Latest news with #RepublicPolytechnic
New Paper
5 days ago
- Business
- New Paper
Secondary school dropout, 36, graduates top of his cohort at Republic Polytechnic
When Mr Muhammad Haikal Nekla dropped out of secondary school at 16 due to family issues and began working full-time to help support them, he intended to go back to complete his education some day. He made good on the promise only many years later. "When I made the decision to drop out, I told my principal that I would continue my education one day, but I never got around to it," he said. A discussion with some Republic Polytechnic (RP) interns he was supervising at the restaurant chain where he worked spurred him to return to school at the age of 33, in 2021. "They shared that (polytechnics) took a more hands-on approach to learning, where theories are applied to real-life problems. That was what interested me the most," said Mr Haikal, who was then an assistant manager at Fish & Co. After more than 15 years of working as waiter, barista and manager in the food and beverage (F&B) industry, Mr Haikal enrolled in RP's diploma of restaurant and culinary operations programme in 2022 via the Early Admissions Exercise, which is open to working adults. In May, the 36-year-old became the valedictorian of RP's School of Hospitality with a grade point average of 3.79. He was among more than 4,500 graduates from 79 diploma programmes across the polytechnic. Mr Haikal was worried at first about fitting in with the other students, as he was more than twice the age of some of them. But he soon earned their respect, and his schoolmates affectionately called him "Uncle Haikal". He also had to make some sacrifices to go back to school. Mr Haikal, who is not married, had to dip into his savings during his time to polytechnic to care for his mother and grandmother. Fortunately, he received financial support to pay his school fees via a bursary in his first-year and the bond-free Sands Hospitality Scholarship for his second and third years. Still, he continued to work, clocking in 16 hours weekly as a part-time supervisor at Fish & Co to support his family. He said: "My mum was briefly hospitalised in 2022 and my grandmother had kidney failure in 2023, so I had a lot on my plate." Having to care for his family while working and studying meant that he would sometimes sleep for only four hours a day. "Some days, I would come home from work or school to complete my assignments. Then at midnight, I would take a taxi to my grandmother's place to take care of her." Mr Muhammad Haikal and his mother during his Republic Polytechnic graduation ceremony. PHOTO: COURTESY OF MUHAMMAD HAIKAL When asked what got him through that period of time, he gave props to his family and friends: "I'm not too sure how I got through it either, but it helped that I had support from the people around me." Mr Haikal said that one of the reasons he succeeded academically in RP was his industry experience. "The curriculum was designed so that my experience gave me a strong foundation," he said. He also learnt from his younger schoolmates. "Even though they are much younger than I am, they can still do some things better than I can, and I've been able to absorb and learn from," he added. His biggest takeaway from his time at RP is this: "It doesn't matter how old you are - it's important to be open-minded. Whether you're young or old, there's always something to learn and take away from others." Mr Muhammad Haikal (second row, middle) and his friends during his Republic Polytechnic graduation ceremony. PHOTO: REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC With his diploma has come a chance for him to make a career pivot - Mr Haikal has been accepted into the National University of Singapore's College of Humanities and Sciences, where he plans to study for a bachelor's degree in social work. "I don't think that F&B and social work are that different. You're able to interact with and learn the stories of people from all walks of life," he said. "The main difference is that I'm able to walk with them through their journeys as a social worker."
AsiaOne
5 days ago
- Business
- AsiaOne
Secondary school dropout, 36, graduates top of his cohort at Republic Polytechnic, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — When Muhammad Haikal Nekla dropped out of secondary school at 16 due to family issues and began working full-time to help support them, he intended to go back to complete his education some day. He made good on the promise only many years later. "When I made the decision to drop out, I told my principal that I would continue my education one day, but I never got around to it," he said. A discussion with some Republic Polytechnic (RP) interns he was supervising at the restaurant chain where he worked spurred him to return to school at the age of 33, in 2021. "They shared that (polytechnics) took a more hands-on approach to learning, where theories are applied to real-life problems. That was what interested me the most," said Haikal, who was then an assistant manager at Fish & Co. After more than 15 years of working as waiter, barista and manager in the food and beverage (F&B) industry, Haikal enrolled in RP's diploma of restaurant and culinary operations programme in 2022 via the Early Admissions Exercise, which is open to working adults. In May, the 36-year-old became the valedictorian of RP's School of Hospitality with a grade point average of 3.79. He was among more than 4,500 graduates from 79 diploma programmes across the polytechnic. Haikal was worried at first about fitting in with the other students, as he was more than twice the age of some of them. But he soon earned their respect, and his schoolmates affectionately called him "Uncle Haikal". He also had to make some sacrifices to go back to school. Haikal, who is not married, had to dip into his savings during his time to polytechnic to care for his mother and grandmother. Fortunately, he received financial support to pay his school fees via a bursary in his first-year and the bond-free Sands Hospitality Scholarship for his second and third years. Still, he continued to work, clocking in 16 