Youth
Engagement

(1) Academic Projects

Title: Problem Based Learning versus Traditional Teaching Method - A case study on transference of knowledge in Economics

Abstract: This study aims to determine the resulting impact of the said combined (and in some cases, opposing) motivational forces within a PBL setting versus traditional teaching methods against the backdrop of later studies that suggest the possible coexistence of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation across Economics students under the PBL and traditional teaching pedagogy.

Data will be collected from two core groups of students studying Economics under both pedagogies. It has been suggested that for deep and meaningful learning, intrinsic motivation produces better results. As such, many early studies advocate intrinsic over extrinsic motivation especially on the basis that the latter erodes the former and as a result, compromises desirable learning outcomes using the approach of traditional education.

Nonetheless, if by definition, intrinsic motivation is about performing the activity for the sake of the activity itself i.e. out of interest, how does an educational institution ensure that students are intrinsically motivated for every topic of every subject, everyday of the school week, considering that students are graded daily? RP is an example of such an institution.

Title: Assessing the Effectiveness of Various Approaches to Educate Youths on Financial Literacy

Abstract: The recent proliferation of publications advocates the pressing need for teaching financial literacy to students and young adults. Moreover, lack of financial literacy among youths is an increasing concern among educators (Perry, 2008). The urgent task for educators would be to explore effective ways to increase the level of financial literacy among our young.

The investigation team (“the team”) proposes that the effectiveness of a financial literacy program based on differential approach would yield varying outcomes. Through an intensive study among youths in Singapore, the team seeks to develop an instrument to assess the effectiveness of different programs.

This will be used to different financial literacy learning platforms. To address the research question, the team will adopt an experimental design in which different groups of participants will go through the following learning platforms to learn financial literacy:

• Class-room based lecture style teaching;
• Digital Interactive Game;
• PBL style teaching with a problem trigger, worksheet and presentation;
• Financial Literacy Race;
• Experimental Business Learning.

(2) Industry Projects

Title: Studies for Pie Kia branding and marketing strategy

Abstract: In collaboration with industry partner, this project serves to understand consumer behaviour and attitude relating to pie eating culture, evaluate the effectiveness of current marketing strategy and identify best practices for benchmarking and explore areas of improvements.

(3) Professional Development Projects

Title: Personality Profiling of Youth Entrepreneurs

Abstract: This study was conducted to determine if there were common personality traits among youth entrepreneurs in Singapore. While regular research such as the Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students’ Survey indicate a rising trend in the number of tertiary-level students who intend to start their own business, no research has been done to determine if there are any common or unique personality traits of these youth entrepreneurs.

Based on the results of the PEAKS Profiling tool, two highly similar profiles emerged as being common across most of the participants who used the tool. 11.11% of the participants had the Intentional-Dynamic-Approving-Visionary-Robust profile while another 7.41% had the Intentional-Dynamic-Approving-Visionary- Steady profile exactly and almost 89% of the sample had at least two or more traits in common with these profiles. Comparing the results of the interviews with the sample from Phase 2 of the Study with the articles found for Phase 3, it was evident that there were some additional common traits which should be considered when describing a Singapore Youth Entrepreneur. These include the ability to identify opportunities in emerging technologies, such as the Internet or in the mobile space, the ability to ‘dream big’, passion for what they are doing, persistence or perseverance as well as a willingness to learn from those who are more experienced than themselves, customers, or even their own work experience.

Some recommendations about how various organisations can support the youth entrepreneurs were then made in the conclusion.

(4) Social and Cultural Projects

Title: Parental Influence on Youth Entrepreneurship

Abstract: There are many factors which contribute to the budding of entrepreneurship. Some research and popular writings in the West have linked entrepreneurial role models to the propensity to display entrepreneurship. For example, it was shown that entrepreneurs themselves had mothers and fathers who were entrepreneurs themselves (Hisrich & Brush, 1986; Ronstadt, 1984). Students studying business administration had higher expectations of choosing entrepreneurship as a career choice if their parents were self-employed (Scherer, Adams, Carley, & Wiebe, 1989).

However, in Singapore, few if any, research examines this social cultural factor of parental influence on youth entrepreneurship. Therefore, given the many parental background factors such as occupation, education, temperamental characteristics etc, influencing youths, this study attempts to define key factors that will influence a youth’s inclination to be an entrepreneur in the Singapore context. This study proposes to examine the role parents play in influencing their children to become entrepreneurs. It also seeks to examine the profile of aspiring youth entrepreneurs in Singapore.

The research methodology will comprise 5 phases with a qualitative approach adopted for Phase 1 to 3 as well as a quantitative approach adopted for Phase 4. Phases 1 to 3 involve a triangulation approach where independent analysis of the data is based on 3 different sources of information namely questionnaires for youths, questionnaires for parents and face to face interviews. Phase 4 will involve a quantitative survey conducted on a targeted group of 600 youths. The sample size selected is based on youths with no entrepreneurial intentions as well as youths who have entrepreneurial intentions. This is further segmented by age from 15 – 19, 20 – 24 as well as 25 – 30 years of age. Lastly, Phase 5 involves the collation and analysis of data collected