stafflink oct 2011 5.indd

Nanyang Polytechnic Staff Newsletter
For Internal Circulation Only
March 2012 Issue
Nanyang Polytechnic Conferred the Coveted
Singapore Quality Award (SQA)
We have done it! Team NYP at the Business Excellence Award Presentation Ceremony.
O
n 19 October 2011, Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP)
received the Singapore Quality Award.
Mr Chan Lee Mun, Principal & CEO of NYP, received the
award on behalf of NYP from Guest-of-Honour Mr S Iswaran,
Minister, Prime Minister Office and Second Minister for Home
Affairs and Trade & Industry during the Business Excellence
Awards Ceremony.
For more details on what attaining the
SQA mean to staff and students, and a
behind-the-scenes look at how we have
worked towards attaining the SQA, do
check out our eight-page SQA special
insert of Staff Link found inside.
Our principal Mr Chan received the SQA from Guest-of-Honour
Mr S Iswaran, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office and
Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry.
02 HIGHLIGHTS
Contributing to the Community with Project P.A.I.N.T
I
n an effort to do their bit for the community, about 30
NYP staff and senior management members gathered
together one early morning on 22 October 2011 to paint
the walls of 100 flats of residents living in the Teck Ghee
Constituency.
NYP senior management and students,
together with PM for a group photo.
Called Project P.A.I.N.T, the community effort also involved
more than 700 NYP staff and students. The project aims
to help needy families freshen up their homes by helping
to paint and refurbish them.
The Guest-of-Honour for Project P.A.I.N.T was Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong. As part of the event launch, the Prime
Minister also visited on of the flats to be painted. School
of Health Sciences lecturer Bernard Lian was there, to
help PM kick-start the paint project. Bernard recalled he
simply skipped the formalities, and handed PM Lee the
brush with minimal instructions.
PM kick-starts the project by visiting a flat to be painted.
School of Engineering (Manufacturing) lecturer Dr Hannah
Gardner agreed that the community service project was
fulfilling. She painted two flats with a group of students
and chatted with the residents.
“The residents there were so grateful,” said Dr Gardner.
“What we did was a really small thing but they kept
coming up to thank you. They kept wanting to shake our
hands.”
PM greeting NYP volunteers before the project.
“He was a very pleasant Prime Minister,” recalled Bernard.
“Very humble and down to earth. Therefore I felt very
comfortable around him. There was also a huge crowd
around us, so I just told him he could start painting.”
The staff who participated enjoy community service
and have asked enthusiastically to participate in similar
events in the future. “I believe we should contribute to the
community always,” said Bernard. “If you are healthy and
capable why not do it? It will give you the greatest joy in
life.” StaffLink
A Day of Fulfilling Community Service
The day started at 8am and ended at 9pm, a long
stretch for some. However, for NYP staff, it was very fulfilling
work. Apart from painting walls, the NYP staff also took
care to cover all the furniture to ensure the paint did not
stain the furniture, and cleaned up the apartment before
the residents returned.
Bernard’s team members were especially pleased
when their resident finally stepped into a freshly painted
apartment with smiles and thanked them profusely. They
even left materials like paint and soaps behind so that
the owner of the apartment could use it in the future.
NYP staff were among those who participated in this
meaningful project.
03 HIGHLIGHTS
Staff Conference 2011: Seeing the Big Picture
S
eeing the big picture for NYP: that was one of the key
points which Principal & CEO Mr Chan Lee Mun brought
across during Staff Conference 2011 held on 24 March
2011.
Strategies, Mission and Vision
Guided by the 4Cs and our values, NYP’s strategies are
formulated to serve our stakeholders and customers and
to address our strategic challenges. There are 10 strategic
goals that cover the four key areas found in the NYP Mission,
namely Pre-Employment Training, Continuing Education &
Training, Innovation & Enterprise and Internationalisation.
With all these components in place, the ultimate objective is
to realise NYP’s vision to be a premier polytechnic of global
distinction.
Besides the NYP Strategy Map, Mr Chan also updated
staff on other areas, such as the progress of the Staff
Development & Appraisal System, and NYP’s branding
exercise.
Can you see the big picture?
Speaking to more than 1,300 NYP staff, Mr Chan highlighted
the NYP Strategy Map to staff. The components are:
NYP++ Model of Excellence
At the foundation of the OE Framework is the NYP++ Model
of Excellence. This Model has four inter-related elements,
namely Culture, Concept, Capability and Connection.
Strategic goals and initiatives are formulated based on this
foundation.
Staff also heard presentations from Deputy Principals,
and Director of Centre for Quality and Professional
Development Centre. The topics covered included
campus expansion plans, students’ and prospects’
engagement, entrepreneurship and Continuing Education
& Training. StaffLink
Values
NYP has five core values: “Can-Do” Spirit, Innovation &
Enterprise, Borderless Teamwork, Development Orientation
and Nurturing & Caring.
Organisational Effectiveness Enablers
The five Organisational Effectiveness Enablers are:
Leadership, Planning, Information, People and Processes.
The strategy development and implementation processes
are guided by these enablers.
All ears at the staff conference for 1,300 NYP Staff.
04 OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
Towards 20 Years: Honouring Our Long Serving Staff
W
hen the Long Service Awards was held on the 1June
2011 at the Theatre for the Arts, one of the highlights
of the event was the sharing of personal experiences
from staff. The sharing of fond memories held by staff
drew much applause and smiles from the audience.
Hazizah receives an award for 15 years of service.
The old Outram campus.
“We would harvest ripe mangoes and pomelos (from
the Tiong Bahru campus) and share these fruits with the
library staff. We used to say ‘Don’t let Estates know this
or else we kena (get) scolding’, recalled Hazizah Satubi,
Communications Assistant (COMMS). “Well, before we
knew it, we were packing up books and equipment for
the big move to our new campus at Ang Mo Kio.”
Other long serving staff who made speeches included
Anand Krishnasamy, [School of Chemical & Life
Sciences (Life Sciences)], Wong Looi Kian, [School of
Engineering (Manufacturing)] and Albert Sng [School of
Engineering (Electronics)]. They expounded on thoughts
on relationships they have formed over the years with
colleagues, and the opportunities they had for career
growth and development.
This year, a total of 115 staff received plaques and
vouchers for serving 10 and 15 years in NYP respectively.
