ScandAsia Singapore - April 2016 by Scandinavian Publishing Co., Ltd.

APR 2016

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Business Sweden Retail Seminar Where: Swedish Ambassador’s Residence, Singapore When: 26 April school pick a How to ia.se

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Your FREE ScandAsia Magazine in Singapore ScandAsia is the only magazine that covers all the Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish residents in Singapore. We also publish a ScandAsia magazine in China, Thailand, and the rest of South East Asia.

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A Retail Seminar series for top executives byinvitation-only on the topic: “Enhance customer experience – how to increase productivity through innovation”. The event is addressing the cur rent challenges facing the retail industry, including how to fur ther secure and streamline daily operations, improve customer experience and reduce operational and strategic risks as well as becoming manpower-lean. The seminars are halfday events, jointly organized by the Embassy of Sweden, Business Sweden, Singapore Productivity Centre, Singapore Institute of Retail Studies and

Scandinavian Art Exhibition for a good cause Where: Sjømannskirken, Singapore, 300 Pasir Panjang Road When: 26 April – 3 May The Norwegian Seamen’s Church in Singapore in collaboration with SWEA arranges an ar t exhibition. All Singapore-based Norwegian, Danish, Finnish and Swedish ar tists, amateur painters, hobby drawers and everyone else with an inner artist have been invited to contribute with their artpieces for their exhibition. Here the works of art can be purchased, and 25% of the sale will go to the work of the Seamen’s Church in Singapore.

SWEA Singapore: Apor och regnskog i MacRitchie Reservoir

Editor-in-Chief : Gregers A.W. Møller gregers@scandmedia.com Assistant Editor: Joakim Persson Joakim@scandmedia.com Advertising : Frank Leong frank@scandmedia.com Finn Balslev finn@scandmedia.com Graphic Designer : Peerapol Meesuwan Peerapol@scandmedia.com Distribution : Wanvisa Rattanaburi wanvisa@scandmedia.com Printing : Inthanon Interprint Co., Ltd.

Malaysia Retailers Association. The seminars will include presentations and panel discussions where leading Swedish retailers and technology experts share ideas, innovations and solutions for how to enhance customer experience through means of increasing productivity. In addition, the events offer excellent networking opportunities over coffee and tea breaks. Contacts: Emil Akander in Singapore or Carl Malmqvist in Malaysia.

SWEA Singapore: Spring Party 2016 Where: Coastes, Sentosa, 50 Siloso Beach Walk, #01-06 When: 23 April, 19:30 – 23:30 Join us for a night of fun, dinner & dance, on the beach under the stars in the tropics! Price: SGD 140 / person (SWEA Members) SGD 160 / person (NON Members) Includes welcome drink, buffet dinner, 5 drinks cupons. Dresscode: WHITE RSVP. by 8th of April 2016 Register early, tickets are limited! See you there!

Where: MacRitchie Nature Trail & Reservoir Park When: 19 May, 09:00 – 12:00 Ett av Singapores mest välbesökta grönområden är MacRitchie Reservoir & Nature Trail. Följ med oss dit den 19 maj. Mer information kommer!

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News Brief

First Nordic Fusion at DANSK SG By Maria Andreasdottir

he day before 3 March 2016 five ladies were busy preparing the lifestyle boutique for the first Nordic Fusion shopping event. The two Danish owners, Betina Falster-Hansen and Louise Jasper, had invited Danish Anne Kragh and Mette Trock-Jansen from Kragh Nordic and Norwegian Mette Visted from Touch of Denmark to fusionate with their own Nordic brands in the DANSK SG boutique. “It’s a great way to stick together for

Scandinavians. When we are so far away from home, it’s great that we can gather and do events together in Scandinavian style,” says Mette Visted. Betina Falster-Hansen agrees. “It means we can exposure to the Scandinavian customers. We hope it will make Nordic customers visit us and buy Nordic design.” But when the door opened up for Nordic Fusion, it was not only Scandinavian guests and customers who were happy to join. Especially

Japanese customers are interested in Nordic brands. There are so many fairs and Pop Up- event existing, so when we do a shopping event we have to do our own event more exclusive for our customers. Nordic design is popular, and it attracks all kinds of nationalities, not only Scandinavians,” says Betina Falster-Hansen. Louise Jasper agrees. “The benefit of making a fusion shopping event is the chance to appeal to new customers.” A fusion shopping event can thereby be compared to a networking event. The guests will get to know new brands, styles and designs while having a great shopping experience. The retailers will get to know their customers demand for design. DANSK SG offered their costumers at the Nordic Fusion event with great promotions, extended opening time. The simple interior in DANSK SG was styled with beautiful wooden tables presenting Louise Jasper’s own brand: Jasper Living, Betina Falster-Hansen’s colorful kids clothes from Copenhagen Delight, exclusive swimwear and fashion collections from Kragh Nordic and Mette Visted’s products from Touch of Denmark. “The Nordic Fusion surpassed all our expectations. You never know how many will show up on events like this. We used social media to make people aware of this event,” says Betina Falster-Hansen. The ladies all agreed the Nordic Fusion a successful event, and DANSK SG are absolutely sure to host another new and exciting Pop Up event in the nearest future.

NBAS Award 2016 presented to DNV GL

marter, safer, greener – and the Norwegian company DNV GL is now fortified with the NBAS Annual Award 2016, too. Norwegian Business Association in Singapore was pleased to hand over the prestigeous award on 4 March 2016 to Regional Manager South East Asia & Australia Oil & Has, Arve Johan Kalleklev. DNV GL is driven by its purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, and enables organizations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. They provide classification and technical assurance along with software and independent exper t advisor y services to the maritime, oil & gas and energy industries. They are operating in more than 100 countries, our 15,000 professionals are dedicated to helping our customers make the world safer, smarter and greener. NBAS wrote on Facebook “Congratulations to DNV GL for winning the NBAS award! We are having an amazing time, swimming in Norwegian seafood!” The NBAS Annual Award is awarded to an individual or a company that has demonstrated a willingness to share knowledge and network of 6 ScandAsia.Singapore • April 2016

contacts so that other companies and/ or other agencies could also benefit from and contribute towards the enhancement of Norway – Singapore bilateral business relations. This Award is to recognize an individual or a company who has distinguished themselves

and has demonstrated a significant commitment to enhancing the bilateral trade and investment and/ or business relations between Norway and Singapore. Sources: www.nbas.org.sg, www.dnvgl.com, www.facebook.com/NBASG

