Horizons
MAY/JUNE ISSUE
A Bi-monthly Magazine of the Management Development Institute of Singapore
MCI (P) 093/4/2014
Empowering a Globally Connected Generation Brews and Bites in the Bell Wing
With A Wink and A Smile
Vanessa May from the School of Tourism and Hospitality tells us what working in the hospitality industry is really like
Editor’s Note T
ime certainly flies! It seems like almost yesterday when I was just penning the Editor’s Note for the first issue of Horizons in 2014, and looking at the calendar, we’re already halfway through the year. I trust that the year has been good to you, and that the rest of the year will continue to be smooth sailing. These past few months have been busy for MDIS, with the graduation ceremony for graduands of the MDIS-University of Sunderland, the 19th Scholarship and Bursary Awards Ceremony in May, and the 59th Annual General Meeting in June. Our students have been active too! Students from the School of Tourism and Hospitality made their way to the rural north of Singapore to explore the farms and resorts there, while those from the School of Psychology toured the NEWater Visitor Centre to find out more about how NEWater contributes to Singapore’s water conservation efforts. At the same time, students from the School of Fashion and Design also helped the Metta Welfare Association raise money by organising their annual fundraiser, and the MDIS Angel Heart Club did the same by helping out at the Jalan Kayu Heartstrings event. We hope that you will enjoy reading this issue of Horizons!
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 Comajes Charlotte Aguilar Ivan Wong Lionel Chng Martin Bonney Merytantri Kasem Ng Huey Wen Poorvena G See Beebee Sherri Lee Steven Tan Susan Yeo
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Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Zoe Lo Ying Man
Management Development Institute of Singapore Reg. No. 201001793H 20 May 2014 to 19 May 2018
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 Š2014 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.
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06 Empowering A Globally Connected Generation 08 MDIS 19th Scholarship & Bursary Awards Ceremony 11 MDIS-ZJTIE Graduation 12 MDIS-University of Sunderland Graduation 14 7 Simple Principles 15 Jalan Kayu Heartstrings Event 16 MDIS Tashkent's Chairman & Rector Visit Singapore
Empowering A Globally Connected Generation MDIS’ 59th Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on 7th June at the Auditorium located within the Residences. A total of 124 voting members and 40 non-voting members turned up for the meeting and received a power-bank as a door gift.
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resided by MDIS President Dr Eric Kuan, MDIS Secretary-General Dr R Theyvendran, and MDIS Honorary Treasurer Mr Roger Tham, the meeting covered the highlights of 2013 and the institution’s plans for 2014 and beyond.
“MDIS defied the odds in 2013,” said Dr Theyvendran in his opening address. “Not only have our net assets grown from S$198.8 million in 2012 to S$222.7 million in 2013, we have also become increasingly involved in a large number of corporate and social responsibility programmes.” As a not-for-profit organisation, MDIS does not solicit funds or donations from the public. It is entirely self-funded through its programmes, and all of its profits are channelled back into the institute for the purposes of expanding and improving campus infrastructure, developing new programmes, and enhancing the quality of its existing programmes, and in supporting community projects.
The MDIS Trust Fund’s net assets – from which all scholarship and bursary awards are paid out from – remained constant at S$14 million: which was an achievement in itself, given the challenging and volatile conditions of the market in 2013. However, Dr Theyvendran expressed his confidence that MDIS will only grow from strength to strength, and that MDIS’ latest expansion into the regional marketplace, in the form of MDIS Malaysia, will benefit MDIS as a whole. Located in EduCity@Iskandar, MDIS Malaysia is MDIS’ second overseas campus – the first being in Tashkent, Uzbekistan – and marks the first major deal made by a Singaporean group in Iskandar’s special economic zone. The campus will cost a total of RM300 million and had its groundbreaking ceremony officiated by YAB Tan Sri Dato’ Hj. Muhyiddin bin Hj. Mohd Yassin, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia and Minister of Education, in September 2013.
Not only have our net assets grown from S$198.8 million in 2012 to S$222.7 million in 2013, we have also become increasingly involved in a large number of corporate and social responsibility programmes. 6 > Horizons May-June Issue
Newscope
The members were also informed that the lawsuit brought by MDIS and MDIS Pte Ltd against Edith Cowan University of Western Australia (ECU) and two of its senior officials have been settled out of court. Spanning more than two and a half years, the suit was brought by MDIS against ECU for the latter's breach of an Education Agreement between both parties, and against Professor Cox (ECU Vice Chancellor and President) and Professor Shen (Dean of ECU International) for conspiracy to injure MDIS and cause it loss. The case was scheduled to be heard in the High Court of Singapore in April 2014, but all parties have managed to resolve their differences and were able to reach an out-of-court settlement before the trial commenced. In a letter issued by ECU, Professor Cox and Professor Shen to MDIS, the defamatory statements made by them of MDIS were also retracted.
Dr Eric Kuan went on to applaud MDIS' continued academic excellence, noting that in 2013 alone, a total of 103 students graduated with first-class honours: a step-up from 2012’s 62 first-class graduates. Dr Kuan said that this was only possible thanks to the hard work of both staff and students, and he expressed his wish that MDIS will continue to improve both fiscally and academically.
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MDIS’ 19 Scholarship & Bursary Awards Ceremony th
MDIS held its 19th Scholarship and Bursary Awards Ceremony on 17th May at the Fairmont Ballroom within Raffles City Convention Centre. Continuing in a long tradition of selfless giving that started in 1996, MDIS works with various self-help groups such as Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC), Eurasian Association (EA), Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) and Yayasan MENDAKI to identify deserving students who would need a helping hand.