hours weekly as a part-time supervisor at Fish & Co to support his family. He said: "My mum was briefly hospitalised in 2022 and my grandmother had kidney failure in 2023, so I had a lot on my plate." Having to care for his family while working and studying meant that he would sometimes sleep for only four hours a day. "Some days, I would come home from work or school to complete my assignments. Then at midnight, I would take a taxi to my grandmother's place to take care of her." When asked what got him through that period of time, he gave props to his family and friends: "I'm not too sure how I got through it either, but it helped that I had support from the people around me." Haikal said that one of the reasons he succeeded academically in RP was his industry experience. "The curriculum was designed so that my experience gave me a strong foundation," he said. He also learnt from his younger schoolmates. "Even though they are much younger than I am, they can still do some things better than I can, and I've been able to absorb and learn from," he added. His biggest takeaway from his time at RP is this: "It doesn't matter how old you are — it's important to be open-minded. Whether you're young or old, there's always something to learn and take away from others." With his diploma has come a chance for him to make a career pivot — Haikal has been accepted into the National University of Singapore's College of Humanities and Sciences, where he plans to study for a bachelor's degree in social work. "I don't think that F&B and social work are that different. You're able to interact with and learn the stories of people from all walks of life," he said. "The main difference is that I'm able to walk with them through their journeys as a social worker." [[nid:716610]] This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Secondary school dropout, 36, graduates top of his cohort at Republic Polytechnic
Secondary school dropout, 36, graduates top of his cohort at Republic Polytechnic The TL;DR: After talking to polytechnic interns, Muhammad Haikal Nekla went back to school. The valedictorian of the School of Hospitality now aims to be a social worker. SINGAPORE – When Mr Muhammad Haikal Nekla dropped out of secondary school at 16 due to family issues and began working full-time to help support them, he intended to go back to complete his education some day. He made good on the promise only many years later. 'When I made the decision to drop out, I told my principal that I would continue my education one day, but I never got around to it,' he said. A discussion with some Republic Polytechnic (RP) interns he was supervising at the restaurant chain where he worked spurred him to return to school at the age of 33, in 2021. 'They shared that (polytechnics) took a more hands-on approach to learning, where theories are applied to real-life problems. That was what interested me the most,' said Mr Haikal, who was then an assistant manager at Fish & Co. After more than 15 years of working as waiter, barista and manager in the food and beverage (F&B) industry, Mr Haikal enrolled in RP's diploma of restaurant and culinary operations programme in 2022 via the Early Admissions Exercise, which is open to working adults. In May, the 36-year-old became the valedictorian of RP's School of Hospitality with a grade point average of 3.79. He was among more than 4,500 graduates from 79 diploma programmes across the polytechnic. Mr Haikal was worried at first about fitting in with the other students, as he was more than twice the age of some of them. But he soon earned their respect, and his schoolmates affectionately called him 'Uncle Haikal'. He also had to make some sacrifices to go back to school. Mr Haikal, who is not married, had to dip into his savings during his time to polytechnic to care for his mother and grandmother. Fortunately, he received financial support to pay his school fees via a bursary in his first-year and the bond-free Sands Hospitality Scholarship for his second and third years. Still, he continued to work, clocking in 16 hours weekly as a part-time supervisor at Fish & Co to support his family. He said: 'My mum was briefly hospitalised in 2022 and my grandmother had kidney failure in 2023, so I had a lot on my plate.' Having to care for his family while working and studying meant that he would sometimes sleep for only four hours a day. 'Some days, I would come home from work or school to complete my assignments. Then at midnight, I would take a taxi to my grandmother's place to take care of her.' Mr Muhammad Haikal and his mother during his Republic Polytechnic graduation ceremony. PHOTO: COURTESY OF MUHAMMAD HAIKAL When asked what got him through that period of time, he gave props to his family and friends: 'I'm not too sure how I got through it either, but it helped that I had support from the people around me.' Mr Haikal said that one of the reasons he succeeded academically in RP was his industry experience. 'The curriculum was designed so that my experience gave me a strong foundation,' he said. He also learnt from his younger schoolmates. 'Even though they are much younger than I am, they can still do some things better than I can, and I've been able to absorb and learn from,' he added. His biggest takeaway from his time at RP is this: 'It doesn't matter how old you are – it's important to be open-minded. Whether you're young or old, there's always something to learn and take away from others.' Mr Muhammad Haikal (second row, middle) and his friends during his Republic Polytechnic graduation ceremony. PHOTO: REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC With his diploma has come a chance for him to make a career pivot – Mr Haikal has been accepted into the National University of Singapore's College of Humanities and Sciences, where he plans to study for a bachelor's degree in social work. 'I don't think that F&B and social work are that different. You're able to interact with and learn the stories of people from all walks of life,' he said. 'The main difference is that I'm able to walk with them through their journeys as a social worker.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Prudential Singapore partners with IMDA to drive SMEs' adoption of Generative AI