News Brief

Danish elite students met supremacy from Singapore By Maria Andreasdottir

anish elite students lost to Singaporean elite students in the big international Copenhagen Business School case competition 2016. This is the fourth time a team from National University of Singapore wins the CBS Case Competition. Danish victory or not, the Danish students won acknowledgement from the largest telephone company in Denmark,TDC. 12 teams, 7 days, 2 cases, 1 winner. In week 9 (29 Feb-6 March) 2016 students participates in the CBS Case Competition, the biggest international event at Copenhagen Business School, where international students fight against each other in making the best business case, and on the same time “create lifetime experiences”. This is an amazing opportunity for students to

make an impression to future workplaces. The winner of 2016 was four Singaporean students from National University of Singapore; Ho Zi Hao Ivan, Goh Huihan, Douglas Eu Shun Yi and Mabelyn Tan. Singaporean students have previous been rewarded the first price, last time in 2013. 11 international student groups competed on this year’s Case Competition about finding the best solution for telecommunications company TDC’s current challenges. The participants had 32 hours to prepare their case about figuring out how TDC can make growth in their consumer division – a question, which even challenges professional analytics, the board of TDC and shareholder. It was a great opportunity for all the

students to test themselves, network and their chance to impress CEOs and advisors, which the Danish student group forced through. “First of all their work was fantastically serious.There is absolutely some elements in their suggestions, which we can use in the company, no doubt about that. We were handed a wide range of good inputs and solutions to solve problems, and we will definitely implement some of these suggestions,” says Jens Aaløse, group managing director at TDC. The Danish group of Henriette Henriksen, Silas Moestrup Pedersen, Mor ten Siggaard and Daniel Bech only slept 3 hours during the preparation of 32 hours. However, they all agree that they would take up the challenge again. And it the Case Competition was all worth it. “We have had the chance to participate in one of the world’s best case competitions, and as a team we had the privileged opportunity to have 7 weeks training programme in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group, Accenture, McKinsey and some others of the biggest consultancies in Denmark,” says Silas Moestrup Pedersen, who is very happy to have made connections with the other participants this year’s Case Competition, especially the four winners from Singapore. And even if the Danish student group did not win the first price, they have all been invited to TDC, where they will present their case to the executive board.

April 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 7

Eveline new president of

SWEA Singapore SWEA Singapore has chosen a new president and is preparing for an intense year with a big meeting with members from all over the world. Text and photos: Maria Sehlin

New SWEA Singapore President Eveline Sidenvall 8 ScandAsia.Singapore â&#x20AC;˘ April 2016

I joke and say they could not find any Swedish woman to this important post. But I have lived in Sweden as long as in the Netherlands so I am probably Swedish anyway

SWEA Singapore is an active association. When some 50 SWEA ladies last winter tried out paddleboarding on Sentosa all of them were soon standing upright

WEA, Swedish Woman Educational Association is a global non– profit organization and a network of Swedish and Swedish speaking women who are or have been resident abroad. SWEA has approximately 7,500 members in 33 countries. In Singapore the association started 28 years ago, the rotation of members is high because many are expats with contracts lasting just a few years, which also gives a very lively and active club. “SWEA is a great way to experience our new hometown and make new friends. We support and help each other when being so far away from our usual network in Sweden. Moreover, we have fun as we explore our new hometown,” says Eveline Sidenvall who, before she became president, was responsible for SWEA activity group.

Various arrangements SWEA Singapore is an active club, which has arrangements almost every week. It could be coffee meetings, restaurant visits, guided tours at interesting places, walks and a couple of times a year they hold a party where also husbands and friends are welcome. “On the spring schedule there is for example hiking in a mangrove swamp where one can meet wild monkeys and crocodiles. We have recently been exploring backstage at the national stage

Esplanade and had a lecture about the Chinese New Year – it was very interesting. The program is diverse,” says Eveline. In Singapore SWEA wor ks in close cooperation with the Swedish school, Swedish Embassy, SBAS (Swedish Business Association of Singapore) and the Swedish Church. SWEA and the Swedish Church has a long tradition of cooperation. “Every year we organize a Lucia procession and the Swedish National Day, together with the Church to celeberate our Swedish traditions even when we live abroad.”

Born in Holland Eveline Sidenvall is born in Holland and moved to Sweden in 1985 to work as a physiotherapist when there were no jobs in Holland. Once in Sweden, she met a Swedish man, married and stayed.Two years ago Eveline moved to Singapore because of her husband Håkans work at Siemens. Their two adult sons are studying in Sweden. “I joke and say they could not find any Swedish woman to this important post. But I have lived in Sweden as long as in the Netherlands so I am probably Swedish anyway,” she concludes. In Sweden, she had her own business and worked with ergonomics and with change management for workplaces that transform into modern, flexible offices. “My plan was to work with that in Singapore

too, but unfor tunately I did not get a work permit,” she says. Instead, she engaged in SWEA and takes advantage of the oppor tunity to discover Singapore and Asia. She is studying Chinese medicine and also practicing Thai Chi and aims to become a teacher in it before she moves back to Sweden in a few years. She leads a very active life; health and wellness being close to her heart.

Has skills Eveline is an experienced board member with experience in various assignments in Sweden: “I’ve been president of a Rotary Club of Sweden, President of the Athletics Association of Finspång and held various directorships in the Ladies Circle.” SWEA Singapore has a busy year ahead of them as the department is preparing for a big SWEA regional meeting in September– October. It is estimated that there will be members flying in from all over the world to join in the meetings and also to experience this unique world metropolis. They will offer an extensive program of excursions, restaurant visits and also a joint trip to Cambodia. “The planning is in full swing. There will be two days of sightseeing to Singapore’s highlights, lovely restaurant visits followed up bu a trip to Cambodia and Angkor Vat, it is exciting.” Footnote: Read more about SWEA Singapore on the website singapore.swea.org. April 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 9

The A350

heralds Finnair’s next expansive chapter The largest investment up to now for the Finnish flagship carrier positions its competitiveness for many years to come By Joakim Persson

ome 30 May 2016 five years will have passed since Finnair launched its direct connection to Singapore, and as this date is approaching the Nordic airline has already embarked on its perhaps most pivotal chapter up to now: the introduction on long-haul routes of the next-gen airplane Airbus A350 XWB. Finnair’s Singapore team are eagerly awaiting the Airbus 350 to be delivered for traffic also on this key route, further connecting Southeast Asia, and linked destinations beyond, with Europe, via its Helsinki hub. The fact that Finnair’s very first A350 was put into traffic on an Asian route – Shanghai – speaks volumes about the impor tance of the Asian network for Finnair, with this plane as the challenger in terms of “tapping traffic demand between Europe and Asia”. The first Airbus A350 delivered (as first European customer) to Finnair entered into 10 ScandAsia.Singapore • April 2016

long-haul service in November last year, followed by Beijing, Bangkok and with Hong Kong and Singapore next after that. “We intend to double our Asian traffic by 2020, and increase our cargo capacity up to 50% by 2020. Our strategy is based on growing markets in Asia and this has not changed. Besides opening new routes there, our latest product offering are the Airbus A350s to our long haul routes,” begins Nick Naung Naung, Country Sales Manager Greater Singapore (including Malaysia and Indonesia). “These aircrafts will be the backbone of our strategy; unrivalled cost- and fuel efficiency, customer comfort and capacity increase all in one package. This aircraft will enable growth both in our passenger as well as in cargo traffic.” The extra wide body of the A350 provides the additional cargo capacity. The company has ordered a total of 19 A350’s, making it the biggest investment in

