Colin Ong TS Bio

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Colin Ong TS is the Founder/Managing Director of Colin Ong Publishing and Education (COPE). An economist by training, he is a sought-after business content-provider and Economics/Management of Business/English teacher after decaders of teaching experience. He has taught in a number of well-known educational institutions but most prominently, he is a contract NTU lecturer with the focus in entrepreneurship. He is also a well-known curriculum developer and can be contacted at colinongts@hotmail.com for teaching and training opportunities.

MAIN TRAINING EXPERIENCE NTU Adjunct Lecturer (School of Civil and Environmental Engineering) Ecommerce & HRM 2008-Present Prisons School Lecturer GP, Mgt of Biz & Economics 2018 SSTC Commercial School Mgt of Biz BMC Mgt of Biz & GP 2015 Economics & GP 2017 MDIS College Economics, Mgt of Biz & GP 2008-2016 SENSE College Economics, Mgt of Biz & GP 2013-2016 Smartlab Economics & GP Contract 2010-Present Mendaki/CDAC 2012-2018 People’s Association CREST/WSTP Recognised PA Community Centre Trainer


NOTABLE SPECIAL RECOGNITION Content-Developer For Mendaki (Sec 4 English) Past Elected Council Member of Economic Society of Singapore Invited Guest Speaker in Millennia Institute Indonesia/Singapore representative of the World Future Society (http://www.wfs.org/node/317) Invited by MAS to conduct a lunch-time talk about Entrepreneurship Invited by SMRT to conduct a talk about blogging Mentor/Judge NUS Business Plan Competition ’07 until present Mentored Team Elite, SMU Senior Mentor (Citibank-YMCA) Youth For Causes ’06 until present Elected Core Feedback Unit Member To Facilitate Public Meetings Requested by HPB to be a Facilitator (Army Anti-Smoking Measures) Recognised Mentor (NUS Business School) Represented People’s Association (Career Fair) Contributed all HR Articles for North East CDC portal Trained Senior HDB Management (Championing Change) Trained ITE West Students (Presentation and Public Speaking)

STRENGTHS Regular Article-Contributor (AsiaOne) Consistently excellent results from various feedback surveys Current experienced Mendaki and CDAC Tutor Well-versed in exam syllabus with own notes Motivational & Good Communicator Recognised Business Mentor (NUS Biz School & Spring Singapore ACE) Well-published Social Commentator


Author:


Past Features:


Interview on Malaysia’s TV3 Breakfast Show about Knowledge Management (Seated in the middle)


Special Mention: Straits Times Forum Page Writer of the Week


Recognition by ACE


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10 questions to ask before opening a cafe

PHOTO: The Straits Times

by COLIN ONG TAU SHIEN ASIAONE (/SOURCE/ASIAONE-0)

Nov 26, 2016

Have you ever feel the need to set up a cafe, where you get the satisfaction of growing a legion of foodie fans who will lap up all your food selection? That you are blessed to experience the cacophony of chatter and discussion over hot cuppa and home-baked cakes on a daily basis? Perhaps even an appearance on a globally-syndicated reality tv programme where your culinary talents can be displayed for all the see? Well here is some practical advice for you to get the ball-rolling.

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1. Market research

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It is always important to start any business with market research as your gut feel may not reap positive results. Just because you know your different coffees does not automatically qualify you to set your own successful joint. Find out if your dream cafe has a market demand and if your current nancial position can help sustain slow customer growth for at least 6 months. 2. Preferred ambience You can then proceed to decide on your preferred cafe ambience. It can start with the simple details like the colour of your table cloth right down to the specially designed lighting. Seriously consider how you want your customers to feel because studies have shown that this atmosphere does have a direct bearing to their spending patterns with your cafe. 3. Food In the age of globalisation and the easy access and sharing of information, it is unrealistic to have a slogan that boasts of a secret formula or recipe. No matured or discerning customer is going for this buy-in. In contrast, you can highlight your food as the healthier choice or even suitable for diabetics. Now this is a much clearer unique selling point. 4. Don't just turn on a radio station Be more creative with your selection of in-house music. Perhaps have a juke box that has different daily music theme. You can also invest in an in-house band that takes song requests. (/#facebook)

