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Business Times
23-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Showing green possibilities: ITE students bring new ideas to SMEs
[SINGAPORE] A tie-up between the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and local businesses not only gives students workplace experience, but also brings fresh green ideas to the participating small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A plant-based burger and a water-saving solution were among the winners in the third edition of the HSBC-NYAA-ITE Sustainability Initiative, which paired 153 ITE students with 46 local businesses. Launched in 2020, the initiative is a collaboration between HSBC Singapore, the National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) Council and ITE. It aims to promote sustainability by having students work with businesses to improve their environmental practices. The latest edition began in February 2024 and culminated in an award ceremony on Jul 10 this year, with prizes of S$2,000, S$1,000 and S$500 for the top three teams. 'Kindness meat' The ITE College Central team's burger comprises a beetroot-based patty with mushroom buns and clean-label cheese. PHOTO: ITE COLLEGE CENTRAL Winning third place was a team that rekindled a food company's interest in healthy burgers. ITE College Central engineering students Juanita Jauhari Jos, Muhammad Danish Haziq Mohamed Hazizi and Pedro Keith Kwa developed a plant-based burger with a low carbon footprint for health-science food company Wholesome Savour. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am SGSME Get updates on Singapore's SME community, along with profiles, news and tips. Sign Up Sign Up The students focused on clean-label ingredients – produce grown without chemicals or pesticides – to make the product healthier and more sustainable. The main challenge: taste, as not all flavourful ingredients could be used. For instance, one ingredient they considered adding to the patty, plant-based bacon, 'was tasty, but the carbon footprint was too high', said Muhammad Danish Haziq. After several testing rounds and feedback from 50 consumers, the team landed on a beetroot-based patty with mushroom buns and clean-label cheese. They dubbed it the 'kindness meat' burger, as the patty mimics beef but produces just 6 per cent of the emissions: 3.5 kg of carbon dioxide per kilogram, compared with 60 kg for one made from regular beef. Jason Fong, Wholesome Savour's chief executive officer, said the students rekindled interest in a product category the company had previously shelved. 'We never thought having a burger would (be viable),' he said, noting that the market for plant-based burgers is already crowded. 'But (the students) told us: 'If we can eat a very healthy burger... we're very happy.' That gave us the drive (to embark on this project).' And while businesses may tend to focus on 'the underlying numbers', Wholesome Savour's young partners looked at market trends, noted Fong. Speaking of how the students got the company to see things differently, he said: 'We can be too fixated in the way we do things, but they came in with a fresh perspective and sparked ideas we could embrace.' Wholesome Savour plans to gauge public reception towards the burger by offering it at the Sengkang General Hospital staff canteen later this year. Water wisdom The ITE College East team developed a prototype that cuts water use during ablution before worshippers enter a mosque. PHOTO: ITE COLLEGE EAST The second-place project focused on water conservation, with ITE College East electrical-engineering students Nur Ain Maisarah Jurimi, Alyssa Naushin Muhammad Ramli, Nur Aqilah Azman and Nadhrah Syairah Muhamad Redzwan working with sustainable energy firm Hoh Say. Hoh Say had existing partnerships to install clean energy solutions in mosques. The students worked with the firm to develop a prototype that cuts water use during ablution – when devotees wash before entering the mosque – at Masjid Ahmad Ibrahim along Sembawang Road. The students found that each person used about five to six litres per session. Their solution dispenses a fixed amount of just 775 millilitres, in line with Islamic teachings on mindful water use. Built from scratch with support from ITE lecturers and engineers at Hoh Say, the device combines a flow meter and push-button control with mobile connectivity, so that the students could track water usage during the test period. While the prototype needs to be fine-tuned before a wider roll-out, Hoh Say representative Mohammad Sufian Shak Ban said that the collaboration brought a useful new perspective from the younger