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 May 2025 - Prudential Singapore ('Prudential') has launched GenAI XPonential, a new programme in partnership with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to accelerate the adoption of Generative AI (GenAI) among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Unveiled by Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, Mr Tan Kiat How, at ATxEnterprise - an Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG) event held today - the programme is in support of the Digital Enterprise Blueprint and aims to equip SMEs with practical knowledge and real-world use cases to strengthen AI adoption. As part of the programme, SMEs will gain access to a series of up to 10 bite-sized explainer videos and up to four hands-on workshops co-created and hosted by Prudential and its Talent Engagement Ecosystem (TEE-Up)1 partner, Republic Polytechnic. The first two videos on GenAI-enabled Customer Engagement Chatbots and GenAI-enabled Sales & Marketing Content Creation will be available on IMDA's CTO-as-a-Service platform for SMEs, and the remaining videos will be rolled out progressively in the second half of 2025. The complementary workshops offered as part of the programme are conducted by Prudential's GenAI domain experts and Republic Polytechnic lecturers. Prudential has been a long-standing supporter of SMEs through its SME Skills Accelerator Programme2, which equips SMEs with the skills and resources to grow and innovate by upskilling and reskilling their employees. In 2022, the insurer had worked with Ngee Ann Polytechnic and ST Engineering to produce a digital commerce playbook to help SMEs kickstart their digital journey in a safe and secure manner3. Mr Ben Tan, Chief Distribution Officer, Prudential Singapore, said: 'Having been a long-time supporter of SMEs, who are a key pillar of Singapore's economy, we are proud to deepen our commitment by enabling them to gain access to the latest technologies such as GenAI to fuel business growth. Through practical explainer videos and hands-on workshops conducted by us and Republic Polytechnic, one of our Talent Engagement Ecosystem partners, we aim to equip SMEs with the knowledge and skills to apply GenAI meaningfully in their businesses. These efforts are part of the GenAI XPonential programme, delivered in partnership with IMDA, to help SMEs innovate, grow, and stay competitive in today's digital economy.' Mr Johnson Poh, Assistant Chief Executive, Sectoral Transformation Group, IMDA, added: 'In today's fast-evolving digital landscape, it is vital to equip our SMEs with the tools and knowledge to harness GenAI effectively. IMDA welcomes the collaboration with Prudential Singapore to ensure that our SMEs can navigate the complexities of this emerging technology, gain the confidence to use GenAI to boost productivity, and remain competitive in an AI-driven economy.' Collaboration with students to bring GenAI to the fore Students from Republic Polytechnic's Year 2 and 3 cohorts were engaged to develop the GenAI XPonential tech explainer videos. Guided by experts from IMDA and Prudential, these students explored real-world GenAI applications while honing their videography and editing skills. These students were engaged for their digital fluency and to encourage knowledge sharing. Singapore's youth are among the most active users of GenAI, with 80 per cent4 using the technology at least once a week for tasks such as homework or school-related tasks. Ms Wong Wai Ling, Director, School of Infocomm, Republic Polytechnic, said: 'This collaboration exemplifies how industry and education can come together to empower both students and SMEs in the GenAI space. Our students had a unique opportunity to translate classroom learning into practical outcomes, co-creating resources that will help local businesses harness the potential of emerging technologies. We are proud to support Singapore's digital future by equipping youth with real-world skills while contributing to the nation's broader upskilling efforts.' Mr Ben Tan added: 'By involving youth in the creation of educational content for SMEs, the broader initiative nurtures the next generation of AI creators who are confident in using new technologies and eager to drive change. It also encourages intergenerational learning, where students support SMEs in the digital economy, building a future-ready ecosystem grounded in knowledge sharing and innovation.' This collaboration, supported by the National Youth Council, deepened students' understanding of emerging technologies, served as a platform for them to apply their skills in a real-world setting, and is part of youth outreach initiatives aimed at helping SMEs upskill. 4 Source: Hashtag: #PrudentialSingapore #IMDA #GenAIXPonential The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd (Prudential Singapore) Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd is one of the top life and health insurance companies in Singapore, serving the financial and protection needs of the country's citizens for 94 years. The company has an AA- Financial Strength Rating from leading credit rating agency Standard & Poor's, with S$57.7 billion funds under management as at 31 December 2024. It delivers a suite of well-rounded product offerings in Protection, Savings and Investment through multiple distribution channels including a network of more than 5,400 financial representatives. About Infocomm Media Development Authority The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) leads Singapore's digital transformation by developing a vibrant digital economy and an inclusive digital society. As Architects of Singapore's Digital Future, we foster growth in Infocomm Technology and Media sectors in concert with progressive regulations, harnessing frontier technologies, and developing local talent and digital infrastructure ecosystems to establish Singapore as a digital metropolis. For more news and information, visit or follow IMDA on LinkedIn (IMDAsg) Facebook (IMDAsg) and Instagram (@imdasg).