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5. The walls do speak Remember to utilise your wall premises to further boost an unforgettable eating experience. You can decorate with reviews of your food or even encourage past customers to pen their thoughts of your food. You can also show your social concerns by educating your customers about fair trade. Simply giving them a panoramic view outside your cafe is just a thing of the past. 6. Name your product Having unique names can help make your food offerings more memorable and creates a sense of ownership. You should create a contest to get innovative names that endears to your target audience. 7. Differential pricing Seriously consider creating a differential pricing other than the obvious lunch and tea special. Perhaps you can encourage healthier choices at lower prices to set your cafe on a different pathway. 8. Cooking masterclass Have regular cooking masterclass especially targeted to youths and employees from MNCs. In the case of the former, you can open a new opportunity of training during lull periods. In the latter case, satis ed customers, through word of mouth, can spread your cafe to their HR department and you could open a new food delivery arm of your company. 9. Jam sessions Having jam sessions and theme parties creates a sense of warmth and spontaneity for your cafe. However, you have to set aside some special rooms for regular clients who may want to conduct con dential and quiet meetings. 10. Social media Create a strong social media presence where your fans can post sel es, we es and positive eating experience for your cafe. You can also allow more demanding customers to post their criticism and you respond accordingly. The message is you must have fun in connecting with your audience. Here are my last words. Creating a cafe from scratch is never easy like a walk in the park. But through trial and effort. Best of luck!

Colin Ong Tau Shien is a current NTU adjunct lecturer in entrepreneurship/e-commerce, and also a popular A-levels tutor in economics and general paper.

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A relook at fostering creativity in the workplace

ASIAONE (/SOURCE/ASIAONE)

Apr 18, 2016

I will always remember the quotation by Warren Bennis, "The organisations of the future will increasingly depend on the creativity of their members to survive. Great Groups offer a new model in which the leader is an equal among Titans. In a truly creative collaboration, work is pleasure, and the only rules and procedures are those that advance the common cause." This article introduces the concept of fostering creativity in the workplace as a prelude to building a world-class knowledge creation and management system.

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The late Management Guru Peter Drucker was once quoted in Forbes Magazine's Management New Paradigms (/)

"Managing people will become increasingly crucial in developed countries like US. For the only competitive advantage developed countries can still hope to have is the productivity of their knowledge workers.

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The productivity of the knowledge worker is still abysmally low. It has probably not improved in the past 100 or even 200 years - for the simple reason that nobody has worked at improving the productivity." This is true. However, before there can be an increase in the productivity of knowledge workers, the process of creativity has to be encouraged. How creativity can be ourished? According to Brian Clegg, author of Creativity and Innovation for Managers, there are 4 situations when business creativity is exuded, 1. When determining strategy - whether working in regular strategy meetings or in larger-scale off-site strategy sessions, creativity can be a powerful tool to ensure that the future direction is genuinely forward looking and original. 2. When starting a project - at the outset of a project many variables are still unsure, and there will inevitably be problems. 3. When devising a new product or service 4. When a speci c problem occurs - whether it is industrial action or supply shortages, there are many problems that arise along the way. An innovative solution, quickly reached, is in great demand. Below are some practical guide-posts to foster creativity in your workplace: Inter-generational representation It must be recognised that the workplace now has an inter-generational representation whereby groupthink may not be the norm when reaching a collective agreement. Thus the necessary communication skills together with EQ will be the order of the day in ensuring the smooth handling of trying to attain group acceptance. Details of problem-solving process

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Every team has to go through a problem-solving process. This is apparent in cultivating a creative workplace. (/)