Finnair’s history. As for the Singapore route, it is already doing well, prior to the A350 launch. “Our report card has seen good year-onyear growth for the past years. The route has been very busy with good load factors averaging 85% all year round, with the majority of the contribution coming from Finland, Australia and Singapore passengers. We indeed also carr y other Europeans across the network from/to Singapore and are increasingly seeing traffic from Malaysia and Indonesia feeding into this route as well. For the Bangkok route, the majority of contribution comes from Finland and Scandinavia, especially during winter season, and a wide mix of Europeans from across the continent during the rest of the season,” Mr Nick details. “Winter has been one of the peak periods for Finnair’s traffic to Europe or vice versa and that’s why we operate double daily flights to Bangkok during this period. In addition, we have seasonal

flights from Helsinki to Phuket and Krabi during the winter period to cater for holiday makers from Finland and Scandinavia.” Feed traffic from partner airlines has also expanded recently. “We recently entered code share cooperation with Singapore-based Jetstar Asia, for having a wider network across Asia and Australia; such as Phuket, Ho Chi Minh, Perth and Darwin via Singapore. In addition, we have cooperation with Malaysia Airlines, Garuda Indonesia and Bangkok Airways to feed to Malaysia, Indonesia and some parts of Indochina.” According to Finnair’s CEO Pekka Vauramo the growth of their long-haul capacity will also create a need for increased feeder traffic capacity between Helsinki and our European destinations. “Our roll-out of A350 aircraft saw us move to a new phase of growth. It is the future of flying and will give our passengers a completely new and enhanced travel experience.”

2016 is seeing fierce competition on price on long haul flights, where all major airlines are taking part. Lower fuel price is the driving force. The fall in fuel prices, which began slightly over a year ago, continued in 2015, reported the CEO in February. “Never theless, its impact is not yet fully reflected in our result due to our hedging policy. For this reason, we estimate that our fuel costs will decline further in the coming quarters in spite of increasing traffic volume, which will support our performance in 2016. Our goal is profitable growth, which requires not only revenue growth through the introduction of new routes, but also a constant focus on developing our services in a cost-efficient manner,” he said. “We are heading in the right direction, and we will now look to accelerate our profitable growth. We hit a new record in the number of passengers: more than 10 million passengers flew with us in 2015. Despite of the demand outlook

for passenger and cargo traffic in Finnair’s main markets involving renewed uncertainty, Finnair estimates that, in 2016, its capacity and revenue will grow,” he forecasted. Direct sales is also increasing, which benefits both the airline and its customers. “As you know direct bookings are direct customers and it is less expensive than going through the third par ty or other channels,” comments Nick. “Our direct sales are one third of our total channel sales, while individual, groups and corporate businesses making up the rest.” The online travel agent market continues to grow, contributing a “sizeable amount”. “The Corporate Programme also enables direct bookings online, or they can also use their travel agencies.” Introducing the A350, customised by Finnair, further Nick highlights: “Most airlines will also have the A350 very soon so we want to stand out from the rest by having a unique Nordic experience. In a nutshell, as you go on board, you are welcomed by these clouds inside the cabin, with mood LED lighting, which gives you a kind of the clear Nordic sky. And our interior cabin comes with our award-winning Finnish design; giving you a very spacious feeling. And the uniqueness of the A350 is the advanced air filtering system, which every 2-3 minutes changes the cabin air. This is a really good, unique product of this aircraft and that really relates to our offering of a Nordic experience; having fresh air in the Nordic.” The cabin air will be closer to the sea level air pressure – with a positive result. “Especially on long-haul, passengers do not feel tired. My colleagues who flew with the plane gave awesome feedback, saying that they still feel fresh after the flight. The light ambience can also change to suit the time of day, with 24 different combinations, it should be added. Other key components in the plane are: The Nordic Sky entertainment system (uniquely branded channels including the best programmes from the BBC, the National Geographic Channel and the Discovery Channel) that is also a central part of the cabin’s interior design, displaying on the screen the ambient mood lighting in harmony with the cabin; a quieter flight than on previous aircraft, thanks to new Rolls Royce engines that reduce noise both inside and outside the airplane; and the on-board Wi-Fi portal service. In addition to the landmark introduction of the new Airbus, Finnair is preparing for a launch of ‘Stopover Finland’. “Visit Finland and Finpro will launch the Stopover Finland product this spring and Finnair is the main partner in this initiative. Stay tuned!” Also, every customer will have noticed Finnair as the official airline of Santa Claus. “We send Santa Claus on his World Tour to different Finnair destinations (mainly in Asia) each year. Singapore and Southeast Asia in general has been showing growing interest for Lapland holidays, especially with our Singapore-Helsinki direct flights,” explains Nick. To broaden the offer to explore Finland stopover packages from 5 hours to 5 days will be offered to Finnair’s travellers.

April 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 11

The Nordic House in Yangon - A promising by Frederik Guy Hoff Sonne

n 3 March the Nordic House in Yangon, the natural focal point for anything Scandinavian, opened its doors for visitors, mar king the move to new premises. The Nordic House houses the Danish and Norwegian embassies as well as the Finnish and Swedish consulates. It was a suitable occasion to put focus on this interesting Nordic unity in Myanmar and getting an update on the current Nordic engagement in the country. But first, let us take it back to the beginning. The Nordic House in Yangon opened in 2012, as “kind of a coincidence” Peter Lysholt Hansen, Danish Ambassador in Yangon, explains. It was foremost a practical arrangement, when the Nordic countries started diplomatic missions in Myanmar under the same roof in 2012. Soon they recognized that the setup was interesting and now it has developed into an innovative pilot project, that might be an inspiration for Nordic cooperation globally. “I can’t think of any Nordic collaborations that

12 ScandAsia.Singapore • April 2016

are so advanced. It’s like one joint embassy”, Peter Lysholt Hansen explains as he lists the benefits of this: “Naturally it’s easier to cooperate, which means cooperation between Nordic offices is without doubt more frequent than it would have been”. This is among other things reflected in many joint engagements between the offices and of course this joint-hosted open house event in Yangon. Swedish Minister Counsellor, Johan Hallenborg, shares this view: “Of course it’s easier to understand one another when you’re sharing an office and you sit together and talk on a daily basis. Everyone benefits from this when we share information and orientate one another”, he says. “In the end it strengthens our joint Nordic profile in the country. We have a stronger voice and can offer a wide range of networking, which makes the house really attractive”, Peter Lysholt Hansen explains. The project is still on a pilot basis and it hasn’t been evaluated yet, but attitudes towards sharing office space seems unilaterally positive.

