Horizons
MAR/APRIL ISSUE
A Bi-monthly Magazine of the Management Development Institute of Singapore
MCI (P) 093/4/2014
Exploring Singapore's History on the Heritage Trail The Bystander Effect: What It is and How It Can Stop Others from Saving Your Life
A Life Sciences Career Begins at MDIS Brian Wong Shares His Experience Studying Biomedical Sciences at MDIS
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Editor’s Note
DIS students have certainly been busy in the past two months, with industry visits to the local offices and facilities of prestigious companies such as Rolls Royce, United Overseas Bank, Bloomberg and the Maersk Group. Feedback from these visits – from both industry leaders and students alike – have been very encouraging, and we hope to not only continue these visits, but to expand their scope and frequency. All this hard work ultimately does pay off, as is evidenced by the two successful alumni members - Brian Wang, a postgraduate student in the US, and Kevin Ong, owner of popular regional pastry chain Chewy Jr. - that we feature in this issue. We hope that their success stories will motivate you and push you to ever greater heights. Of course, even as our students work hard, they must similarly play hard as well, and events such as the annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament, three days two nights Batam Escapade and the Heritage Trail excursion helps with that. With work-life balance becoming increasingly important in today’s hectic corporate world, we at MDIS believe that it is important to find and maintain this balance while one is still at school. Our Open House earlier this March exemplifies this philosophy. While many visitors came purely to find out more about the many courses on offer – as well as check out the campus’ state-of-the-art equipment and facilities – they were also kept entertained by the many creative activities and performances put on by staff and students from each school. We hope that you will enjoy this issue of Horizons, and that you will have as much fun reading it as we had producing it. Happy reading!
Tan Gek Khim, PBM Editor
EDITOR Tan Gek Khim, PBM STAFF WRITER Terence Leong ADVISORS Dr Eric Kuan Dr R Theyvendran, PBM Roger Tham CONTRIBUTORS Alexandre Leprince-Ringuet George Low Harry Teo James Pang Kevin Ong Muhamad Fadzil Bin Azman Sherry Foo
“
Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.
”
- Gail Devers
Shobana Balakrishna Steven Tan Surina Tan Teng Huey Yee Terence Lim Winona Chua Yvonne Chai
Management Development Institute of Singapore Reg. No. 201001793H 20 May 2010 to 19 May 2014
MDIS Campus 501 Stirling Road Singapore 148951 Tel: (65) 6278 8000 Fax: (65) 6278 5312 MDIS Dhoby Ghaut 20 Orchard Road Singapore 238830 Tel: (65) 6372 1000 Fax: (65) 6338 1048 www.mdis.edu.sg | email: mdis@mdis.edu.sg
A member of the Singapore Association for Private Education (SAPE) Horizons is the official bi-monthly publication of the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS). For contributions in the Special Features or other sections, please email comms@mdis.edu.sg. Editorial material does not necessarily reflect the views of MDIS. Information is accurate at time of printing. Copyright ©2014 Management Development Institute of Singapore. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced or printed in any form without prior written consent from MDIS. Horizons is printed by Stamford Press Pte Ltd.
06 MDIS Open House 08 Singapore Design Business Summit 2014 09 Gabon Graduation 2014 10 Russian Ambassador's Visit 11 New Courses From Bangor University 12 Grenoble School of The Future
Newscope
MDIS Open House At the School of Fashion & Design, visitors were able to not only show off their design talents by creating a paper dress of their own, but were also given the opportunity to have their very own T-shirt printed.
Visitors were welcomed to the School of Tourism & Hospitality by students dressed up as stewardesses, chefs, bartenders and housekeepers, who then proceeded to serve them the School’s signature EcoHarmony drink: a drink designed and made by the students themselves.
In addition to showcasing the “Raw Diamonds” from their YouTube channel at the Media Hub, the School of Media & Communications also broadcast live news and music from their studio.
At the School of Health & Life Sciences’ laboratories, visitors were introduced to forensic techniques employed by crime scene investigators – ala Bones or CSI– and shown how they can easily make their own bread or beer with little more than household materials.
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Newscope
M
DIS opened its doors to the public and held its annual Open House on 8th March 2014 at its Stirling Road Campus! Amidst the bustle and excitement the events and activities specially organised for the day – ranging from flea markets and a basketball tournament to performances from MDIS Dance Clubs Misstery and sMash.DIS – students and parents were invited to both explore the campus and find out more about their preferred courses. In addition to consulting with our programme consultants, visitors were also brought for customised campus tours around the schools, showing them the state-of-the-art facilities that were available to the students and giving them particular insights into each faculty’s programmes. Each school also did something special just for the day!
The School of Psychology, true to their name, showed visitors a side of themselves that they never knew through career assessment tests, graphology (handwriting) analysis and more.
Those who were more computer-savvy were treated to a series of speeches and workshops at the School of Technology and E-Learning, where faculty members from the University of West of England, UK, spoke on networking and the changing world of modern digital media.
Visitors also had the chance to build their very own Lego robots at the School of Engineering’s impromptu workshop, where many of the past students’ Mechatronic Engineering projects were on display.
Last but not least, the School of Postgraduate Studies and MDIS Business School joined hands to put on a cookie sale and carnival games, in which all proceeds went to the Cancer Foundation. Visitors who came to the booth were also given free drink coupons, which they promptly claimed from the School of Tourism & Hospitality!