generation and reinforced the need to balance innovation with real-world practicality. Cool logic ITE College West engineering students Daryl Chin (left) and Muhamad Danial Hezri Sapri with their smart refrigerant detector. PHOTO: ITE COLLEGE WEST Fresh perspectives were also offered by the winning entry from ITE College West engineering students Daryl Chin and Muhamad Danial Hezri Sapri. They worked with Daikin Singapore subsidiary BMS Engineering to develop a smart refrigerant detector. Air-conditioning leaks are usually found only when technicians conduct manual checks on site. The winning device, in contrast, monitors gas pressure in real time to detect these leaks early. Leaks drive up electricity use, shorten the lifespan of air-conditioning units, may pose fire hazards, and cause carbon emissions, Chin said. He noted that by detecting leaks early and alerting technicians so these can be fixed, the device is projected to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions – direct and indirect emissions from operations and energy use – by 20 per cent. This can potentially slash up to 5,097 tonnes of such emissions in Singapore each year. Inspired by classwork on refrigerants and system efficiency, the students worked with mentors to create a S$200 sensor that sends alerts via WhatsApp or e-mail to both homeowners and technicians. The initial idea was for only the servicing team to be notified, but the students changed their minds after thinking about user trust. 'If you receive a call from Daikin saying your air-con system is faulty, you might think it's a scam,' Chin pointed out. 'We felt the homeowner should be the first to be informed, so they can decide what to do.' Daikin's regional training manager Eric Tan said he was impressed by the 'innovative' notification feature as it allows for immediate action, rather than waiting for a system failure. 'This collaboration allowed us to explore new ideas, and probably affordable solutions, from the students' perspective,' he added. 'It also helped us see things differently, in ways we may have overlooked.' ITE is now working with sustainability consultancy Decarb123 to explore commercialisation opportunities – and Daikin has expressed interest in hiring the students after they graduate.
Korea Herald
22-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
ITE Hong Kong 2026 - Proven Sourcing Platform, Draw more Trade & Premium FIT from Asia Fast Growing Markets
HONG KONG, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia's leading travel fair, ITE2026 incorporates the 40th ITE Leisure & 21st ITE MICE will be held from 11 to 14 June at Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. It is held annually with first two days for trade and last two days open to the public. The highly international ITE2025 successfully drew more Buyers & Trade Visitors"BTV" (+8.6%) and public visitors "PV" (+11.4%). 88% of 502 Exhibitors and 53% of 7626 BTV from abroad; 1/3 of 64 exhibiting countries and regions from outside Asia. Geographically, over 70% of 7626 BTV from Greater Bay Area (GBA), which include Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen etc in 2024 had a combined population of 87.4 million and GDP of US$ 2077.4 billion which about world's 12th largest economy. By sector, 45.7% of BTV were travel agents and 15.3% were corporation & MICE; 48% of 70212 PV with 3 or more outbound holidays and 91% keep / increase travel spending! Hong Kong outbound fully recovered in 2024: ranked world's 14 th largest by international tourism spending of US$28.9 billion and made 104.7 million departures, recovered to 107% and 111% of pre-epidemic levels respectively. In first 4 months of 2025, HK outbound grew 17%! Dec-2024, reported HK residents prefer quality lodging and exploring niche destinations. New in ITE2025 included Youth and Family Travel Pavilions for more Gen Z and Young Parent visitors; some 50 KOLs joined Networking and Grand Tour in trade days and held seminars in public days; and providing AI-simultaneous interpretation for Niche / New Destination seminars. B2B program included free services like Business Matching though free-flow the main format, speaking opportunities, pre-show promotions etc. For B2C, exhibitors can apply for free seminar session of 25 minutes. Business Matching participants overstayed! 135 trade and public seminars drew 9224 audiences! Plenty exhibitor visitor interactions in stand! Signs of good business. Respectively, 50% and 23% of ITE's PV had university and post-secondary education background, many can speak English, online booking and mobile payment are indeed widely used. Thus, directly selling to PV is feasible.