“The pilot project is running smoothly, and we clearly see how our four countries and cultures jointly strengthen the Nordic presence in Myanmar”, says Hege Jørstad, Counsellor at The Norwegian Embassy. “There should be some rationalization benefits, that’s the general idea, and I’m positive there will be”, the Danish Ambassador assesses. Economic benefits are already reflected in shared rental and running costs for the Nordic house and salary costs for shared staff, according to Hege Jørstad. The house is administr ated by two Norwegian diplomats with assistance from a handful of local Burmese. As Norway is the lead country, Norwegian legislation is the basis for local contacts and other administrative aspects of running a foreign mission. In December 2015 an agreement between the four countries was signed, that lies out the guidelines for the administrative set up and cost sharing at the Nordic House. All offices uses the same personal and same accounting and financing processes. Administration costs a

perspective shared as is the telephone number to reach the reception.

Different diplomatic missions When wor king so closely as the Danish Ambassador described as “like a joint embassy” there could be a risk that national lines are getting blurred and diplomatic missions could get mixed, one might think. That is however of no concern to the representatives from the house. There are joint engagements and focuses are in the same areas, but the countries’ strategies and priorities differs, when you have a closer look. The Swedish Office for example has a very clear main focus on development in Myanmar, which is also reflected on the staff, where four out of five people works with development. “We work with three government decided guidelines in the development cooperation”, David Holmertz, Swedish Minister Counsellor on Development Cooperation, says. “We want to increase the human rights and the freedom of speech in Myanmar, achieve broad

local participation in the peace process and to stabilize children’s health”. The Danish Embassy is very much focused on providing development aid to Myanmar, but is also a keen supporter of the peace processes, the development of rule of law and the human rights situation in Myanmar. The embassy supports in particular the educational sector and economic growth of the country. Peter Lysholt Hansen mentions a co-management on fishing resources in ten Myanmar villages as one of the big Danish supported programmes to come. Norway’s focus areas are “the peace process, long term development assistance related to sustainable development, climate change and environment, clean energy and fisheries. Support to democratization, civil society and human rights have been, and continue to be at the core of Norway’s collaboration with Myanmar”, Hege Jørstad reports.

processing a more or less democratic election on 8 November 2015 and continuing economic growth have made Myanmar a prosperous nation for business. Several Nordic companies such as Maersk, Carlsberg, AGM, Ericsson and Arla are already present in Myanmar and there should be more in the future. Many Nordic companies are showing interest in Myanmar according to the Danish and Swedish offices. “Grundfoss and Vestas have already probed Myanmar for potential business and there’s also a big interest from the textile industry”, Peter Lysholt Hansen says and adds that he’s positive investment interests will grow in the future. Johan Hallenborg can also report on many Swedish companies showing interest in Myanmar. In January he went to a joint seminar in Singapore to promote business in Myanmar. “There are around 250 Swedish companies in Singapore and they all have a regional outlook”, Johan Hallenborg tells. “It’s a promising market. There are many great needs in the country, which means there are many interesting prospects for business”, he explains. Both officials finds the interest positive, but at the same time they encourage potential investors to maintain composure. “Myanmar is not an easy market to enter. You have to keep in mind that five years ago the country was completely inaccessible. So to start doing business here you’ll have to be patient, it takes a lot of time and effort”, Peter Lysholt Hansen says. Johan Hallenborg adds: “It shall be a very conscious decision for companies to set up business in Myanmar. Challenges are easy to see. Infrastructure is not good, also concerning energy and internet. Corruption is still a serious matter.” Myanmar is ranked 156th out of 175 nations according to Transparency International’s 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index. At the World Bank’s Logistic Performance Index from 2014 Myanmar is ranked 145th out of 160 nations. Johan Hallenborg is confident that the coming reform processes in the end will help Myanmar overcome many challenges. But currently he’s cautious: “We can open a few doors for companies, but it’s still limited how much help we can provide.” The Danish Ambassadors tone in this matter is slightly different: “It’s a important task for us to assist companies with interest in Myanmar. We advise companies, identify potential partners for them and provide market information as well as help them through the bureaucracy”, says Peter Lysholt Hansen in answering how the Embassy can help interested companies. Myanmar is part of the ASEAN Economic Community, which emphasizes regional cooperation. The economy has grown 6 to 7 percent in recent years and the growth is expected to continue. The Nordic House is set to be evaluated in the second half of 2016.

Setting up business in Myanmar It’s no secret that Myanmar is a challenge, but ending five decades of military junta in 2011, April 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 13

Magnus Grimeland at Zalora Singapore-based Norwegian builds up world’s largest fashion destination By Maria Andreasdottir

‘‘I

t has not been easy,” says Magnus Grimeland. But it has not been impossible either. When the former soldier from Norwegian Navy Seals sets a goal, he is determined to achieve it. He is not afraid to think big either. So when he had the opportunity to become the Regional Managing Director and Co-Founder of online fashion shop Zalora in Southeast Asia (SEA), his vision was not only to make his company biggest in Southeast Asia, but biggest on the globe. Zalora, founded in 2012, is now only four years old, but has fast become the top online fashion destination in SEA with millions of customers. “From day one I wanted Zalora to be big. To get there, constantly focusing on improvement is essential.” Later, Zalora was acquired and merged into the fashion group Global Fashion Group (GFG) with the aim to be the no. 1 online fashion destinations for emerging markets operating across 27 countries globally – in Asia, the Pacific, 14 ScandAsia.Singapore • April 2016

South America, Middle-East and Eastern Europe. So what do you do, when you star t up a company in a country where no culture of online shopping exists? Maybe it is his military background, but Mr Grimeland has a talent for solving problems and staying in focus for his target. Building Zalora over the past four years in countries such as Indonesia has not been easy. “We had to invent a payment system, since only few Indonesians hold credit cards. We also called ever y single customer after delivering an order to get their feedback. It was a huge administrative job, but I wanted to measure all details. I wanted to see where we could improve and make the shopping experience even better.” Now they distribute to all countries within SEA, where they introduce great international brands to Asian online shoppers through their website. Their brand selection also consists of local brands and designers from Asia and their own Zalora design. “I am ver y excited about presenting

local brands. That makes us differ from other international fashion web shops, but even better is it that we can promote locals’ work to the whole world.” Zalora quickly became a success with their day-to-day deliver y, customer ser vice and product quality. In 2015 the fashion shop became part of Global Fashion Group (GFG), which now is connecting one third of the world population to leading international and local brands. GFG is only five years old, but prove their willingness to be the number one fashion destination in the world.Today they hold 16 warehouses operating in 27 countries, with more than 5000 employees serving more than 10 million customers. Zalora alone has today shipped orders to 16,853 cities across the Asian region, and has provided more than 2000 jobs, of which hundreds are at the head quarter in Singapore. All these numbers and jobs is the result of hard work. You need to possess passion in your job. “It is a demanding job to start companies on new markets, and even when you aim to be

in the leading position of not only the regional, but the global markets as well. But to be honest, most of the time it doesn’t feel like “’work’. I think it’s really fun, I always look forward to Mondays,” says Magnus. At the moment he continues to operate in Asia, Middle East, Russia and South America: “For the moment it’s more interesting to start up in emerging markets, especially because Scandinavia already has a great established fashion e-commerce market.” On the other hand, Zalora is benefitting from its rivals in the emerging markets. “New online shops are great, because it will generate new online customers, who eventually also will be our new customers.” In late 2014 Zalora also launched their first ever a click-and-mortar store in Singapore, which combines the best of both online and offline shopping. Buyers can for instance scan prices via the Zalora app on their personal mobile phones. This gives them the option to add items to their online shopping carts or wish lists.