Management has to ensure that every team member is adequately skilled in the various techniques and software programs of problem-solving. This will also ensure that continual organizational learning can permeate even if there is staff turnover. Set out the constraints It is not advisable to encourage creativity throughout your organisation without stipulating constraints. The constraints can be in the form of nance, time-span and effects to operational ow. You do not want to create a 'renaissance" workplace and then put a dampener on team-building by insisting that these ideas are not workable. Communicate the constraints well and make it seem like a good challenge for your staff to push boundaries. Which department was affected? Quite often, every well-meaning creative idea will translate into extra work for other departments. It is idealistic to expect your employees to accept changes from other "creative" department. Thus it is more prudent to encourage the creative team to spare a thought for other departments. It will also be good practise and courtesy for them to inform the affected departments of changes after getting the go-ahead from the top management. Is there a shelf life for this idea? Many creative teams do not factor in a dynamic environment where change is the only certainty. By enquiring about the potential shelf life of a creative idea, team members will also contemplate about the respect and protection of the organisation's intellectual property. Which other organisation may bene t from this? Some creative ideas may not be appropriate to implement but can be used as potential solutions for other organisations in the industry. With this in mind, we always encourage every organisation to have a knowledge bank which can house these ideas and also serve as a pension for long-serving enterprising employees. Set aside some time to talk to your creative staff about how far do they want their good ideas to be implemented. If they have the determination and passion to see it through then perhaps allow them the occasional time-out to discuss their creative ideas with relevant companies from the same industry. Team Presentation The importance of presenting ideas cannot be overstated; it encourages the team to be proud of its efforts and gives the rest of the organisation an opportunity to ask for clari cation. This will ensure a more expeditious result where the ideas will encounter much less resistance and negativity. The team can also use this opportunity to ne-tune their ideas from the many feedback s given.

Colin Ong Tau Shien is a current NTU adjunct lecturer in entrepreneurship/e-commerce, and also a popular A-levels tutor in economics and general paper. (/#facebook)

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Tips on being an independent consultant ASIAONE (/SOURCE/ASIAONE)

Mar 30, 2016

It has been said by Norman Ralph Augustine, "All too many consultants, when asked, 'What is 2 and 2?' respond, 'What do you have in mind?'" Do you t this picture?

You have been working for many years in different organisations. You can be considered as an industry subject expert. You have earned the respect of your peers and is the rst person the media approaches if they need deep insights about your industry.

With all this in mind, you decide to be an in independent consultant and run your company. You feel that you have enough personal branding to go out on your own and you hope to create your own legacy. Here are some tips: 1. Do your budget projections Every business has to have a proper system of budgetary planning. This is vital because you do not want to lose a potential contract because you can't afford to take a plane ight to sign it! If you are unsure, it will be advisable to meet up with friends in the same industry. But do your homework rst and check if they will be in direct competition with you; they may not give you accurate advice because they may reveal vital information about their core competencies. Alternatively, you can source out information from your business association. 2. Get a private banker Every consultancy needs good nancial advice. Learn to delegate some nancial requirements to the professionals. They may actually help you to avoid pitfalls that can impede the progress of your consultancy. 3. Private funding If you believe that the foundation of your consultancy is built on a franchise or a rst-mover opportunity, you should seriously consider getting private funding. However, before you start to "hit the streets with your business plan", get legal advice about the protection of your intellectual property and do a background check on the venture companies that you are approaching.

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A big advantage of getting venture funds is that the principal sum is much bigger and there is better support. 4. Consistent pricing plan In order to be credible and professional, you should put serious thought in the pricing plan for your services. The basis can be drawn from a Per hour/Per contract basis. However, you can make exceptions if you have intentions of creating alliances with you customers or embark in a co-branding exercise (online and of ine). 5. Don't make too many promises! As you start your new consultancy, you should give value-added services and not be too accommodating to your initial clients. The reason is that they may actually pass information about your "low" pricing plan and omit the fact that the pricing plan has a "use-by" date. We feel that it is better to get a few big contracts to boost your consultancy's credibility rst. Also remember to seek permission to quote your clients as references. 6. Target public tenders Regularly, there will be calls for public tenders for various projects. Your consultancy should gear up for these public exercises even though your consultancy is relatively new. The reason is that this will give you discipline and encourages you to be more aware of the business climate in your industry. As a personal case-study, my consultancy learnt a lot about the minimum requirements and expectations about being accepted in our industry just by applying for public tenders. You can say that this is the best way of getting a reality check. 7. Build alliances with your employees As you start your recruitment drive be mindful that your new employees have a dif cult task of building new alliances for your consultancy. You can make their tasks easier if you could accompany them to networking opportunities. 8. Self-publish It is important to try to document your consulting journey as a self-publication. This is not a vanity effort but a good way of building up a corporate culture that can be passed on to new employees. It can also be used as a future operational manual. 9. Pro-bono Good consultants have to go through a stage of giving back to society and doing pro bono work is like a rite of passage. It makes you more thankful when you get your rst consulting fee. There will be a sense of professional growth. 10. Join a trade association It is a normal progression to join a relevant trade association in order to network with your professional peers and to be given a platform to further push your industy forward. Finally, do enjoy your new consulting journey. It will be part of your working legacy and your de ning moment.

