The current job market demands more than just good grades. Employers actively seek for individuals who possess strong character, leadership qualities, and an extensive portfolio. At the School of Management and Communication (SMC), a myriad of activities such as competitions, leadership courses, and service learning projects are made available to provide students with the opportunity to develop their capabilities, holistically. By going beyond classroom walls, students will also be exposed to the real-world; setting them apart when applying for university admissions and scholarships.
SMC students will have access to more than just career guidance. There will be countless opportunities for students to work on their competency, achievement, character development, and leadership.
A variety of short courses are available to enhance students’ knowledge. You will also have the chance to apply concepts learnt in classroom to real-world scenarios through competitions, both within the polytechnic and across Institutes of Higher Learning; providing an edge for your portfolio and resume.
At SMC, you will have the support needed to forge your leadership skills. There will be ample opportunities for students to showcase your leadership capabilities – from giving back to the society via service learning, to taking charge of a team for competitions as well as leading an Interest Group or team for projects. These involvements can then be included as part of students’ submissions for the National Youth Achievement Award.
Talks, webinars, and Graduation Preparatory Programme will also be organised in the final year of study to prepare you for a successful career.
If you are keen on the entrepreneurial route, do reach out to your mentor or send an email to Ms. Joyce Loh to express your interest to participate in the various activities and competitions available.
Students with a cumulative Grade Point Average of more than 3.6 after the first year of study may be invited to enrol into the SMC Achiever Programme, which provides customised training to give students a head start; preparing them for future scholarship applications and interviews.
The variety of programmes available has helped SMC alumni to hone their character and leadership skills. Read on to find out about their success stories.
I’ve always aimed to go beyond my horizons, which is why I participated in several entrepreneurial and business case competitions. In turn, these activities allowed me to pursue several business opportunities. With my passion in sustainability, I co-founded a start-up, Suskin to provide businesses with an all-vegan alternative to leather. The durable and ethically sourced leather eventually won the Overall Champion Award in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Competition. I believe my experience participating in such activities better prepared me for application into a university of my choice.”
My time at RP was vibrant and fulfilling. There were many opportunities to develop my skills. As a Mass Communication student, I specialised in journalism and was given the chance to write articles for organisations such as Singapore Airlines, Singapore Road Safety Council, Zalora, and more. I was also privileged to have served as the Assistant Editor and subsequently Lifestyle Editor, for The Republican Post, a campus publication. Then, I managed a team of writers; reviewing articles to ensure that they are fit for publication on both print and digital platforms. In addition, I was selected to participate in the Harvard Business School Club Singapore Mentorship Programme. With my mentor’s guidance, I worked diligently towards achieving my aspiration of becoming a journalist. Today, I am pursuing journalism as a freelancer. My time at RP, with its multitude of opportunities, has developed my portfolio and proven to be integral in helping me to get to where I am now – taking on my dream course at the National University of Singapore.
Read on to find out about the prestigious programmes, activities, and competitions that you can participate in over the course of your study in RP.
A wide range of lesson packages are available online, free of charge, for RP students to enhance their learning outside of the classroom. For more information, download this Excel Sheet for the full list of courses, course descriptions, and the respective weblinks to begin your learning journey.
SMC students get the chance to participate in a wide range of competitions which are not only relevant to their diplomas, but also provide them with a glimpse of the challenges that one may face in the industry. Thus, providing them with an advantage for future job interviews and university applications. You can look out for information on competitions via SNApp and your RP email. Below are some examples of the competitions that your can join:
B216 Marketing Competition (As part of a SMC module)
Citi-YMCA Youth for Causes Competition
iDARE Competition
MonsoonSIM MERC Competition
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Competition
Singapore Cancer Society Interschool Competition
SUSS Analytics and Visualisation Competition
SUSS Brand Challenge
SUSS Business Plan Competition
YMCA Plain English Speaking Competition
Do your part for the community by participating in the following service-learning activities:
Local Service Learning Project (LSLP) (By diploma)
CBP LSLP
SMC Club LSLP
RP LSLP
You may also look out for more opportunities by searching for “Service Learning activities” on SNApp. Information about service learning activities will also be shared with students via email.
There are many ways for students to hone their leadership skills. Students can step up as leaders through programmes that are run by the polytechnic, their diplomas, clubs, Interest Groups, and more! For example, you can be part of the organising team for a service learning activity or the annual Orientation Programme.
Learning never stops. Further develop your soft and hard skills with our variety of talks and webinars. Some of these programmes include:
ECG Webinar: Progression Pathways after Graduation
ECG Workshop: Holistic Portfolio Development
ECG Workshop: Personal Statement Writing
SMC Graduation Preparatory Programme (For Year 3s)
Entrepreneurship Bootcamp
Entrepreneurship Talk Series
Makerspace Workshops
Career and University Fairs
Note: This list is not exhaustive. It is meant to provide examples of the activities that can help you develop your skillsets as an SMC student and future industry professional. We recommend that you download this roadmap as a reference to help you plan and track your learning journey. The roadmap is best viewed on desktop.