Horizons Mar-April Issue > 7
Singapore Design Business Summit 2014 Good design has traditionally been thought of as something akin to paint; once everything is said and done, simply slap some onto the product and make it pretty before rolling it out to the general public. However, according to Mr Tai Lee Siang, President of the Design Business Chamber of Singapore (DBCSS), this is an outmoded paradigm that needs to change. “Design should be a philosophy that an entire organisation adopts from the beginning,” Mr Tai says in his opening address at the Singapore Design Business Summit. Using Apple as an example, Mr Tai stressed that good design requires that one goes beyond mere aesthetics, and that adherence to strong design principles from the get-go can help a company succeed where others have failed. This is a belief that MDIS’ School of Fashion has also strongly held to since its conception, and one of the many reasons why the School is proud to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with DBCSS to facilitate greater learning and networking opportunities for its students. Not only are
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graduands from the School of Fashion now automatically eligible for membership with the Chamber, the DBCSS also pledges to further improve the commercial viability of the design industry as a whole by looking into restructuring intellectual property rights and remuneration packages. MDIS Assistant Director, Ms Jesline Wong, signed the Memorandum of Understanding at the opening of the Singapore Design Summit alongside representatives from the Raffles College of Higher Education and Nanyang Polytechnic. Students from the MDIS School of Fashion were also on hand to showcase some of their latest projects and answer some questions from the media covering the event.
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Design should be a philosophy that an entire organisation adopts from the beginning. - Mr Tai Lee Siang President of the Design Business Chamber of Singapore (DBCSS)
Newscope
Gabon Graduation 2014 M DIS celebrated the graduation of its students in the Graduate Certificate in Public Administration and Management (GCPAM) programme on 5th March 2014. Held at MDIS' Stirling Road campus, the ceremony saw the cohort presented with their official graduate certificate endorsed by both MDIS and Ecole Nationale D’Administration (the “National School of Administration”, commonly shortened to ENA).
The ceremony was attended by four delegates from the government of Gabon: Mr Thierry Abeloko, Secretary General of the Ministry of Budget and Public Accounts; Mr Aime Brice Sackyssi, General Manager of the Ministry of Civil Service; Mr Anatole Tsiouckacka, General Manager of the ENA; and Dr Patrick Lie, Interpreter & Lecturer of the ENA. When addressing the students in his speech, Mr Abeloko stressed the importance of human resources and expressed his wishes that students remain humble and never stop learning when they returned to Gabon. Mr Abeloko also took the time to explain why he chose to adopt the Singaporean educational model: “We felt attracted to the unique Singaporean model which is based on innovation, openness, performance, responsibility and excellence; virtues which are now considered, worldwide, as exemplary for countries seeking emergence such as Gabon”. Congratulations to all graduates !
Mr Chong and the top student Bikapet Franck Martial
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We felt attracted to the unique Singaporean model which is based on innovation, openness, performance, responsibility and excellence; virtues which are now considered, worldwide, as exemplary for countries seeking emergence such as Gabon. - Mr Thierry Abeloko Secretary General of the Ministry of Budget & Public Accounts Horizons Mar-April Issue > 9
Russian Ambassador's Visit On 10th March MDIS was honoured to host His Excellency Mr Leonid Moiseev, the Russian Ambassador to Singapore. Led by some of MDIS staff on a tour of the campus, Mr Moiseev was shown the many modern facilities and educational programmes that the Stirling Road campus has to offer. His Excellency was especially impressed with Tropical Breeze, MDIS’ training centre for the School of Tourism and Hospitality, and expressed his admiration for the professional way everything was set up. He also mentioned that he was confident that there would be many opportunities for MDIS to collaborate with Russia in the future, especially with the School of Tourism and Hospitality’s diploma and degree programmes. At the end of his visit, Mr Moiseev penned the following remarks in the guest book: “Wishing MDIS to establish good ties with Russian regions (Moscow and Saint Petersburg).” We thank the Ambassador for his valuable time and look forward to his continued support.
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His Excellency was especially impressed with Tropical Breeze, MDIS’ training centre for the School of Tourism and Hospitality, and expressed his admiration for the professional way everything was set up.
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Newscope
New Courses From
Bangor University B
angor University is a leading teaching- and researchfocused business school whose unofficial motto is “the school that means business”. Based out of the city of Bangor in Gwynedd, North Wales, it has also been rated as the best university in Wales and as one of the top fifteen UK universities. MDIS is therefore proud to announce that it will be working together with Bangor University to bring four of its worldrenowned programmes to its Stirling Road campus: namely, an MBA in Banking & Finance, an MBA in International Marketing, a BSc (Hons) in Banking & Finance, and a BSc (Hons) in Business Studies & Finance. As with all MDIS courses, these four programmes will retain the same level of teaching excellence and standard that has made Bangor University one of the world’s top 300 universities (according to the Times Higher Education World University rankings in 2012-2013).
Visit http://www.mdis.edu.sg/ for more information. Horizons Mar-April Issue > 11
Grenoble
School of The Future O
n 3rd March 2013, local and international journalists came to MDIS to find out more about the Grenoble Graduate School of Business’ (GGSB) vision and plans for the future. Led by Ms. Judith Bouvard, Dean and Director of GGSB, the presentation centred on the school’s plans for future-proofing their programmes. “For Business Schools to survive and to succeed in providing companies worldwide with the profiles they need to be competitive in the global market, they will have to adapt rapidly to keep up with the pace of change in the environment. Not only will program content change, but the pedagogical approach will change as well. In essence, they will have to create the School of the Future.” Keeping in line with the school’s philosophy of embracing and encouraging entrepreneurship amongst their students, Ms. Bouvard shares how GGSB is always willing to take risks and experiment in the realms of pedagogy. An example is the “serious games” learning method that was developed by Helene Michel, world-renowned expert on serious games and a professor at Grenoble. Rooted in the concept of gamification, serious games applies game-design techniques to non-game contexts to further drive home key classroom concepts in a fun and engaging fashion.
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“
A deep practical understanding of Asian lifestyles and business cultures will serve any graduate well.