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ore than 2,000 guests filled the ballroom as the Guestof-Honour, Mr Seah Kian Peng – Speaker of Parliament; Member of Parliament for Marine Parade GRC; and the CEO of NTUC Fairprice Cooperative – offered his heartiest congratulations to the recipients. Quoting Aristotle, Mr Seah reminded the students that the “roots of education may be bitter, but its fruits are sweet”, and that they should persist in their hard work and studies. He also said that:
“Education will form the foundation of the house that you build; as long as it is strong, it will endure for many years to come. But more importantly, education is the vehicle that will break through two of the most dire challenges we face in Singapore today: income inequality and wealth inequality. We have always provided measures for social mobility, and now, I think, the time has come for us to look more earnestly at wealth redistribution as well.” Guest-of-Honour Mr Seah Kian Peng
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MDIS President Dr Eric Kuan
MDIS President Dr Eric Kuan also commended the recipients in his speech when he said: “Every single one of you seated before us today exemplifies how there is no limit to what you can achieve as long as you persevere. To the recipients, therefore, I say this: embrace this opportunity that you have been given to further your education. I believe that each and every one of you has the potential to do well both academically and professionally.� A total of 14 pre-degree scholarships, 3 degree scholarships and 605 bursaries were awarded, in addition to 53 Merit Scholarships for both local and international students who have performed exceptionally well in their studies. One such recipient was Mr Jaya Chandran, 44, who received a Merit Scholarship for a part-time MBA programme at MDIS with the University of Sunderland. MDIS Scholarship and Bursary Award recipients
Horizons May-June Issue > 9
A father of two, Mr Chandran worked his way through school, starting with a Diploma in Electronics and Communications Engineering before going for an Advanced Diploma and, finally, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. This allowed him to make the leap from a maintenance and repair supervisor to a managerial position at a global semiconductor company; but now, 11 years later, he is back in school because he believes that education is a neverending process. “A higher academic qualification will not only open up more opportunities for me, but will also help me keep up with the times and thus remain relevant for a longer period. I believe that this MBA will allow me to better contribute to the company, and that the new skills and knowledge I will acquire will be of great value both professionally and personally.”
Merit Scholarship recipient Mr Jaya Chandran
MDIS Secretary-General Dr R Theyvendran was very pleased with the event and said: "The MDIS Scholarship and Bursary Awards ceremony is a tradition that goes back 19 years, and it is one that we are proud to continue. In line with our philosophy of encouraging lifelong learning in everyone, we are pleased to be able to offer a helping hand to those who need it. We hope that this will help them achieve an equal footing with their peers, regardless of their family backgrounds, and stay relevant in the modern workplace."
A higher academic qualification will not only open up more opportunities for me, but will also help me keep up with the times and thus remain relevant for a longer period. I believe that this MBA will allow me to better contribute to the company, and that the new skills and knowledge I will acquire will be of great value both professionally and personally. - Merit Scholarship recipient Mr Jaya Chandran
All funds for the scholarships and bursaries are disbursed from the MDIS Education Trust Fund, which in turn was established from MDIS’ financial surpluses. As a not-for-profit institution, MDIS believes that it is its duty to give back to the community as much as possible, and this is but one of the many ways that it does so. Till date, MDIS has given out scholarships and bursary awards worth approximately S$4.16 million to over 6,000 students.
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MDIS-ZJTIEGraduation
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MDIS and the Zhejiang Technology Institute of Economy (ZJTIE) held a joint graduation ceremony on 27th May for its students from the Advanced Diploma in International Trade & Commerce and the Advanced Diploma in Tourism & Hospitality Management.
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eld on the ZJTIE campus in Zhejiang, China, these courses are dual-certified by both MDIS and ZJTIE. Each year, nine MDIS lecturers will be sent to the ZJTIE, where they will each teach a module entirely in English. This not only helps the students improve their English language skills – a key requirement for the modern workplace – but also gives them an opportunity to learn from the varied skills and cross-national experiences of MDIS’ own lecturers.
This is the second such graduation ceremony between MDIS and ZJTIE, with a grand total of 109 students present at the ceremony this year. In his opening address to the graduands, MDIS President Dr Eric Kuan quoted Sir Winston Churchill when he said that “success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.
“Always bear in mind that success is a learning journey, never a destination. Learning is important, both to you as an individual as well as any organisation that you end up working for. It will not only help you advance both socially and professionally, but also add immeasurable value to your life as a whole.” - MDIS President Dr Eric Kuan
ZJTIE President, Professor Chen Li Neng, also gave a speech in Mandarin in which he said, “Society is the real university. Once you graduate, you will soon come to meet many people, be they colleagues or friends. Be humble and always be ready to learn from others. Once you are able to combine your technical knowledge with soft skills, you will be a true professional, and you will soon be treated as such by others.” Congratulations to all graduands!
Horizons May-June Issue > 11
MDIS-University of Sunderland Graduation Ceremony 2014 The MDIS-University of Sunderland graduation ceremony took place at the Raffles City Convention Centre on 31st May. Attended by nearly 200 graduands and guests, the ceremony was graced by the presence of Ms Foo Mee Har, Member of Parliament for West Coast GRC.
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raduands at this ceremony were all from the School of Tourism and Hospitality’s (STH) Bachelor of Science (Hons) in International Tourism and Hospitality Management course. Awarded by the University of Sunderland, the course aims to give students not just a degree from an internationallyrecognised academic institution, but also a deep and holistic understanding of the modern tourism and hospitality industry. These graduands were required to undergo a six-monthlong internship with an industry-relevant company before they graduated, thus ensuring that they were fully equipped with the skills and knowledge required in the working world; and, like many STH students before them, several graduands reported that their internship had been the highlight of their course.