“Our pop-up shops are very exciting. It’s not physical stores as such, but rather temporary pop-up stores where the customer can shop online. These are stores in strategic locations good malls - that we use as a customer acquisition tool. Basically a place where customers can come and look physically on our products, try them on and order online in the store. Then the same day or next day they will have the goods delivered to their home. It’s a way to bring new customers onto our site which are used to mostly shopping offline and haven’t tried online shopping before,“ comments Magnus. As we speak, he is waiting for his flight to Sao Paulo for another business meeting, and when he returns to Asia after a business week in Latin America, he will head for the airport again, going to Indonesia. But this time, it will be for pleasure, not business. It requires a lot being in the leading position of the global online fashion market. Being a Norwegian, Magnus loves to do all kinds of outdoor activities, and spending a lot of time sitting still in airplanes or in work meetings, he

looks forward to be active when he has time off. “I do miss the Norwegian mountains. But luckily the options to do different spor ts are many. When I take a break from the business I usually go surfing, climbing, diving or running. On ordinary days I also find time to do a morning workout before I go to work. I like sport.” Magnus is literary the definition on being the man on land, at sea and in the air – and online. But even if ZALORA and GFG have grown quickly, he points out how impor tant it is to remain down-to-earth. “It is easy to become overwhelmed on this journey, but I want to make sure I never forget the important things. In the beginning when our customers were few, we were extremely aware of them and could give them our full attention. We still want to do that, even if the numbers of customers have increased tremendously. It’s all about remembering to maintain one’s foothold in a fast-growing business.”

April 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 15

Finnish health sector

on Malaysia and Singapore tour ‘Is it time to reorganise South-East Asia’s health care system according to Finnish expertise – why not?’

ed by Päivi Sillanaukee, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Team Finland arranged a FinlandCare delegation trip to Malaysia (for the very first time) and Singapore, introducing Finnish health know-how. The programme during the visit on 27 February – 1 March 2016 consisted of meetings with the Health ministries in both countries as well as other official meetings with high-level decision makers. Additional tailor-made sectorial meetings also took place. The focus of the trip was on senior care solutions and active ageing more broadly, preventive health care, occupational health care, health technology solutions and health sector training. Main sectors of interest were: Home care, elderly care and rehabilitation; Active ageing and health promotion; Prevention and early diagnosis of diseases (for example cancer screening); Occupational healthcare processes; eHealth solutions and technologies for the sectors above; 16 ScandAsia.Singapore • April 2016

and Further education in healthcare. The aim with the delegation was to get more business for Finnish companies in the healthcare sector. “The goal of the visit is to open new doors and to promote Finnish business in the area. We also want to strengthen existing customer relationships and contacts,” said Meria Heikelä, Director of the FinlandCare program. In Finland, they have gradually understood that it is not just a good product that sells; it is also a matter of knowing how to present it. As a qualified medical doctor with diverse experience and training in the health sector and in management, Päivi Sillanaukee has a strong grasp of the substance of the delegation. “Now we are looking for good strategies and tactics for how we can support each other to do business,” she emphasized, prior to the trip. Southeast Asia is currently the world’s fastest growing market, with a health sector that has been identified as having great business potential. This was also proven during the Kuala Lumpur

visit, where a company in the delegation from Kokkola in Finland conducted follow-up deals with Puntai Hospital, according to Maria Arruda, FinlandCare. Seven internationalizing Finnish companies par ticipated in the delegation to Malaysia. Currently 50 Finnish companies are operating in Malaysia – and there is still space for more. Malaysia is a prospering and prosperous country, and politically very stable, according to Matti Pullinen, Finland’s ambassador in Malaysia. “There has been promising development in the health sector and it is clear that investments in the sector will continue.There should definitely be space for Finnish know-how in Malaysia,” Pullinen told the delegation. In relation to doing business in Malaysia corruption is often discussed in the international press. According to Finland’s Ambassador Matti Pullinen, there is some corruption but mainly at a very high level and in normal business dealings companies rarely have to deal with it. From a visit to the Pantai hospital chain’s

HUR is currently internationalizing strongly. Its main export countries are Japan, United States, Singapore and China. HUR has six subsidiaries and active resellers in 30 countries. In Malaysia, Karjaluoto had a positive “problem” to deal with – whether to follow the delegation program or to go and negotiate about a major deal. After the Malaysia trip we can understand better how to use funding solutions to support the growing, internationalizing and competitive companies that are at the core of Finnvera’s strategy, says Laura Strandberg in Kuala Lumpur.

Funding for internationalization

In hot and humid countries the big hospital chains could benefit especially from the air purification technology offered by Genano, Medanta’s anti-bacterial clothes and, for example, the training for nurses provided by Metropolia

hospital in Kuala Lumpur the companies in the delegation gained valuable knowledge about the hospital’s purchasing process and about the vast differences between public and private hospitals in the country, according to Meria Heikelä, Director of Finpro’s FinlandCare program, Cooperation between the ministries and personal contacts are impor tant for expor t promotion in South-East Asia. Päivi Sillanaukee, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, has worked tirelessly for the delegation, and her readiness to throw herself into different situations has been admirable. If she hasn’t been wearing a neck muscle strength rehabilitation helmet tested by Formula 1 drivers, then she has been testing Finnish products designed for the rehabilitating senior citizens, writes Maria Arruda. “Finnish health know-how is valued around the world due to our high-level research, comprehensive registers and biobanks, among other things. Finland is ahead of other countries in terms of ageing and we have innovative solutions for different challenges that have so far not been

addressed elsewhere,” said Sillanaukee. “In hot and humid countries the big hospital chains could benefit especially from the air purification technology offered by Genano, Medanta’s anti-bacterial clothes and, for example, the training for nurses provided by Metropolia,” she said.

Rehab of seniors in Southeast Asia In Malaysia there is a readiness to invest in good care for the elderly. The delegation included several companies with services for senior care and rehabilitation. One of these is HUR which offers exercise equipment and training concepts for seniors. “Immediately after the first meeting we agreed on an important follow-up meeting. If we reach a deal with Iskander, this would be a great reference for us concerning the rehabilitation of seniors. We have exactly the right solutions for training seniors so that they can live independently and energetically as long as possible,” said HUR’s CEO Lena Karjaluoto.

