The pursuit for creative expression is instinctive to students from Raffles Design Institute, where an array of design-related programmes are available.

By Nabilah Husna A. Rahman

Step into the quaint campus of Raffles Design Institute and you’ll be greeted by an atmosphere of unique inventiveness made alive by the impressive display of students’ designs at its reception.

Established in 1990, the school develops creative professionals and entrepreneurs in the areas of Fashion Design, Interior Design, Interactive Media Design (Multimedia Design, Animation, and Games Design), 3D Design (Product, Furniture, and Jewellery Design), Graphic Design, and Fashion Marketing (Fashion Marketing & Management, Retail Management, and Fashion Communication & Journalism).

The education provider also spans major cities in China, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Australia, and New Zealand.

Stepping out, stepping up
Industry experience might kick-start a career in design, but propelling to success requires the support of a good foundation in design concepts.

Fashion Design student Zhang Xiaoqing has experienced this firsthand.

“Because what I studied in my previous college was very basic knowledge, I had to learn a lot of things by myself,” the 31-year-old reveals.

If you’re on the lookout for a career that guarantees you a promising ascend to success, look no further than the RSAF.

By Nabilah Husna A. Rahman

In the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), the pace of learning and development is inexorable. For Air Operations Systems Specialist (AOSS) Chen Huiling, gaining and applying the knowledge of operating various equipment is unique only to a career at the RSAF.

For the Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) alumnus, inspiration came in the distinctive form of a former polytechnic classmate who was an RSAF Warrant Officer in 2004. “She shared with me her story of what it’s like to be in the RSAF and her personal experiences, and that made me want to find out more about working there,” says Huiling.

“The recruitment drive in NYP made me understand more about AOSS and the complex job we have, having to work hand-in-hand in the controller-ATC (Authorised Training Centres) environment,” she adds.

As an AOSS, Huiling is primarily trained in operating, maintaining and servicing radars and sensor systems within the RSAF. Her job, she says, made her understand “the need and importance of (her) role to ensure that the Singapore airspace is safe”.

Few employees can take pleasure in calling their office a home away from home. At NTUC, you can.

By Nabilah Husna A. Rahman

The air of hospitality at the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is uncommon to such a large organisation. But NTUC is not like every other organisation – it upholds a people-oriented and homely environment for both its staff and members.

While the general public may associate NTUC with its more well-known fronts – namely, NTUC Income and NTUC FairPrice – the non-profit organisation also provides a variety of services for its members in the workforce. This includes offering assistance to members who bring issues like workplace disputes to the attention of the congress.

The Industrial Relations Department, in which Sharon Lim plays her role as an Industrial Relations Officer, deals with such matters.

“My work is somehow unpredictable. You won’t always know the entire background of the members’ issue, but you need to almost immediately give them advice,” the former Hospitality Management student says. “It’s very impromptu – so training in this aspect is very important.”

Entering the workforce may, to most, mark their well-anticipated commencement from education into the adult world. But for early childhood educators Sumitra and Jessie, learning is just another day at the job.

By Nabilah Husna A. Rahman

The line between studying and working is a fine and often blurred one if you are in the early childhood education sector. This vocation entails quality education for the children and, at the same time, provides lifelong skill sets for the educators.

Starting off as an English teacher with NTUC First Campus in 2005, Sumitra Hari was able to obtain her Degree in Early Childhood Studies with Wheelock College through her employer’s ‘Interest Free Study Loan’ scheme. She has since progressed to her current position as Principal for My First Skool in Woodlands.

“When you’re a teacher, you look at things from a different perspective,” she says. “And when you’re a principal, it’s a holistic approach that you have to take. I’m growing and learning at the same time.”

The indistinct separation between work and study also manifests itself for Jessie Lim, a trainee teacher at My First Skool in Bukit Panjang. Her weekly two- to three-day attachment with the centre is a requirement for the one-year WSQ Professional Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education (Accelerated) course, fully sponsored by NTUC First Campus.

Two healthcare professionals at NUH share the meaning behind their work, what continually inspires them, and where their careers are headed.

By Lim Yan Wen

Radiation therapy is a branch of medical treatment that most people do not fully comprehend, until they are faced with the need to understand it better.

This is precisely what Serene Cher experienced when a close friend was diagnosed with leukaemia about seven years ago. Her firsthand experience of being there for her friend as she went through treatment exposed her to the importance of the healthcare profession, and in particular, radiation therapy. This friend's subsequent passing had an inspirational and catalytic impact on Serene, and was her impetus for deciding to join the ranks of the healthcare industry as a Radiation Therapist.

“I've always been interested in the health science profession, but it was seeing my friend go through therapy that got me exposed to this area, and her passing motivated me to pursue Radiation Therapy to save lives,” Serene says.

Given her interest in health science and deep conviction in helping cancer patients put up a good fight, Serene sought out a scholarship awarded by the National Healthcare Group (NHG) to study Radiation Therapy – a medical treatment for controlling and eliminating malignant cancer cells.

Teaching is a noble profession that requires a heart for youths, sound academic foundations, and effective communication skills. Thanks to UniSIM, one teacher is on her way to becoming a better educator.

