Explore the RP Story

Since our inception in 2002, Republic Polytechnic (RP) has been at the forefront of introducing new and better ways to transform higher learning, inspiring our students to achieve outstanding accomplishments that go beyond academics.

More than a decade later, RP has come a long way in providing pathways for our students to discover their strengths, and cultivate a spirit of entrepreneurship.

The evolution of Republic Polytechnic has been significant, as evident in the key milestones recorded here.

2021

**Launched Entrepreneurial Partnership & Innovation Community (epic)**

The Entrepreneurial Partnership & Innovation Community will bring together aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups and key stakeholders from both the private and public sectors to foster a vibrant entrepreneurial eco-system. The facility was launched by Minister Chan Chun Sing.

Inaugural virtual RP Career & Opportunity Fair

The Virtual Career & Opportunity Fair 2021 saw more than 2,900 positions offered by close to 150 participating companies.

2020

Officially opened the RP-ST Logistics Healthcare Supply Chain Laboratory, the first Healthcare Supply Chain Lab in an Institute of Higher Learning

Modelled after an integrated healthcare supply chain system, this new facility combines RP’s supply chain management capabilities with ST Logistics’ industry expertise to deliver immersive hands-on learning experiences.

Unveiled RP’s organisational blueprint with RP Transformation 2025, a roadmap comprising five strategic priorities for the next five years

RP Transformation 2025 builds on our unwavering focus and commitment to advocate lifelong learning, drive innovation and accelerate digitalisation both within and outside the campus.

2019

Launched RP-LTA Rail Operations Management Lab and RP-RSA-Ensign Cyber Threat Intelligence Centre

These two experiential training facilities aim to provide students a glimpse into working in transport operations and cybersecurity fields of the future.

Officially opened the re-designed Student Care Centre and Assistive Technology Library

The Student Care Centre (SCC) was redesigned as part of RP's effort to provide a more conducive learning environment for varied learning needs and to enhance support for students with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

Jointly launched Specialist Diploma in Biomedical Informatics and Analytics with Ngee Ann Polytechnic

The programme aims to equip participants with the necessary tools and skillsets to perform biomedical informatics analysis, data preparation, statistical methods and data analytics.

Officially opened the Agriculture Technology Laboratory

The Agriculture Technology Laboratory supports students in deepening their skills through hands-on training. Housing technologies for high-tech farming in a controlled environment, the lab offers students access to a wide range of indoor farming systems.

Collaborated with eight Institutes of Higher Learning in Indonesia

to upskill vocational and polytechnic education trainers, and enhance capabilities of technical education in e-commerce and e-logistics.

2018

RP Rain Garden unveiled, built in collaboration with national water agency PUB

This outdoor learning facility provides students with the opportunity to examine and test water collected from the rain garden so that they can better understand the role of natural elements like plants and soil in the management of storm water runoffs.

Launched the first-ever SkillsFuture Earn & Learn Programme (ELP) (now called SkillsFuture Work-Study Programme) leading to a Part-Time Diploma (PTD) in Applied Science (Environmental Services and Management)

The programme aims to benefit the environmental services industry in building a skilled and resident workforce.

Officially opened the RP-PSA Experiential Lab

RP-PSA Experiential Laboratory is part of PSA’s ongoing effort to cultivate an increased awareness of careers in the port. It will also serve as a career hub for RP students who are interested in exploring a career in port operations.

Introduced three SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programmes (now called SkillsFuture Work-Study Programme) to meet the needs of a rapidly-expanding digital economy -

Specialist Diploma in Digital Content Creation for Business, Specialist Diploma in Digital Business, and Specialist Diploma in Cloud Architecting and Management

Opened a new learning facility for lifelong learning courses at the Lifelong Learning Institute in Paya Lebar

The Republic Polytechnic Academy for Continuing Education @ Paya Lebar (RP ACE @ Paya Lebar), was launched by Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Education.

2017

RP kicked off its 15th Anniversary Celebrations with the launch of RP-Unity Teaching Retail Pharmacy and RP UAV Training Centre

The teaching retail pharmacy aims to enhance the training of students in the area of retail pharmacy operations such as retail pharmacy practice and operations, visual merchandising and other core skillsets while RP UAV Training Centre, the first dedicated drone facility among Singapore’s institutes of higher learning, aims to provide training solutions to drone users on UAV operations, regulations and safety.

Pioneer batch of the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme (now known as SkillsFuture Work-Study Programme) for RP’s Specialist Diploma in Supply Chain Management received their completion certificates

Marking our 15th anniversary with our first batch of graduates from the Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP)

12th graduation cohort of 4,389 Pre-employment Training (PET) students and 363 Continuing Education and Training (CET) adult learners.

School of Technology for the Arts’ Foley Arts Studio officially opened

Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information, graced the occasion as Guest-of-Honour. The facility contains three breakout rooms where students can produce high quality everyday sounds for use in films and broadcast

2016

Clinched seven HR awards at the Singapore Human Resource Awards 2016

RP was a proud recipient of the Corporate HR Champion Award.

Official opening of Republic Polytechnic Industry Centre

With a gross floor area of over 11,000 square metres, the centre aims to deepen industry collaboration across a range of industries that include food manufacturing, hospitality, advance manufacturing and logistics, among others. It will be a learning hub for students, staff and industry professionals to develop skills that will better prepare them to meet future industry needs.