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- Ms Judith Bouvard Dean and Director of GGSB
Ms. Bouvard ended her speech by sharing that many European students dream of obtaining their Master’s degree in an Asian country like Singapore, that they may obtain an internationally-recognised European degree while still having an Asian experience. “Even if they were not planning to work in Asia after graduation,” Ms. Bouvard said, “they would surely still need to work with Asia. A deep practical understanding of Asian lifestyles and business cultures will serve any graduate well.”
14 A Life Sciences Career Begins at MDIS 16 The Chewy Jr. Success Story 18 First Impression Counts: Learning from UOB 19 The Rolls Royce of Manufacturers 20 Visiting the Masters of the Sea 22 The Bystander Effect
Learning
A Life Sciences Career
Begins at MDIS
Brian Wang, 28, is currently a second year PhD student in the University of North Texas’ neuroscience programme in the US. He graduated from MDIS in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, which is a three-year honours degree programme awarded by the University of Bradford, UK. Here he shares with us his experience studying at MDIS. What made you choose the Biomedical Sciences degree programme at MDIS?
Besides the fact that I was able to study an internationally accredited programme without having to leave the country, another drawing factor for me was being able to graduate with an honours degree in Biomedical Sciences within a short time frame of three years.
How did the degree programme help you get to where you are today? The degree programme exposed me to a wide range of subjects in the life sciences. It being from the UK gave me a strong theoretical grounding which has helped me a lot in my current graduate studies, so much so that going to graduate school was like a refresher course with some additional knowledge to what I had already acquired while at MDIS.
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What are the plus points of studying at MDIS?
At MDIS, the student-teacher ratio is kept small to allow students to easily approach lecturers with questions and build good relationships with them. Another plus point is the cultural diversity within the school’s population. In a lecture class of 50 or less you can easily be surrounded by students from around the region and beyond. It prepares you for graduate school if you are intending to further your studies overseas as chances are you would probably know what to expect and wouldn’t experience any kind of culture shock.
Learning
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I would like to pay forward what I have received from the lecturers who inspired me at MDIS. - Brian Wang PhD Student in University of North Texas' Neuroscience Programme, US
What were your lecturers like in MDIS? Was there anyone who left a deep impression on you? All of my lecturers came from different backgrounds within the field. We had medical doctors, academics and professionals from the biomedical industry teaching us, so these people really knew what they were teaching and were able to provide students with current knowledge. My lecturers were all very passionate and cared a lot about their students’ academic success. Dr Christina Floresca is one lecturer whom I now regard as my mentor. She played a pivotal role in my decision to pursue a doctoral degree and was able to give me much invaluable advice on this.
What are your future plans?
I’m going to be carrying on with my research programme in the US and hopefully graduate within 2.5 to 3 years’ time. My long-term goal would be to go into academia and research as I’m quite passionate about mentoring students. In a way, I would like to pay forward what I have received from the lecturers who inspired me at MDIS. Originally run in Asian Scientist, reprinted with permission.
Horizons Mar-April Issue > 15
The Chewy Jr.
Success Story
When Mr Kevin Ong enrolled himself in the MDIS-University of Bradford BSc (Hons) in Business Management, he did so with a vision and a dream; and today, that dream has come true. As the founder and owner of popular local cream puff chain Chewy Junior, Kevin has done well enough for himself to virtually semi-retire today should he choose to. Horizons spoke to him to find out what are some of his secrets to success. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us, Kevin. Can you tell us exactly how you came upon the recipe for Chewy Junior? To be quite honest, I actually stumbled upon the recipe completely by accident. I was just messing around in the kitchen, trying to see what would happen if I combined pastry recipes from two different countries; and, as luck would have it, the result turned out pretty good!
Have you always been interested in cooking? Well, yes and no. When I was young, I fell in with the wrong crowd and did not do very well in both my O-levels and pre-university courses. As such, once I finished my National Service and started actively looking for a job, my lack of education made it very difficult for me to find a good job. Thankfully, the local Hilton Hotel was hiring, and they were willing to sponsor me for a NTC in Culinary Skills. It was during this course that I finally discovered that, despite what I thought in secondary school, I could actually do quite well in school! Through hard work and determination, I not only managed to top every one of my classes, but also won several F&B competitions in my two years there. This gave me the motivation necessary to further my studies later on, starting first with a Diploma in Hotel Management followed by my Bachelor of Science in Business Management with the University of Bradford at MDIS.
What made you choose MDIS? When I was looking to do my Bachelor’s back in the 90s, there were very few
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private educational institutes in Singapore, and MDIS was one of them. I eventually settled on the programme offered by the University of Bradford through MDIS because it was a honours degree, and that was what I was looking for.
What did you do after you graduated? After serving out my two years bond with the Hilton Hotel, I decided to venture out on my own and opened a small coffee shop stall with my wife and myself. We worked very hard at it, working 15 hours every day, seven days a week, for four whole years. At the end of the day, however, though we were making some money, we did not see any future in the business; and so I sold off the shop and returned to the workforce. Then I started my second business a few years later, a sandwich bar between a few friends and I, and that did slightly better. However, the partnership soured after a while, and that business eventually wound up as well. And so, for the second time, I returned to the workforce.
Learning
“ ”
Never allow yourself to stagnate, and always make sure you are leading market change instead of letting the market change you. - Kevin Ong
Wow, that must have been rough. Yes, it was difficult… but! Never once did I give up or lose sight of my entrepreneurial dreams. After the sandwich bar closed, I went to work as an instructor in a baking school for a short while, and after that I was headhunted to work in the Sales and Marketing division of a multinational corporation. That job taught me a lot about marketing, and when I eventually started Chewy Junior as my third business enterprise, it was with much more skill and experience under my belt.
After two business failures, what made you say, “Yes, I still want to try again”? (laughs) You know, when I handed in my resignation letter to my ex-boss and told her that I wanted to start my own business again, she called me crazy. Perhaps I was, but I have always felt that life is too short to waste secondguessing yourself. You only live once, so why not make the most out of it? And anyway, so what if I failed again? Failure is simply part and parcel of success. It would have been better if I tried and failed rather than never try at all.
