Tables, chairs, whiteboard? A thing of the past.

New state-of-the-art facilities in TP to get students industry ready.

Senior Minister of State for Transport Mrs Josephine Teo opened the Temasek Aviation Academy on Jan 8, 2016 together with Temasek Polytechnic Board of Governors Chairman Mr Lee Kok Choy (centre) and Mr Boo Kheng Hua, Principal and CEO. (Photo: Nurilsyamira Ismail)

Students this year will be among the first to train in new age classrooms. Over the past year, Temasek Polytechnic (TP) has undergone several changes with the addition of TP Aerospace Hub and Temasek Tourism Academy (TTA).

TP invested time and resources in these facilities to get students industry ready by providing them with first-hand experiences. While industry visits and industrial attachments deliver a similar experience simulating the workforce environment, industry-standard facilities at the polytechnic are a test-bed for students to learn relevant skillsets from the get-go.

“(TTA) brings education to life for students,” said Ms Evelyn Lim, a Hospitality and Tourism Management senior lecturer. The seven storey TTA, which houses a spa and wellness centre, a student clubhouse and tourism technology rooms, was completed in January this year. The aim of this building is to elevate the level of experiential training for students in the Diploma in Leisure and Events Management and Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Another new addition to TP, the TP Aerospace Hub, allows Aerospace Electronics, Aerospace Engineering and Aviation Management and Services students to practise with a Hawker Siddeley HS-125 Series 700 aircraft, one of the most outstanding first generation business jets. The School of Engineering’s new aerospace teaching wing opened its doors for the first time in March last year.

Looking ahead, the addition of these buildings will definitely boost Singapore’s manpower growth. Apart from providing a proper platform for students to practise and improve skills, these amenities also enable TP to offer coaching and consultancy services to many sectors.

Moving forward, TP bids farewell to mundane classroom learning styles for the better. The incorporation of such facilities and hands-on training has changed the mode of learning tremendously.

“Facilities simulating the workplace are available on-site, hence creating greater opportunities and convenience to expose students to real-life work situations,” Ms Evelyn Lim said.

Having up-to-date equipment for aircraft practical training lessons allows students to directly observe what is happening. Benefitting kinesthetic learners who learn best by example.

Spelling out the changes the hangar brought about, Lee Jo Wei, a second-year Aviation Management and Services student, said: “Previously, it (learning) has only involved the students being in classrooms and that was not really beneficial as industry terms were used but we weren’t able to witness them in reality. Now, there are industry products in the hub which benefits and helps us more in our learning process.”

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