Success Stories

From PFP Scholar to Most Outstanding Graduate of the Year

Faiq Faran began his PFP journey with a strong interest in science, inspired by his father and by the impact of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. He enrolled in the Pharmaceutical Science course, where he built a solid academic foundation and was recognised for his consistent performance, earning the PFP Scholarship and a place on the Director's Roll of Honour.

Beyond academics, Faiq took part in service-learning initiatives and overseas projects, which helped him grow in confidence and develop leadership skills. These experiences broadened his exposure beyond the classroom and shaped his ability to take on responsibility in group settings.

Faiq graduated in 2026 with a Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science with Merit, and was named recipient of the Board of Governors Award for Most Outstanding Graduate of the Year. He has been accepted into King's College London, reflecting both his academic progress and personal growth through PFP.

Turning setbacks into a springboard for success

Amelia Michelle Jonaidy's journey began with setbacks in primary and secondary school, leaving her unsure if she would make it into polytechnic. Through PFP, she found an opportunity to reset and pursue her interest in computing. With support from her lecturers, she was able to switch courses and continue her studies in the Diploma in Digital Design & Development (now Diploma in Information Technology), where she built a strong academic record and earned multiple awards.

Beyond her studies, Amelia took on leadership roles and represented RP in national competitions, which helped her build confidence and discover her strengths.

Amelia was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Award for Mathematics and Science when she graduated in 2026. She has been accepted into NUS Bachelor of Computing in Computer Science and NUS College programme.

A passion for storytelling, a journey to valedictorian

Voon Jing Wen joined RP through PFP, before her passion for working with cameras and creating vlogs led her to pursue the Diploma in Mass Communication. Through PFP, she developed into a confident and driven learner through hands-on experiences and practical learning opportunities, building a strong academic record that included consistent placement on the Director's Roll of Honour, multiple scholarships, and graduating as valedictorian of the School of Business with the IMDA Gold Medal in 2025.

A key highlight of her journey was her internship at The Istana, President's Office, as a Media Strategy & Communications Intern. There, she supported the media team's daily operations and notably contributed to producing social media content for President Tharman Shanmugaratnam's platforms.

Jing Wen went on to gain further work experience at The Istana, before continuing her studies at the National University of Singapore, the next step following her strong performance and learning experiences at RP.

From PFP Leader to Student Leader of the Year

Gun Jia You stands out for his ability to bring people together and lead with clarity and intention. His leadership journey began in the PFP, where he was appointed a PFP leader and took an active role in supporting his peers’ well-being, strengthening class bonds, and fostering an inclusive environment. A formative experience at the PFP Leadership Camp further shaped his approach, as he worked with his team to overcome challenges and built the confidence to step beyond his comfort zone.

Today, through his contributions in the Student Council and in driving key events like the Orientation Programme, he ensures inclusive participation and purposeful execution. His contributions have been recognised with the RP Student Leader of the Year award, presented at RP’s RISE Awards. Beyond campus, his contributions to Ren Ci Hospital and Active Ageing Centres demonstrate a genuine commitment to service. His leadership continues to create meaningful connections and sustained impact across communities.

Building future skills through PFP opportunities

Aathi Sasidharan initially felt conflicted about his post-secondary options, as he had considered Sec 5 and JC. After researching both pathways, he chose the PFP, recognising its potential to develop presentation, interpersonal and life skills.

Through PFP, Aathi strengthened his independent learning abilities and gained valuable exposure through lessons and collaborations with external organisations. These experiences helped him build communication skills and adapt to more applied, real-world learning contexts.

A key highlight of his journey was a service-learning project with MoNo, a sustainability-focused social enterprise. His team supported efforts to reduce food waste by creating promotional materials to raise awareness of surplus food redistribution. This experience deepened his understanding of creative problem-solving and social impact, showing him that there are multiple ways to address real-world issues.

After PFP, Aathi is pursuing a Diploma in Biomedical Science, with aspirations of becoming a veterinarian.

Growing independence through PFP and service-learning

Dreena Koh was encouraged by her teachers to enrol in PFP, which gave her the confidence to take this path. She credits this support as an important factor in her decision-making process.

During her PFP year, Dreena developed stronger independent learning and time management skills through Social Emotional Learning modules. Compared to secondary school, she learned to take greater responsibility for managing deadlines and balancing academic demands, which helped her adjust to polytechnic-style learning.

A significant part of her experience was a service-learning project with Ground-Up Initiative, a non-profit organisation that promotes community action for environmental sustainability. Her team supported a recycling initiative where glass bottles were repurposed into building materials. This experience exposed her to practical sustainability efforts and inspired her interest in contributing to future community-based projects.

Dreena is continuing her studies through the Common Science Programme before specialising in a science diploma.

A foundation for leadership, a gold standard of growth

More than half of RP's 107 National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) Gold recipients in 2025 began their journey through the Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP). These 51 PFP students received the NYAA Gold from the President of Singapore, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, on 6 October 2025, highlighting how PFP nurtures leadership, service and personal growth beyond academics.

Over at least 18 months, these students completed a well-rounded journey across service learning, outdoor appreciation, healthy living and community leadership initiatives, achieving the highest level of the NYAA Programme in the process. This reflects how PFP's signature experiences, including the leadership expedition camp, outdoor education and service-learning opportunities, align closely with the values and skills required for the NYAA Gold Award, helping students build confidence, resilience, empathy and a strong sense of responsibility towards their community.

"PFP allowed me to grow as a person and lead with confidence. Achieving NYAA Gold reflects how much I've grown through PFP," shares Brenda Lee, a 2025 NYAA Gold recipient.

Another award recipient, Seth Julian, adds, "PFP gives me the time and flexibility to explore my interests and give back to the community, while working towards the NYAA Gold Award."

For these 51 PFP students, the NYAA Gold Award stands as a testament to how far they have come since their first day on campus.

RP PFP sets Singapore Book of Records with multilingual rendition of "Home" at Sports Hub

Over 400 staff and students from the PFP gathered at Youth@Play at the Sports Hub's OCBC Square to sing Home by Kit Chan, adapted into four languages by the Singapore International Performing Arts Academy. This set a Singapore Book of Records for the Most Number of People Singing a National Day Song in Four Languages, marking the first time such a large Institute of Higher Learning group has achieved this feat for any National Day song.

The meaningful initiative grew out of a Social Emotional Learning module within the PFP curriculum, themed "Unity in Diversity". The module aims to help students build empathy, appreciate different cultures, and foster a strong sense of community spirit and shared national identity.

"I've never done something like this before," shares PFP student and performer Sofia Tanzil. "It was so fun from start to end, from singing the National Anthem and reciting the pledge, to the mass dance and the finale where we sang Home in four languages. I'm so glad to be a part of this PFP cohort."

The record-setting performance was a fitting celebration of SG60, a reminder that no matter the language, the message remains the same: this is home.