But you didn’t fail this time. (laughs) No, I didn’t.
Chewy Junior has been, and continues to be, extremely popular. What do you attribute this success to? I like to think that it’s a matter of red ocean vs blue ocean, and having enough vision and foresight to avoid the red ocean when the competition gets tougher. When I first started Chewy Junior, the donut craze was just starting in Singapore, and pastry shops were popping up all over the place. Rather than expand locally like many of these shops did, I went regional instead, and brought Chewy Junior to Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Then, when the craze died down about two years later, and many of these pastry stores started closing down because the business was no longer sustainable, I returned to Singapore and started expanding. Business is all about adapting to changing marketing conditions, and making sure that you are at least a few steps ahead of the competition. You cannot simply work and live for today: you must always be working for tomorrow, so that when the unexpected happens, you are ready for it. Never allow yourself to stagnate, and always make sure you are leading market change instead of letting the market change you.
Kevin, thank you very much for your time. It has been a pleasure.
Horizons Mar-April Issue > 17
First Impressions Count: Learning from UOB As a student of MDIS’ Business School, I have had many occasions and opportunities to learn from industry experts and professionals during the many on-campus talks that we have had. However, the one talk that has left an especially deep impression on me is the one by the United Overseas Bank (UOB) entitled “Take off to a Career in Wealth Management”. Held 13th March, all 75 of us attending the talk were dressed impeccably, all determined to impress the speakers. After all, there was a very good chance that one of them would be a potential employer, and we were all eager to make a good first impression. The talk began with a two-minute video on what being a UOB banker is like and how such bankers differentiate themselves from the competition. This was then followed by a short introductory speech by Vice President and Group Sales Manager of the UOB Wealth Banking team, Mr Gregory Tham, on what it means to be a personal banking associate with the bank. We were also introduced to the UOB Management Associate Programme, a sixteen-month programme aimed at Honours graduates keen to take on leadership and regional roles within the bank. Designed to induct the associate at an accelerated pace, participants will be trained in a wide range of skills to get them started. I was particularly inspired by the Assistant Vice-President and Relationship Manager of the UOB Wealth Banking team, Mr Keigo Lam, who told us that a good banker must not
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A good banker must not only have a good degree, but must also possess excellent communication skills, that he/ she may effectively contribute in this competitive financial environment.
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- Mr Keigo Lam Assistant Vice-President & Relationship Manager UOB Wealth Banking Team only have a good degree, but must also possess excellent communication skills, that he/she may effectively contribute in this competitive financial environment. We walked away from the talk both inspired and informed, and would like to thank both MDIS Business School and MDIS Career Assistance Unit for arranging this talk, and the UOB Group for taking the time to speak to us.
This article was contributed by Harry Teo who is pursuing a BSc (Hons) in International Business with the University of Bradford.
Learning
O
n 20th February 2014, third-year students from the School of Engineering’s Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering programme were treated to a special trip to the Rolls Royce manufacturing plant. Located along Seletar Close, the plant is Rolls Royce’s leading regional facility for manufacturing, training and research. Together with the adjoining Seletar Assembly and Test Facility, which is responsible for the construction and testing of the company’s Trent Engines, the entire campus covers roughly 65,000 square metres. With the company’s reputation for high-quality engineering, all of us were visibly excited for the visit; and that excitement quickly translated into awe with our first step into the facility. Massive airplane engines and turbines hung suspended above and around us, each a perfect example of the precision engineering that Rolls Royce built its brand on. Our tour brought us into the heart of the facility, where we had the chance to see how engineers would work with technicians and analysts to make sure that everything would run smoothly, efficiently and – most importantly of all – safely. After all, the smallest mistake made during the production of an airplane engine could easily turn into a catastrophe 7,500 metres in the air! At the Trent engine assembly and testing workstation, we were also given the opportunity to see how these engines were physically assembled on the production line. At full capacity, the massive facility can produce up to 250 of these massive engines per year, each with fan sizes of up to 140 inches that are capable of delivering 150,000 lbs of thrust.
The Rolls Royce of Manufacturers
Our stop at the wide chord manufacturing facility also showed us the process that turned raw metal ore into sharp, smooth and curved blades – some of which can weigh up to 15kg! – that would eventually be fitted into one of those aircraft engines. At maximum efficiency, the facility can produce over 7,600 such blades every year: each made to the exactly standards of Rolls Royce. At the end of the day, the entire trip proved to be not only immensely entertaining and exciting, but educational as well. We would like to thank both Rolls Royce for giving us this opportunity, and MDIS School of Engineering for organising the event.
This article was contributed by Muhamad Fadzil Bin Azman who is pursuing a BSc (Hons) in Bachelor of Engineering with the University of Bradford.
Horizons Mar-April Issue > 19
Visiting the Masters of the Sea The A.P. Moeller Maersk Group is a drilling- and shippingconglomerate based out of Denmark. Established in 1928, it has since become one of the most profitable Danish companies in the world, with assets worth over 192.96 billion DKK (approximately 45 billion SGD) at the end of 2010.
T
he morning of 5th March saw my classmates and I pacing anxiously outside the entrance of Maersk Singapore’s Tanjong Pagar headquarters, uncertain as to how our visit to this mega-corporation will unfold. However, it turned out that we need not worry at all. As we walked through the doors of the office, we were each warmly greeted by the company’s Director of Public Affairs, Rene Piil Pederse, and its CEO, Thomas Knudsen. Their professional manner quickly put all of us at ease, and we were soon walking through the expansive hallways of the company.
In the presentation that followed, the pair took some time to explain how the multicultural corporate environment of Singapore – combined with the country’s competitive regional position – was an ideal fit for Maersk’s vision and culture. With both international and regional talents filling key positions within the organisation, Mr Knudsen expressed his confidence that the company will continue growing and expanding into the Asia-Pacific region.