Straits Times
21-07-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Young Harmony Champions break down barriers in tough conversations on race, religion
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The TL;DR: With Racial Harmony Day activities taking place in July, TLDR looks at the Harmony Champions programme, which teaches students how to discuss sensitive topics like race, skin colour, or religious practices. Mr Jalen Goh (centre) was one of the facilitators at the YLCha3 Dialogue Event, teaching students how to chat effectively. When students from different institutions and ethnic backgrounds first gathered for the Harmony Champions programme, many were hesitant to speak up or ask questions. 'We were worried that bringing up sensitive topics like race, skin colour, or religious practices might accidentally offend someone,' said Mr Jalen Goh, 21, who was part of the 2023 cohort. 'Even asking simple questions about why someone wears certain religious attire or how certain festivals are celebrated feels risky. Most of us want to be respectful, but without knowing how to express ourselves appropriately, we often choose to stay silent.' Mr Goh said he hoped that through the programme, young people would overcome this sense of guardedness. Launched in 2023, the initiative trains young people to facilitate dialogues on interracial and interreligious issues. It is organised by Temasek Foundation and Roses of Peace, a non-profit organisation, for students from Institutes of Higher Learning. The three-stage programme takes place over 10 months and is conducted once a year. Mr Muhammad Hamizan M Jaffri, 27, who graduated from ITE College Central with a Higher Nitec in Events Management in May, recalled an uncomfortable experience in 2022 during a conversation with his friends. He said one of his friends asked why Malay people usually live on the lower floors of HDB blocks. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia At least 19 killed as Bangladesh air force plane crashes into college campus Singapore Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH Singapore 2 workers stranded on gondola dangling outside Raffles City Tower rescued by SCDF Business Why Singapore and its businesses stand to lose with US tariffs on the region Singapore NTU introduces compulsory cadaver dissection classes for medical students from 2026 Singapore Fine, driving ban for bus driver who hit lorry in BKE crash, causing fractures to passenger Singapore Jail for man who conspired with another to bribe MOH agency employee with $18k Paris trip Singapore New research institute will grow S'pore's talent in nuclear energy, safety Said Mr Hamizan: 'It felt offensive at first. It sounded like they were linking race with socioeconomic status.' But as he clarified with that friend, he realised it came from a place of genuine curiosity – the person had simply wondered if it might be a cultural preference. 'It made me confront my own biases. I had to reframe my thinking that not every question is sinister, and it might be an attempt to understand,' he said. Such difficult conversations are a core part of the training under the Harmony Champions programme. Participants, known as Harmony Champions, signed up for the three-phase programme via their school portals. To date, the programme has trained 120 students. Students from Singapore Polytechnic being appointed Harmony Champions by then-President Halimah Yacob during the Roses of Peace celebration on Feb 26, 2023. PHOTO: COURTESY OF ROSES OF PEACE In the first phase, participants visit the Harmony in Diversity Gallery, located at the Ministry of National Development Building, which houses exhibits and interactive features that highlight the common thread among the different religions in Singapore. They also walk the Telok Ayer Heritage Trail to see how different faiths have coexisted since the nation's early years. The second phase gets the participants to engage in guided conversations about their lived experiences, with the focus on race and religious harmony. In the final stage, the students pick up essential skills such as facilitation and dialogue techniques, as they prepare to lead conversations on race and religion. One of the things the participants learn is Star, which stands for suspend judgment, talk sensitively, actively listen, and respect opinions. Ms Kumar Devadharshini, 22, a student from the Singapore Institute of Technology who attended the programme in 2024, said: 'Listening without judgment and talking about sensitive issues make us more conscious of our own biases and assumptions. I also learnt to read situations and act accordingly.' Students are also taught to recognise unconscious bias by reviewing real-life scenarios. One of the main facilitators from Roses of Peace, Ms Fahima Farha, said: 'Many of us assume we're already harmonious, but tensions can exist beneath the surface. That's why it's important to help young people recognise their own biases, learn conversations and dialogue techniques, and even understand how to navigate sensitive issues on social media.' She said that while Singapore offers many platforms for open discussions on race and religion – from small group dialogues to large public forums -- there are fewer initiatives that equip youths with the skills to lead or engage in these conversations effectively. 'That's the gap that the Harmony Champions programme is trying to bridge,' she added. After the training, the Harmony Champions gain practical experience by organising mini projects at their schools – such as setting up ethnic game booths or creating quizzes about different cultures – to promote understanding of multiculturalism. Mr Muhammad Hamizan M Jaffri (right) and his fellow Harmony Champions from ITE College Central organised a five-station roadshow, Rise Above Racism. PHOTO: COURTESY OF ROSES OF PEACE Projects conclude with the distribution of roses – which could be to students or members of the public – with each stalk bearing an interfaith message from a religious leader. Mr Goh said the training came in handy when he facilitated a dialogue on how to chat effectively at the Young Leaders Cha-Cha-Cha event, where youth from different Asean countries gathered to discuss social cohesion. He recalled a girl sharing how a joke from her friends – 'We can't see you in the dark' – had hurt her, even though she never told them. 'I first acknowledged how she felt, and then guided the group to reflect on how jokes, even among friends, can unintentionally cause harm,' he said. 'I encouraged her to be honest with her friends and let them know it was hurtful, even if unintentional.' Mr Goh added: 'To be honest, if I hadn't been trained, I probably wouldn't have thought through my words before speaking. I might've just gone, 'Oh', and tried to awkwardly change the topic. 'The training helped me become aware of my own blind spots and gave me the tools to pause, listen and respond with more thought.'
