PRESS RELEASE14 OCT 2009
GROWING DEMAND FOR TALENT IN CLEAN ENERGY SECTOR
Republic Polytechnic unveils new Diploma in Renewable Energy Engineering
Singapore, 14 October 2009 – With the government’s second Green Building Masterplan seeking a target of having 80 percent of Singapore’s buildings achieve Green Mark status by 2030, the demand for talent to accomplish this vision is expected to grow significantly, particularly with the slew of incentives already introduced to convince existing building owners to start ‘greening’ their building.
Young environmentally conscious engineering hopefuls can now look forward to an engineering diploma with Republic Polytechnic (RP) that will propel them forward on a path to realise this vision. The institution’s newly introduced Diploma in Renewable Energy Engineering is the latest addition to its School of Engineering’s current line-up of nine diplomas, and it was launched at the School’s Technology Day 2009 which focused on the theme – “Integrating Technologies for a Sustainable Future”.
The introduction of RP’s Diploma in Renewable Energy Engineering is timely. Globally an increased emphasis continues to be placed on the importance of clean energy, while at home, the government has made its commitment to the cause clear, having committed S$350 million to develop Singapore as a global clean energy hub in 2007. The clean energy industry is also expected to be valued at S$1.7 billion and generate up to 7,000 jobs by 2015.
The Diploma in Renewable Energy Engineering will focus on the application of clean and renewable energy systems in green buildings. Students will learn renewable energy technologies and will acquire skills in renewable energy system design. . They will also learn to manage building audits and how best to maintain existing as well as new buildings to achieve the most ‘green’ result.
Combined with RP’s unique Problem-Based Learning pedagogy, students have the advantage of acquiring engineering skills and gain knowledge about renewable energy technologies in an independent yet nurturing setting.
“Global warming has long been a serious problem and the search for alternative and renewable energy sources is an ongoing challenge for many countries. Clean Energy has been highlighted as one of the strategic growth areas for Singapore and we are proud to launch this diploma and contribute to the growing awareness of the importance of renewable energy. With this diploma, we hope to produce students who are well-versed in the Green Mark scheme and equipped to drive the greening of Singapore’s buildings. Given our strong focus on innovation, we are also hopeful that they will be actively involved in the development of technologies that will contribute towards greening the building sector further,” said Wang Jianguo, Director, School of Engineering, Republic Polytechnic
RP prides itself on the fact that it is a sustainable campus that emphasizes energy efficiency. Just last year, the institution won the ASEAN Green Energy Building Award in Bangkok, due in no small part to the many energy efficient features that have been adopted throughout the campus to help reduce energy consumption, from the air conditioning and the lighting systems to the lifts and escalators. Even the buildings that constitute the campus and the way they were laid out were planned with resource efficiency in mind, from the façade design, window shading features, the rooftop garden, and the extensive landscaping features. Beyond this, the institution has also installed Photovoltaic Solar Energy Panels at two different locations on the campus. These installations have a combined capacity of 38kWpeak which is one of the highest for a polytechnic in Singapore. The panels generate energy for lighting and other electrical systems.
RP’s School of Engineering is also working with industries on new projects that have the potential to redefine the term ‘green living’. One of the projects that is currently being designed involves an unmanned surveillance vehicle that will convert solar energy and store it in a compressed air system, from which mechanical energy can be derived to operate the vehicle. This technology will eventually enable the vehicle to operate without the use of any battery. A large number of these projects is supported by third-year students in the form of final year projects. The launch of the Diploma in Renewable Energy Engineering will create a plethora of new opportunities for students to involve themselves in clean energy projects that have the propensity to change lives in the coming decades.
The introduction of the new diploma provides students with the additional advantage of an authentic learning ground where they will experience first-hand real life implementations of green buildings. RP’s commitment to the cause is clear with its active involvement in the search for new and innovative technologies through its School of Engineering which regularly works with industry to develop new and cutting edge initiatives.
At its Technology Day 2009 event, RP also signed a collaboration agreement with the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) to study the characteristics of Photovoltaic (PV) systems in a tropical region. The study is expected to benefit RP in the long run and further optimize its overall energy output, which currently positions it very positively as a carbon neutral body.
“Driving innovation will be key to positioning Singapore as a Clean Energy Hub, and central to that will be the need to develop and nurture talent in this field. BCA is glad to know about Republic Polytechnic’s commitment to this area, and see great potential for students embarking on this exciting, important course,” said Ms Grace Cheok-Chan, Senior Executive Development Officer, Green Mark Department, Building & Construction Authority.
The Diploma in Renewable Energy Engineering will be available for students who are passionate about making the world a cleaner and safer place to live in from the next academic year of 2010/2011.
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For more information, please contact:
| Republic Polytechnic Pandiyan Tel: 3100 1267 Email: pandiyan@rp.sg |
Weber Shandwick May Yong / Samantha Lee Tel: 6825 8073 / 6825 8022 Email: myang@webershandwick.com / salee@webershandwick.com |
About Republic Polytechnic
The first educational institution in Singapore to adopt the Problem-Based Learning approach for all its diploma programmes, Republic Polytechnic (RP) has six schools and one centre offering thirty four courses in Information and Communications Technology, Engineering, Applied Science, Technology for the Arts, Sports, Health & Leisure, Events and Hospitality, and Culture and Communication. Republic Polytechnic is committed to nurturing innovation and entrepreneurial learning in an environment that develops problem-solving process skills and a life-long learning attitude. Its holistic, broad-based curriculum, covering culture, enterprise development and cognitive processes, prepares students for an active and meaningful role in society. Republic Polytechnic strives for excellence by achieving various international and national accreditations, including ISO9001, ISO14001, OHSAS 18001, TR19, People Developer Standards, Singapore Quality Class and Singapore Innovation Class. For more information, visit http://www.rp.sg