FinlandCare and Finnvera work closely together for the internationalization of Finnish companies. Laura Strandberg, Finnvera’s Finance Manager, believes in the business opportunities offered by Southeast Asia. “Growth and investing in internationalization cost money. Few companies have the opportunity or can afford to fund their internationalization from cash funds. A growth leap often requires external funding and this is where Finnvera has a role to play,” said Strandberg in Malaysia. “We fund company investments; working capital needs and expor t deals together with the banks. The bank market is now tighter and they need someone to share the risk. There are signs of a brighter future but investments are still being made very carefully. We constitute a growth partner for companies, similar to FinlandCare.” Strandberg emphasized funding, as part of building the company’s growth plan is important from the beginning. The worst case is when a company is “afraid” of clinching a deal because it does not have the possibility to deliver. Funding should be seen as a resource in the same way as people. “In Team Finland, the cooperation takes place most productively in the practical work. That’s why we are here in Malaysia. There are few markets where it is possible to reach more than 5 per cent growth like here, and Malaysia also features in the plans of many of our client companies. Health services are one of the areas with the most potential. Delegations in one focus sector also serve the international growth of other sectors and companies.” As for Singapore, Finland’s Ambassador commented: “Perseverance and time to invest in personal relationships are required in Singapore,” according to ambassador Paula Parviainen. “Senior care and health technology are Team Finland’s priorities in the area. This will open up opportunities. In Singapore there is a commitment to active ageing and the productivity of care. A record number of hospitals and care homes are being built.” The delegation included the following companies: Commit, Genano, Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences / Metropolia Creative Oppor tunities (MCreO), HUR, MariCare, Medanta, Ruissalo Foundation and Saga Palvelut. Participants also include representatives from Finpro, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finnvera, Aalto University and Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Sources: Malaysian-Finnish Business council, Maria Arruda, FinlandCare, Finpro April 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 17

How to pick a school

ow do you pick the perfect school for your children, when you move to another country? It might not be as easy as it sounds. During the years, more and more schools are established, and each institution offers different courses and has different ways of teaching. Many parents use social platforms like Facebook to get advices from other parents. But there will probably be no way around making your own inquiry into each avaible option.

Local v s international Are you looking for a local or an international school? In most countries in Asia, it is possible to sign your child into a local school – but it can be a challenge, if your child does not have Asian roots. Local schools provide your child with a local environment and another benefit is that most of the local schools are more affordable than the international schools. One thing to be aware of though, is that psysical punishment has not been abolished in many Asian school systems. If you go for an international school, consider that international students grow up in an environment that is much different to that of your own. Known as Third Culture Kids (TCKs), they often develop a different attitude. Once this is said, many expat families decide to go for the international school – at least through primary school up to grade 9.

A few suggestions As said before, many parents seek advices from other parents. But in the end, it is your choice and only you know what needs your child has.

First: Observe Visit the schools you are interested in during a regular school day. Ask to observe teachers in class so you can get a feel for how the adults treat the children, parents and one another. You don’t have to be an expert to get a good sense of what is — or is not — happening in a classroom when you visit. Copyright : anatols / 123RF Stock Photo

18 ScandAsia.Singapore • April 2016

Second: Distance Make sure the school is not too far away from your home. Have in mind that in most big cities, it is travelling time between your house and the school that matters. Will you be driving your child to school yourself or how will your child be going there? Especially in cities like Bangkok, the traffic is hectic and you can easily use hours stuck between cars, taxies and tuk-tuks.

Third: Reputation Use your network in the city. Ask as many as possible, what their experience with this school is. Do not listen to people, who have no children at the school themselves. Fourth: Courses The school’s courses and programs will most likely be listed in the school’s informations packages or on their website. They will talk about British Curriculum and American Curriculum and what most Scandinavians go for these days is the IB Curriculum. The IB Curriculum is an educational programme managed by the International Baccalaureate for students aged 3 to 12. Students are required to learn a second language during the programme.

Fifth: Supplementary courses More and more parents find it important that their children are receiving lessons in their mother language. On some of the international schools, the different Scandinavian communities have organized mother tounge language lessons as a supplementary course. It depends on your child. Many children already have a long day in school with lessons in Thai, English and other courses.

Stay involved As a parent you might wish there were some secret education-analyst methodology. No matter how hard you do your homework, stay involved with your child’s everyday life. Is your child happy and motivated or tired and introverted? Talk with your child about how school is and spend more time together in the beginning. First period will probably be as exhausting for your child as for you – starting up your lives in a completely different country.

April 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 19

Educating Tomorrow’s

Workforce the STEAM Way

anadian International School (CIS) is going beyond the traditional approach to teaching by integrating across its entire school, a unique STEAM teaching approach that provides each child with a competitive edge for tomorrow’s job market. CIS Design teacher and STEAM ambassador Joe Sergi explains the key features of the approach and why it will help children find success in the future.

What is a STEAM teaching approach? STEAM at CIS stands for science, technology, entrepreneurship, arts and mathematics. The approach, which is taking the academic world by storm, demonstrates how each of these five key disciplines are connected and closely aligned with what students will experience when they enter the workforce. Today, nearly all jobs no matter what the profession, rely in some way or another on people’s expert capabilities in each of these disciplines. There’s a popular misconception that schools which integrate STEAM into their curriculum simply use ipads, interactive whiteboards and only teach science and robotics. STEAM is so much more than that! It’s not a subject, instead, it’s an engaging, hands-on, inquiry-based teaching framework that can be customised for all types of students and programmes.

Why is STEAM so important? STEAM provides a very effective teaching framework for developing young learners with essential skills such as collaboration, research, problem solving, critical thinking and creativity that they need to be successful in the 21st century. We can’t be teaching our children there is a ‘bubble sheet answer’ for everything! Life isn’t like this. STEAM provides students with the opportunities to think critically and approach problems from multiple perspectives. Jobs in specific STEAM related fields are also being created at an 20 ScandAsia.Singapore • April 2016

unprecedented rate across the world. An article in Science Foundation Ireland said the amount of jobs Apple generates by its App store was over three million in countries across the globe!

What does a STEAM teaching approach look like at CIS? The approach is integrated across the school’s curriculum from PreKindergarten to Grade 12, as well as in co-curricular programmes such as robotics, coding and lego leagues. From Grade 1 onwards, students are exposed to STEAM experiences in our stimulating makerspace rooms. These are special areas filled with stateof-the art equipment such as 3D printers and laser cutters, all designed to motivate students to experiment, build and invent!