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Guest-of-Honour Ms Foo Mee Har, Member of Parliament for West Coast GRC
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MDIS President Dr Eric Kuan, in his opening address, noted that MDIS’ multicultural environment would prove invaluable when it comes to facing the challenges of the modern workplace. Addressing the students, he remarked upon how globalisation has changed the face of the tourism and hospitality industry: “This is an exciting time and an exciting place to be in. In recent years, globalisation and technology has come together to allow a talented workforce to become much more effective. However, this also brings with it some new challenges of its own; but as long as you commit yourself fully to your work, with the same focus and determination that you have shown in your studies, I have no doubt that you will succeed and overcome these challenges.” “My six-month internship with Chan Brothers Travel proved to be crucial in helping me secure a job almost immediately after my course ended last April,” said Ms Tan Jie Qi, one of the course’s top students. “The whole experience and journey has been exhilarating. I am very happy with where I am now and very thankful for the people that have helped me come this far.”
My six-month internship with Chan Brothers Travel proved to be crucial in helping me secure a job almost immediately after my course ended last April. The whole experience and journey has been exhilarating. - Ms Tan Jie Qi
Horizons May-June Issue > 13
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Simple Principles
Ms Foo Mee Har echoed Dr Kuan’s sentiments in her own speech when she observed that tourism and hospitality is one of Singapore’s strongest economic sectors, making up 10.9% of the country’s gross domestic product. Tourism, she notes, is a growing industry, and one that looks set to continue growing even as travel becomes ever more accessible, and as travellers become more aware that the world has so much more to offer them. Ms Foo went on to share some of her personal insights that she had gleamed from her days as a student, as a professional, as an international corporate leader, and also as a servant of the people. This she managed to distil to seven simple principles:
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Think Big "Your achievements will only be as big as your dreams, so don’t limit your ambitions or allow others to limit them for you”. One should ask “why not?” more often than “why?”, for breakthroughs demand courage and imagination in equal measure. If you want to be an effective leader, you must first believe before you can make believers of others.
Take Action ”Leaders act, not always when conditions are ideal, when all risks are known or when success is assured. Instead, leaders act when results are needed.” Stay alert, stay flexible, and correct your course when necessary, but taking action is the only way you can ever get to your destination.
Go Far “Realise how small your corner of the world really is, and liberate yourself by tasting the richness and diversity of cultures and traditions.” The graduands have made a good start by choosing to work in tourism and hospitality, Ms Foo said, and if they were ever given the opportunity to travel, she urged the students to do so when they are young.
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Work Together “Collaboration is more than Facebook and Twitter. It is about working in teams and working with others.” One must learn to not just take, but to give as well. Be open and generous, and form communities that help each other succeed.
Be Resilient “Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Mistakes are opportunities to learn, and it is more important to know how to pick yourself up when you fall down.” Sometimes, one must take one step back before moving three steps forward. As long as you believe in yourself, however, you will always move forward.
Stay Grounded “In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of work, through ups and downs, laughter and tears, you need to anchor yourselves to things that really matter.” Do not chase after fame and fortune as if they were ends in and of themselves. Instead, find your anchor – be it your parents, spouse, or children – and never lose sight of them.
Do Good “Success is not only about wealth and power: it is also about making a positive difference in the lives of others.” No matter if you’re working for your community, for your nation or for mankind as a whole, strive to make the lives of those around you better. If you want to be a leader, then you must also shoulder the responsibilities that come with the mantle.
Newscope
Jalan Kayu
Heartstrings Event “This ‘Jalan Kayu Day’ event has been a resounding success, and it would not have been possible if not for the support from you and your organisation,” said Mr Yam Meng Keng, Chairman of the Jalan Kayu Citizens’ Consultative Committee.
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eld on 14th June, the event aims to help 150 needy families living in the Jalan Kayu area lighten their financial burden. With the help of the MDIS Angel Hearts Club, MDIS Photography Club and the MDIS Dance Club, each family received S$180 worth of supermarket vouchers as well as S$20 worth of groceries including cooking oil, oats and biscuits in the hopes that this would help defray their household expenses.
Guest-of-Honour Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
The event was graced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Members of Parliament from the Ang Mo Kio GRC as well as respective grassroot leaders from the neighbourhood. Many recipients were noticeably moved as they came forward to receive their vouchers and groceries, but thanks to the game booths and dance performances, the atmosphere was a cheerful and upbeat one.
As the founding sponsor, MDIS has contributed a total of S$150,000 to this annual event since it started four years ago. This year, two other local brands – Killiney International and Neo Group Limited – have also pitched in by contributing white coffee and rice respectively to these needy residents.
All in all, it was a most memorable and eventful day for everyone, and the MDIS staff and student volunteers, though exhausted, all went home with smiles on their faces. We were pleased to have been able to take part in this event, and are proud to be part of an institution that takes its corporate and social responsibility so seriously. Horizons May-June Issue > 15
MDIS Tashkent’s Chairman & Rector Visit Singapore Dear Dr Theyvendran and Mr Shareef,
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DIS Tashkent welcomes its new rector, Dr Salikhov Jasur, to his formal appointment on 19th February. Assigned to the position by the order of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Dr Salikhov took over from the previous rector Dr Rizaev Farkhod, who has since been promoted to the position of First Deputy Minister of Higher and Secondary Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan. To further his understanding of MDIS’ roots and origin, and to facilitate his new role as rector, we invited both him and Dr Saidullo Abdullaev – Chairman of MDIS Tashkent’s Board of Directors – to Singapore on 23rd May. Members of the MDIS International Management team showed both Dr Saidullo and Dr Salikhov around some of Singapore’s most prominent attractions such as Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, Chinatown, Little India and of course the Singapore River. They were also given a tour of the Stirling Road campus, and introduced to the various schools and state-of-the-art facilities it houses.
