The Centre for Innovation and Enterprise (CIE) aims to enable innovation and enterprise by facilitating entrepreneurial efforts and honing the business skills of RP students.

Young Aspirers

The year saw the launch of Young Aspirers – RP’s very own innovation and business club set up by the Centre to help students showcase their potential and realise their entrepreneurial dreams. Three interest groups were formed, namely the Bazaar, Business Climate and Pace Setters groups.

Starting with the design and procurement of ten pushcarts, the Bazaar group rented the pushcarts to external vendors or other student clubs to sell their wares. The pushcarts were well-utilised, with about nine external vendors and over 23 student clubs or groups making use of the carts. During the year, students sold items on consignment for the Chinese New Year Bazaar, Open House Bazaar and Charity Bazaar, raising more than $2,000 for Touch Community. From this activity, students had the invaluable opportunity to experience first-hand the challenges and rewards of being an entrepreneur.

The Business Climate group aims to expose students to the business world. One of its methods is bringing in industry speakers to share their knowledge and experience on topics ranging from entrepreneurship to intellectual property and personal development. Speakers who graced our grounds included Mr. Ian Fuller, a consultant and Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Ms Elim Chew, Managing Director of 77 th Street, and Mr Adam Khoo, CEO of Adam Khoo Learning Technologies Group.

The Business Climate group hosted the British Council Entrepreneurship Competition which saw the participation of three teams from RP. It also promoted the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition 2003 within RP which eventually fielded seven teams.

The Pace Setters group aims to groom RP students to be business professionals by equipping them with business etiquette and personal grooming skills. Numerous workshops were organised, such as professional makeup, hairstyling, social etiquette and fashion styling. The group also offered its hair styling and make-up services to other clubs during official functions like the RP Christmas party, Myanmar cultural fashion show, wind symphony concert, and the make-over photo shoot for the Dinner & Dance committee. The group collaborates very closely with relevant companies like ZA, Individual Expression, and Perlini Silver to ensure professionalism in its events.

Apart from the three core activities, Young Aspirers also contributed in the planning and organising of RP’s first Christmas Party in December 2003.