What STEAM experiences are CIS students engaged in at the moment? Lots of exciting and innovative projects are happening right across the school. One example is our Grade 9 students creating authentic musical instruments from discarded materials. The project, jointly managed by the Design and Music departments, involves the integration of various subjects such as physics (understanding sound waves and resonance) to music (discovering unusual instruments and sounds). Observing and guiding students through their STEAM experiences is extremely rewarding. It’s great watching them apply their knowledge and convert an idea into a reality. No matter what a student’s passions or interests are, a STEAM education has something to offer everyone! To find out more about CIS and its STEAM programme please visit www. cis. edu. sg/STEAM or sign up for a fun family day out at their STEAM Fair on April 23 at www.cis.edu. sg/STEAMFAIR

April 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ ScandAsia.Singapore 21

GESS’ European Section

continues to strengthen in the wake of its 10 year IB anniversary

his academic year marks the 10th anniversary of the German European School Singapore’s (GESS) Englishspeaking IB programmes in the European Section. As well as this, in August 2015, GESS welcomed Eva Noordujin from the Netherlands as the new Head of European Section and teacher of French. Eva has worked for international schools throughout Europe, including Portugal, Turkey and Switzerland, and is continuing to put her expertise in international education to use by strengthening the European Section of the school. GESS is very happy to welcome her on board and we are sure that the school, as well as the European Section, will benefit at lot from her. In 2005, a growing number of families at GESS wanted an international and English language education for their children while maintaining a strong link with European traditions and German language. It was for this particular demographic that the European Section was conceived, providing an educational home to Europeans in Singapore. The founding of the European Section was a milestone from which the entire school profited as GESS developed from a German School Abroad into a multi-cultural institution catering to up to fifty nationalities. GESS has become a fully-fledged International Baccalaureate World School, authorised to deliver the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (IBDP). 22 ScandAsia.Singapore • April 2016

GESS has also received accreditation from the Council of International Schools in 2013. Despite its rapid growth, GESS has maintained its support for families where the school and its community welcomes newcomers with a wellreceived buddy system while still ensuring quality teaching and best practice in all areas. At GESS, a high priority is placed on the autonomy and individuality of each student, known by name, cultural background, languages spoken and family history. In short, the unique identity of each child is highly valued at GESS. GESS is an inclusive school and the academic results are excellent. Due to the rise of different nationalities, languages and cultures at GESS, the school began to focus on the suppor t of mother tongue languages, in particular Danish and Dutch. Research has highlighted that mother tongue development is vital to a child’s future academic success. Studies have also shown that bilinguals are flexible thinkers and problem-solvers and studying the mother tongue opens doors and possibilities for multi-cultural, internationally mobile students. Through this effort, GESS helps the students to integrate better and easier in to the different national school or university systems, should they return hom e. For example, students can continue with Danish and Dutch language lessons that are scheduled into the regular school day. Further proof of the emphasis on mother tongues is that GESS students in the Primary

School have the oppor tunity to take par t in the weekly Language Enrichment Programme (LEP), where students are brought together from both the German and European Sections. The programme aims to strengthen both language skills and cultural identity through fun, interactive games, stories, arts, music and drama. Languages taught include Dutch, Italian, Spanish, French, Mandarin, Swedish, Japanese, and Turkish. Intercultural festivities also play a big part in the school’s community. The Chinese New Year, Dutch Koningsdag, Deepavali, St. Mar tin and St. Lucia celebrations are only a few of many important days in the GESS School Calendar. The GESS Community is looking forward to more multi-cultural festivities during the next year with a special focus on European cultures and traditions. Through this special setup of having two curriculums under one roof, GESS students are able to create rich experiences in terms of different cultural groups, manners and even languages. If you want to experience a teaching and learning day at GESS and gain insights from our successful approach on learning, you should join our OPEN CLASSROOM DAY on April 29th and observe our vibrant student-teacher interaction on both campuses. All classrooms will be open for you to discover what makes GESS so unique. Please register at www.gess.sg.

German European School Singapore CPE Registration Number: S72SS0010G Registration Period: 22.06.2011 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 21.06. 2017

Experience a teaching and learning day at GESS!

OPEN CLASSROOM DAY 29 April 2016

Celebrating Academic Success

The Australian International School (AIS) is the only school in Singapore to offer the best of the International Baccalaureate and the Australian curriculum. A choice of the IB Diploma or Australian Higher School Certificate enables students to graduate with outstanding academic results. In 2015, 91% of AIS students achieved above the worldwide point average in the IB Diploma, enabling progression to leading universities around the world.

Preparation for success, from 18 months old A specialist Early Years curriculum, commencing from 18 months old, prepares students for success through daily maths and Mandarin, the weekly Accelerated Literacy Program, weekly violin lessons from age 3, and the SMART Steps physical education program. A unique Speech and Drama program, delivered using 150 years of proven experience from LAMDA (The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) nurtures confident speakers with a varied and rich vocabulary. A new state-of-the-art Early Years campus, launching next year, will be complete with a 22m swimming pool, a large sports gym, 5 library and learning resource centres and 9 arts and language specialist classrooms.

World Languages, Global Perspectives Preparing students for further education anywhere in the world, AIS’ dedicated languages program develops second language proficiency in Mandarin, commencing daily from 18 months old

and progressing into a choice of Indonesian, French, Mandarin or Spanish Ab-initio in Secondary. For non-native English speaking students, the Intensive English Program develops the ability and confidence to communicate effectively in English and a progressive, high-level Mother Tongue Program builds familiarisation with the language and culture of the student’s home country.

Excellence in the Arts and Sports AIS develops outstanding athletes, as the only international school in Singapore to offer the Athlete Development Program (ADP). ADP offers the top AIS sportsmen and women the opportunity to train and be coached on a path to elite level sport. 16 music ensembles and 7 choirs engage AIS’ young musicians in collaborative opportunities. Over 100 performances annually support students in becoming accomplished musicians.

Join Open House on 20 April to find out more, register at www.ais.com.sg or +65 6653 7906.

EDU-2-2037 19/2/2016 – 18/2/2020

Australian International School Pte Ltd is registered by the Council for Private Education. CPE Registration Number 199204405H. Period of Registration 6 July 2015 to 5 July 2019

O 20 pen

w w w. ai s.c om .sg

Results that speak for themselves

Ap House | +6 ri l 5 66 53

IB 2015 Students above IB World Average

91%

Point Average

34.2

29.9

AIS

World Average

ATAR 2015* Students Achieving

Point Average

82.4

68.7

AIS

NSW

90+ ATAR

42% 16.5% AIS

NSW

AIS is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular Australian International School for children aged 18 months to 18 years old, offering the best of the Australian curriculum and the International Baccalaureate.

www.ais.com.sg +65 6653 7906

EDU-2-2037 19/2/2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 18/2/2020

Australian International School Pte Ltd is registered by the Council for Private Education. CPE Registration Number 199204405H. Period of Registration 6 July 2015 to 5 July 2019 *Including IBDP and HSC students excluding non-university bound students

79 06

ISS International School was founded in 1981 to serve the expatriate community in Singapore

ISS

is an authorised International Baccalaureate (IB) World School with a multicultural environment for students from almost 60 countries with no dominant group. It is the ONLY IB World School in Singapore specialising solely in the IB, incorporating IB Primary Years, IB Middle Years and the IB Diploma Program. It is also the first to offer a one-to-one Apple Macbook program. ISS has a high percentage of IBO workshop leaders, moderators and examiners among its staff, one of the highest in Asia.

ISS International School is:

Academic Program

Student Information

• An established PYP, MYP and DP authorized IB World School, with years of experience offering each program. • A truly international school with a multicultural environment, comprising of students from almost 60 countries with no dominant culture. • A school with outstanding student support, including ESL, counselling and university advising. • The first international school in Singapore with an Apple MacBook program. • Known for student activities, including an established CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) program with an extensive list of activities, field trips and the adventurous activity week held each year.