Colin Ong Tau Shien is a current NTU adjunct lecturer in entrepreneurship/e-commerce, and also a popular A-levels tutor in economics and general paper. (/#facebook)

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10 things to know before you buy a franchise

ASIAONE (/SOURCE/ASIAONE)

Jan 21, 2016

Buying into a franchise is a great way to be part of a recognised brand with the bene t of lower advertising outlay. It could be your rst step into your foray of being an entrepreneur. According to the website Business Idea Trends (http://businessideatrends.com/the-6-best-franchise-types-for-2016/), the six best franchise-types for 2016 are: personal services, lodging, business services, quick-service restaurants, retail products and services and commercial and residential services.

Here are some more tips to consider before quit your day-job and buy a franchise:

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Financial targets You must be sure that you have a rough idea of your expectations of projected income gained from obtaining this franchise. Intangible satisfaction expectation may not sustain your enthusiasm in following through with your new franchise. Get the support of your family The success of your franchise is also the acceptance of your immediate family in supporting your effort. It is a simple rule. Take, for instance, if you buy a franchise which is part of a book-store chain, and your family does not even visit it once. Will you have the determination to see it through? If you need to take a short vacation, will your family member help to run the franchise in your place? Can your inner circle be passionate enough to listen to your enthused rantings about the day's takings or unforgettable customers? Know your strengths and expertise A franchise should not just be a means for you to start your rst business. It is preferable that you have a recognised skill or interest in the franchise before parting with the franchise initial capital. Maybe take a personality test to determine if you have the tenacity to follow through with the franchise. You can take these online tests for free and read more about your own suitability. Unique proposition of the franchise The franchise should be protected by a patent or intellectual property law. This will create signi cant barriers to entry. If not, you have to be sure that there are enough people within your country who recognise and willing to pay for the product or service. Market research A franchise can be a huge success in a particular geographical region but has less acceptance in another country. Thus it is crucial that you inspect the relevance of the market research that has been conducted by the franchise company especially in the area of when the market research was conducted and the demographics of the sample set. Check if the market research shows current trends and scrutinise the sample set that was taken to get to the results. Franchise competition Do not get a franchise that does not seem to have a recognised competitor or an industry that can be classi ed - unless you are interested in being a master franchiser or have a rst-mover advantage. The market may be slow to accept your franchise and you may nd it hard to re-coup your initial investment within the agreed contractual period. Legal assistance It de nitely pays to get a legal expert to read the franchise contract ne-print. You do not want to be accused of violating some of the franchise terms of agreement and pay an unnecessary penalty. Get new contacts Do not just depend on the contact database that may be provided by the franchise owner. You should also try to generate new contacts as the franchise contact database may also be used by new franchisees. You can also consider using social media to boost your contact database.

