Friday, December 22, 2006
(Well there is somethings that I wanted to share with you guys out there and to be proud of things about ITE that I found in todays news paper.)
Bright future for ITE students
Institude of Technical Education students are proving that ITE does not stand for "It's The End" - both in their further education and career prospects. Sandra Davie sizes up the prospects for ITE graduates.MOVING UP TO POLYTECHNICSA record number of 1643 ITE graduates made it to polytechnics this year, up from 1154 last year. The increase is due partly to a policy change that allows ITE students to defer their three-year diploma studies.Another reason is that there were more ITE graduates this year because of larger intakes in 2004 and 2005, part of the whom were the Dragon Year babies.
But even if those factors are discounted, the number of ITE students making it to polytechnics has grown over the years. Just five years ago, a mere 700 made it to the polytechnics.
To qualify for polytechnic studies, an ITE student needs a two-year National Institude of Technical Education Certificate (Nitec) qualification with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.5, or alternatively a Higher Nitec.Higher Nitec students with a GPA of 3.5 and above can obtain direct entry into the second year of the polytechnic course.Generally, those with N-level qualifications take the Nitec course, while those with O levels opt for Higher Nitec.Polytechnic lecturers note that ITE students do well in poly as they are more mature motivated, and bring with them good technical skills. The ITE does not track how many of its students who make it to the polytechnics go on to take up a degree, but officials say the majority do head to local universities or overseas.
There are a few who have returned with first class honours. One of them was highlighted by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his National Day rally speech last year.
Mr Eric Chen, 32, went from Ngee Ann Polytechnic to the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated with first-class honours. He then completed his master's at Imperial College in London but turned down an offer to do his PhD, opting instead to return in 2002 to teach at the ITE.
MOVING ON TO JOBSITE graduates who entered the job market last year had no trouble landing well-paid jobs, going by the employment survey findings.Compared with their counterparts surveyed in 2004, graduates did marginally better last year in the job market on several fronts.
More were offered full-time jobs within three months of job hunting - 91 per cent, compared to 89 per cent the previous year.
More were also working at the time of the survey: 90 per cent last year, compared with 87 per cent in 2004.
And when it came to the starting pay, there was a two per cent ncrease over that of 2004. Fresh graduates last year earned about $1250 a month, while those who had served national service earned about $1550.
Most in demand were machatronics graduates, who commanded the highest average gross monthly salary of $1815. Mechatronics students study mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering. In general, am ITE engineering graduate received $1666 a month.
MOVING UP IN THEIR CAREERSITE tracks its graduates to see if they continue to do well in the job market in the long term. Last year, it surveyed its students who graduated from 1993 to 1995 and of the 870 respondents, 98 per cent were gainfully employed.
A quarter held managerial and professional jobs. On average, they earned $2500 a month. Of the respondents, 37, or four per cent, reported they had started their own businesses.
ITE dons are pleased by all the signs that say the ITE is on the right track. Its registrar, Mr Cheang Wee Kok Shang, said the good employment performance of ITE graduates reflects the relevance and value of an ITE education as well as employers' strong endorsement of ITE graduates.
ITE's two main colleges in Choa Chu Kang and Ang Mo Kio will be ready in a few years time. Its first mega-campus - ITE College East, which opened last year at Simei - was built at a cost of $240 million.
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TheTurningPoint winks
at |12:56 AM|