Straits Times
12-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
40% more sign-ups to programmes for adult learners at institutes of higher learning in last 5 years
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – More adult learners have been signing up for programmes at institutes of higher learning (IHLs), driven by the introduction of bite-sized stackable micro-credentials, which have made educational opportunities more accessible. Senior Minister of State for Education Janil Puthucheary on July 12 said there has been a 40 per cent increase in the last five years. Speaking at the SkillsFuture Festival × NUS 2025, he said that in 2024, about 188,000 individuals enrolled in continuing education and training programmes that were supported by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and SkillsFuture Singapore at the IHLs. This is more than three times the pre-employment training intake, or the number of students enrolled in courses prior to starting work, across the IHLs, Dr Janil, who is also Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, added. He said: 'This increase is due both to higher training demand, as well as expanded upgrading pathways and opportunities that are being created.' Dr Janil said that IHLs have made their programmes more accessible to adult learners, offering most qualification programmes in the form of stackable micro-credential s for more manageable and flexible learning. 'This allows working adults to better juggle work and upgrading,' he said. Dr Janil said that following the introduction of work-study programmes enabling participants to earn and learn through training delivered by IHLs and employers, about 1,300 ITE graduates today – or 10 per cent of each graduating cohort – enrol in the ITE Work-Study Diploma, achieving good employment outcomes. He also noted that the Singapore Institute of Technology was set up to provide degree pathways for polytechnic upgraders, while the Singapore University of Social Sciences focuses on giving similar opportunities to adult learners. He highlighted that the recent expansion of the lifetime cohort participation rate – which refers to the percentage of a cohort who are given places in MOE-funded degree programmes – was to provide more publicly-funded degree places for adult learners. Dr Janil said the IHLs have also diversified their continuing education and training offerings beyond full qualifications to offer shorter skills booster programmes such as the SkillsFuture Series which addresses emerging skills needs in the digital, care and green economies. He shared that the IHLs are rolling out 54 new courses this year under the SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme. This initiative aims to help mid-career individuals to transition into new sectors or explore enhanced job prospects by providing industry-relevant training with employment assistance . A press release on July 12 announced that these new NUS and SkillsFuture Singapore courses are designed to help mid-career individuals adapt to evolving job demands – from pivoting into new sectors and launching entrepreneurial ventures, to upskilling in emerging areas such as AI and immersive media. These courses include those to equip individuals with the skills to become a pastry and baking specialist and a wellness professional. Dr Janil said the new courses means that more mid-career Singaporeans can benefit from these programmes, adding that those aged 40 and above will enjoy 90 per cent course fee subsidies and can offset their remaining out-of-pocket fees using the $4,000 SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career). Those who train full-time can also apply for the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Training Allowance. He urged IHLs to consider advancing their efforts in relation to SkillsFuture in order to keep pace with the rapid evolution of AI. I nstitutions must refresh AI training curriculum and materials at a faster pace, while that adult educators should continually upgrade their skills to ensure that they are up-to-date with industry developments and training methods.