“Besides providing a conducive working environment, NYP is
to me my second family, which I shall always treasure,” said
Hazizah, who had been with NYP for more than 15 years.
This year, NYP will mark the Long Service Awards
ceremony with a new category – 20 years. StaffLink
The staff that have served for many years.
An Eye for Excellence
A
total of 33 staff were awarded 8 Star, 6 Gold and 19
Silver Excellent Service Awards (EXSA) 2010 during
Public Service Week on 11 May 2011. These awards are
issued by SPRING Singapore for outstanding customer
service in 10 key service sectors.
As the award presentation ceremony was decentralised
since 2009, NYP has been organising tea receptions
for EXSA recipients since. This was also a platform to
also honour WIT members who participated in the
Team Excellence Symposium, and NYP committee
members.
A certificate of recognition, was presented to seven
staff who have served more than 10 years in the NYPSA
Executive and ExCEL Coordinators committees.
Members of WHP committee, NYP Excel Day Organising
Committee and NYP SES Committee were also invited to
the tea reception. Over 140 WITs and various committees’
members attended the reception.
Leau Bee Lin receives her second Service Excellence certificate.
According to Ms Leau Bee Lin, Systems Analyst /CNC,
who had won the EXSA Star award twice, good service
is something she genuinely wanted to provide.
“Mostly, I’m just helping our own colleagues and peers,” she
said. “Because we know our computer applications so well,
we can advise them on what to do.” StaffLink
05 OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
National Day Award Winners 2011
N
ine NYP staff were conferred the National Day Awards in August 2011. We applaud them for their contributions
and offer our heartiest congratulations! The staff are:
Name
Lim Sew Hua
Ang Eng Nam
Ang Keng Leong Dennis
Yap Ying Huai
Tan Kheam Hock
Antoinette Ann Sabapathy
Ho Pang Yee
Lim Chai Ngee June
Woo Yeng Kee
Department/School
Purchasing & General Administration
Estates Management
School of Information Technology
Registrar’s Office
School of Engineering (Manufacturing)
School of Health Sciences (Nursing)
Finance
Principal’s Office
School of Design
Award
Public Administration Medal (Silver)
Public Administration Medal (Bronze)
The Commendation Medal
The Efficiency Medal
Our National Day Award recipients are (standing, from left): Dennis, Ying Huai, Eng Nam, Kheam Hock, Yeng Kee,
(seated, from left) Sew Hua, June and Antoinette.
Public Administration Medal recipients (from left): Eng Nam,
Sew Hua and Dennis.
Efficiency Medal recipients (from left): Yeng Kee and June.
Commendation Medal recipients (from left): Antoinette,
Ying Huai and Kheam Hock.
Efficiency Medal recipient Pang Yee.
06 OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
NYP Receives SHARE Platinum Award
N
YP has received the Community Chest SHARE
Platinum Award 2011, in recognition of NYP
staff’s monthly contribution to the Community Chest,
via payroll. This is the 9th year that NYP received this
award. NYP was recognised for its consistent strong
staff participation rate of more than 75%.
Ms Judy Tan, Director of Human Resource, received the
award on behalf of NYP from President Dr Tony Tan at
the Istana on 13 October 2011.
NYP would like to thank all staff who have contributed to
the SHARE programme and urge others to do so. StaffLink
President Tony Tan presenting Judy Tan, Director of Human Resource with
SHARE Platinum Award.
NYP Teams Shine at Team Excellence Symposium
A
unique method of improving the chilled water
pump operation that can cut the annual electricity
consumption by 9%.
The creation of an online system to improve the workflow
of the clinical appraisal process.
Enhancing the return process for library items.
These are just some innovative projects presented by
NYP teams during the Team Excellence Symposium
2011 held from 29 March to 1 April 2011.
NYP teams have done well in this symposium by chalking
up one STAR, five Golds and one Silver award. The teams
which participated are from Estates Management,
Library, School of Engineering (Electronics), School
of Engineering (Manufacturing), School of Business
Management and School of Health Sciences.
The STAR award went to µE, a team from School of
Engineering (Electronics) for their project “to reduce
the meticulous effort required in assigning academic
staff for invigilation duties during common tests and
examinations.” The team looked into how to cut down
on meticulous and laborious tasks needed to come up
with a schedule to assign invigilators.
Congrats Team µE!
This team went on to win the silver award at the
International Exposition on Team Excellence (IETEX)
held in June 2011. They achieved this despite intense
competition from 34 participating teams, including
teams from Hong Kong, India and Indonesia.
Congratulations to our teams! StaffLink
07 UPDATES
Celebrating Our 10,000th Nursing Graduand
D
uring the month of May 2011, the School of Health
Sciences (SHS) saw the graduation ceremony of its
10,000th Nursing graduand. It was a significant moment
for NYP, the first polytechnic to offer a Nursing diploma
in Singapore.
Both Geok Suan and Ling Huo agreed that much has
changed since 1992. This includes the move to a bigger
campus and having more resources. As the years went
by, they also needed to adapt their teaching styles to
suit different generations of students.
Nursing staff such as Chua Geok Suan and Chew Ling
Huo recall significant moments in the history of SHS since
the School started.
“When we first started, students usually do what you
tell them,” said Geok Suan. “Nowdays, students tend to
ask more questions. Before they do a task, you need to
explain to them why they need to do it.”
The Way We Were
“We were in the Outram campus,” said Geok Suan,
Manager, SHS. “It was a primary school previously, and
everything was so small. We had to make a three point
turn to go into the toilet. Nevertheless, we bonded well
with our students. l still keep in touch with my students,
from the first cohort and I really still like them a lot. We
were very close and we had lots of fun.”
Ling Huo pointed out the students of today need
different types of stimulation. She said, “In the past,
students used to be contented with listening to lectures.
Now, we have incorporated multimedia, simulation
and e-learning into our curriculum in order to help them
learn better.”
A Sense of Pride in SHS Heritage
Despite these challenges, Ling Huo and Geok Suan feel
a sense of pride to be part of the heritage of SHS. They
are happy when they hear of their students doing well
at the workplace, or winning prestigious awards such as
WorldSkills Competitions. They are also heartened when
their students return to NYP to join them as teaching
staff.
Nursing Orientation in a cramped office in 1992.
SHS lecturer Ling Huo cherished the closeness she shared
with her students and fondly remembered their playfulness.