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Unique ways of promotion Buying a franchise should not mean that you lose your competitiveness and innovativeness. You should nd new ways of promoting your franchise through yers, website and even various media. But remember to inform the franchise owner of your effort and get approval. Joint promotions You should also team-up with the franchise owner to joint promote in trade fairs and trade directories. You can also volunteer to start a dedicated franchise newsletter and be a regular article contributor. You can also provide new ideas that may help improve the franchise but you have to be mindful not to be overly pushy for change. With all this in mind, you are now at the crossroads - is a franchise suitable for you? Here is a quick checklist for you to make the nal decision: - Do you want to lead an independent life? - Are you aware that many franchises fail during the rst 2 years of operation? - Do you have the support of your family when you choose a franchise? - Do you know enough of the franchise's industry? - Are you resourceful enough to use internet and trade publications to supplement your understanding of the franchise? - Do you have your own database of contacts that can support your franchise? - Do you have enough nancial liquidity to pay for the franchise initial investment? - Along the same lines, do you have enough liquidity to spare if there are extra expenses needed for promotional purposes? - Do you agree with the organizational values of the franchise? - Are you con dent in meeting the various targets set out by the franchise? - Are you diligent in following the various conditions of the franchise? - Do you have an exit strategy when the franchise has helped you realise your personal targets? - Are you willing to travel to promote the franchise with its owner in trade conferences? For simplicity, all questions are crafted to be answered as "yes" - after nishing this checklist, you can then seriously consider being part of a franchise.

Colin Ong Tau Shien is a current NTU adjunct lecturer in entrepreneurship/e-commerce, and also a popular A-levels tutor in economics and general paper. (/#facebook)

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TED Talks-style videos can end tuition epidemic

File photo showing a speaker engaging an audience during a TED Talk on education. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/TED

î ˜ PUBLISHED JUN 21, 2018, 6:52 AM SGT I have been thinking about how Singaporean parents can slowly be less burdened by their children's expensive tuition. I was inspired by the many TED Talks. The Education Ministry (MOE) could start by inviting teachers from various schools to give a 10-minute video talk on various topics that are important for the national exams, namely the PSLE and O levels. These teachers should be given free coaching and the entire recording process should be coordinated by MOE so as not to add a logistical burden on to the chosen schools.


Once completed, all these videos should be launched on an open MOE platform in order to protect the various schools' intellectual property. Most importantly, these videos should be able to be accessed by busy parents 24/7 and serve as a muchneeded guide to them.

Parents will then be empowered to decide how much tuition is needed, and low-income families will not feel that their children's academic achievement will be curtailed as these videos can be viewed for free. MOE could also use these videos to further demonstrate how all schools are the same and, in future, promote Singapore education to the rest of the world. Colin Ong Tau Shien

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Step up help for those living with depression î ˜ PUBLISHED JUN 11, 2018, 5:00 AM SGT The untimely deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain within the same week has thrown the spotlight on depression (Fashion designer Kate Spade found dead, June 6; and Food celebrity Anthony Bourdain found dead, June 9). The tragedies show that depression can hit anybody, and there could be more people in our midst who may have untreated clinical depression and choose to stay in the shadows so as not to affect their current professional status. I hope the Health Ministry will step up efforts to further address depression in Singapore, especially among working adults who may not be handling a 24/7, globalised and fast-paced workplace well. These could take the form of free talks and workshops in community clubs or centres. Companies should have a trained depression counsellor who is able to provide personal and in-house help to employees. Colin Ong Tau Shien

HELPLINES Samaritans Of Singapore: 1800-221-4444 Singapore Association For Mental Health: 1800-283-7019 Institute Of Mental Health's Mobile Crisis Service: 6389-2222 Care Corner Counselling Centre (Mandarin): 1800-353-5800 Silver Ribbon: 6386-1928 Tinkle Friend (for primary school-aged children): 1800-274-4788


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Asian Games a golden opportunity to rally Singaporeans  PUBLISHED JUN 5, 2018, 5:00 AM SGT The upcoming Fifa World Cup will be exciting for Singaporeans who, like the rest of the world, have waited four years for this event to happen. However, the Asian Games in Jakarta, which begins in August, is just as exciting. At these games, new local sporting talents who have golden dreams for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo will be unearthed. I hope the agencies in Singapore will put in resources to publicise the Asian Games. Here are some suggestions on what can be done: First, the Government could sponsor a TV series entitled "From Jakarta to Tokyo. Young Olympic dreamers".