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I would like to take this opportunity to thank you from both Dr Abdullaev and myself. This trip has been a very informative one for me as it has not only strengthened my understanding of MDIS’ mission and operations, but also showed me your country’s hospitable and charming culture and lifestyle. Thank you very much for your warm hospitality and welcoming atmosphere. - Dr Salikhov Jasur
A taste of local food Examining the work of MDIS School of Fashion and Design
We would like to thank Dr Saidullo and Dr Salikhov for taking the time out of their busy schedules to visit Singapore, and hope that they had enjoyed their short stay with here. We look forward to working with them in the future, and trust that our relationship will remain strong for many years to come.
Learning
18 Northern Navigation Tour 20 NEWater Visit 21 Productivity as a Game Changer to Your Life 22 HR Mingle & Meet
Northern Navigation
Tour
On 30th April, 25 students from the School of Tourism and Hospitality embarked on a “Northern Navigation Tour” to explore the lesser-known parts of northern Singapore. As students of International Tourism and Hospitality Management, it was vital that we understand every aspect of tourism: and this tour, so very different from the typical ones you might find at the heart of Singapore’s urban jungle, proved to be both fascinating and illuminating.
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Learning
D’Kran Farm ji Resort
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ur first stop was Farmmart Centre in Lim Chu Kang, a dining and retail hub for home-grown farm produce. Led by local guide Uncle William, we were brought around the surrounding farms on a coach tour and introduced to each of them: from fish farms like Qian Hu – a marvellous tourist attraction in its own right, with its own café, fish spa, fish pond and pet shop – to large plots of land dedicated to just growing vegetable and or rearing poultry, we learnt that almost 90% of all the farms in Singapore were located around Lim Chu Kang. Upon heading back to Farmmart, Uncle William had a surprise waiting for all of us in the form of quail eggs: 600 of them, in fact! We thankfully accepted them and brought them home, all already anticipating the scrumptious post-exam feast we would be able to make with them. We continued on to D’Kranji Farm Resort, a little getaway tucked deep within the Kranji “countryside”. With Sales and Marketing Assistant Manager Ms Venisa Hang showing us around, we were introduced to what she called Singapore’s first and only “agri-tainment” farm. Of the four room types – Standard Villa, Elite Villa, Elegance Villa and Family
Suite – the last impressed us the most, what with its twin bedrooms, built-in living and dining area, mini-kitchen, karaoke system and backyard BBQ pit; all of this surrounded by lush tropical greenery and yet still just located a half hour away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Singapore. Luxurious rooms aside, the resort also featured three distinctly themed F&B outlets, seminar rooms, fish spa, prawning pond and even a swiftlet garden museum. What caught our eye, however, was D’Kranji’s in-house fruit farm, where fresh fruits were picked from and sold to the public every day. The farm also features an educational playground where students can explore and learn more about the agricultural industry. All in all, the Northern Navigation tour was an invaluable experience for all of us. It was particularly precious for me as a foreign student who, despite having lived in Singapore for the past three years, never even knew that Singapore had a rural side to it. The tour has really opened my eyes, and made me appreciate Singapore more as a holistic tourism destination.
This article was contributed by Lo Ying Man, Zoe who is pursuing a BSc (Hons) in International Tourism & Hospitality Management with the University of Sunderland. Horizons May-June Issue > 19
N E Water V isit
On 6th May, students from the MDIS School of Psychology visited the NEWater Visitor Centre at Kok Sek Lim Road. Located near the primary NEWater processing plant along Tanah Merah Coast Road, the Visitor Centre seeks to provide visitors with a better understanding of NEWater through educational workshops and interactive tours. In fact, the Visitor Centre was awarded with the Best Sightseeing/Leisure/Educational Programme at the 20th Tourism Awards 2005, and again at the IWA Marketing & Communication Award in 2006!
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EWater, we learnt upon arriving at the Visitor Centre, is used water that has been rigorously treated and made safe to drink again. Since the launch of the initiative in 2001, the widespread use of NEWater has saved Singapore more than 273,000 cubic metres of potable water per day! After watching a short video on the creation and possible uses of NEWater, we were led on a tour of the mock processing plant located within the Visitor Centre. Here, our tour guide showed us the three main steps involved in the purification process:
MICROFILTRATION Microfiltration, or the use of very fine filters to remove the larger contaminants in the water.
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REVERSE OSMOSIS PURIFICATION
ULTRAVIOLET DISINFECTION
Reverse Osmosis Purification, which passes water through a semi-permeable membrane to remove whatever remains in the water. The resulting water is free of all bacteria, viruses, heavy metals and other such undesirable contaminants.
Ultraviolet Disinfection, a final “just in case� step that absolutely kills (or renders inert) any contaminants that may remain in the water.
Once the three processes are completed, alkaline chemicals are added back to the water, to neutralise its acidity, and the NEWater is now ready to be used! While it is 100% safe to drink, the resulting water is rarely employed as drinking water due to its purity. In fact, the water is so clean that it is often used for delicate industrial processes such as wafer fabrication and servicing of air-conditioning towers, where the purity of the water is of utmost importance. The trip was not only absolutely fascinating, but also extremely educational as well. We would like to thank the NEWater Visitor Centre for this intriguing look at NEWater from behind the scenes, and MDIS for organising this trip.
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In fact, the water is so clean that it is often used for delicate industrial processes such as wafer fabrication and servicing of airconditioning towers, where the purity of the water is of utmost importance.