• ISS is an authorized IB World School offering PYP (Kindergarten 1 – Grade 5), MYP (Grade 6 – 10) and DP (Grade 11– 12). The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accreditation enables ISS to offer a High School Diploma to their IB Diploma and IB Diploma course graduates. • ISS offers pre-IB Diploma skills and IB Diploma subject preparation courses during the summer. • Academic Year – August to June (Semester 1: August to December, Semester 2: January to June).

• Students from almost 60 countries. • Class sizes – elementary school: 15-20 students, middle school: 20-24 students, high school: 15-20 students.

Faculty • Teachers from 19 countries. • Predominantly trained in United States, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. Many faculty members are IBO moderators, examiners and workshop leaders.

Admissions • Admissions staff are available year round to meet with potential families regarding admission for all three schools. • Applications are accepted year round, subject to places being available. • Please refer to the following link for the admission procedures: http://www.iss.edu.sg/ admission_procedures.php • Students must pass the English language proficiency test to be eligible for admission.

ISS International School Elementary and Middle School campus 25, Paterson Road, Singapore 238510 Tel: (65) 6235 5844 High School campus 21, Preston Road, Singapore 109355 Tel: (65) 6475 4188 www.iss.edu.sg Email: admissions@iss.edu.sg 26 ScandAsia.Singapore • April 2016

April 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ ScandAsia.Singapore 27

From Concept to Creation:

The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Personal Project

onderful things happen when 15 and 16 year olds take on a challenge that interests them. Students realize that when they set their mind to it, they can do so much more than they thought. They delve deep into research and understand that some information out there is more useful than others. They learn numerous valuable skills and learn much more about themselves. The Personal Project is a significant capstone project celebrating the final year of the IB Middle Years Programme. Students choose to create something, or achieve something in an area they are passionate about. They choose their own topic. The important part of the Personal Project is actually the process: star ting with an idea, refining it into a goal, planning, doing research, carrying out the work and reflecting on it all. This year’s projects at KIS International School in Bangkok included a wide spectrum of interests including designing a humanoid robot, making a flowboard, learning to play the violin, creating an album with piano music composed by the student, creating an Ibook about the

development of surgery, investigating applications of nanotechnology, examining how people’s eyes change with different emotions, and designing a space suit. Throughout the Personal Project students hone their research, self-management, thinking, communication and social skills. Once the project is complete the students share their product and learning experiences in an exhibition. Visitors have the opportunity to ask the students questions and learn about their journey. Students gain confidence in presenting and welcome the feedback given by others. The final par t of the personal project is writing a report. Many of the students use the personal project to find out if certain fields of study or careers would be suitable for them. One KIS student for example created an architectural model of an environmentally friendly house, enabling him to have a glimpse of the kind of work an architect would do, not just by creating the house but also by speaking with experts in the field and using software that architects use. Another student wanted to use the project as an opportunity to do something creative and

artistic before embarking on a career in sciences. She chose to create a large work of mosaic art. Annette Lillethun, from Norway, says of her Personal Project: “Although the personal project was challenging, we all showed persistence and excitement through the process which can be seen in the variety of final products we created this year”. Though the project requires a lot of work, students appreciate the opportunity to do (within reason) what they like to do, share it with others, and then be graded on it. As one KIS student said of the project :”Inspire yourself and inspire others”.

This year’s KIS Personal Project presentations can be found on Youtube: Group 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f656l4PhZww Group 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ5FPB40jmA Group 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZQkPMc5iB4

KIS International School is a full IB school in Bangkok, Thailand. www.kis.ac.th, admissions@kis.ac.th, tel +662 2743444. 28 ScandAsia.Singapore • April 2016

ENSURING EVERY CHILD ACHIEVES MORE THAN THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN

AT STAMFORD AMERICAN

500-Seat

200 100 70

8 2 1

Professional Theater

Apple TVs across campus Co-curricular activities

Competitive sports teams

Student nationalities

Mother Tongue Languages Bilingual and Daily Choices-Mandarin or Spanish and only school to offer American and IB Curriculums

Find out more at Open House

April 22nd 2016 at 9am

www.sais.edu.sg | +65 6653 7907 Stamford American International School CPE Registration Number: 200823594D Period of Registration: August 10, 2014 to August 9, 2018

April 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ ScandAsia.Singapore 29

Boarding School Benefits

he expat lifestyle provides many practical reasons for sending children to boarding school, but the advantages of a boarding experience can go far beyond that. A boarding school is a school where the students live because their parents want them to obtain the special benefits of this kind of education or because they cannot live at home and attend a local school because of their parents’ assignment to a location without a proper school or because of problems between the parents. Many parents also choose to send their children back home when they reach the age of 12 years or older to ensure that they retain their Nordic roots.

What Boarders Say About Boarding • Being around other s gives you the opportunity to do lots of different activities. • I have learnt so much from boarding, both academically and socially. • Being there for others and having someone • being there for you, a constant social life, • you don’t miss out on anything with friends. • Feeling part of team and living with friends means that you get to know people better.

• I am able to talk with friends directly instead of calling to arrange to see them. • You are never bored, there are always things to do and people to do things with. • Boarding has given me a greater sense of responsibility and independence. I feel I am now more organized and prepared for the challenges to come at University. • Rapport with teachers is better. Everyone knows you and you know everyone. • Getting to know friends so well. • Sense of community and belonging. • Boarding school students acquire the abilities that help ensure success in university and in life. The above list of benefits of boarding was expressed by Sixth Form boarders in the UK report “Boarding in the 21st Century”.

International School of Bergen

nternational School of Bergen (ISB) is situated on the west coast of Norway and offers an English language learning environment to students between the ages of 3 and 16. Our mission is to provide an internationally accredited education serving the business and Bergen communities. The educational programme of ISB has been developed to help prepare its students for a successful future. The school is accredited by the

Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in addition to being authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization to offer their Primary Years and Middle Years programmes.

Our students and staff All teacher s hold univer sity degrees and appropriate teaching qualifications. Classes are small. With students and staff representing

ENGELSKSPRÅKLIG PRIVATSKOLE FOR BARN OG UNGDOM MELLOM 3 OG 16 ÅR • • • • • •

Få elever i hver klasse Trygt læringsmiljø med god individuell oppfølging God kontakt med foreldre Internasjonalt godkjente og utfordrende læreplaner Utmerkede resultater i internasjonale og norske nasjonalprøver Sentral beliggenhet med bybanestopp rett utenfor døren For mer informasjon: www.isob.no eller post@isob.no

30 ScandAsia.Singapore • April 2016

more than thirty different nationalities, we pride ourselves in having a welcoming and including community. ISB was founded in 1975, giving us 40 years of experience as an educational institution. International School of Bergen Vilhelm Bjerknesvei 15, 5081 Bergen, Norway Phone: +4755306330 Website: www.isob.no || E-mail: post@isob.no

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April 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 31