by Mr Bruce Poh, Director & CEO/
ITE, and Ms Jill Jamieson, Managing Director and
CEO/Polytechnic West, both institutions are poised
for learning and collaboration opportunities. These
include student and staff exchanges, benchmarking
and sharing of best practices, and cooperation in
curriculum and pedagogic development. Polytechnic
West is the largest-funded VET provider in Western
Australia. It is known for producing some of the best
skilled apprentices and VTE graduates in the state.
Mr Poh said, “The signing is the first of many
milestones we hope to achieve with Polytechnic
West. Polytechnic West’s approach to VET is closely
aligned with ours — an approach that is rooted in
developing multiple competencies in students, and a
deep emphasis on close partnership and consultation
with industry.”
Be HSEQ-Ready!: Mr Bruce Poh (in jacket) and MOU Signatories witnessed how students can benefit from using the Virtual
Welding Simulator to practice their welding skills.
Newly Minted Partners: MOU signatories, Mr Bruce Poh and Ms Jill Jamieson, Managing Director and CEO/Polytechnic West
(fourth from right), were flanked by representatives from both institutions.
Polytechnic West is ITE's latest partner. It joins 17
other premier global VTE institutions that ITE has
partnered, such as Australia, Canada, Denmark,
France, Germany, Hong Kong, South Korea and USA.
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InfinITE Newsletter 2014
InfinITE Newsletter 2014
05
Green
Book-
ITE College East students groomed
to be environmental champions
ITE students create complementary
products for book launch
Nurturing
Pairing
Byline: Josephine Lefort
By Jamie Chan
E
co Kepalas, or environmental
champions, was the term of the day
at the South East Clean and Green
Singapore 2015 Carnival, at Changi City
Point, on 15 November 2014. The two-day
event saw Mr Eden Liew, Principal, ITE
College East, launch the ‘Eco Kepalas @
SouthEast Schools’ with Guest-of-Honour,
Ms Jessica Tan, Grassroots Advisor for East
Coast GRC and Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman,
Mayor of South East District, as host.
Under this project, ITE College East
students will attend workshops and be
roped in to help identify environmental
◀ In Good Company: Mr Eugene Loh (second from right) with
some ITE students, who designed an array of products to
complement his book.
▲ Not Trashy: (From left) Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman and Ms Jessica Tan saw how recycling could help turn trash into crafty projects at
the Carnival.
issues in the community. The National
Environment Agency and South East
Community Development Council hope
that by nurturing these Eco Kepalas, these
individuals would be committed towards
driving green initiatives.
The Carnival also saw ITE College East
receive a Green Schools @ South East
Excellence Award for their enthusiastic
support in various green community
projects.
Food
for
Thought
$16,000 to Sponsor Necessities for
Less Fortunate Students
By Karen Sum
◀ More Support for Needy Students: JCI Marina Singapore
raised $16,000 for ITE College West’s Education Fund, which
Dr Yek Tiew Ming (extreme right), Principal, ITE College West,
received during the ‘Bag to School’ Convention held at the
College on 20 November.
F
or 600 less financially-stable ITE
College West students, meal tokens
will be coming their way, thanks
to the Junior Chamber International (JCI)
Marina Singapore.
raised $16,000 for ITE College West’s
Education Fund as part of the JCI Bag to
School Singapore project. The project
seeks to provide school essentials to less
fortunate students.
JCI Marina Singapore is the local chapter
of a worldwide association, which gathers
young people who wish to contribute to
community improvements. They helped
As part of their aim to empower and inspire
young people, JCI Marina Singapore also
held a series of motivational workshops.
Two hundred graduating ITE College
West students got to listen to 38-year-old
entrepreneur, Alvin Yip, An ITE graduate,
Alvin hoped that by sharing his life
experience, his juniors will be motivated
to seize the opportunities that await them
when they graduate.
“I am grateful for [my Lecturers’] guidance
and I wish to be able to guide my juniors as
well,” he said.
