Growth of the local air hub and aviation industry is not the only thing taking flight on the wings of the CAAS. CAAS is also a dynamic organisation that places strong emphasis on the grooming of potential leaders who will someday propel the industry along the path of progress.

By Wendy Ng

Attracted by the opportunity to be at the forefront of engineering innovation, two scholars share with us what life is like with one of Asia’s biggest defence and engineering groups with diversified businesses in the aerospace, electronics, land systems and marine sectors.

By Renee Seow

You may think that gymnastics and the Hollywood blockbuster Pearl Harbor have nothing in common, but for Tan Yingyi, both played a vital role in shaping her aeronautical ambitions.

“I’ve always loved the feeling of flying through the air so when I was a sprightly 6-year-old, I took up gymnastics. Then, after watching the aerial acrobatics in Pearl Harbor, that was when I decided I wanted to be a pilot,” the 25-year-old reminisces.

Unfortunately, due to height restrictions, Yingyi’s pilot ambition failed to take off. So, she did the next best thing – landing the ST Engineering Overseas Scholarship instead.

Besides giving her the opportunity to pursue her ambitions, the scholarship also gave Yingyi the flexibility to study in any field that she wanted. “It gave me the choice of choosing my course of study and university, as long it was related to what the company does,” she says.

Soaring High
To fuel her aviation aspirations, Yingyi majored in Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University before making the short hop over to Columbia University to get a Master’s degree in Engineering Management System.

Now, Yingyi is a Senior Project Engineer in the commercial business unit of the Engineering Development Centre at ST Aerospace, the aerospace arm of ST Engineering.

Despite being a mere little red dot on the map, Singapore’s companies are making waves on the global scene. Helping them make a name for themselves overseas are the officers of IE Singapore. We speak to two of them and find out what exactly they do to contribute to Singapore’s economy.

By Eliza Hamizah

Shape the course of Singapore’s economy, create jobs for thousands of Singaporeans, and travel the globe to rub shoulders with some of the world’s top business and political leaders.

That, in a nutshell, is the world of International Enterprise (IE) Singapore. For those keen on such a life, the IE Singapore Undergraduate Scholarship provides its recipients with invaluable experiences.

Two IE Singapore scholars, Yeoh Mei Ling and Desmond Yeo, take some time off their busy schedules and tell us how the scholarship has led them on the adventure of their lives, where the world is their oyster.

Abundant Opportunities
Squeezing in a quick interview with us before he rushes to an important meeting with China government officials, 26-year-old Desmond reveals that he sought the scholarship as it would expose him to international business and allow him to meet and interact with top industry leaders.

Desmond Yeo: “IE Singapore gave me opportunities to study in New York, Shanghai and Tokyo. It was amazing.”

Our growing population in land-scarce Singapore means that the need for creative urban planning is now, more than ever, taking centre stage. Meet two recipients of the URA Undergraduate Scholarship who are part of the agency that is actively shaping our environment.

By Mabel Tan

“I believe that people make the city, and the city shapes the people living in it. Hence, urban planning is the fundamental aspect of this constant interaction,” Teo Tsu-Lyn says.

The 24-year-old Urban Planner with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) believes that good urban planning is about balancing people’s needs with the city’s spatial constraints. Crucially, it is also about putting people at the heart of this planning process.

Complementing urban planning is urban design; this is where 27-year-old Nicholas Li, an
architect with URA, comes in. Urban design guides the design of buildings and how it relates to its surroundings, and enhances the quality of the urban landscape.
Both Tsu-Lyn and Nicholas share the common objective of enhancing the quality of the urban scene with their planning and design skills.

Passion is not always spontaneously stoked, but forged out of an open mind, as two scholars from MPA can attest to. We speak to them and discover a world behind containers and ships in which they place their hope for the future.

