Between 24 Jan 2002 and 8 Feb 2002, the Fifth Polytechnic Project Team organised an on-line competition to provide a name for the proposed fifth polytechnic in Singapore. It was open to all schools, polytechnics and higher institutions. Over 2000 submissions were received.

The submissions were classified in categories of “general”, “name of people”, “name of local school”, “regional”, “variations” and ranked according to the proportion of the number of submissions for a particular name, for an internal review by the polytechnic project team. A list of names was then prepared for MOE to forward to the Minister for his consideration.

On 8 July 2002, it was decided that the fifth polytechnic would be named Republic Polytechnic. As there were 27 participants who submitted this name, the Polytechnic Management Committee held an electronic lucky draw in early August to pick the winner.

Ms Elaine Ong Peck Lian, the lucky winner of the competition, received the $1000 cheque prize at a ceremony held after the first Board of Governors’ meeting on 16 August 2002.

© Sep 2002, Republic Polytechnic.