Message from Vincent Neo Wei Wen

Diploma in Mobile Software Development

Time flies when you are having fun. Indeed, my years as a student at Republic Polytechnic (RP) felt short. It is the fastest three years that I have ever experienced throughout my life and graduating feels somewhat bittersweet. 

The people I met at RP are extraordinary and they made every moment great. Both my lecturers and peers had unwavering will, strong aspirations, bold ideas, and the determination to create a synergy to help each learner achieve a common goal—being prepared for a promising career upon graduation. Friendships were also forged as we stuck together through the toughest of times, creating new memories along the way. 

Studying amid a pandemic was a challenge. Adapting to home-based learning took some effort and perseverance. But the willingness of the RP community to support one another made it easier for us to get into the groove of learning remotely. 

Being a student is more than just about studying. I was fortunate enough to participate in the Apple Swift Student Challenge twice. My lecturers, family, and friends were very supportive of me; making it possible for me to win. 

Final Year Project was equally memorable. Every meeting was filled with fun and laughter. Although some meetings ended late, I will continue to cherish the memories I have collaborating with my course mates. 

Next, the Industry Immersion Programme or internship provided me with the opportunity to solidify my skills and capabilities. My coding abilities were honed as I tried out new things as an intern such as exploring Mapbox and 3D rendering application programming interfaces for web. 

I would like to thank my lecturers, especially Mr Ryan Low, Mr Hew Ka Kian,
Mr Tan Kok Cheng, Ms Julia Lee, Ms Lydia Hamid, and Mr Jason Lim for their guidance and support. To my family and friends – thank you for instilling a solid foundation within me, making today’s achievement a possibility. 

As we progress to the next chapter of our lives, let us all remember and be thankful for the three years that we had at RP. All the best to everyone and always believe that we have what it takes to achieve our aspirations in life. 

Congratulations to the class of 2022! 

Thank you.

Message from Tham Ming Fong

Specialist Diploma in Business Analytics

As the proverb goes: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. I was once comparable to an “old dog”. I lost my job in January 2019 due to a company restructuring. For the next two years, I was in between jobs. 

In March 2020, COVID-19 affected many countries including Singapore. It took a toll on our livelihood and many of us lost our jobs due to the economic downturn. Businesses were reduced in size and some shut down completely.

Previously, I lacked the motivation to upgrade myself and had been putting the prospect of attending courses on the back burner. All the while, I was able to write Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to process data using Microsoft Excel. Given the challenging economy, I never expected this skill to come in handy or make much impact when I applied for jobs. It was a pleasant surprise for me to learn that I possessed an in-demand skill.

My VBA capability shone and I was selected for a six-month project which utilised Microsoft Excel. This built my confidence and motivated me to enhance my knowledge, in hopes that it will empower me to pursue my dream job as a data analyst.

I decided to pursue the Specialist Diploma in Business Analytics (SDBA) at Republic Polytechnic (RP) due to its holistic learning scope. We were introduced to various tools, commonly used in the industry, such as Tableau. There were also umpteen opportunities for us to explore how businesses could leverage powerful predictive and machine learning tools. Another plus point is that all classes were conducted online and were not affected by the safety measures implemented due to COVID-19.

A module that stood out for me was Data Visualisation & Analytics where we got to learn MySQL, R, Python, Excel BI, and more. These skills helped me to secure a job in the healthcare sector which matched my career aspirations, with a focus on data and project management. 

I wish to express my gratitude and appreciation to every RP lecturer who had generously shared their wisdom. 

To my classmates, your willingness to share knowledge and ideas made the learning journey interesting. I wish you all the best as we go on separate paths, upon graduating from RP. 

I would also like to thank my wonderful manager and colleagues for being supportive and patient with me. Thank you for teaching me the diverse types of health datasets and terms.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage everyone who has an interest in analysing data to join SDBA – regardless of your circumstance or age.