Learning
MDIS Talk and Networking Event:
Productivity as a Game Changer to Your Life
More than 35 MDIS alumni, graduating students and friends gathered eagerly at Tropical Breeze on 26th March for the “Productivity as a Game Changer to your Life” talk. Held by Six Sigma Consulting’s Managing Partner and Principal Systems Productivity Consultant, Mr Michael Pang, the talk addressed the many ways in which one could increase productivity without even having to lift a finger. “Being more productive means that you will have more time to spend doing the things that you want to be doing instead of the things that need to be doing,” Mr Pang said. “Productivity is not merely about efficiency formulas or doing things faster: it’s an attitude, a way of life, a methodological approach to seemingly insurmountable problems.” Participants were also taught, through creative examples that were close to all our hearts, a few simple techniques they can adopt to easily increase both personal and professional productivity, and were shown the many ways in which even a slight increase in productivity can – as the title says – change their lives.
Productivity is not merely about efficiency formulas or doing things faster: it’s an attitude, a way of life, a methodological approach to seemingly insurmountable problems. - Mr Michael Pang Managing Partner and Principal Systems Productivity Consultant of Six Sigma Consulting
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HR
Mingle & Meet
On 13th June, more than 20 human resource (HR) practitioners gathered at MDIS’ Tropical Breeze Hospitality Training Centre to hear Mr Chia Boon Cher speak about the recent changes to the Employment Act, and how these changes would affect Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs) in Singapore.
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rior to April 2014, only rank and file employees earning less than $2,000 per month were entitled to protection on working hours, annual leave and overtime benefits. However, as Mr Chia was quick to point out, this is no longer the case. With the latest amendment, now employees earning less than $2,500 will be entitled to all these benefits as listed out in Part IV of the Employment Act. The changes also affect junior executives who earn up to $4,500 per month, albeit to a lesser extent. Under the new act, these executives are now entitled to certain provisions relating to public holidays, sick leave, and the right to formal complaint if they feel that they have been unfairly dismissed. Mr Chia was an engaging and entertaining speaker who managed to capture the audience’s attention from the word go. A veteran HR practitioner himself with over 16 years of experience in the Ministry of Manpower, Mr Chia took the time to stay behind after his talk and answer questions that the audience had about the Employment Act, HR best practices and more. We would like to thank Mr Chia for his valuable time, and for his extremely informative talk.
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Campus Beat
24 With a Wink and a Smile 26 Food Haven Comes to MDIS 27 Brews and Bites in the Bell Wing 28 Freewheeling For Charity
With A Wink and A Smile
Vanessa May – who is just “May” to her friends
– is a 27 year old student in the University of Sunderland’s BSc (Hons) International Tourism and Hospitality Management programme. Aside from being a smart and conscientious student, she is also – as you may have noticed – an absolutely gorgeous part-time model. We speak to her about her hopes and dreams, and find out more about what she has learnt from her time at MDIS.
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Photo Credit: Michael Lie, President of the MDIS Photography Club
Campus Beat What made you choose a degree in Travel and Tourism? Back home in Chonburi (a province in Thailand about 1.5 hours away from Bangkok), my mother owns a little guesthouse by the beach where I’ve been helping out ever since I was young; and I absolutely loved it! I got to meet all sorts of interesting people from all over the world, and the feeling that you get from being able to make them smile is a fantastic one. It’s a job that will never get boring for me.
Why did you choose MDIS? When I was considering studying in Singapore, a friend recommended that I choose either SIM (Singapore Institute of Management) or MDIS as they were two of the better private educational institutions around. I did a bit more research of my own, and finally settled on MDIS because it had a better mix of international and Singaporean students. After all, since I was going overseas to study, I wanted to make the most out of it, and for me, that meant meeting people from as many different cultures and countries as possible!
Any regrets so far? None! (laughs) I really love studying at MDIS, as you can probably tell from the fact that I’ve stayed with the school all the way: from studying English with the School of Languages, to my Diploma in Travel and Tourism, and finally to the Bachelor Degree in Travel and Tourism that I’m currently pursuing. The teachers have a fantastic approach to teaching. Unlike others, they make sure that they go above and beyond the material in the textbook by mixing in personal anecdotes and examples. For instance, I had a lecturer on tourism law who was a former lawyer. Despite law ordinarily being such a dry and difficult subject, because he would often share stories about the previous cases that he had worked on, his classes became not only easy to understand but interesting as well!
What are some of the things you learnt so far? Well, it gave me the chance to really take a good look at how much work goes into making any banquet presentable. There’s always so many things that need to be done behind the scenes, from cleaning the tables and steaming the tablecloths to polishing the plates, arranging flowers, making sure that the audio-visual equipment is working and so on. When the banquet itself begins, everything seems so neat and perfect, but before it starts and after it ends? It can be a madhouse in here!
Any plans for the future? I would love to continue staying and working in Singapore! I think this is a great country: one that is beautiful, clean, safe and prosperous. I know a lot of Singaporeans think that their country is boring, but it isn’t to me! I think that Singapore is one of the best-managed countries in the world. My dream job would be to work for the local office of Booking.Com, a website where people can make travel plans, purchase airline tickets, book their accommodations, arrange for transportation and so on. I think it would be a very good experience for me, and an excellent opportunity for me to get to know the local hospitality industry a little better. I’ll be interviewing with them as soon as I finish my Degree!
Well Vanessa, we wish you all the best. Thank you for your time.
I understand that you’re currently doing your internship with Raffles Town Club. How has it been so far? Honestly? It’s been very tiring, but at the same time it has also been great! I have learnt so much about the hospitality industry in just the few weeks that I’ve spent here: first as a Banquet Server, and now as a part of the Catering Sales team.
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Food Haven
Comes to MDIS
MDIS foodies rejoice!