“Once I entered a classroom, and there were no
students there. I thought ‘what happened?’” she
recalled. “Then I looked out of the window and saw
all my students hiding outside. They were all perched
outside the window trying to see what my reaction
was!”
Outdoors Nursing Orientation in 1992.
One such lecturer
who hails from
the pioneer
batch of Nursing
student is Joelle
Yap. She said,
“It’s a privilege
to be working
alongside with my
former lecturers.
I am in between
generations, and
can identify with
both students and
my colleagues.
Having been a
student before, it’s
one of the ways I
can inspire potential
nurses.”
Wong Luan Wah, Director/School of Health Sciences
(Nursing), summed up aptly, “Our graduates constitute
more than half of Singapore’s nursing workforce
and are making important contributions to our
healthcare industry, as many of them have assumed
leadership positions in nursing practice, education and
administration. It has been a privilege for me to be one
the pioneers in setting up SHS and to participate in this
20-year journey.”StaffLink
08 WHP INITIATIVES
ITIS - NUSS Games 2011: Champions of the Road
S
aturday, 30th July was a triumphant day for NYP staff
as they emerged as champions in the Inter-Tertiary
Institute Staff – National University of Singapore Society
Road Race 2011 (ITIS-NUSS) at Temasek Polytechnic
and Bedok Reservoir.
positions for each category. In the Men’s Open team
and Men’s Veteran team results, NYP came in first and
third respectively.
Gan Heng Hui, Assistant Manager from NYP School
of Chemical and Life Sciences, came in first in the
Women’s Open, which covered a distance of 5.8 km.
She clocked in at 27 minutes 35 seconds: two minutes
faster than her closest competitor.
“I was very surprised and happy, as there were many
seasoned runners,” she said. “I was aiming to finish in a
good time and if can win it’s a bonus. I will work towards
this standard in the future.”
This is Heng Hui’s second time participating in the race.
She came in second in her previous race. The regular
runner meets her colleagues as early as 7.15am to run
on campus.
Our runners have done us proud!
NYP participated in the Men’s Open, Men’s Veteran,
Women’s Open and Women’s Veteran Individual
categories, and managed to be placed in the top five
A total of 33 staff took part in the race, which covered
distances from 4 to 6km. NYP also won 3rd position in
the ITIS Soccer 7-A-Side and Bowling tournaments, and
5th in the ITIS Table Tennis tournament. StaffLink
Ultra Marathons? No Sweat!
A
vid runners Dr Paramanantham Ramanujam and
Ho Hee Shen enjoy a good lunchtime run in NYP
whenever they can. In fact, these two lecturers from
School of Health Sciences even participated in an
ultramarathon. At 84km, this is twice the distance of
a normal marathon. However, despite the difficulties,
both of them may participate again. They also
credited NYP for providing them excellent support for
their running activities.
Despite the challenges, Dr Param will run another
ultramarathon next year and plans to train for it by
running for two to three hours at night. He also runs 5
km every afternoon during lunchtime.
Similarly, Hee Shen feels that NYP has the right facilities
to cater to his exercise schedule. He has participated in
Sundown Marathon with Dr Param and currently prefers
triathlons as he feels they put less pressure on him.
Said Dr Param,“My first ultramarathon was in 2008.
It was a night marathon called Sundown Marathon.
It was very tough. I ran for 12 hours 40 minutes, from
about 9 pm to 9 am. I also lost my way and had to
retrace my steps. My body is not used to staying up in
the night. Looking back, it was a good way to test my
endurance.”
Ho Hee Shen at the MR25 Ultra Marathon.
Dr Param at a Standard Chartered Marathon.
“On alternate weekdays, I run for an hour, or swim half
an hour in NYP. On weekends I run up to 40km and ride
up to 120km,” he said. “NYP has a swimming pool and
running track, which is quite good for exercise during
mornings, lunch or after work. My colleagues and I
exercise together during lunch and my boss is also very
supportive of our efforts to keep fit.” StaffLink
09 WHP INITIATIVES
NYP20 Run
I
t was a most meaningful campus road race for NYP
staff, students and alumni who took part. Besides having
an exciting race with friends and colleagues, they also
celebrated NYP’s 20th anniversary on 27 July 2011.
Off we go, may the best runner win!
Getting ready to run.
The scorching afternoon heat certainly did not dampen
the carnival-like atmosphere, as the runners await with
anticipation to start the NYP20 Run race.
A total of 69 staff took part. Said Jennifer Yeo, Assistant
Manager/Admissions, “This run was organised to
commemorate NYP’s 20th anniversary, and what a great
way to celebrate this in a fun and healthy way together with
staff and students!” Jennifer was runners-up in the women
(staff) category. StaffLink
NYP Sports for Life: Bridging the Distance in the Rain
Getting ready for brisk walking.
A
t first, participants gearing up for NYP’s annual
Sports for Life Run/Walk event were worried it
would rain. And it did. Exactly at 4pm when the race
was about the start. But that didn’t dampen their
spirits.
About 100 staff and participants turned up for the
event. Everyone did their warm ups and patiently
waited for the rain to stop. When the rain slowed after
half an hour, the participants for the 2.4km run took off
on wet ground at the NYP stadium.
Staff and student helpers were also on hand to help
clear the water off the tracks with their wipers. There
was a spirit of camaraderie in the air. The 2.0km brisk
walking participants who waited patiently for their turn
cheered the runners on enthusiastically.
As an incentive, participants were rewarded with $30,
$20 and $10 NTUC vouchers if they have obtained
Gold, Silver or Bronze standards in their age categories
respectively.
According to Jessebel Khoo, web designer/COMMS,
the participants were very good, and easily surpassed
her, Jessebel took part in the run in the under 30
category and got a Bronze.
“It’s good to see many different people from different
departments get together to do something they enjoy,”
she said. “I’m one of the last few ones and their fitness
is much better than mine. But I’ll definitely aim for silver
next year.” StaffLink
10 STAFF DEVELOPMENT
A Memorable Graduation Day for Our Colleagues
G
raduation 2011 was a memorable one, not just for
our graduands, but also for NYP staff who received
their Diploma in Business Administration (Part-Time) on 27
May 2011.
Everyone gets a rose on graduation day!