I
TE Epitome hosted the launch the fourth
edition of ‘A Slice of Life’ on 27 November
2014. The book, by MediaCorp 938LIVE
radio personality, Mr Eugene Loh, covers a
range of self-improvement topics like selfesteem, personal effectiveness, happiness,
relationships and peace of mind.
To coincide with the event, students
showcased their created products at ITE
Epitome as well. Members of the public
who had ordered the book earlier visited ITE
Epitome to collect it and meet the author
for an autograph session. They also had
the opportunity to purchase the students’
products.
Some of the products included rustic
handicraft and floral basket arrangements
by Nitec in Floristry students. Customers
could also choose to pair the book with
Christmas-themed candle holders or key
tags created by Nitec in Laser & Tooling
Technology students. To complete the gift,
customers could add on an e-greeting card
specially produced by Nitec in Social Media
& Web Development students. Aside from
pleasing gift recipients with the wide range
of creative products, guests were served
beverages and pastries from Delicatessen,
ITE’s training café.
Observing the atmosphere of the Launch,
Mr David Hoo, Manager, ITE Epitome, said,
“Generally, the products produced by the
students were well-received, with many of
them sold to members of the public. It is
an excellent ‘pairing’, where fans of Eugene
Loh, in attending the Launch, had the
opportunity to visit ITE and have a look at
what our students are capable of.”
Calling
on the
Future
First ITE-Samsung Tech Hub
officially opens at ITE College East
By Shalini Veijayaratnam
▶ Future Tech Experts: Ms Sim Ann, Minister of State, Ministry
of Education & Ministry of Communications and Information,
toured the newly launched ITE-Samsung Tech Hub with Mr Bruce
Poh (centre, in jacket), and Mr Eden Liew, Principal, ITE College
East (on Mr Poh’s right).
S
amsung is all set to train manpower
for the mobile and display
technology industry, with the
installation of the ITE-Samsung Tech Hub
at ITE College East. As part of a threeyear collaboration between ITE and
Samsung, the Tech Hub is Samsung’s
first in-house comprehensive learning
facility in an education institution. It was
officially opened by Ms Sim Ann, Minister
of State, Ministry of Education & Ministry
of Communications and Information, on 21
November 2014.
Students from the Nitec in Electronics
(Mobile Devices) and Nitec in Electronics
(Display Technology) courses will get
real-world training to enhance their
employability at the Hub. The Hub
comprises a Display Solutions Centre,
to showcase various emerging display
technologies, and a Mobile Service Centre,
which simulates Samsung’s customer
service environment to train students
in mobile device technical support
and customer service. As part of the
collaboration, Samsung will also provide
industrial attachment opportunities, joint
certification training programmes and
scholarships for students.
On the partnership, Mr Eden Liew, Principal,
ITE College East, said, “The programme is
to create our own homegrown, specialized
labour force with trained technicians.”
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InfinITE Newsletter 2014
InfinITE Newsletter 2014
Tribute to
she hear of stereotypes of ITE. “I don’t understand it. ITE is a fantastic
place,” said the Food & Beverage Lecturer from ITE College West.
ITE’s Heroes
07
of practical lessons to help him practice at home. She also rallied his
classmates to forge strong bonds, and give him support. She even
personally scouted for a suitable employer to do his internship with
his parents over weekends.
Ms Fellstad also received an award for Student Care & Development
at the ceremony. She was singled out for exceptional care given to
Toh Yi Liang, a student with mild autism. In class, Ms Fellstad broke
down tasks for him, attached a buddy to assist him, and took videos
A passionate Lecturer, Ms Fellstad said, “My students are important
to me. Their happiness is mine.”
Annual Awards Dinner honours deserving staff
By Shalini Veijayaratnam
14
Ex-Footballer to Lecturer
Among the award recipients is Mr Jeykanth
Jeyapal. Since young, he aspired to be a
teacher. It was not surprising when he
applied to National Institute of Education
to teach, after completing his college
education. However, in a twist of fate, Mr
Jeykanth became a footballer. Football was
his bread and butter more than 15 years,
before he decided to pursue his childhood
dream.