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Learning We then met with Jan Holm, the Managing Director of Maersk Drilling Holdings, who walked us through how oil and gas is extracted, refined and packaged before being distributed. The workflow was fascinating and offered us an invaluable glimpse into Maersk’s operational procedures and reasons behind some of its strategic decisions. A few of the more ambitious in the class asked if there was any chance that they could intern with the company, but Mr Holm had to regretfully turn them down, saying that right now they were only looking for people trained in supply chain management, public relations and engineering. We would like to thank the Maersk Group for giving us this opportunity to spend the day with them, and the MDIS School of Postgraduate Studies for organising this deeply meaningful and educational event.
“
This article was contributed by Alexandre Leprince-Ringuet who is pursuing a Master in International Business with the Grenoble Graduate School of Business.
The workflow was fascinating and offered us an invaluable glimpse into Maersk’s operational procedures and reasons behind some of its strategic decisions.
”
Horizons Mar-April Issue > 21
t c e ff E r e d n a t s y B The
It’s a common enough sight on the crowded buses and trains, especially during peak hours: people with their heads down, eyes firmly on their smartphones or tablets either chatting away with invisible friends far away via WhatsApp or watching as some drama unfolds on their device’s screen.
So what would happen when a commuter suddenly collapses in front of them, or if someone should get robbed or attacked? Would they step in and intervene, or would they simply lean back and just “watch the show” instead? More importantly, what would you do if you were there? American psychologists John Darley and Bibb Latane asked themselves this exact question in 1963 and devised a series of social experiments to find out how people would react in that situation. As it turned out, the results were quite startling. Darley and Latane found out that, contrary to popular belief, having a large group of people witnessing an emergency would actually lower the chances of aid being rendered. That is to say, the more people there are witnessing an accident or emergency situation, the less likely any one of them would step up and help the victim. But why? The psychologists determined that there were three main factors involved in what they started calling the “bystander intervention phenomenon”. For starters, the more bystanders there are around, the more the sense of personal responsibility is diffused. Since there are so many other people around, they think, surely someone else more qualified would intervene! Secondly, people in crowds always look to other people’s
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non-verbal behaviour in order to determine what the socially-appropriate response is in any given situation: and this is no less true in an emergency. If the vast majority of people appeared apprehensive about assisting, the other bystanders would pick up on this apprehension and react in the same way instead of “rocking the boat” and doing something different.
Lastly, bystanders are often worried that they may get into trouble or embarrass themselves by offering to help. This is especially true in our Asian culture, where we have been taught since young to just keep our heads down and let other people deal with their own business. Don’t draw attention to ourselves, don’t do anything that will make you stand out, and things will sort themselves out. Darley and Lantane’s experiments have been studied and replicated several times throughout the world, each time getting the same results: no matter the nature of the emergency, be it crime, terrorism, or a professional crisis at the workplace. The more bystanders there are to witness an emergency, the less likely any one of them would try to intervene and make a difference. But all is not lost! There are many things we can do to prevent the bystander intervention phenomenon from manifesting, the most important being public education. The simple fact that you’re aware of this phenomenon, and its associated causes and effects, is often enough for you to overcome it. People should also be empowered to believe that, no matter what the nature of the emergency is, they will always be able to help; if not directly, then indirectly, by making other people aware of the situation and involved in it. A simple phone call to the appropriate emergency services, made promptly at the onset of an emergency, can often save lives. Take heed and take charge: be a hero, not a bystander!
24 MDIS Student Council Celebrates its 6th Anniversary 25 MDIS Member's Day 26 Batam Escapade 27 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament 28 Exploring Singapore's Heritage Trail
Campus Beat Horizons Mar-April Issue > 17
l i c n u o C t MDIS Studen s its Celebrate th Anniversar y 6 T
he MDIS Student Council celebrated its sixth anniversary this year in Block A’s Rooftop Garden on 7th March. With a theme of “Old Hollywood”, many participants came ready to party in outfits and costumes that befitted the style and glamour of yesteryear’s stars. Organised by the newly-elected Executive Committee (ExCo) ’13-14 of the Student Council, the event not only served to welcome all new ExCo members, but to also celebrate the efforts of past ExCo members. Indeed, these members were presented with certifications of achievement and commemoration during the event itself, in recognition of the many activities and events they had successfully organised during their service. The evening ended on a high note, with past ExCo members dispensing invaluable tips and advice about serving on the Student Council to the new members. Previous Student Council Chairman Monish Kotak also expressed his belief that the Student Council will continue to enrich campus life for all MDIS students, and that the new ExCo members will continue to lead the Council to bigger and better things.
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Campus Beat
MDIS Member's Day
The Membership department - along with the Management Development and Consultancy (MDC) and Local Business departments – recently organised a complimentary seminar for their members.
Entitled "Emerging Trends in HR Practices" on 7th March, the seminar featured three prominent guest speakers: Mr Andrew Chan, CEO of ACI HR Solutions, who spoke on leading trends and developments in the field of human resource; Mr Chia Boon Cher, advisor of Virtual HR Pte Ltd, who spoke about the importance of understanding local labour laws; and Mr Andrew Chow, Managing Director of Ideasmart Pte Ltd, who shared how social media can impact hiring and development decisions.
(left to right) Mr Andrew Chow, Mr Andrew Chan, and Mr Chia Boon Cher
All three speakers also stayed behind to conduct a panel discussion on the “war for talent”, which examined some of the strategies that HR practitioners can adopt to both retain and attract the right talent for the right job. We would like to thank our event strategic partner, NTUC, as well as our event sponsors – the Small Medium Business Association (SMBA) and Great Eastern – for their support and assistance.