The top graduand – from the cohort of 40 – is Tan Swee
Hong, Management Support Officer from School of
Chemical & Life Sciences. Swee Hong is the recipient of
the NTUC FairPrice Achievement Award (see article on
page 11). Besides Swee Hong, Lim Bee Lee from School
of Engineering (Electronics) also attained the Diploma
with Merit.
Our principal is also happy for us!
For them, the four years spent poring over books, doing
projects and studying for exams was certainly worth the
while, as they celebrated their achievements with their
family and friends.
Ten of our colleagues received their diplomas at
this ceremony. They were also joined by three other
colleagues who have completed their studies earlier.
For Bee Lee, the journey of completing this course
was a memorable and meaningful one, although
she confessed that much stamina and willpower was
needed for the four-year course. “What kept me going
was the encouragement from my bosses and family
members, and the very pleasant study environment
we had. My coursemates were fun to work with, and
we spent many happy moments together doing
projects and studying for tests,” said Bee Lee.
This special group of graduates juggled studies, work and
family commitments
A big cheer for all of us!
This very special group of graduands juggled full-time
work, part-time studies and family commitments. Lessons
for them took place three times a week at night, and
they also return to campus on other nights or Saturdays,
to discuss projects and form study groups.
Our heartiest congratulations to these graduands!
Following in their footsteps is another batch of staff
doing the same diploma under the day release
scheme. They will be graduating next year. For this
batch of students, Bee Lee has this advice, “Just do
your very best, and don’t give up. Tell yourself that
you will be able to get through all your subjects,”
she said. StaffLink
11 STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Top Award Winner Enjoys the Learning Process
recognised when she emerged at the top student of her
cohort, and received the NTUC FairPrice Achievement
Award during her graduation ceremony in May 2011.
Swee Hong, a Management Support Officer from School
of Chemical & Life Sciences (Life Sciences), decided to
take up this diploma course in 2007 because she wanted
to upgrade her qualifications to stay employable. “Having
left school more than 20 years ago, it was difficult to switch
to being a student again at first,” explained Swee Hong.
“But I told myself to be cheerful and stay positive. I stayed
focused. I also ensured that I understood the concepts
behind what I’ve learnt, instead of merely memorising
text.”
Swee Hong with Principal
A
giant-sized mobile phone, a TV set made out of
cardboard carton, a huge specially-designed
newspaper advertisement...these are just some eyecatching props which Tan Swee Hong has created, to
do business presentations in her Diploma in Business
Administration classes. Swee Hong takes extra effort to
do this because she believes that good visual aids are
important to drive her points across.
Indeed, Swee Hong’s enthusiasm and keenness to learn
stood out during the course of her studies. She said, “I
believe that having passion is important. I simply enjoy
what I do, and I love to learn new knowledge.”
Swee Hong also set high standards for herself, be it in
her class presentations, projects or tests. Her efforts were
Swee Hong is also grateful to her husband and two
teenage sons for their support. “My family helped out
with the housework, and only got the chance to eat
home-cooked food during the weekends. But they never
complained and were very understanding about my
studies,” said Swee Hong.
Swee Hong is also a source of inspiration for the current
batch of colleagues undergoing the same diploma. She
would encourage them to press on with their studies,
even when the going gets tough. She also shares notes
and study tips with them.
How does Swee Hong feel about receiving the NTUC
FairPrice Achievement Award? Said Swee Hong, “When
I was given this opportunity to do this diploma, I told
myself that I must do my very best. I’m very grateful to
management for giving me the chance, and for the SBM
lecturers for their hard work. To me, getting this award is
the best possible way to thank them.” StaffLink
The WSHA: What It Means for NYP
S
tarting from 1 September 2011, the Workplace Safety
and Health Act (WSHA) is appliable to all workplaces
in Singapore, including NYP.
This Act aims to cultivate good safety habits, and to
promote a strong safety culture in the workplace. It
ensures that the stakeholders involved at the workplace
– including employer and employees – take measures
to ensure the safety and health of everyone at the
workplace.
NYP has established a Workplace Safety and Health
(WSH) Committee to oversee the development and
management of workplace safety and health. Key
staff in Schools and Corporate Departments have been
identified as WSH Risk Assessment Champions. These
staff went through training on basic health and safety
principles and concepts, including hazard identification,
risk evaluation and risk control. They also learnt about
the NYP WSH Risk Assessment methodology, where they
were taught how to keep an inventory of work activities,
manage a WSH risk register and management plan.
In addition, briefings have been conducted for all NYP
staff, to enable them to better understand the legal
requirements of the WSHA and their role in WSH risk
management.
Let’s work together to
ensure that the NYP
work environment
continues to be a safe
and healthy one! StaffLink
12 STAFF DEVELOPMENT
A Rewarding Experience in Cambridge
J
ust back from completing his one year Master’s
programme in Cambridge University, Lim Wei Loong
couldn’t be happier. He spent half his time away from
his family being swamped with heavy assignments in
a foreign land. However, being able to advance his
research and teaching knowledge was a dream come
true.
The Allied Health lecturer read social and developmental
psychology at Cambridge, and also visited to Liverpool
and Arsenal football clubs. His exploits include trying to
punt (row a boat with a pole) around Cambridge, and
hunting down unavailable professors.
The beautiful river by Cambridge.
in the subject matter. He taught them about classical
statistical techniques, and in turn, learnt about new
statistical techniques from them.
Being in a beautiful place with a vibrant and intense
learning environment also helped Wei Loong cope with
being away from home. He was very grateful to his NYP
colleagues for sending him a birthday card in the middle
of winter.
As students were encouraged to attend different
seminars, Wei Loong felt that the campus was bubbling
with ideas, and at the forefront of research in many
areas.
Wei Loong trying to punt at Cambridge. It is not as easy as it looks.
“In Cambridge, nobody is there to hold your hand. Some
professors take a long time to reply emails, and some
others never reply emails. You really have to seek them
out,” said Wei Loong. “However, there were also those
who went out of their ways to help students, and I was
very fortunate to have a very good supervisor, a very
fatherly and approachable figure.”
Cambridge University, with over 800 years of history.
Amidst the interesting projects he did included a Facebook
survey on paternal influence and mental health in adults,
and a critical appraisal essay that was supposed to be
critical but was deemed “too harsh”.
Wei Loong plans to put to good use the research skills and
concepts he learnt by taking more modules, and doing
more research in the field of mental health.