The series could be split into two parts, with the first part aired in the lead up to the coming Asian Games. The rest could be shown next year as a lead up to the 2020 Summer Olympics. The young sportsmen and women could be invited by educational institutions to give talks, so that students will get to know them. This could also attract the next generation of local athletes. Sport Singapore could also team up with apparel companies to give publicity to the young athletes and the games. Sporting glory is a strong unifying platform and these games can bring Singaporeans together to stand behind our young athletes. Colin Ong Tau Shien

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Get students exposed to economics early  PUBLISHED OCT 10, 2016, 5:00 AM SGT Economics is offered as an O-level subject, but not all schools offer it ("Seven new applied subjects to pique students' interests"; last Friday). Economics should be promoted more widely to enable our young people to gain a better understanding of the various intricacies of a globalised world. A deep appreciation of Singapore's uniqueness in the global platform can be achieved only by understanding how Singapore became an export-oriented country with an active foreign-exchange policy, despite having practically no natural resource. With this understanding, students will be more enthusiastic about learning the new hands-on subjects, because these subjects reflect the projection of future global economic demands. Colin Ong Tau Shien

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Ensure those with special needs are ready for future workplace  PUBLISHED NOV 5, 2016, 5:00 AM SGT I was pleased to learn that starting from 2019, children with moderate to severe special needs will need to attend publicly funded schools, just like all other children in Singapore ("Children with moderate to severe special needs to be part of Compulsory Education Act"; ST Online, yesterday). I agree with the Government that all Singaporean children must have basic education because knowledge and skills are crucial for a life of self-sufficiency and independence. More importantly, those with special needs must be given the best chance to get employment. Thus, it is crucial to ensure that special needs education is customised such that these children can be prepared to meet the challenges of the future workplace. The Government should research and project the possible needs and physical constraints that will emerge in a workplace of the future. Perhaps, a percentage of employment positions within the civil service could be allocated to employees with special needs.

With the Government setting this example, small- and medium-sized enterprises can be encouraged to follow suit. Colin Ong Tau Shien

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Healthy food labels need an update  PUBLISHED NOV 21, 2017, 5:00 AM SGT I would like to suggest that the Ministry of Health provide more relevant food labelling in view of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's National Day Rally message on combating the high incidence of diabetes in Singapore (Eat less white rice, switch to brown or mixed rice, urges PM; Aug 21). The Healthier Choice label has become very ambiguous and even misleading. A simple start could be the introduction of labels like •Diabetic-friendly (DF) or Low GI (LGI) •Diabetics Consume in Moderation (DCM) •Not suitable for Diabetics (NSD)

To further raise awareness in these new labels, there could be a contest to choose the best designed symbols for all these categories. Colin Ong Tau Shien

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Time for local universities to stand on their own  PUBLISHED DEC 2, 2017, 5:00 AM SGT British newspaper The Guardian reported that Oxford University is raising money for investment by issuing bonds. Singapore should take the same route and cut the apron strings of the local universities. The universities here should mature and stand on their own and open up bond issues that are specific to their own strategic needs and focus. There are a few advantages. First, the Singapore Government can invest more in the pre-school sector to improve curriculum and bring down fees. Second, the local universities can leverage the high global rankings that they currently attain.

Third, with the new bond funds, the local universities can quickly go into new industries without being bogged down by bureaucratic red tape. The administration can also create more bursaries for needy students and urge more academics to monetise their intellectual properties and patents. Colin Ong Tau Shien

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Incorporate VR in classrooms and exam halls  PUBLISHED OCT 12, 2016, 5:00 AM SGT Virtual reality (VR) is not new and has been portrayed in science fiction ("IMDA helping firms think out of the box using latest tech"; Oct 1, and "Using virtual reality to get more people to cycle"; Sept 17). Singapore now has a great opportunity to jump straight to the forefront of the VR market, by doing research and development into how VR can be incorporated in both teaching and future assessment in education. Two areas are geography and science. Senior subject experts can form a committee to team up with polytechnics to see how current educational content can be programmed into VR, and to explore the possibility of incorporating a VR portion in future examination questions. Small- and medium-sized enterprises can also do research and development to ensure that VR devices are portable, lightweight and cost-effective for all students. On a national level, the Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore can create a globally recognised communication platform for VR devices to be used for educational assessment and in examinations. We are deep into the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Let us not be left behind and end up solely as end users with no influence on direction.

