 ITE launches diploma course in collaboration with German institute
SINGAPORE : Engineering graduates of the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) can take up a technical diploma in machine engineering beginning next year.
Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam announced this at an ITE graduation ceremony on Tuesday.
The course, which is ITE's first diploma programme, is conducted in partnership with a German technical institute.
The manufacturing sector is getting more sophisticated, especially in machine design.
That is why the ITE has launched a technical engineer diploma (TED) in machine technology, in collaboration with a German technical institute which is located in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
"It is a very well-recognised and prestigious programme that we've offered together with our partner. They will assign staff to come and conduct some staff training in terms of pedagogic and technical training, and also to deliver programmes for our students," said Bruce Poh, Director and CEO of ITE.
The course curriculum of the new diploma is modelled entirely on the programme offered in Germany.
That means graduates of the TED will receive their certification by the German institute.
This will allow them to gain entry to the Universities of Applied Sciences in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
ITE graduates are going places. Figures from the 2006 Graduate Employment Survey showed that almost 96% of its graduates secured job offers within half a year of completing their courses.
One reason for this is its hands-on approach, which will be replicated in the new diploma programme.
"The technical diploma that ITE is giving out is very focused in specialisation, especially in machine building and design, while the polytechnic diploma offerings lean towards the manufacturing sector, which is very wide and broad. So I think both will co-exist," said Pitchian Anthonysamy, Section Head of Precision Engineering at ITE.
An almost seamless transition to a polytechnic education is what 19-year-old Nurshahidah Roslie has enjoyed.
"It helps me when I went to poly, because I was able to contribute more to my teammates and my classmates as well," said Nurshahidah.
Nurshahidah is one of ITE's top three graduands this year.
The Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal Winner hopes to pursue her dream in sports management. - CNA /ls | 
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