Straits Times
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
ITE musical celebrates success of Fandi, two other notable alumni
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox To honour the achievements of ITE alumni and celebrate SG60, ITE is holding its ninth musical, Beyond The Classroom, at the ITE headquarters in Ang Mo Kio. SINGAPORE – Back in the 1970s, when playing football overseas seemed far-fetched, Fandi Ahmad became the first Singaporean to play professionally in the Netherlands. This was possible because of the support of his teachers at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), formerly known as the Vocational and Industrial Training Board (VITB). His story continues to be an inspiration for ITE students today. One such student is Mr Mohammed Irfan Mohammed Rizal, 21, who aspires to become a professional beatboxer and represent Singapore in overseas competitions. 'Even though our hobbies are different, the energy and passion is there. For Fandi Ahmad, he is willing to do anything to achieve success in football because of his love for the sport – I relate to that,' the recent graduate in Higher Nitec in Film-making (Cinematography) said. To honour the achievements of ITE alumni and celebrate SG60, ITE is holding its ninth musical, Beyond The Classroom, at the ITE headquarters in Ang Mo Kio. The two-day performance ends on July 12. The musical has four acts, with each tracing the journey of three alumni – Fandi, Kawal Pal Singh and Siti Khalijah Zainal – and fictional character Siew Lan from their days in ITE to their accomplishments and jobs. The character Siew Lan represents ITE lecturers who were once ITE students and who have come back to teach. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Air India crash report shows pilot confusion over engine switch movement Singapore More NSFs may be recruited to tackle scams: Police Business F&B operators face tougher business landscape amid rising costs and stiff competition Multimedia Which floor is this? Chongqing's maze-like environment powers its rise as a megacity Life SG60 F&B icons: 20 dishes and drinks which have shaped Singaporeans' taste buds Life At 79, she can do 100 pull-ups: Why more seniors are hitting the gym Life The rise of Tupai King, the rage of weather: How durian season is changing Life Hear Me Out: What I wish my parents knew before I was diagnosed with ADHD Started in 2004, ITE's musicals used to be adaptations of Broadway productions. Since 2015, the focus has shifted to works by in-house talent. This year's musical, brought back after an eight- year hiatus, is written by Mr Julian Wong, an educator in ITE. It involves 172 students, alumni and staff from all three colleges. When crafting the play, Mr Wong wanted to show that students have interests and a life beyond the classroom. 'From a theatrical point of view, it was so colourful that there is one alumnus on a football field, one in the courtroom as a lawyer, one in the theatre, and finally, the classroom,' said the 37-year-old musical creative adviser and playwright. 'These alumni achieved great success in fields not relating to their studies and could not have done it if they hadn't come through ITE and met educators who... supported them to go pursue (their dreams).' As a teacher, Mr Wong understands that teachers have their 'own key performance indicators' to meet. As such, he wanted to 'push the boundaries of what teaching could look like and care about their students' interest and well-being'. During the casting process, he encouraged Mr Irfan , now playing the role of Fandi in the musical, to audition. With a background in beatboxing and not musical performance, he was initially hesitant. However, Mr Wong's encouragement and his interest in acting pushed him forward. After months of preparation, he is happy he took the leap because he felt that he 'fits the role'. With his father naming him after Fandi's 27-year-old son Irfan Fandi, the footballer was a huge part of Mr Irfan's life growing up. Neighbourhood kickabouts and his father's stories about Fandi also helped him relate to the legend better. '(This musical) means a lot to me, because I look up to Fandi and this is also a great opportunity,' said Mr Irfan. On stage, the experience of two other notable alumni – Khalijah and Mr Singh – were also showcased. This musical is a full circle moment for Khalijah, an award-winning actress and host or performer in many National Day Parades. Her first performance as Hermia in ITE's first musical, Midsummer Night's Dream, ignited her passion for theatre. Khalija h thanks her mentor Tony Quek when she was in ITE. He pushed her to audition for The Necessary Stage's inaugural Theatre for Youth Ensemble programme in 2003, launching her acting career. 'Growing up, I was shy and had really low esteem. In ITE, I learnt to love myself because people are less judgmental. It created an environment where people like us felt safe,' the 40-year-old noted. This year's musical, brought back after an eight-year hiatus, involves 172 students, alumni and staff from all three colleges. PHOTO: BRANDON LIM @_BINGBONGPHOTO Mr Singh, who graduated from ITE Ang Mo Kio with a Nitec in Electronics (Computer Technology) , l auds the school for imparting values that helped him through university and working life. He went on to fulfill his dream of becoming a lawyer after graduating from the University of Southampton with a Bachelor of Laws with honours. Mr Singh is now a managing partner at Tito Isaac & Co LLP. 'To be in ITE in those days was a rough and tough place, so you would end up picking up skills you won't pick up in other institutions. I think the adaptability which I learnt from my time in ITE helped me through university and working life,' the 42-year-old said. As the Students' Council president of his batch, Mr Singh said that it 'was a life changer', teaching him leadership and teamwork skills that one would not learn in a classroom. 'I am very humbled and honoured that my story will be told alongside legends like Fandi,' he added.