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8
2
10
16
15
6
7
13
1
9
12
17
He joined ITE four years ago, and in a
short time, has touched the lives of many
students. In his words, a teacher is a friend.
Mr Jeykanth said, "I always believe that if
you treat students with the right respect,
tolerance and patience, they will respect
you accordingly."
Role Models: (Seated)Mr Heng Chiang Gnee, Deputy Chairman, ITE (left), Mr Bob Tan, and Mr Bruce Poh, Director & CEO,
ITE (left), with the outstanding educators who received ITE Teacher Award recipients at the ceremony.
Absent: Ms Lily Tan and Ms Heather Leung
▲ Good Job! Mr Bob Tan, Chairman/ITE, thanked staff for their dedication to students during his
speech
B
ehind every ITE success story is a story of a caring and
dedicated lecturer. Lecturers play important roles: they
encourage students, influence their young minds, stretch
their abilities and strengthen characters. Their responsibilities are
plenty, and challenges innumerable. Yet, they tirelessly groom
students and help shape their future. They deserve recognition and
applause for their dedication and passion.
Annually, ITE pays tribute to outstanding lecturers and long-serving
staff. On 14 November 2014, 17 exemplary lecturers received top
awards, while about 350 staff received long-service awards. Of the
long service recipients, more than half have worked in ITE for more
than 25 years! This proves the good working environment in ITE,
and passion among ITE staff.
To ITE Staff, With Love
At the ITE Awards Ceremony, Guest-of-Honour, Mr Bob Tan,
Chairman/ITE, expressed his appreciation to ITE staff. He said, “Many
of you have exemplified our ITE Care values in your daily work and
won the respect of your colleagues. Your strong sense of duty,
effort and the sacrifice of your personal time has ensured that our
students’ needs are continually met. Through the example you set
and the role you play, you motivate those around you to give their
best as well.”
4
ITE Teacher Awards 2014
Teaching Excellence
1.Ms Christina Chung
Lecturer, Retail Merchandising
ITE College Central
2.Ms Iris Tham
Lecturer, Human Resource &
Administration
ITE College Central
▲ Role Models: (Seated from left) Mr Heng Chiang Ngee, Deputy Chairman/ITE; Mr Bob Tan,
Chairman/ITE; and Mr Bruce Poh, Director & CEO/ITE, with the outstanding educators who received
ITE Teacher Awards at the Ceremony. Not in picture: Ms Lily Tan and Ms Heather Leung.
He has indeed earned the respect of many students, as he received
an award for Student Care and Development at the awards
ceremony. He is currently Section Head, Fitness Training, at ITE
College Central.
Simply Extraordinary
Hailing from South Africa, Ms Leah Jade Fellstad made her way to
start her teaching career in Singapore four years ago. Only then did
3.Mr Toh Nam Hor
Lecturer, Precision Engineering –
Technical Engineer Diploma
ITE College Central
4.Mr Hanley Loo
Lecturer-Mentor, Info-Comm
Technology ITE College East
5.Ms Lily Tan
Senior Lecturer, Electrical Engineering
ITE College West
6.Ms Toh Hy-Cin
Lecturer, Lifeskills
ITE College West
7.Mr Rajeev Saxena
Lecturer, Food & Beverage
ITE College West
Student Care & Development
8.Mr Kenny Tan
Lecturer, Semiconductor Technology
ITE College Central
9.Mr Jeykanth s/o Jeyapal
Section Head, Fitness Training
ITE College Central
10.Mr Khalid Kassim
Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering
ITE College East
11.Ms Heather Leung Senior Lecturer-Mentor, Beauty & Spa
Management
ITE College East
12.Ms Elaine Tan
Lecturer, Passenger Services ITE College West
13.Ms Leah Jade Fellstad
Lecturer, Food & Beverage
ITE College West
14.Mohd Razali Bin Abdul Majid
Lecturer, Electronics
ITE College West
CCA Contributions
15.Ms Christina Lam
Section Head, Nursing
ITE College East
Enterprise, Innovation &
Technology
16.Mr Stephen Phee
Lecturer, Mechatronics Engineering
ITE College Central
17.Mr Ng Wee Loon
Lecturer, Chemical Process Technology
ITE College East
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InfinITE Newsletter 2014
Every
InfinITE Newsletter 2014
Our Distinguished Visitors
Idea
By Mah Yen Ling, Jenn Tan, and Lim Hui Ling
4 November 2014
Matters
The Honourable Jerome Fitzgerald (second from right, in
purple tie), Minister of Education, Science and Technology,
The Bahamas
Geared for Learning: At ITE College Central’s Aerospace Hub, The Honourable
Jerome Fitzgerald (second from right, in purple tie), Minister of Education,
Science and Technology, The Bahamas, was given a demonstration on the Aircraft
Landing Gear Trainer. Simulating a typical landing gear system, the Trainer was
able to prepare students for the aerospace industry by providing a hands-on
understanding of brakes operation and bleeding of brakes.