Wei Loong wears his NYP shirt everywhere he goes.
Another challenge Wei Loong faced was having to
catch up with his younger course mates, mostly fresh
graduates out of university who were more updated
“When I came back, I wanted to familiarise myself more
with the mental health environment here, in the Asian
context,” he said. “What I learnt was very enlightening,
and helped me to formulate my research, conceptualise
issues and measure them. It was tremendously value
added.” StaffLink
13 STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Giving Top-Notch Service:
the Retail Certified Service Professional Programme
A
fter attending the Retail Certified Service Professional
[(R) CSP] programme, Deputy Manager Jessie Goh
from School of Engineering (Electronics) remembered a
particular acronym which she has been applying daily,
not just to her job, but to her life.
The sharing we had, based on real-life experiences
from the trainer and participants, was very useful. I also
enjoyed activities like role play which helps us to learn
better. For example, to highlight ‘Service in Action’, we
took turns to be the service concierge team to serve the
other participants.”
Remembering what we have learnt.
The acronym is “ABC” stands for “Attitudes, Behaviours
and Consequences,” which highlights how your attitude
towards service would have an impact on how you act,
and its consequences. Said Jessie, “I learnt how to have
a positive attitude and mindset, and how to respond
positively. And in return, I enjoy a happy and positive day
every day.”
Each participant is recognised on graduation day.
Michael Triarico, Lecturer from School of Business
Management, added that many concepts in the
programme is applicable in his job. He said, “I have learnt
concepts like: “be passionate, know your job well, have
a customer first mindset, have integrity, be a team player,
strive for improvement, achieve excellence, and so on.
These can be applied to my job activities everyday when
dealing with our work colleagues and more importantly
with our NYP students.”
NYP staff enjoying the workshop.
This is just one example of the wealth of knowledge
participants of the (R) CSP programme has learnt. This
programme, conducted by the Singapore Institute of
Retail Studies, aims to inculcate in participants the right
service mindset, in order to deliver service excellence.
Participants in this five-day programme learnt how to
go the extra mile, provide customised and personalised
service, and maintain a professional image when
interacting with customers.
A total of 51 NYP staff attended three rounds of the
programme since August 2010. The staff are from Schools
and Corporate Departments.
Useful Lessons on Service Excellence
Staff who attended the programme felt that they have
learnt many useful lessons on service excellence. Said
Jessie, “The course provided valuable insights and
knowledge of what it takes to be an Excellence Service
Professional, by having the right mindset and qualities.
A candid group shot.
Michael summed up: “The (R) CSP was a very
worthwhile and useful
programme to attend. The
course allows you to think outside the box by learning the
basics of customer service, going the extra mile for the
customer and giving customer personalised service with
passion. The manner the programme was conducted
through ‘show and tell’ activities made the learning
process more meaningful and enabled us to better
view the customer’s perspective.” StaffLink
14 NYPSA NEWS
New NYPSA Executive Committee Elected
T
he NYP Staff Association (NYPSA) held its 14th Annual
General Meeting on 13 April 2011 and the following
members were elected:
President
Vice President
Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer
Committee Members
Honorary Auditors
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
Ng Ek Koon
Loo Bee Seng
Nicole Yong
Tham Kwong Mun
Francis Toh
Low Kim Tuck
Lena Yeo, Timothy Ngien,
Hazizah Satubi, Alice Wang,
Denis Ang, Jane Tang,
Woo Yeng Kee, Oma Simon,
Jennifer Koh, Charlie Tan,
Eudora Soh, Clyda Puah,
Wong Twee Wee and
Joanne Low
The 14 Exco of NYPSA.
: Sim Gek Cheok, Christina Wong
Here’s a round-up of recent NYPSA activities:
DAY TRIP TO TANJUNG PIAI
On 30 April 2011, a group of 40 staff and their family
members went on a one-day trip to Tanjung Piai. Tanjung
Piai is also known as “The Southernmost Tip of Mainland
Asia”. Highlights include visit to the Tanjung Piai National
Park and Kukup Fish Farm visit.
OF SHEEP, MUSHROOMS AND OSTRICHES
A one-day trip was organised on 4 June 2011, this time
to Kluang for 132 staff and their families. They visited the
UK Agro Farm, where participants get to visit the sheep
pen and pet the lambs. Other highlights include visits to a
mushroom farm, vegetable/herb farm, passion fruit farm,
and ostrich park.
Seeing how fishes are farmed at Kukup.
In Kluang, on an agro adventure!
What a load of fish.
A hike down Kluang’s rural areas.
Continued on page 15
15 NYPSA NEWS
KIDS BRUSH UP ON SPORTS SKILLS
Children got the chance to brush up on their table tennis
and soccer skills during two clinics organised in June
2011.
WE LOVE DURIANS!
Durian lovers, some 80 of them, enjoyed a durian feast on
the evening of 8 July 2011, with durians specially brought
into the campus at the North Canteen.
These are delicious!
Giving them a good tackle!
All warmed up and ready to play table tennis!
Just can’t eat enough.
IT’S A WRAP
Woo Yeng Kee, lecturer from SDN, conducted a lunch
time workshop on 20 July 2011 to weave ketupat casings
from used magazine papers and ribbons. The completed
works can be used for decorations. StaffLink
Learning to make ketupat casings.
A Garden to Call Our Own
D
o you know that NYP has a plot of land which has
been well-looked-after by staff with green fingers?
This new Special Interest Group (SIG), known as the
Gardening for Wellness interest group, has about 20
members. They look after the garden located near NYP’s
Avenue 9 entrance, together with students from the Geo
Council.
brinjals, peanuts, tapioca, bananas and sweet potatoes
before.
The interest group meets every Wednesday at 5 pm, and
members also return on other days of the week or on
Saturdays to tend to the plants. There is much to be done,
including weeding, watering of plants and watching out
for pesky snails who may eat up young shoots.
Interested to join this group? You can contact James at
[email protected] StaffLink
Making things grow is our passion.
“We call this our community garden,” explained James
Chan, Teaching Associate from School of Engineering
(Manufacturing), “We divided the garden into four main
plots, mainly vegetables, herbs, salads and flowers.”
The group has grown chilli, radish and bitter gourds since
August. In the past, they have harvested pineapples,
Look at the results in a few months!