Since April, the MDIS Food Court has finished its renovations and has since recommenced operations! Now in the hands of veteran food court operator Food Haven (who also run the canteens in Singapore Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, ITE College East, and the German European School), the newly refurbished canteen features a wide variety of completely new food stalls that will be sure to tickle your taste buds!
T
ake for instance the new Indian food stall. Aside from an absolutely delectable sampling of vegetarian dishes such as spicy cabbage and carrots and stirfried eggplant, it also offers a surprisingly large variety of other dishes such as butter chicken (delicious with naan!), mutton curry, samosas and so on. The stall is also open for breakfast should you choose to start the morning with a serving of roti prata and fish curry. The Chinese stall is another stall that’s open for breakfast, with the usual fried noodles and kway teow offering so commonly found across the island’s many coffee shops. Come lunch time, however, and the stall transforms itself to a mixed rice stall with stir-fried spinach, honey-lemon chicken, steamed egg pudding and more! Muslim students need not fret as well as the Muslim stall is just as good. Aside from the usual mee rebus, mee siam and tauhu goring dishes, the stall also has an impressive selection of nasi padang dishes such as curry chicken, potato patties, boiled eggs and so on. Yum!
26 > Horizons May-June Issue
If reading this is making you hungry, why not head on down to the food court right now? It’s open Monday to Sunday from 7:30am to 8:30pm and is located right under the MDIS Residences.
s e t i B d n a s Brew in the Bell Wing
Campus Beat
Unless you’ve been living under a rock these past few weeks, you would have noticed an exciting development on the Bell Block (Block B) on the Stirling Road Campus: namely, the opening of the student communal area, “The Bell Wing”!
T
he Bell Wing is the place for any MDIS student to be before, between and after classes. Conveniently located on the ground floor of Block B (right under Samtas Hall), it is the perfect place to stop by in the mid-afternoon for a breather from the tropical heat. Aside from the comfortable chairs and tables scattered all around the place, the Wing also features a TV room with plush theatre-style seating and furnishings. This room can also be booked by any lecturer or student through the Membership Department for video screenings, movie nights and other such activities. The Wing also features a dedicated game room that currently features a foosball (AKA “table soccer”) and pool table. Unlike the TV room, the games room cannot be booked, but is instead free for any student to come in and use any time they like. Of course, like all good places to chill out in Singapore, the Bell Wing offers food as well in the form of the “Brews and Bites” café! Operated by two students – Sandy and Montage – from the MDIS School of Tourism and Hospitality, Brew and Bites offers a large selection of food and drinks ranging from handcrafted gourmet sandwiches and cakes to espressos, lattes and cappuccinos that are all brewed on the spot to perfection. The Bell Wing is open from 8:30am to 12 midnight every day.
Horizons May-June Issue > 27
Freewheeling For Charity
This year, students from the MDIS School of Fashion and Design’s Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Marketing and Branding programme decided to do their part for charity and with the help of the Metta Welfare Association, run its annual fundraising event. Organised in collaboration with Elite Advisory Services (EAS), the EAS Charity Ride 2014 took place on 25th May at the East Coast Park.
W
hile cycling was the eponymous highlight of the event, participants were also treated to a bento picnic in addition to games and other fun-filled activities. To ensure that everyone stayed safe, however, Red Cross volunteers and paramedics were at hand throughout the day, but their assistance was thankfully not needed, and everyone had a day that was both safe and fun. The exercise did not only help both Metta Day Rehabilitation Centre for the Elderly and the Metta Hospices raise money to continue operations for the rest of the year, but also
28 > Horizons May-June Issue
served as an excellent opportunity for the students to flex their business muscles in a practical setting. Not only did they brainstorm for games and marketing ideas, but the time they spent helping out at the event also taught them a lot about the importance of planning, teamwork and community work. We would like to thank the EAS for their help in this event, as well as all the volunteers and participants who were the sine qua non of the event; without their help and participation, the event would not have been such a success.
Connections
30 Students' Reflections 32 Book Reviews 33 MDC Training Programmes 34 Membership Activities 35 Chill Out
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Singapore is very exciting because it's very clean, very safe and very technologically advanced! I feel a peace of mind studying here, which helps a lot because I can focus on learning new things and making new friends. It's also a great logistic hub, making it an ideal place to further my knowledge of import and export. - Navil Vaishnav, India
30 > Horizons May-June Issue
S t uden ts'
Connections I chose to come it’s not to Singap only nea ore bec r where ause has the I course th live, but a also t I was The infr astructur looking ou e make t for. very ea s getting sy, and a th r ound e re’s alw to do be ays som cause th e thing e city n ever sle - Viivek eps! Mashru, I ndia
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Horizons May-June Issue >31
O U R L I brarian recommends . . .
Resource HUB (Library)
Block C, Level 4, MDIS Campus Tel: 6796 7828 Email: resourcehub@mdis.edu.sg
Fear Your Strengths
Influencer
What You Are Best At Could Be Your Biggest Problem
The Power To Change Anything
Robert Kaplan and Robert Kaiser Berrett Kohler Publishers 2013 Hardcover
Kerry Patterson et al McGraw-Hill 2013 Hardcover
Can your strengths actually work against you instead of for you? Leadership experts Kaplan and Kaiser start the book with this interesting question and goes on to explore how one’s skills and strengths can, sometimes, become a liability. More importantly, the authors also outline how all of us can learn to avoid this pitfall simply by changing our mindsets and attitudes slightly, and how any of us can get into the habit of continuous selfimprovement.
Influencer opens with the observation that people go to great effort to find serenity in the face of all of the problems in their worlds that they feel helpless to do anything about. Unfortunately, this effort is often wasted and, more often than not, futile. Instead of seeking serenity, however, the authors propose that people should instead use the techniques in the book to become influencers for change, in the process resolving the problems that threaten both them and the world around them.