Innovation Fiesta 2014 celebrates staff creativity
By Serene Lee
I
TE celebrated its annual Innovation Fiesta on 7 November
2014, where a total of 294 awards were presented by Mr
Bruce Poh, Director & CEO/ITE to recognise staff for their
contributions in innovation and productivity. Here are some
prominent projects that received awards.
Out-of-the-box Thinkers from ITE College West: (From left) Mr Ng Chun Kee, Section Head,
Electronics; Mr Tzong Yong Khiew, Lecturer; Mr Meng Weilin, Lecturer, Electronics; Mr Masjuri
has
Maswan, Lecturer, Security Technology; and Mr William Tan Boon Wee, Section Head, Electronics,
a
makes
which
device
n
rehabilitatio
affordable
an
provide
to
Hospital
Luke’s
St
with
worked closely
difference to stroke patients' physical rehabilitation.
Projects for the Community
4 November 2014
One prime example is the ‘Puppetry Robotic Glove System’
(ProGS) project that won the Most Innovative Project Gold
Award at the PS21 ExCEL Convention Awards Ceremony and the
2014 Innovation of the Year Award presented by the League for
Innovations in the Community College, USA. Mr Peter Ong, Head
of Civil Service, also commended the ITE team for reaching out to
the community and thinking out-of-the-box for this innovation,
which had brought cheer to stroke patients and care givers.
Mrs Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Senator,
Republic of the Philippines
Nailing Success: Mrs Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares (waving to the
camera), visited the Beauty Therapy Training Centre at ITE College
East, where she interacted with students honing their manicure
skills under the supervision of their lecturers.
CEO Innovation Award Project: Chemical Process Technology Lecturer, Mr Ng Wee Loon from
ITE
College East presenting to interested colleagues on how the EnteroSense, an intelligent device
that
detects the placement of a nasogastric tube (NGT) accurately in the stomach.
11 November 2014
Presidents of Korea Polytechnics
Embracing Digital: Eleven Presidents from various Korea
Polytechnics witnessed how ITE harnesses the power of
technology to facilitate teaching in Centre of Technology in
3D Applied Technology (iCUBE) at ITE College Central. The
four-sided immersive room offers full interaction in learning
applications and increases the engagement of today’s digital
learners, enabling them to grasp concepts faster.
13 November 2014
His Excellency Mr Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Honourable
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, India
Every Idea Matters: The ITE College Services Department
enjoyed a light-hearted moment at the Innovation Fiesta.
09
Hands On, to be Precise: His Excellency Mr Nara Chandrababu Naidu (centre in
cream shirt), Honourable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, India, at the Precision
Engineering Hub at ITE College Central, where Laser and Tooling Technology
training and development for staff and students are carried out. Students
gain hands-on experience by working on CNC Laser Cutting Machine, Bending
Machine and Turret Punching Machine with the aid of specialised CAD/CAM
software, to create a wide array of metallic products ranging from name cards,
pens and serviette holders to pendants, lamp shades and wall décor.
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InfinITE Newsletter 2014
InfinITE Newsletter 2014
11
Stage
Presence.