NYP: An Organisa�on Commi�ed
to World-Class Business Excellence
NYP is certainly no stranger to business excellence. It has the honour of having three top business
excellence awards conferred by Singapore SQA governing council – the People Excellence Award (2005),
the Innova�on Excellence Award (2009) and the Singapore Quality Award (2011).
According to the SPRING website, the People Excellence Award
is “the highest accolade given to organisa�on for people
excellence.” In a similar vein, the Innova�on Excellence Award
is the “highest accolade given to innova�ve organisa�ons in
Singapore.”
Above all, the Singapore Quality Award is the “the most
pres�gious award conferred on organisa�ons that demonstrate
the highest standards of business excellence.”
NYP’s journey of Organisa�onal Excellence is a con�nual one
which has began since its incep�on in 1992. The hallmarks
of NYP’s success include its comprehensive Orgainsa�onal
Excellence Framework that supports our mission and vision.
NYP’s success has been reflected in the various accolades
and awards it has a�ained over the years. In the pioneering
years, NYP a�ained important cer�fica�ons such as
the ISO 9002 quality standards (1996) and ISO 14001
cer�fica�on (1999). Over the years, it a�ained various other
organisa�onal awards (see chart below for details).
NYP’s Journey of OE Excellence: Key OE Milestones
Commi�ed to business excellence:
NYP has the honour of three top business
excellence awards.
Year
Milestone
1996
ISO 9002 quality standards
1999
People Developer Standard
1999
Singapore Quality Class
1999
ISO 14001 quality standards
2000
Public Service Award for Organisa�onal Excellence
2003
Singapore Innova�on Class
2004
Public Service Award for Organisa�onal Excellence
2005
Green Mark Pla�num Award
2005
People Excellence Award
2006
Singapore Service Class
2006
Dis�nguished Public Service Award for
Organisa�onal Excellence
2009
Hewi� Best Employers in Singapore Award
2009
Innova�on Excellence Award
2010
Public Service Achievement Award
2010
Watermark Award
2011
Singapore Quality Award
SQA Special Edition I 01
SQA
Views from Staff
“The SQA: A Tes�monial of
World Class Excellence!”
What does being conferred the SQA mean? For NYP staff, there is a sense of pride
and accomplishment in ge�ng this award. Here are views from staff on SQA:
“This pinnacle award a�ests to the
emphasis that all levels of staff in
NYP have paid to our organisa�onal
excellence journey. Underpinning
this are our values and culture that
have been nurtured and developed
over the years and are now deeply
entrenched into the very fabric of
our organisa�on. As we take pride
and celebrate the SQA Award, I
would like to take this opportunity
to thank my team members
of Category 1 (Leadership) for
their support and contribu�ons
throughout the en�re journey.”
“A�aining the Singapore Quality Award is yet another testament of the NYP values
ingrained in our organisa�onal DNA. Our innova�ve educa�onal concepts and
pedagogies with strong industry partnership form the solid founda�on. Our can-dospirit galvanises us to embrace dynamic changes and rise to new challenges. Across
corporate departments and Schools, borderless teamwork spawns synergy and a
mul�plier effect that contributes to our success in many significant ini�a�ves. With
development orienta�on, we adopt a forward-looking and proac�ve approach in our
planning and execu�on. Above all, a nurturing and caring people
orienta�on, a firm belief that every student and staff has in him
or her the poten�al to excel and contribute to the community,
mo�vates us to strive for organisa�onal excellence.”
Lai Poh Hing
SQA Category 2
Director/School of
Informa�on Technology
Anthony Woon
SQA Category 1
Registrar, Director/Student Affairs
and Director/
Ins�tute of Precision Engineering
“Receiving the SQA is a source of pride, confirming that the level of
implementa�on of our informa�on systems is indeed world-class. The NYP InfoSystem has always been based on leading edge concepts and we are par�cularly
proud of our Knowledge-Management Systems (KM). Such system allows a rapid
deployment of ini�a�ves and the ability to bring resources with the right knowhow & experience to any project.
Also on behalf of the co-chairman Daniel Tan, I wish to thank the en�re
Category 3 team (Mrs Tao Kok Liu, Mr Cher Thon Jiang, Mr Koh Swee Guan,
Mr Dennis K L Ang, Ms Lucy Poon & Ms Vevian Cheong) for their
great work in organising and presen�ng our sophis�cated infosystem, the staff of CNC for their exper�se in delivering the
systems and all users at School & Corporate for making the
System a great success.
Chiang Kah Kee
“A�aining the
Singapore Quality
Award is yet another
testament of the NYP
values ingrained in
our organisa�onal
DNA...”
02 I SQA S p e c i a l E d i t io n
SQA Category 3
Director/School of Business
Management & Director (Projects)
“Our journey for
organisa�onal
excellence does
not stop here with
the SQA...”
“I was definitely elated when the news that we have
a�ained the SQA was announced. I would like to
think that we did well in all aspects, but of course,
our journey for organisa�onal excellence does not
stop here with the SQA. In fact, it gives us more
reasons to con�nue to do even be�er in future!
I would like to thank all my team members – Penny,
Cheng Mun, Bryan, Chris�ne, Beng Hock, and all my
HR colleagues - for their excellent and
unwavering support in preparing
for the SQA audit of Category 4
(People). Three cheers to NYP, our
pioneers and leaders!”
Judy Tan
SQA Category 4
Director/Human Resource
“The SQA is the pinnacle award for business excellence
and it is a tes�monial of NYP’s achievement of world class
excellence. Receiving this pres�gious award is part of NYP’s
quality journey which started from ISO 9000 & 14000
cer�fica�on, the People Excellence and the Innova�on
Excellence Award.
“I am delighted that NYP has a�ained the SQA Award,
a strong affirma�on that we are well on our journey
of excellence. This award recognises and encourages
us to con�nue to strive for greater excellence as we
move forward to becoming a premier polytechnic of
global dis�nc�on.
Under the SQA framework, the seven criteria are interlinked
to each other, covering approach, deployment and key
results to a�ain world class excellence. Each criterion
contributes its propor�on to the overall SQA score.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all
colleagues and in par�cular, members of the SQA
Category 6 (Customer) Team, who had contributed to
the a�ainment of the SQA.”
For Category 5, the key pillars of our success are as follows:
our robust and integrated innova�on processes & process
management, improvement processes and key results.