Who should read it: Anyone interested in self-development and leadership would benefit greatly from this book.
BRAINWAVES THE BOOKSHOP...
Managers as Mentors: Building Partnerships for Learning Chip R Bell ISBN: 9781609947101 Year: 2013 Retail Price: S$32.55 Member’s Price: S$29.95 This latest edition of the classic Managers as Mentors is a rapid-fire read aimed at helping leaders grow in today’s tumultuous organizations. Thoroughly revised with twelve new chapters, this edition places increased emphasis on the mentor acting as a learning catalyst with the protégé rather than simply handing down knowledge. As with previous editions, a fictional case study of a mentorprotégé relationship runs through the book. In this edition, however, this is further augmented with real interviews with six of America’s top CEOs. New chapters cover topics such as the role of mentoring in spurring innovation and mentoring a diverse and dispersed workforce accustomed to interacting digitally.
32 > Horizons May-June Issue
Who should read it: Anyone seeking to influence others and to become a better leader.
Resource HUB (Brainwaves)
Block B, Level 1, MDIS Campus Tel: 6796 7901 Email: brainwaves@mdis.edu.sg
Communicate with Confidence! Dianna Booher ISBN: 9780071770132 Year: 2011 Retail Price: S$27.50 Member's Price: $24.45 Over 85% of your success in life depends on how well you can communicate with other people. After all, none of us are mind readers yet; how we can communicate our wishes, desires, instructions and plans to other people therefore depend entirely on how well we are able to get the point across. This classic business communication guide has recently been updated to include how you should use your smart phone, social media and other digital platforms to help you communicate clearly, tactfully and confidently in any situation. No matter if you’re trying to sell something to someone, coach someone new, run a productive meeting or manage conflict, there’s something in here for every business manager.
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 Excellent People Skills at Work
4 - 5 Aug
Power Writing Skills for Executives and Managers
18 - 19 Aug
Conflict Management
19 Aug
Sales & Marketing
Develop Personal Excellence with The Enneagram
25 Aug
Effective Telemarketing Techniques
4 - 5 Aug
The Art of Persuasion at Work
25 - 26 Aug
Key Account Selling and Management
26 - 27 Aug
Understanding Behaviour Styles for Improved Relationship
27 Aug
Effective Negotiation Skills
28 - 29 Aug
Corporate Etiquette and Professional Image
29 Aug
Strategic Marketing for Competitive Advantage
28 - 29 Aug
Creativity & Innovation
Service Excellence
Thinking Creatively in the Workplace with SCRAMBLE
1 Sep
Critical and Creative Thinking
25 -26 Sep
HR Management Train the Trainer
4 - 5 Sep
How to be a Real HR Business Partner
11 - 12 Sep
Competency-Based Interviewing Skills
19 Sep
Talent Management: Recruitment, Retention and Development for the Future
25 - 26 Sep
Personal Effectiveness & Productivity 6 Sigma: Towards Organisational Excellence
Exceptional Customer Service
15 -16 Sep
Service Ambassadors
15 - 16 Sep
Coping with Internal and External Customers
17 - 18 Sep
Saying “No!� Positively
25 - 26 Sep
Supervisory Management Managing Diversity - Harnessing the Potential of a Multi-Generational Workforce
12 -13 Aug
Supervisory Skills for the New Supervisors
21 -22 Aug
Team Leadership 8 - 9 Sep
Risk & Business Management
Creative Problem Solving for Leadership Role
28 - 29 Aug 18 - 19 Aug
Creating and Managing International Contract Law
9 - 10 Sep
Leadership During Change
Business Statistics: Statistical Thinking for Decision Making
11 - 12 Sep
*Applicable for Professional Development Workshops except IT Short Courses
Torts & Legal Remedies for Wrongful Acts
22 Sep
(65) 6842 6666
mdc@mdis.edu.sg
www.mdis.edu.sg/corporate-training
Membership Activities | July - August 2014 JuLY May
25
MDIS Lunch-time Performance Date Time Venue Fee
: : : :
25 July 2014 (Friday) 11am - 1pm MDIS Campus, Amphitheatre Complimentary th
AUG May
09
Photography Club Outing, National day fireworks Date Time Venue Fee
: : : :
9th August 2014 (Saturday) 3:00pm - 9:30pm Marina Boulevard Complimentary (Members Only)
Learn how to dance? Come and watch MDIS very own sMash.DIS & Misstery dazzling performance during lunch time and be amazed by their smooth & cool moves in Hip Hop to K-POP.
Want to capture spectacular firework display during National Day celebration? Join us to capture the spectacular fireworks.
JuLY May
AUG May
26
Puzzle Making Workshop Date Time Venue Fee
: : : :
26 July 2014 (Saturday) 9am - 1pm THK Henderson (Satellite 93) SAC Complimentary th
Come & join MDIS Angel Heart Club to share your care & love to the seniors residing at Henderson (Satellite 93) Senior Activities Centre with some simple puzzle workshop.
AUG May
01
: : : : :
Date : 16th August 2014 (Saturday) Time : 9:00am - 1:00pm Venue : The Rink, JCube Member : S$15 Non-Member : S$25 *Fees include rental of skates & admission fee
Want to skate & dance like a graceful swan on a ice lake? Then come & join us for an unforgettable journey at J-Cube to skate like a swan.
AUG May
TOastmaster speech craft workshop Date Time Venue Member Non-Member
16
ice skating @ j-cube
1st August 2014 (Friday) 3:30pm - 5:30pm MDIS Campus Blk A, LT-A603 Complimentary S$10
Speech Craft Workshop present the fundamentals of public speaking to public in an atmosphere of a Toastmasters club meeting. It’s a great way to exercise their communication and leadership abilities.