An Interview with ITE graduate, Siti
Khalijah, Recipient of the Young
Artist Award for 2014
By Victor Yen
Shooting for the Stars: Marklin posed with a photograph he took in Indonesia, which
features a group of porters gathering around a campfire. The photograph was showcased at
the Noise Singapore 2014 Festival Exhibition held from 27 August to 14 September 2014.
Picture perfect
It is never easy embarking on a
journey less travelled, more so when one decides to
be a freelance theatre practitioner in Singapore. In
this issue of InfinITE, we posed a few questions to
ITE graduate, Siti Khalijah, who has not only survived,
but thrived in this career in the 12 years since she left
ITE. For her outstanding contributions to the industry,
Siti was honoured with the prestigious Young Artist
Award from President Tony Tan in 2014, alongside
Cultural Medallion recipients.
Q
ITE graduate’s time lapse video of Singapore
enthrals Prime Minister
By Jamie Chan
On 30 October 2014, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shared
a time lapse video titled A Tiny Modernity (Singapore Time
Lapse 2014) on his Facebook (FB) page, pointing out that the
photographer had done a great job blending Singapore’s
“nostalgia and anticipation”. The awe inspiring video depicted
modern scenes of Singapore, beautifully interspersed with
rural and cultural scenes. Created by Nitec in Digital Audio &
Video Production graduate, Marklin Ang, the video that PM
Lee shared attracted close to 5,000 ‘likes’ and over a thousand
‘shares’ on PM Lee’s FB page.
The video was produced mostly on weekends from March
to October 2014. Markiln had the idea when he realised that
there were not many time lapse videos depicting the rural
side of Singapore.
Marklin said, "Although Singapore is a modern city, we have
many rural landscapes. Hence, I decided to do this project
to present a blend of various scenes. I shot the photos in
this video mostly on weekends due to my National Service
commitments, over the last seven months or so. Sometimes,
the weather wasn't right, so I would go back five to six times
to the same places.
Life in Positive Light
I found my passion for photography at ITE. The opportunities
that ITE provided me made me self-confident and optimistic
about my future. I am going to continue to work hard to be
successful."
Marklin not only discovered his love for photography in ITE,
he graduated with a perfect Grade Point Average score from
ITE College West in December 2009. He also achieved the Lee
Kuan Yew Scholarship to Encourage Upgrading Award in 2010.
As a result of his exemplary results, Marklin went on to study
Visual Communication at Temasek Polytechnic. He is currently
serving his National Service.
You can enjoy more of Marklin’s creations at www.facebook.
com/marklinangphotography and www.flickr.com/photos/
marklinang. You can also admire his time lapse video at
vimeo.com/109097527.
How difficult was it to be a theatre practitioner, especially
in the early days of your career?
A “It is true that the theatre scene in Singapore suffers from an
unfortunate impression of elitism, where highly-educated
people act out their intellectual readings of scripts. ITE graduates,
by that reasoning, because most of us are hands-on learners, are
not immediately associated with performing in professional theatre.
When I started, I did everything from crew work to dresser to taking
on minor roles. Some jobs paid me, some jobs didn't. But I was
never picky and just wanted to learn how theatre worked. I guess
I’m more serious than others, who like theatre because it is fun. Well,
it is fun, but I’m also passionate about growing in my craft. I seized
every opportunity that came along.
It took me three years or so to stabilise the uncertainties of a
freelance career. There were times during those years when I
wondered whether I should find a ‘proper’ job and provide steady
income for my family. But I’m glad it all worked out and that my
hard work is appreciated by the industry.”
Q
How did ITE support the development of your career?
A "When I first started doing drama at ITE as a CCA, there was
such a sense of camaraderie among students in the Centre for
Music and the Arts. We came from different backgrounds. We were
all there to learn from scratch. And we were eager to just enjoy the
experience of making theatre. I looked forward to the rehearsals,
where the 'non-intimidating' environment allowed me to fully
express myself and gain confidence on stage.