Chan Yew Meng
To achieve SQA, it is essen�al that colleagues at all levels
- from Senior Management to suppor�ng staff at Schools/
Corporate Departments - contribute and support this
applica�on. Throughout the SQA journey, team members
of Cat 5, comprising of colleagues from SEG(M), SCL(C), PSC,
SBM, SDN and SHS, have worked closely together.
All NYP colleagues should be proud to be part
of an SQA organisa�on.”
Ho Hooi Min
SQA Category 5
Senior Director/School of Engineering
(Manufacturing),
Senior Director/College of
Con�nuing Educa�on and
Director/School of Chemical &
Life Sciences (Chemical)
SQA Category 6
Deputy Principal (Innova�on
& Enterprise),
Senior Director/School of
Engineering (Electronics) and
Senior Director/Centre for
Professional & Leadership
Development
“The SQA is the pinnacle
award for business
excellence and it is a
tes�monial of NYP’s
achievement of world
class excellence...”
SQA Special Edition I 03
SQA
“Ge�ng the SQA is the realisa�on of our goal
towards a�aining organisa�onal excellence...”
“The SQA affirms NYP as a provider of quality polytechnic
educa�on. The award will provide the impetus for us
to con�nue to surpass our already high standards. At a
personal level, this award – for me – affirms that NYP is
a great organisa�on to work for; an organisa�on which
provides its staff with a suppor�ve work
environment and develops its staff to
their fullest poten�al. I am proud to be
part of this world-class organisa�on.”
Wong Poh Seng
Manager/School of Chemical &
Life Sciences
“I was called up for the SQA interview. There was a huge
crowd that day, easily 8 to 9 of us, and everyone had
a chance to answer the ques�ons. I felt comfortable
answering the ques�ons as I could relate them to my
work areas. Ge�ng the SQA is the realisa�on of our
goal towards a�aining organisa�onal
excellence. It is heartening how all of us
worked towards a�aining this goal.”
Karen Ang
Assistant Manager (Community Service
& Engagement)/Student Affairs
“I was one of the staff who a�ended the interview and
felt very posi�ve about it. The team spirit among the
interviewees was good and we supported each other by
spontaneously reinforcing each other’s responses.
For me, receiving the SQA is an endorsement of the
strong leadership, people-orienta�on and processes that
NYP has. I’m, of course, very happy that NYP has received
this endorsement. Given NYP’s development orienta�on
and can-do spirit, I believe we will con�nue to build on
our strengths and con�nue to excel in the
years ahead.”
Suze�e Tan
Manager/Professional
Development Centre
“I feel that ge�ng the award is �mely. The innova�ve mindset
and ‘can-do’ spirit have been part of our organisa�onal
culture for many years. I am confident that NYP colleagues
will con�nue to be guided by the ‘Innova�on Everywhere’
framework and as a result, will receive more accolades in our
organisa�onal excellence journey.”
Mohd Kamil Yusoff
Assistant Manager/Acquisi�ons Services, Library
“The innova�ve mindset and ‘can-do’ spirit have been
part of our organisa�onal culture for many years...”
04 I SQA S p e c i a l E d i t io n
Views from Students
“I Feel My Diploma Will
Be More Valued Than Ever...”
Ge�ng the SQA means the assurance of receiving an educa�on in an established and
high-quality polytechnic...this summarises how our students feel about NYP receiving the SQA.
Here are some of their views:
“I am definitely happy and proud
that my alma mater has received
the Singapore Quality Award.
NYP has always been a premier
polytechnic providing quality
educa�on and training to
prepare students and adult
learners for work and life.
NYP has provided me with a lot
of opportuni�es to grow, discover
myself and unleash my fullest poten�al throughout my
three years as a student. I was very honoured to be given
the opportunity to represent Singapore in the WorldSkills
Compe��on 2009 held in Calgary, Canada, where I
competed against 900 talented youths from 51 countries in
45 skill areas. The training, resources and facili�es provided
by NYP, along with the support of my helpful and dedicated
lecturers made it possible for me to win the pres�gious
Albert Vidal Award, the top award given to the compe�tor
with the highest score among all other compe�tors. Thank
you NYP!”
“I feel very proud to be an NYP student and to be studying
in such a good environment. I’m glad we have won so
many awards and is well recognised world-wide. The
lecturers at NYP are very caring and a�en�ve and they
look for the best in you. All the training and guidance
certainly helped me in my performance at the Microso�
Imagine Cup compe��on.”
Mong Yunheng
(par�cipated in Microso� Imagine Cup and won second
runners-up)
Diploma in Informa�on Security
School of Informa�on Technology
Tan Thiam Shui
(par�cipated in WorldSkills Compe��on 2009 and
Albert Vidal Award winner)
Diploma in Informa�on Technology
School of Informa�on Technology
“Although NYP is quite young, it has established itself as
a quality polytechnic that offers a wide range of courses.
NYP has also won many awards that affirm its excellence
as an organisa�on. It is also innova�ve with regards to
teaching methods that cater to different Schools.
“Ge�ng the award is great. As a student of NYP, I’m
proud to hear that my polytechnic has received this
award. I want to congratulate everyone who worked hard
to a�ain this.
As a student of NYP, I feel proud that
NYP won such a pres�gious award as
the SQA. It further asserts NYP’s
posi�on as an established
polytechnic in Singapore.”
Being at NYP has helped me developed my character
and taught me about the world outside. It gave me
the opportunity to go overseas and see how others do
their work and it helped me developed my skills as an
engineer.”
Diploma in Business Management
School of Business Management
Tan Yee Keat
Tang Shi Jie
(par�cipated in WorldSkills
Compe��on 2011 and
Singapore Robo�cs Games)
Diploma in Electronics, Computer
& Communica�ons Engineering
School of Engineering
SQA Special Edition I 05
SQA
“I am glad that NYP has a�ained the
SQA! Go, NYP! My personal opinion
of NYP is that the organisa�on takes
good care of their students and
lecturers. We have a huge range of
up-to-date facili�es and equipment in
the polytechnic. NYP also connects to
students via frequent emails that inform them of current
happenings around in school, something that I find to be
useful.”
Clarence Ang Wee Kiat
Diploma in Digital Entertainment Technology
School of Interac�ve & Digital Media
“I see NYP as a world class educa�on provider, where the
corporate values are ins�lled into every single staff. I’ve
always felt the professionalism spirit in each and every
lecturer or mentor who has taught me.