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Prudential Singapore partners with IMDA to drive SMEs' adoption of Generative AI
1 For more information, please visit: 2 For more information, please visit For more information, please visit: For more information, please visit 3 For more information, please visit: For more information, please visit: 4 Source: Source: SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 May 2025 -Prudential Singapore ("Prudential") has launched, a new programme in partnership with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to accelerate the adoption of Generative AI (GenAI) among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Unveiled by, at ATxEnterprise - an Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG) event held today - the programme is in support of the Digital Enterprise Blueprint and aims to equip SMEs with practical knowledge and real-world use cases to strengthen AI part of the programme, SMEs will gain access to a series of up to 10 bite-sized explainer videos and up to four hands-on workshops co-created and hosted by Prudential and its Talent Engagement Ecosystem (TEE-Up)partner, Republic Polytechnic. The first two videos onandwill be available on IMDA's CTO-as-a-Service platform for SMEs, and the remaining videos will be rolled out progressively in the second half of 2025. The complementary workshops offered as part of the programme are conducted by Prudential's GenAI domain experts and Republic Polytechnic has been a long-standing supporter of SMEs through its SME Skills Accelerator Programme, which equips SMEs with the skills and resources to grow and innovate by upskilling and reskilling their employees. In 2022, the insurer had worked with Ngee Ann Polytechnic and ST Engineering to produce a digital commerce playbook to help SMEs kickstart their digital journey in a safe and secure manner: "Having been a long-time supporter of SMEs, who are a key pillar of Singapore's economy, we are proud to deepen our commitment by enabling them to gain access to the latest technologies such as GenAI to fuel business growth. Through practical explainer videos and hands-on workshops conducted by us and Republic Polytechnic, one of our Talent Engagement Ecosystem partners, we aim to equip SMEs with the knowledge and skills to apply GenAI meaningfully in their businesses. These efforts are part of theprogramme, delivered in partnership with IMDA, to help SMEs innovate, grow, and stay competitive in today's digital economy.""In today's fast-evolving digital landscape, it is vital to equip our SMEs with the tools and knowledge to harness GenAI effectively. IMDA welcomes the collaboration with Prudential Singapore to ensure that our SMEs can navigate the complexities of this emerging technology, gain the confidence to use GenAI to boost productivity, and remain competitive in an AI-driven economy."Students from Republic Polytechnic's Year 2 and 3 cohorts were engaged to develop thetech explainer videos. Guided by experts from IMDA and Prudential, these students explored real-world GenAI applications while honing their videography and editing skills. These students were engaged for their digital fluency and to encourage knowledge sharing. Singapore's youth are among the most active users of GenAI, with 80 per centusing the technology at least once a week for tasks such as homework or school-related tasks."This collaboration exemplifies how industry and education can come together to empower both students and SMEs in the GenAI space. Our students had a unique opportunity to translate classroom learning into practical outcomes, co-creating resources that will help local businesses harness the potential of emerging technologies. We are proud to support Singapore's digital future by equipping youth with real-world skills while contributing to the nation's broader upskilling efforts.": "By involving youth in the creation of educational content for SMEs, the broader initiative nurtures the next generation of AI creators who are confident in using new technologies and eager to drive change. It also encourages intergenerational learning, where students support SMEs in the digital economy, building a future-ready ecosystem grounded in knowledge sharing and innovation."This collaboration, supported by the National Youth Council, deepened students' understanding of emerging technologies, served as a platform for them to apply their skills in a real-world setting, and is part of youth outreach initiatives aimed at helping SMEs #PrudentialSingapore #IMDA #GenAIXPonential The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd (Prudential Singapore) Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd is one of the top life and health insurance companies in Singapore, serving the financial and protection needs of the country's citizens for 94 years. The company has an AA- Financial Strength Rating from leading credit rating agency Standard & Poor's, with S$57.7 billion funds under management as at 31 December 2024. It delivers a suite of well-rounded product offerings in Protection, Savings and Investment through multiple distribution channels including a network of more than 5,400 financial representatives. About Infocomm Media Development Authority The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) leads Singapore's digital transformation by developing a vibrant digital economy and an inclusive digital society. As Architects of Singapore's Digital Future, we foster growth in Infocomm Technology and Media sectors in concert with progressive regulations, harnessing frontier technologies, and developing local talent and digital infrastructure ecosystems to establish Singapore as a digital metropolis. For more news and information, visit or follow IMDA on LinkedIn (IMDAsg) Facebook (IMDAsg) and Instagram (@imdasg).