By Everlyn Lee

Nur Farhana Bte Abdul Kader discovered her love and aptitude for the English Language and Literature as a student, and was since set on advocating the language by nurturing writing talents and reading enthusiasts. “I already knew I wanted to be a teacher back in secondary school and teach either English or Literature,” she says.

Upon graduating with a Diploma in Education offered by the National Institute of Education (NIE), Farhana taught for half a year before she decided to further her studies at SIM University (UniSIM), where she took up a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English and Literature on a part-time basis.

At UniSIM, lectures and tutorials are conducted on alternate weeks – one lecture or tutorial every week for each module. Typically, students submit three to four assignments per module and sit for a final examination at the end of each.

“Every single cent I invested in UniSIM was worth it. Face-to-face tutorials were very interactive, the tutors were extremely helpful and guided us throughout the whole course, and group discussions during classes were very stimulating,” enthuses Farhana.

Private education institutions cater to an increasing number of working professionals who are earnest to upgrade their skills and advance their careers.

By Roland Tan

In today’s competitive working world, most would agree that paper qualifications are paramount for opening up a vista of opportunities. Never mind about job performance because if you are not even given that first opportunity, it remains a non-starter however street-smart you may be.

Joel Poh, a Nanyang Polytechnic alumnus, discovered this for himself after working three years as a sales executive. “After a few years of working, I realised that a diploma is inadequate and business skills are relevant if one wants to move on to bigger things. I aspire to a corporate position where I can get to know more about how an organisation functions. The way to go is to upgrade my skills and work towards a degree,” he enthuses.

“I want a career that gives me a better work-life balance.”

With their constant innovations and breakthroughs, the industries of personal care and food technology never fail to fascinate. Now, meet the people who work hard to blend the subtleties of taste and smell into our personal care products.

By Lim Yan Wen

If you have ever wondered how toothpaste gets its flavour and the liquid soap has its fragrance, a career at Symrise will be an adventure.

Alice Leong graduated from Singapore Polytechnic (SP) with a diploma in Food Technology in 2002 and joined Symrise as an Application Technician. Today, Alice has completed her training by Symrise and works as a Junior Flavourist within the Scent & Care Division. She shares that it was by sheer coincidence that she returned to Symrise for a permanent job, having done her school attachment with this global leader in fragrances and flavours.

“The team here is very united and cooperative. All the colleagues and bosses provide a conducive working environment and give me a lot of support in my area of work,” Alice explains, with regard to the draw of working in Symrise.

Create and evaluate
Dressed in her white laboratory coat, Alice looks every bit the scientist of flavours. Her enthusiasm for her work is evident as she discusses her day at Symrise. Alice’s job scope mainly involves applying flavours into oral care products such as toothpastes and mouthwashes. However, she also does housekeeping for the raw materials library in Symrise, where hundreds of smell and flavour samples are kept.

Life in SPS is not all about breaking secret codes and investigating cases. It also involves cultivating the growth of inmates.

By Tang Pin-Ji

The ability to make a difference to others’ lives in a supportive uniformed organisation – that’s Alvin Tan’s idea of a career.

Inspired by the tagline “Captains of Lives” that appeared in a recruitment ad for the Singapore Prison Service (SPS), and having researched into the agency’s core mission and objectives, Alvin made the decision to pursue a career there. Due to the nature of the job, he had to undergo a series of selection tests and interviews conducted by a panel of experienced officers to assess his suitability for the organisation.

Today, as a Senior Personal Supervisor of Cluster B in Institution B1, Alvin regularly interacts with inmates to find out if they have any personal issues and finds ways to assist them. He also tries to help the inmates to cultivate good habits, while ensuring they adhere to a certain level of discipline.

Says Alvin, who has been in SPS for almost three years, “I’ve always believed in this statement: ‘one successfully reformed inmate, one less threat to society’. We are here to protect society by helping them reform.”

In carrying that out, Alvin has to be firm and impartial to inmates when it comes to enforcing the dos and don’ts of prison life.

Two students share how enrolling with SMa has allowed them to live life to the fullest, with the assurance of receiving fully accredited academic qualifications.

By Philip Tnee

If you’re looking for a school where your capabilities are assessed in every respect, SMa School of Management is an ideal choice. It is one educational institute that focuses on general aptitude as much as grades and 22-year-old Elvin Ngo is a proud testament to this.

The Diploma in Business Administration student seized the opportunity to enrol for a course that not only interested him greatly, but would prepare him for taking over his father’s publishing business in the future. Elvin’s efforts paid off with consistently good results, something which even he was not used to receiving.

The 22-year-old even found time to work as a music arranger, as well as perform accounting duties at a secondary school during the one-year diploma programme. “The great thing about studying at SMa is the flexibility to work while you study,” he says.

This was also one of the reasons why Theresa Goh, Singapore’s top Paralympics swimmer with a collection of gold medals and two world records, chose SMa to further her studies with a part-time degree in Exercise and Sports Science. The school’s schedule allows her to work, train for upcoming competitions, and study at the same time.