By Mabel Tan

Like many young students, Patricia Chua and Biondi Phua did not have a clear idea on which career path to explore. However, fate had other plans. A combination of fate and rigorous research resulted in both of them realising the maritime industry ticked all their checkboxes. It was only natural that they gravitated towards the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) Overseas Scholarship.

Keppel has always done it the big way. Not only is it one of the world’s largest offshore and marine groups, Keppel Offshore & Marine deals with megastructures such as rigs, FPSO vessels, and specialised ships. We get a sneak peek at what goes on behind the scenes.

By Eliza Hamizah

As the cab drove past Pioneer Sector Rd and into Keppel Shipyard’s Tuas Yard, I was greeted by machinery, workshops and vessels that made the men around them look minuscule in size.

Complete with its own zebra crossing and traffic lights, Keppel Shipyard is home to a workforce of over 4,000 who travel around on bicycles. Safety signs are plastered on the interior and exterior of the workshops that dot the shipyard, reminding workers that safety is first and should never be ignored.

We flick on the switch and the lights come on. Our fingers press on the remote control and the television comes to life. These are all things we take for granted in our daily lives but behind that flick of the switch is a tireless team that ensures we continually get reliable and quality electrical supply. We meet two Singapore Power scholars who tell us what it takes to keep Singapore illuminated.

By Eliza Hamizah

When was the last time you experienced a major blackout? If you have to dig deep into your memory to remember the last time you experienced a blackout, you’re not alone. Singapore holds the distinction of having one of the world’s fewest and shortest electricity outages.

Who do we thank for this enviable track record? The humble engineers working behind the scenes at Singapore Power (SP).

Working round the clock, they ensure that SP’s network equipment is well-maintained so that customers receive a continuous and efficient supply of electricity. SP engineers also play a part in powering our country’s economy. The electricity network is constantly undergoing expansion to provide electrical supply to new residential, commercial and industrial users.

The SCDF is more than just brave firefighters and rescuers with hearts of lions. It also includes men who represent Singapore in the international civil defence arena.

By Eliza Hamizah

“In international relations, there is a saying that goes ‘There are no permanent friends, only permanent interests’, Major Jamalullail Ishak says, chuckling. “So it’s crucial that you learn to adapt and be on your feet!”

For most people, sitting behind a desk emblazoned with the Singapore flag while representing the interest of the nation might feel like being in a pressure cooker. Not for this 34-year-old who stays coolheaded during such important international meetings.
Such is expected of International Relations Officers (IROs) like Jamalullail. He discusses policies and matters of fire and rescue missions with ministers, experts in the field of disaster management, and organisations like the United Nations (UN), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

From operating advanced machinery to protecting the people you love, a career with the RSAF allows you to make a real difference. It really is time to let your dreams take flight.

By Farhan Shah

Many years ago, there were two young boys who wanted to pursue their love for aviation. They found it with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).

For 30-year-old Major (MAJ) Kenny Khoo, his fascination with aviation sprouted when he witnessed the RSAF Black Knights in action. Singapore’s military aerial aerobatics team, the Black Knights are a group of elite pilots who perform daring manoeuvres in the air.

The second young boy was Captain (CPT) Phua Jia Kai. “The culture and image of the RSAF as a dynamic and professional organisation, with that extra bit of ‘cool’ appealed to me,” the 27-year-old reveals.

With this resolve firmly in mind, the duo signed on the dotted line of their respective scholarships without any hesitation. CPT Phua, a recipient of the SAF Overseas Scholarship, went to the London School of Economics & Political Science to major in Government and Economics. Thereafter, he travelled over the Atlantic Ocean to Harvard University for his Master’s degree in Arts & Social Sciences.

As for MAJ Khoo, he decided to take an unconventional route, studying Aeronautical Engineering at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) instead. “One of the reasons I decided to study at the ADFA was to experience the military culture of another country. I’m glad I took this route; the regimentation that I experienced in the Academy has instilled in me a sense of discipline and independence that is absolutely crucial to succeed in life,” MAJ Khoo says.

In The Beginning