Horizons Mar-April Issue > 25
Batam Escapade T
he MDIS Alumni’s recent “2D1N Batam Escapade” trip, held from 22nd to 23rd March, attracted 64 participants who were all looking forward to a great regional getaway! Not only was the trip a great way for them to bond with their family and friends, it was also a fantastic opportunity for the alumni to meet and catch up with one another. Participants were already streaming in even before the appointed meeting time of 8am, and registration went off without a hitch, with everyone aboard the ferry and raring to go. By the time the ferry arrived in Batam 45 minutes later, those who had recognised old friends were quickly caught up on all the latest news and gossip, while those who haven’t were soon making new friends! The rest of the trip was spent in a delightful whirlwind of activity, and participants visited all manner of attractions ranging from Batam Chocolate House and Kueh Lapis Factory to cultural and historical sites such as the Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Buddhist Temple, one of the largest Buddhist temples in the whole of Southeast Asia.
26 > Horizons Mar-April Issue
By the end of the two days, everyone was all tuckered out and – admittedly, with some reluctance – ready to return to Singapore. It was a most memorable trip, and everyone involved, organisers included, are looking forward to the next time we’re able to get together and travel again!
Campus Beat
3-on-3 Basketball Tournament
MDIS’ annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament was held on 8th March 2014, in conjunction with MDIS’ Open House. A total of 40 teams signed up for this year’s tournament, with 21 Boys’ teams (comprised of participants aged 17 and under) and 19 Men’s teams. The competition was fierce, with each team doing their best to dominate the others and climb to the top. At the end of the day, however, team “Barker Basketball” emerged victorious in the Boys’ division, followed closely by team “3 Points” and team “Barker’ 15”. In the Men’s division, it was team “Kaplan Knight Team 1” who took home the trophy, but runner-up teams “Ken Boys” and “Just Do It” performed just as admirably in beating the rest. Well done everybody! We look forward to seeing you at next year’s basketball tournament!
(Boys' Champions) Barker Basketball
(Men's Champions) Kaplan Knight Team I
Horizons Mar-April Issue > 27
Exploring
Singapore’s Heritage Trail There is perhaps no better way to see Singapore than to travel across the island on one of our iconic open-top buses: which is exactly what our new international students did when they signed up for MDIS’ Heritage Trail on 22nd March.
On their way to the next stop, the students passed the famous Padang fields, where the weekly cricket game getting was well underway. The tour guide also made sure to explain the significance and symbolism behind the nearby War Memorial Monument; made up of four columns joined at the base, the memorial – known affectionately by some as “the Chopsticks” – signifies the unity of all four races in Singapore and represents how everyone came together and supported each other during World War II.
he students first stopped by Little India to look into the many secretive nooks and hidden charms of Serangoon Road. Known as much for its atmosphere as it is for the heady aromatic mix of spices and flowers that fill the air, the students soaked in all the sights, sounds and smells of the place: from henna artists decorating a customer’s hands to flower vendors selling jasmine garlands outside of temples.
Finally, the students arrived at their last stop of the tour: Chinatown, also known as Niu Che Shui (literally, “bullock cart water”). So-called because the area once used bullock carts to supply fresh water to its residents, Niu Che Sui is just as delightful to roam and explore as Little India thanks to its wide and diverse range of shops. From goldsmiths and medicinal halls to textile stores and dim sum restaurants, the place is a colourful mix of both old and new. Chinatown is also home to many famous landmarks including the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, the Sri Mariamman Temple and, of course, the Chinatown Heritage Centre.
T
Next stop was Kampong Glam, former home to Malay royalty and current home to the famous Masjid Sultan mosque. Even as the students explored the area, the tour guide briefed the students on the rich history of the Kampong Glam and other similar areas such as Haji Lane, Arab Street and Bali Lane.
28 > Horizons Mar-April Issue 22 > Horizons Jan-Feb Issue
The next Heritage Trail will be held in May 2014.
30 Students' Reflections 32 Book Reviews 33 MDC Training Programmes 34 Membership Activities 35 Chill Out
Connections
is so e r o p ga et w Sin et to me o h from I like ltural; I g nds u ie fr st by multic make u j d l ’t wor and doesn the t I r e d v all o g here. h goo c u m in so study have o t ither! e hurt d n rea arou th Ko u o S food on, e - Ba
Jung
W
S t uden ts' After a lot of research, I decided to come to Singapore because it has an excellent education system, is relatively affordable, and is very hightech. In fact, after coming here I’ve started learning so much about myself simply by meeting people from all over the world! - Singh Amit Kumar, India
30 > Horizons Mar-April Issue
Connections I love the fact that Singapore h as such c lean and fresh air that I can go jogging every day. Plus, since I love shopping, I love the fact th at it’s a sh op p er’s paradise! O rchard is fa ntastic for people a ddicted to s hopping like myself. - Gan Teng Xiao, China
R efle c ti o n s d to ante udy, w s t lway s to s t a I've versea tha ite d o u e go ecid ore is q me d o and ngap my h ke i S e to ma " sinc by uld o e w s step l it clo y b y ba tr ba coun d first " into glo o a go y foray m for ysia on! Mala cati , u n d illa e e V hin ugas - Ku
Horizons Mar-April Issue >31
O U R L I brarian
Resource HUB (Library)
Block C, Level 4, MDIS Campus Tel: 6796 7828 Email: resourcehub@mdis.edu.sg
recommends . . .
Why Should Anyone Be Led By You? What It Takes to Be an Authentic Leader Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones Harvard Business School Press 2013 Hardcover Looking for a relatable book on leadership that is easy to read and understand? Look no further! In Goffee and Jones’ book, the authors emphasise that the key to leadership lies in being the best “you” that you can be. By simply focusing on strengthening your core attributes – such as your character, habits, willpower and so on – you will naturally become a better leader and team player even without trying.