Q
How has your life changed since receiving the Young Artist
Award?
A “My life hasn't changed. I’m still doing what I love. When I
received the Award at the Istana, my mother, who was present
at the Ceremony, had tears in her eyes. I saw that and it made me
cry a little too.”
About Siti Khalijah:
Siti is a full-time stage and
television actor. She is als
o
Recipient of the Best Act
ress Award at the 11th Life
Theatre Awards in 2011.
(To think it all began wit
h her
playing Hermia in ITE's
'A Midsummer Night's Dre
am'
musical production in 200
2!).
Some of her recent works
include ‘Best Of ’, which
is a
one-woman show by The
Necessary Stage in 2013,
which
has toured in Penang and
Kuala Lumpur to rave rev
iews.
Siti also played ‘Sandy’ in
Wildrice’s year-end music
al
pantomime ‘Monkey Go
es West’, which was staged
at the
Victoria Theatre in Novem
ber 2014.
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InfinITE Newsletter 2014
Moving to the Beat: ITE Show Choir danced as they sang a cover of N-Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye”.
All About That Talent: East V.I.P’s rendition of pop song ‘All About That Bass’.
Hitting
Student-run concert Vocal Xchange
celebrates ITE’s vocal talents
By Jamie Chan
For the first time, ITE multi-faceted
performance, Vocal Xchange was fully
run by ITE students who took care of
every aspect, from stage set-up, sound
and lighting, to artistic direction and
performances. A showcase of talents, the
concert, on 15 November 2014, featured
the voices of 130 ITE students who belted
out 25 songs to a Hollywood theme.
A thousand and two hundred people
attended the concert.
Budding Voices
It took seven months to prepare for ITE
Vocal Xchange, and it brought together
vocal talents from five vocal groups in the
ITE Colleges. These groups included Central
Music, West Unplugged, East V.I.P’s, That
Curtain Call: Performers take a group shot to remember their experience at ITE Vocal Xchange 2014.
Singing their Hearts Out: Central Music Club performed a special series of Latin American songs and
even played the instrumentals themselves.
the Right Notes
Acappella Group and the ITE Show Choir.
Some of the performers were taking to
the stage for the first time. Higher Nitec
in Event Management student, Ling Zhi
Ting, President of the Central Music Club,
was one such performer. She said, “Vocal
Xchange is a good opportunity for students
like me to gain confidence and experience
in performing in front of a large audience. I
am looking forward to performing at next
year’s concert!”
Backstage Stars
Behind the vocal performance was a team
of dedicated backstage crew members that
comprised 18 Higher Nitec in Performance
Production students. They were led by
fellow student and Production Manager,
Rashid Shiddiq. Within a limited budget,
the crew set up an imposing backdrop
that easily filled the large stage at the
Auditorium, Tay Eng Soon Convention
Centre. Although it was a fixed set, the
students applied creative lighting and
multimedia techniques to customise the
look and feel for every song. This was in line
the Artistic Director, Mohamed Amirul Bin
Jamil’s vision for the show.
Amirul, who is also President of the ITE
Show Choir, took up the challenge of being
the Artistic Director for the first time. He
shared his satisfaction at the end of the
concert, “I have learned so much from being
the Artistic Director. For the first time, I
had to learn how to manage a very large
number of performers, see how each group
is different and understand the need to find
their own identity. It was really tough for
me at the beginning, but I moved forward
and kept pushing myself. I am very pleased
with the improvements that the groups
made. As I was part of Vocal Xchange 2011,
I can see that the standards as a whole have
gone up.”
behind the scenes
Advisors:
• Ms Sabrina Loi | Deputy CEO (Corporate)
• Ms Tham Mei Leng | Divisional Director/Corporate Affairs & Development
• Mr Mathusuthan P | Deputy Director/Communications & Marketing
• Mr Jailani Nathan | Manager/Corporate & Media Relations
Editor :
Mr Victor Yen | Head/Stakeholder Communications, Corporate Affairs Division
Design, Layout & Printing:
99 Degree Pte Ltd