22
Pizza making workshop Date : 22nd August 2014 (Friday) Time : 7:00pm - 10:00pm Venue : MDIS Campus, Student Communal Area, Brews & Bites Member : S$15 Non-Member : S$25 *Fees include material cost
Love pizza? why not learn how to make one yourself, come & join our MDIS chef from Brews & Bites.
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 May-June 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!
Burger King promotion exclusively for MDIS Students & MDIS Staff
Students meals @ S$4.95: Choose from one of the burger + small fries + small coke + mini sundae (BK Singles Mushroom Swiss / Chick'N Grill / BBQ Turkey Bacon / Chick'N Crisp)
Terms & Conditions: - Only valid at BK Plaza Singapura & BK Prinsep House - Promotion starts from 1 July and end on 31 December 2014 - Present your MDIS Student Pass or Staff Pass to enjoy this promotion offer
Model: ATH-XS5 / XS7 Type: Headphones Colours: Black or Red only Price: S$98 each
Buy 1 Get 1 Free (same / different colours - while stocks last)
Showroom address:
Audio-Technica (S.E.A) Pte Ltd 1 Ubi View, Focus One, #01-14 Singapore 408555 Tel: 65 6749 5686 Opening Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am – 5.30pm
5% discount for for MDIS members; 8% discount for MDIS staff Terms & Conditions: - For MDIS members, please quote "MDISMART6858" upon check out. - Promotion for MDIS members is valid till Dec 2015 - For MDIS staff, please quote "mdiscomart6856" upon check out. - Promotion for MDIS staff is valid till Dec 2014
10% off at all Sharetea outlets island wide. Terms & Conditions: - Not valid with other promotions / discounts and offers - Additional topping are chargeable - Present your MDIS Pass or Staff Pass to enjoy this promotion offer
15% discount* on consultation, medication and services (acupuncture, acupressure and cupping) *exclude supplements Terms & Conditions: - Present your MDIS Student Pass or Staff Pass to enjoy this promotion offer
Terms & Conditions: - Promotion is valid from 1 July 2014 - 31 Dec 2014 - Present your MDIS Pass or Staff Pass to enjoy this promotion offer
20% off purchase Terms & Conditions: - Minimum purchase of S$40 - Discount ends on 31 Dec 2014
MDIS members enjoy a 10% discount on all orders on Menlook.com/sg Terms & Conditions: - Usual promotion conditions apply by entering code MDIS10 at checkout. - Promotion ends 31 Dec 2015
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 May-June Issue > 35
Dear Jason,
Thank you! You are the most responsible and thoughtful coordinator I have ever met, and make all the other coordinators that come before you look bad! I wish you all the best, and hope you continue to be successful in your career. Wang Yuan Yuan Professional Certificate in Business Management
than, Dear Shan
ppreciate We really a d the time an you taking us around w o h s o t t effor ing us not iv g , s u p m a the c ok at the lo r e t t e b a just facilities, s u io r a v s l’ schoo deeper but also a of how the g in d n a t s r unde hank you! T . s k r o w l schoo
g Lim Bee Hon an Yi Yun T t en tud g Parent of S nd Marketin ion Design a sh a F in a m Diplo
Dear Dee,
any of your m so h g u o th Even gloomy and re e w s e u g a e ll co f sunshine o y ra a re e w u downcast, yo visit to MDIS g in rn o m y m and made e sant one. You’r a le p d n a l fu y such a jo ool: well done! h sc e th to t e ss an a Mercy Mulari t Jadine Ray Parent of Studen ess rnational Busin Diploma in Inte
Dear Susanti, Thank you very much ag ain for your help, and for makin g me feel welcome at MDIS! It was a real pleasure to meet you. The classes I had were all exce llent, and I had a great stay in the Merlion City! Looking fo rward to seeing you again next year. En vous remerciant et resta nt à votre disposition, très sincè rement (thank you; I remain, sincere ly, at your disposal). Olivier Cateura Lecturer, Grenoble Gradua te School of Business
36 > Horizons May-June Issue
Bouquets
Dear Jesline,
u the support yo ll a r fo u o y k n s, Tha e examination th g n ri u d s u e gav ig reciate it! A b t p p a y ll a re e w no izhen as well, e P to u o y k n tha e t also for all th u b is th r fo st ju few ver these past o d e id v ro p lp he in MDIS! years of study rmanov Shokhrukh Ku Finance ccounting and A in s) n o (H BSc
Dear Ms Catheri
ne,
You are also so ve ry helpful to us whenever we’re at the library, and so prompt to atte nd to any proble ms we have with the computer. All of us really appreciate your efforts. Thank you! Valerie Aw BA(Hons) in Busines s and Marketing
Dear Danielle,
I would just like to commend the effort put in by course coordinator Ms. Danielle Faith. Even though she is no longer my course coordinator (as I switched from full time to part time studies), she still took the time out to reply my emails and made my last few laps in MDIS a smooth one. Kudos to her!
The surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed. - Richard Brinsley Sherid an
Shaik Zabir Diploma in Business Management
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 May-June Issue > 37
Source: Shin Min Daily © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.
Source: The New Paper © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.
Source: Tabla © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission. Source: The New Paper © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Re
Source: My
Press Room
eproduced with permission.
Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.
y Paper © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.
Source: Berita Harian © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.
Management Development Institute of Singapore Reg. No. 201001793H 20 May 2014 to 19 May 2018 A member of the Singapore Association for Private Education (SAPE) CERT NO.: 97-2-0767 ISO 9001 : 2008