Who should read it: An essential text for anyone who is looking to take on a leadership role within any type of community
Status Update Celebrity, Publicity and Branding in the Social Media Age Alice E. Marwick Yale University Press 2013 Paperback Primarily an ethnography of tech workers in the Bay Area who design social media tools, Status Update is a book exploring how social media works in today’s technologically driven day and age. Author Alice E. Marwick confronts the ideas surrounding "authenticity" as defined by today’s generation that puts value on number of followers, retweets, traffic, etc., while actively denying that those things really matter. Marwick also analyses status-building techniques such as self-branding, micro-celebrity, and life-streaming to give readers an in-depth look at the cultural revolution of Social Media that has taken the world by storm This book has good insights into social media in general as it pertains to celebrity, self-branding, etc.
Who should read it: A fascinating read for aspiring anthropologists, journalists, tech fiends, or even just tech users.
BRAINWAVES THE BOOKSHOP...
Mockingjay ISBN: 9789810868741 Year: 2010 Retail Price: S$13.90 Member’s Price: S$12.50
Resource HUB (Brainwaves)
Block B, Level 1, MDIS Campus Tel: 6796 7901 Email: brainwaves@mdis.edu.sg
Leadership and the Art of Struggle ISBN: 9781609946449 Year: 2013 Retail Price: S$27.80 Member’s Price: S$25.00
"My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead." Katniss Everdeen has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Though she's long been a part of the revolution, Katniss hasn't known it. Now it seems that everyone has had a hand in the carefully laid plans but her. The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay - no matter what the cost.
32 > Horizons Mar-April Issue
Leadership is never as easy as it looks and that's exactly as it should be, says executive, entrepreneur, and leadership coach Snyder, currently executive-in-residence at Minnesota's University of St. Thomas. Leadership requires extreme courage and strength, but as Snyder argues, the best leaders have to get past the expectation of perfection while still striving for greatness. Snyder walks readers through the allimportant steps of what he terms "The Pathway to Adaptive Energy": becoming grounded, exploring new pathways, and deepening adaptive energy. In addition, he addresses the everyday difficulties of beating self-doubt, facing change, establishing balance, and getting the necessary support. This is a practical, thoughtful guide to creating sanity, as well as "purpose and meaning" within leadership.
Maximise Your Potential
flexible solutions that meet your needs
A holistic approach to deliver interactive and strategy-focused Customised Programmes that create high performance individuals by providing the resources to ensure personal success.
Communications Risk & Business Management
Winning with Difficult People
2 - 3 Jun
Writing Good Minutes
4 Jun
Contract Administration Management
2 - 3 July
Effectiveness and Etiquette on the Phone
5 Jun
Tenancy Agreements - Landlord & Tenant Law
8 July
Communicating Effectively with Generation Y
5 - 6 Jun
Sales & Marketing
in the Workplace Effective Communication with Better Workplace
5 - 6 Jun
Efficiency Excellent People Skills at Work
9 - 10 Jun
Power Writing Skills for Executives and Managers
16 - 17 Jun
Creativity & Innovation 17 - 18 Jul
Out-of-the Box Thinking and Problem Solving with PRISMŠ Analytical and Creative Problem Solving
23 - 24 Jul
Financial Management Finance for Non-Finance Professionals
17 - 18 Jul
2 - 3 Jun
Effective Events Management
4 - 5 Jun
Developing Marketing Plan for
5 - 6 Jun
Competitive Advantage Marketing for Non-Marketing Professionals
12 - 13 Jun
Effective Negotiation Skills
26 - 27 Jun
Service Excellence Handling Difficult Customers and Complaints
10 - 11 July
Image Plus! Customer Care Excellence
14 - 15 July
Delivering Quality at Every Level
17 - 18 July
Coping with Internal and External Customers
23 - 24 July
Supervisory Management
HR Management 24 - 25 Jul
Transforming Performance : The Road to Organisational Effectiveness Conducting an Effective Training Needs Analysis
30 - 31 Jul
Performance Coaching
16 - 17 Jun
Supervisory Skills for the New Supervisors
23 - 24 Jun
Team Management Skills
25 - 26 Jun
Team Leadership
Personal Effectiveness & Productivity Birds of Different Feathers can Flock Together
8 Jul
Nobody Told Me!
14 Jul
The 7-Ups to Personal Effectiveness
15 Jul
(65) 6842 6666
Social Media Marketing and Public Relations
mdc@mdis.edu.sg
Critical Thinking for Leadership Role
5 - 6 Jun
*Applicable for Professional Development Workshops except IT Short Courses
www.mdis.edu.sg/corporate-training
Membership Activities | May-June 2014 May
29
Martial Arts: wing Chun Date Time Venue Member Alumni Non-Member
: : : : : :
June
21
29th May 2014 (Thursday) 6.00pm MDIS Campus, Amphitheatre S$20 S$30 S$30
*Fee is for four sessions.
24
June
21
PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB OUTING @PULAU UBIN Date Time Venue Member Alumni Non-Member
: : : : : :
&
24th May 2014 (Saturday) 9.00am Pulau Ubin S$20 S$30 S$30
22
*Fee: Transportation to be borne by Member/Non-member.
Calling all nature lovers! Come and join us in this exciting journey where we explore and capture the magnificent greenery of Pulau Ubin.
JUNE
7
*Fee: Complimentary
21st June 2014 (Saturday) 2.00pm Bukit Gombak MRT Station S$15 S$20 S$25
28
7th June 2014 (Saturday) 2.00pm Auditorium, Level 2 MDIS Residences@Stirling
Calling all MDIS Members! Join us at AGM as we take a retrospective look at 2013 and review our plans for 2014 and beyond.