Colin Ong Tau Shien

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Refinements to improve SkillsFuture scheme  PUBLISHED JAN 25, 2016, 5:00 AM SGT I am very appreciative of the Government's SkillsFuture initiative. This shows that it has a long-range perspective to keep all Singaporean workers relevant. I have some suggestions to refine the scheme. First, incorporate more information, such as if the workshop can be recognised as a partial module for a full-time course from the Institute of Technical Education or polytechnic and so on. Second, with the release of the O-level results recently, students can attend some SkillsFuture courses to help them decide on their educational direction. These courses can play an integral part in helping them cope with dynamic workplace expectations. Third, there could be more SkillsFuture courses that take into account the special needs some participants have, and perhaps arrangements could be made to allow trainers to conduct courses in their organisations. Lastly, set up an online section called the SkillsFuture Wish List, where members of the public can provide feedback about what new courses can be launched.

SkillsFuture can also be the platform to unearth trainers who are currently subject matter experts in their fields. Colin Ong Tau Shien

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Timely warning about bitcoin  PUBLISHED DEC 22, 2017, 5:00 AM SGT It is commendable that the Monetary Authority of Singapore has finally come forward with a clear and strongly worded statement about bitcoin (MAS warns bitcoin investors to act with 'extreme caution'; Dec 20). This will go a long way in warning those who are not financially savvy to, perhaps, keep their investments away from the volatility of bitcoin. The statement will at least encourage this group of people to perform their due diligence and a deeper analysis on the workings of cryptocurrency. After doing so, they can decide whether they are willing to take on such a level of risk. Colin Ong Tau Shien

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Will China's new silk road train affect Singapore shipping?  PUBLISHED JAN 6, 2017, 7:03 PM SGT In what is considered one of the world's longest train rides, a freight train left Yiwu in China and will reach London in 21/2 weeks ("China starts freight train link to London"; Jan 3). This initiative is part of President Xi Jinping's "One Belt, One Road" vision. In some quarters, this has been recognised as the new silk route. It is undeniable that air and land freights are much faster, but the global political symbolism cannot be ignored. China wants to take a greater leadership stance on the global platform. Singapore has to factor China's desire if it also decides to create a smaller but no less significant silk route across Asean. Could this negatively impact Singapore's port and maritime industry?

Colin Ong Tau Shien

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THE STRAITS TIMES 'VWO' name is not the problem

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Revamping the tuition industry î ˜ PUBLISHED OCT 3, 2016, 6:57 PM SGT As a business educator, I have some suggestions on the tuition market in Singapore ("Tuition race hots up as big players up their game / Spending more to get a head start for kids"; Oct 3). First, much of the current expenditure pattern within the tuition industry beneďŹ ts the domestic industry. If the main educational players are able to think out of the box, they can utilise e-learning and content development to reach out to a global marketplace that highly regards the Singapore education brand. Thus, this industry can create jobs for new graduates. Second, current full-time school teachers should be dissuaded from teaching in commercial schools. Instead, they should have some time for relaxation and rejuvenation to face a pressurised school environment. The private tuition market can be utilised by professionals who are seriously considering a mid-career switch but need to test out their teaching abilities before going into full-time teaching. ADVERTISING


Third, the Ministry of Education should caution private tuition schools against blatantly using mainstream school exam papers to attract students to their centres. To resolve this problem and level the playing field even further, schools should upload their exam papers on their school websites for free, at least a month before national exams. Reputable foreign exam boards have been posting exam papers, with detailed marking schemes, for free for years. This also narrows the gap between the haves and the have-nots. One advantage many tuition centres tout is the access to schools' past exam papers, so that students can be drilled in exam-taking. However, many students from low-income families would be denied this access. Having schools post their exam papers on their websites, allowing all students access, will narrow this gap. Colin Ong Tau Shien

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