{"id":102114,"date":"2025-08-22T15:36:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T15:36:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/102114\/"},"modified":"2025-08-22T15:36:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T15:36:08","slug":"four-polytechnics-get-4-8m-from-ngee-ann-kongsi-for-overseas-entrepreneurship-programmes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/102114\/","title":{"rendered":"Four polytechnics get $4.8m from Ngee Ann Kongsi for overseas entrepreneurship programmes"},"content":{"rendered":"

SINGAPORE \u2013 More than 2,000 polytechnic students are expected to benefit from a $4.8 million gift from Ngee Ann Kongsi to gain overseas experience in innovation and entrepreneurship. <\/p>\n

The donation will be channelled into the Global Entrepreneurship Award (GEA), which supports polytechnic students taking part in overseas learning programmes.<\/p>\n

The grant will be split equally among Nanyang, Republic, Singapore and Temasek polytechnics. They will each receive $1.2 million from June 2026 to May 2030. <\/p>\n

Ngee Ann Polytechnic is not included, as it receives separate funding from Ngee Ann Kongsi for its student development programmes.<\/p>\n

Republic Polytechnic principal and chief executive Jeanne Liew, speaking at a ceremony for the signing of the memorandum of understanding and the cheque presentation on Aug 22 at Ngee Ann City, said: \u201cThis timely generosity ensures that global opportunities remain accessible even to students from less privileged backgrounds who might otherwise be excluded.\u201d <\/p>\n

Combined with an earlier tranche in 2022, Ngee Ann Kongsi\u2019s funding for the GEA, which was set up in 2022 by the philanthropic organisation, totals $9 million.<\/p>\n

The GEA has benefited more than 1,500 polytechnic students. \u00a0<\/p>\n

GEA recipient Nallathambi Kavya, 19, said: \u201cAs students, we want to go on these overseas trips, but\u00a0many of us\u00a0cannot\u00a0afford sums like\u00a0$1,000 to travel abroad.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

She was in her first year at Republic Polytechnic pursuing a diploma in engineering design with business when she received the award in 2023 and went on a six-day trip to Bangkok. <\/p>\n

Ms Kavya, who is now studying business analytics at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, said the award covered 90 per cent of the expenses.<\/p>\n

She added that the experience has shaped her entrepreneurship journey.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am a start-up owner now, and my first exposure to entrepreneurship and innovation was through the trip to Bangkok.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Republic Polytechnic students Nallathambi Kavya and Matthew Kwek Geng Hao have benefited from the Global Entrepreneurship Award, which supports polytechnic students taking part in overseas learning programmes.<\/p>\n

ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI<\/p>\n

While in Bangkok, she and other participants visited different industries and companies, from well-established industry leaders such as BMW to new start-ups.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She said it taught her intangible lessons that cannot be learnt in a classroom, such as \u201cthe value of giving back to society\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs innovators and engineers, our products should be centred around the society, so that we can give back to them while also turning it into a business,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Ms Kavya was inspired to launch her own start-up, Grip, which sells delivery boxes that minimise food spillage for delivery riders.<\/p>\n

Another GEA recipient, Mr Fittra Syaifullah Fairul Nizam, a third-year Temasek Polytechnic student of product experience and design, went on a week-long study trip to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in September 2023.<\/p>\n

The 19-year-old said he enjoyed meeting other young people who were interested in entrepreneurship. <\/p>\n

\u201cEven though we are all from different countries, we are in it together, to learn and find out what the whole start-up space is like.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Mr Fittra Syaifullah Fairul Nizam, a third-year Temasek Poly student of product experience and design, went on a week-long study trip to Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi in September 2023.<\/p>\n

ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI<\/p>\n

Through interactions with his fellow travellers, Mr Fittra gained greater insight into the challenges of launching a start-up, particularly beyond Singapore, like the difficulty in creating product prototypes. <\/p>\n

The trip inspired him to start Overhaul, an artificial intelligence (AI) product development lab that teaches students and start-ups how to use AI to build software and hardware products.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ngee Ann Kongsi president Chia Chor Meng said his organisation has always focused on helping Singaporeans from all walks of life advance their education.<\/p>\n

Commenting on the GEA, he said: \u201cWe are proud to deepen our support for this meaningful award that has opened doors for many students to embark on overseas entrepreneurship internships and learning experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

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