Photography club 2d1n outing @ bintan Date : Time : Venue : Member : Alumni : Non-Member :
21st & 22ndJune 2014 (Saturday & Sunday) Bintan S$100 S$150 S$150
*Fee includes return ferry ticket, accomodation, meals and photography critque session. ** Fees are subjected to changes.
Let's explore the art of travel photography! Learn how to take great and stunning images in your overseas trips. This is a workshop not to missed by enthusiastic photographers and those bitten by the travel bug.
June
MDIS 59th Annual General Meeting (AGM) Date : Time : Venue :
: : : : : :
This activity is to sharpen your archery techniques in becoming more consistent and accurate in shooting.
Martial arts is not just about self-defence, but also an effective form of exercise. Wing Chun is a close-range technique-based martial arts that emphasises practical and efficient applications of strength over brute force attacks.
May
Basic Archery Workshop Date Time Venue Member Alumni Non-Member
MDIS 5-A-Side Futsal Tournament 2014 Date Time Venue Member Alumni Non-Member
: : : : : :
28th June 2014 (Saturday) 9.00am Ceylon Sports Club S$20 S$25 S$25
Are you ready for MDIS' annual 5-A-Side Futsal Tournament 2014? Gear up and take part to win some attractive prizes!
Fees quoted are inclusive of GST.
MDIS Interest Groups
Sports Interest Groups
Special Interest Groups
Get active in pursing your personal interests! Share your passion in sports with like-minded individuals by taking part in a wide variety of competitions and tournaments designed to keep you engaged, healthy and fit. Join us now and add that vital touch of spice to your campus life!
• • • •
• • • •
Badminton Club Basketball Club Cricket Club Soccer Club
Toastmasters Club Photography Club Angel Heart Club Modern Dance Club
For registration and payment of workshop/activity, please proceed to Membership & Alumni Relations Department, Energy HUB, MDIS Hostel, Level 5 or register your interest at events@mdis.edu.sg For more information:
6473 5885
34 > Horizons Mar-April Issue
events@mdis.edu.sg
www.mdis.edu.sg/Membership/interest-groups
Chillt ! Ou
Connections Present your MDIS membership card at the following merchants to enjoy these exclusive benefits!
• 15% discount on all food and beverage (excluding merchandise items)
Terms & Conditions: - Offer not valid in conjunction with in house promotions and other cards
• 15% off regular priced items Terms & Conditions:
- Promotion applies to Bossini Plaza Singapura only - Present your MDIS student pass or staff pass to enjoy this promotional offer
• 30% off total a la carte food bills • Buy 2 get 1 free for Heineken draft beer and house wine from 6pm - 9pm • 25% discount
Terms & Conditions: - Valid for regular price item only. - To quote MDIS 25. - Management reserves the rights to make any changes without prior notice.
• An Award-winning Face Therapy (worth S$200) @ S$30 (before GST) with FREE Eye Treatment Terms & Conditions: - Applicable to new FIL customers, aged 18 and above only - Valid MDIS membership card and original NRIC/work permit must be presented during purchase - All treatments must be utilised during the same visit - Strictly by appointment only - Offer cannot be used in conjunction with other promotions, ongoing offers, discounts, FIL's membership privileges or in-house offers - Results vary according to individuals - Price advertised subjects to prevailing GST - FIL Skin, Body & Spa Intelligence will be contacting you by phone or email in regards to the service(s)/product(s) that you have purchased even after you have registered with the DNC Registry - FIL Skin, Body & Spa Intelligence reserves the rights to revise any of the terms and conditions without prior notice
Terms and conditions apply For more discounts and privileges from our other merchants, please log on to our website at http://www mdis.edu.sg/Membership-benefits/treats
Horizons Mar-April Issue > 35
Dear Mr. Jackson, You have been an amazing lecturer! Thank you so much for your help, I truly appreciate it. I cannot ask for a better lecturer. Stay amazing! Pravina Bachelor of Science (Honours) International Tourism and Hospitality Management University of Sunderland
Dear Shoba, Thank you for providing excellent service. You have always been so patient and helpful with me every time I ask you for help, and you have made every one of my visits to the library such a pleasant experience. Martin Tan Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Business and Marketing University of Sunderland
Dear Danielle, You have helped me a lot, and I appreciate you taking the time to answer every one of my questions in such great detail and with such patience. Thank you so very much! Lee Juyoung Professional Certificate in English, MDIS
Dear Cindy,
Thank you for your help and considerate service. You are the most excellent staff in Student Services, and also the most gorgeous! God bless. Zheng Jia Ying Advanced Diploma in Business Management, MDIS 36 > Horizons Mar-April Issue
Bouquets
Dear Mr Amir, You are not only a kind and patient lecturer, but also a most respectful one. You are somebody everyone should have a learning journey with. Thank you for being the best teacher ever! Hemamalini d/o V Neelameham Diploma in Psychology, MDIS
Dear Dee,
Thank you for being the one person I could go to for help when I had nobody else. I am really thankful and grateful for everything you have done to make my experience in school less stressful. You are an angel for going that extra mile for us students, and the best thing that has happened to me in MDIS. Quek Zhi Xin Diploma in Business Management, MDIS
Dear Mr Bobby Chan, Thank you for taking the time to arrange that additional lesson. It was very helpful, and has gone a long way in helping us understand where and how we can improve. Your constant presence is also motivation for us to not give up so easily, and your guidance has been invaluable. Thank you!
“
Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.
”
- Joshua J. Marine
Devin Lee Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Business and Management Studies University of Bradford
A staff member made your day? We’ll love to hear about it! Find any one of these “Thank You” cards – located all over campus, but particularly around Student Services – and fill them out to make their day too! Horizons Mar-April Issue > 37
Source: The Business Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.
Source: The New Paper © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with
Source: Berita Harian © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.
Source: My Paper © Singapore Press Holdings Li
Source: The New Paper Š Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.
imited. Reproduced with permission.
Press Room h permission.