I was very excited to learn that NYP has a�ained the SQA.
It’s reassuring to know that I’m gradua�ng from a worldclass educa�on provider; I feel my diploma will be more
valued than ever. Now I can proudly share with my fellow
peers that I’m from pres�gious organisa�on with SQA.”
“I feel proud of NYP, and proud to be part of this
polytechnic. NYP always provided equal opportuni�es to
every student, and it is up to each individual to take up
those opportuni�es to excel. This applies not just to the
academic studies but also other areas as well.”
Goh Chee Kiong
Diploma in Biomedical Engineering
School of Engineering
Eng Li Jwee
Diploma in Mul�media & Infocomm Technology
School of Engineering
“I feel happy and honoured for NYP to receive the SQA. I
feel that NYP is an organisa�on that cares about its
students’ welfare. There are a lot of
ac�vi�es organised by NYP to allow
students from different schools to
interact with each other and form strong
bonds.”
“NYP is an ins�tu�on that provides many opportuni�es for
students to excel in their academic
studies and other areas of interest.
It’s great to hear about NYP receiving
the SQA and I feel proud that we won!”
Lam Kit Man
Janelle Joy Foo
Diploma in Dental Hygiene & Therapy
School of Health Sciences
Diploma in Chemical & Green Technology
School of Chemical & Life Sciences
“My joy lies not just
in hearing news of
NYP being awarded
this pres�gious
award, but also in
being a part of this
community.”
06 I SQA S p e c i a l E d i t io n
“Having NYP a�ain the SQA is wonderful news. Almost like the badge of honour
on an approved workman’s uniform. Hard work and consistent performance have
always been evident in the way NYP serves its student and staff community. The
SQA award, like a badge, is just visible proof of it. My joy lies not just in hearing
news of NYP being awarded this pres�gious award, but also in being a part of this
community; of staff lecturers and students who prove by their ac�ons the value
of teaching, as well as being taught.”
Sara Leow
Diploma in Industrial Design
School of Design
Interpre�ng data, doing logis�cs coordina�on, and essen�ally making sure that
everything works like clockwork....the OE Ac�on Team in ac�on!
Behind the Scenes
The OE Ac�on Team...in Ac�on!
Never a dull moment – that best describes what the OE Ac�on Team does.
Said team member Chris�ne Chua, Manager/Human Resource, “As the name
OE Ac�on Team rightly suggests, it was full of ac�on and there was hardly a dull
moment. The team was clear about the ul�mate goal and everyone did his or her
best to achieve it.”
The team, comprising representa�ves from Corporate Departments and Schools,
was set up to ensure that all aspects of the SQA assessment could be looked into
and coordinated. These include the compila�on and interpreta�on of data, SQA
publicity, logis�cs arrangements, as well as briefings and training sessions for staff.
the smooth running of the SQA audit,
forgoing breaks and even moving their
‘office’ to the ba�le ground while awai�ng
for instruc�ons. It was no doubt a �ring
process but everyone didn’t mind. The
most enjoyable part of this process was
the camaraderie which we had as a team.”
In addi�on, the OE Ac�on Team was in charge of the coordina�on of the three-day
site visit by the SQA team in July 2011. The team set up its “headquarters”, tucked
away at A536, and coordinated SQA efforts during these cri�cal three days.
Tan Khee Soon, Manager/School of
Design, felt that the en�re process was
exci�ng. He said, “There was much
adrenaline rush throughout the three
days. Everyone stayed at A536, where the
ac�on was. We were diligently making
sure that the interviewees turned up for
their briefings on �me.
Recalled Lim Chai Yen, Assistant Manager/School of Chemical & Life Sciences,
“Throughout the three days of the SQA, I was pleasantly surprised and moved by
what I saw. The members of the working commi�ee were working hard to ensure
Con�nued on page 8
Se�ng Up Our Own “HQ” and Ready for “Ba�le”
SQA Special Edition I 07
SQA
Savouring sweet success –
members of the OE Ac�on Team
pose with the SQA.
Con�nued from page 7
Teamwork Wins the Day
For OE Ac�on Team members, what was most memorable
about the SQA prepara�on was the high level of teamwork,
right from the start. Recalled Tan Kheam Hock, Manager/
School of Engineering (Manufacturing), “Before and during
the site visit, every team member had a role to play. The team
worked cohesively to support one another.”
Added Chai Yen, “What moved me was how even the
interviewees were repor�ng early, and reviewing the ques�ons
posed. It was amazing how so many people come together
to achieve a common goal. Regardless of who they were – be
it senior management, lecturers or corporate support staff
– everyone was doing his or her best to help NYP achieve its
goal. So many people worked seamlessly towards a common
goal, and that kept my spirits high!”
Savouring Sweet Success
For the OE Ac�on Team, ge�ng the SQA award made all the
hard work and effort worth it.
Said Kheam Hock, “I am very happy and proud of NYP. The
SQA is the pinnacle award for business excellence and it is a
tes�mony of NYP achieving world-class excellence.”
Added Chris�ne, “It was worth it all. Seeing the perseverance
and can-do-spirit demonstrated by NYPians!”
Glimpses from the OE Ac�on Team
“I was in charge of the SQA Report to be submi�ed
to assessors. Thanks to the support from all staff who
contributed their inputs, we came up with a final report
which could depict the different facets of NYP’s business
excellence.”
Teo Beng Hock
Manager/School of Engineering (Manufacturing)
“What I’ll remember best about the SQA site assessment
was the energy displayed by the staff selected for
interviews. Although going for interviews could be
stressful, you could see their excitement immediately
a�er their interviews, when they knew that they have
done well. I felt that staff co-opera�on among everyone
was highly commendable.”
Chin Kui Joong
Assistant Manager/School of Health Sciences
“During the three days of assessment, there were anxious
moments when I’m plagued with ‘what ifs’, and was on
the constant lookout for things which might go wrong.
But I shi�ed my focus to look at tasks which I need to
accomplish instead. Our en�re team was very commi�ed
and the ‘Chief’ gave clear instruc�ons and expecta�ons.”
Madelene Lee
Manager/Purchasing & General Administra�on
Department
08 I SQA S p e c i a l E d i t io n