14 September 2006

MEDIA RELEASE

POLYTECHNICS HOLD SINGAPORE’S FIRST

STUDENT-LED FORUM

 
 5 Polytechnics join forces to tackle social problems  

Polytechnic Forum 2006 is set to fully empower and engage student participants.  This year, a revolution will take place when students will be appointed to act as the forum’s facilitators to lead their fellow students in debate.  In addition, the students are empowered to develop their own community projects, from conceptualisation through to execution.  This is in line with this year’s main theme “Empowering and Engaging Through Global Partnerships”.

In previous years, the Polytechnic Forums had been directed and facilitated by lecturers.  It is an event where polytechnic students across Singapore come together to develop projects to help the community and tackle social problems.

During the four-day residential forum to be held from 18 to 21 September, students will present their projects based on the five sub-themes linked to the Prime Minister’s National Day 2006 Rally Speech:

Sub-Theme 1: Me – A World Citizen?

Sub-Theme 2: Information Access – Are We Overloaded or Starving?

Sub-Theme 3: The Living, Aging World

Sub-Theme 4: Global Health Threats – The Universal Currency

Sub-Theme 5: Economic and Social Profit – An Ideal Equation

In another first, the students will use a Problem Based Learning (PBL) approach to develop the various projects.  The PBL approach – used extensively in their curriculum by Republic Polytechnic, focuses on self-directed learning and the application of knowledge to solve real-world problems.  It emphasizes knowledge integration and facilitates long-term understanding of knowledge.

During the four-day residential programme, the students will have the chance to discuss their ideas with various advisory panels comprising well-known leaders ranging from policy makers to prominent business people.

“As Singapore’s future leaders, it is important that our students are empowered to take the lead from a young age,” said Professor Low Teck Seng, Principal and CEO of Republic Polytechnic, which is hosting this year’s forum.

“The Polytechnic Forum gives young people a chance to think critically about the social, economic and political issues which Singapore faces as part of a global community and to come up with practical ideas and solutions,” Professor Low said.

Some students have already developed some interesting projects which they will present to the Guests-of-Honour at the Forum, including:

Ø       A mock Dengue outbreak exercise to be conducted in polytechnics and a Dengue Clean-Up day

Ø       A seminar to educate lower secondary students on the dangers of the Internet and precautionary measures to take

Ø       A simulation board game to help youths understand the lives and predicaments of senior citizens

Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister of State for Education and Manpower, will be the Guest-of-Honour for the Opening Ceremony of the Polytechnic Forum on 18 September.  He said, “It is heartening to see young people coming together to meaningfully engage one another on issues affecting themselves, their country and the world around them. Platforms like the Polytechnic Forum provide an opportunity for such engagement and help our young people adopt a broader perspective and take greater ownership of their future.”

Mr Teo Ser Luck, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, will be the Guest-of-Honour at the closing event on 21 September. Mr S Iswaran, Minister of State for Trade and Industry, has been invited to share his views on Singapore’s economy in a dialogue with the participants on 20 September.

The event has attracted some 300 participants and 13 proposed projects from the five Polytechnics – Nanyang, Ngee Ann, Republic, Singapore and Temasek Polytechnics.  Participants started working on their respective projects since August 2006.  Each group received $500 in initial seed funding.  Selected projects will be presented at the Closing Ceremony.

Republic Polytechnic (RP) is the host for the 2006 event and the National Youth Council is the main supporter.

The media is cordially invited to join us for the Opening Ceremony of the event:

Date:               18 September 2006

Time:               3.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Venue:             Downtown East, D’Marquee

                        1, Pasir Ris Close, S(519599)

-   End  -

Programme

3.00 p.m.         Arrival of Guests

3.15 p.m.         Guests to be seated

3.30 p.m.         Arrival of Guest-of-Honour

                        Mr Gan Kim Yong

                        Minister of State for Education & Manpower

3.35 p.m.         Opening performance by Republic Polytechnic

3.45 p.m.         Welcome Address by Chairman, Organising Committee

                        Mr Sean Tay

                        Director of Office of Student & Graduate Affairs,

                        Republic Polytechnic

3.50 p.m.         Opening Address by Guest-of-Honour

4.00 p.m.         Polytechnic Students in Dialogue with Mr Gan Kim Yong

4.45 p.m.         Tour of Service Learning Exhibits

5.00 p.m.         Reception

For media enquiries, please contact:

Name	DID	Email
Nanyang Polytechnic
Sandra Tan	9479-1033	Sandra_TAN@nyp.gov.sg
Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Sadiah Ahmad	6460 6232	asa2@np.edu.sg
Republic Polytechnic
Vivienne Oh Lorraine Chua	6510 3239 9819 9151	vivienne_oh@rp.sg lorraine@rubicon.com.sg
Singapore Polytechnic
Adrian Lim	6772-1350	adrian@sp.edu.sg
Temasek Polytechnic
Vimala Christie	6780 5019 97900319 (M)	vimalac@tp.edu.sg

Background Information

Ø       The Polytechnic Forum was launched in 1996 to allow polytechnic students to have a deeper understanding of issues, challenges and opportunities facing Singapore, and to enable them to discuss and present their views on how they can take a more active and leading role in society as youth leaders.

Ø       The responsibility for organizing the Forum rotates among the polytechnics; this year RP has been assigned to chair and organize the Forum.

Ø       The National Youth Council is a co-organiser and main supporter of the Polytechnic Forums.

Ø       Problem-based Learning (PBL) is an education approach that centres on the student’s self-directed learning. It emphasizes knowledge integration, facilitates long-term retention and easy association of knowledge with applications.  PBL encourages students to capitalise on prior knowledge which they may have on any subject.  Guided by facilitators instead of the traditional teachers, students develop strong problem solving skills and teamwork.

Ø       Service-learning is an educational method that entwines experiential learning and community service. Guided by teachers and community leaders, young people address real community needs by planning and executing service projects.

Name list of Expert Panel Review

Session	Name	Designation	Organization
Sub-theme 1.Panel	Mr Ramon Molina	Director (People-to-People Exchange)	Asia-Europe Foundation
Sub-theme 1.Panel	Ms Leigh Pasqual	Director (Public Education Pgms)	Singapore Institute of Int'l Affairs
Sub-theme2.Panel	Ms Chua Mui Hoong	Deputy Political Editor	The Straits Times
Sub-theme2.Panel	Ms Melissa Hyak	Presenter, East Asia Tonight	MediaCorp News
Sub-theme3.Panel	Mrs Ann Wee	past Board Member	S'pore Action Group for Elders
Sub-theme3.Panel	Mr Raymon Huang	Member	Retired & Senior Volunteer Programme Singapore
Sub-theme4.Panel	Dr Rose Vaithinathan	Director, Youth Health Division	Health Promotion Board
Sub-theme5.Panel	Mr Lee Hong Chuang, PBM	Board Member	Nat'l Volunteer & Philantrophy Centre
Sub-theme5.Panel	Mr Douglas Foo Peow Yong	CEO	Apex-Pal
Roundtable.Panel	Mr Viswa Sadasivan	Chairman	The Right Angle Group
Roundtable.Panel	Mr Lee Hong Chuang, PBM	Chairman, Central Executive Cttee	PAYM Central Youth Council
Roundtable.Panel	Mr Ahmad Nizam Abbas	Council Member & Chairman NYF06	National Youth Council
Day 1 Dinner.Speaker	Mr Martin Tan	Motivational Speaker	Young Leaders Foundation
Day 4 Lunch.Speaker	Mr Gordon Aw	Motivational Speaker	OTI Consulting