2015

28 RP students and 31 RP alumni participated and clinched a total of 41 medals in the 28th SEA Games

436 volunteers, including staff and interns, were involved in the 2015 SEA Games.

RP celebrates Singapore's Golden Jubilee

More than 300 RP staff, students, alumni, trainers/coaches performed for the opening act - Chapter 1: Beginnings at National Day Parade 2015

2014

Launch of Aquaria - A purpose-built research and learning facility for the growing aquaculture industry

The Aquaria is a state-of-the-art 180-square-metre indoor and outdoor laboratory which will serve an important role in teaching, learning and research.

2013

Official launch of the Centre of Innovation for Supply Chain Management

COI-SCM helps Singapore-based companies to develop and strengthen their supply chain and logistics capabilities through Process Innovation, Technology Enablement, and Training.

2012

Launch of RP's 10th anniversary celebrations

RP kicked off its 10th anniversary celebrations at a ceremony on 4 January 2012. The event saw the unveiling of a new banner bearing the RP 10th Anniversary logo, which symbolises RP’s aspirations to become an educational institution of choice

Accreditation with The International Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education (THE-ICE)

Launch of PBL Institute and One-Day, One-Problem: An Approach to Problem-based Learning book

The first institution of its kind in Singapore, PBLI is dedicated to research, training, consultancy services, and collaboration related to PBL

Re-launch of Centre for Professional Development as the Academy for Continuing Education@RP and launch of first part-time diploma

**Launch of the Centre for Enterprise and Communication*(Merger of Centre for Culture and Communication and Centre for Innovation and Enterprise)**

*now known as School of Management and Communication

Awarded Singapore Tourism Board Best Education Experience (Tourism and Hospitality Award 2012)

The award recognises courses and curriculums that support the grooming of talent for the tourism industry.

Opening Ceremony of The Aerospace Hub (ARCH)

The Aerospace Hub (The ARCH) has a built up space of 1,500 square metres with all the facilities typically found in an actual industry aircraft hangar. The facility is equipped with a Learjet 35, Jabiru 160, a Boeing 747-400 Simulator, and an Air-Traffic control simulator. It provides students with the best possible realistic aircraft and aviation industry training.

President Tony Tan Keng Yam graced RP's 10th Anniversary Musical and Partners Appreciation Nite

As part of RP’s 10th anniversary celebrations, RP re-staged the first Singapore musical ‘Makanplace’ during the Partners’ Appreciation Nite where about 400 distinguished guests relived the sights and sounds of a typical Singapore hawker centre in the 1980s.

2011

Launch of enhanced RP Logo

The current RP Logo, with enhancements to the typeface and RP shield design, was launched on 29 July 2011 as part of an RP rebranding exercise.

Awarded the Public Service Achievement Award

RP was awarded the Public Service Achievement Award, which recognises public agencies’ achievement of business excellence standards administered by SPRING Singapore

2010

Signed the Memorandum of Agreement with Singapore Sports School

A memorandum of agreement was formally signed by both Singapore Sports School and RP on 27 January 2010 on a joint offer of a three-year diploma programme for the sports school students.

Opening of Centre for Continuing Education and Training

The CET Centre was officially opened by Mr Richard Seow, Chairman of RP’s Board of Governors, and witnessed by industry partners from People’s Association, NTUC LearningHub (LHUB) and the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME).

2008

Launch of School of Hospitality

RP School of Hospitality was launched to train professionals to meet the growing hospitality and services sector

Inaugural Momentum Dance Festival

Momentum aims to encourage creativity in dance and promote original works of various dance genres. Gathering the best of the dance groups from local schools and institutions of higher learning, the festival provides the canvas for RP dancers and other schools to explore and showcase the myriad of dance genres in the vibrant world of dance.

Inaugural IGNITE! Music Festival - Passion and Compassion

IGNITE! Music Festival is an annual Music Festival that provides an excellent, credible platform for local independent bands to showcase their music. Solely student-run, it is the only music festival of this scale organised by a Polytechnic. The 2-day event features good, local bands of mixed genre.

2007

Inaugural BRAG (Battle Republic Annual Games)

This inter-school competition had attracted many students and staff to take part in games such as basketball, futsal, badminton, floorball, frisbee and captain ball.

Woodlands Campus was officially opened by PM Lee Hsien Loong.

Designed by award-winning Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki and DP Architects, the new 20-hectare RP campus in Woodlands was officially opened on 31 July 2007 by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Inaugural Reflections Community Arts Festival

The Reflections Arts Festival is a month-long festival of music, dance, theatre and visual arts, where local talents are provided with an environment to encourage the creative expressions of various arts forms.

2005

Launch of School of Technology for the Arts and School of Sports, Health and Leisure

President S R Nathan's first visit to RP

President Nathan made a subsequent visit on 22 July 2008.

Launch of Republic Polytechnic Centre building

The RPC was officially opened by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education on 19 November 2005

2003

Groundbreaking ceremony for Woodlands campus

Graced by RADM (NS) Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Education

Achieved ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 18001 Certifications

Start of classes at Tanglin Campus for pioneer batch of students

843 students started their classes in RP's three schools: School of Applied Science, School of Engineering and School of Information and Communications Technology (now known as School of Infocomm)

2002

Start of Operations at temporary Tanglin campus

Republic Polytechnic (RP) was officially established one month later.

Launch of RP Logo

It was created by Mr Raymond Lee and was chosen out of a pool of 600 designs submitted in a logo design competition.

Discover Our Story