Nanyang Polytechnic


Nanyang Polytechnic is a polytechnic located in the precinct of Yio Chu Kang in the town of Ang Mo Kio, Singapore. As an industry-oriented alternative to a broader based junior college education, polytechnic graduates in Singapore are sought after for work or many continue to complete university degrees. In contrast to polytechnics in the United States and UK, polytechnics in Singapore admit majority of its students after secondary school which is after 10 years of formal education. Diplomas in a specialised area of study, for example Biomedical Science, are awarded after completing 3 years of studies.

History

Nanyang Polytechnic was established on 1 April 1992, and enrolled its first batch of students for its School of Health Sciences and School of Business Management in July 1992. The School of Engineering and the School of Information Technology were opened in July 1993.
The French-Singapore Institute, German-Singapore Institute and the Japan-Singapore Institute were transferred from the Economic Development Board to the Polytechnic in February 1993.
It originally operated from five temporary campuses before moving to its permanent home in Ang Mo Kio in April 1998.
The School of Design and School of Chemical and Life Sciences was set up in November 2000, followed by the School of Interactive and Digital Media in November 2006.
Mr Chan Lee Mun took over as Principal and CEO in August 2007; Mr Lin Cheng Ton went on to head NYP International.
Ms Jeanne Liew took over as Principal and CEO in July 2015.

Campus

Spread over of land, Nanyang Polytechnic is situated next to the Yio Chu Kang MRT station. The institution houses 14 administration blocks, three blocks for recreational and student development purposes and three blocks for staff accommodation. The campus is modelled on a town-centre concept to provide the conveniences of a self-contained "Teaching and Learning City". Facilities include a fully computerised library, laboratories, a Theatre for the Arts and an auditorium. Retail outlets on campus provide a variety of academic items as well as other leisure items.
Sports facilities include track and field, adventure challenge park, gym, swimming pool, tennis court and rock-climbing walls. Badminton, table tennis, basketball and ping pong are available in the air-conditioned sports hall. An Olympic-sized swimming pool is located beside the sport hall.

Supporting centres

Foreign Language Centre
The Foreign Language Centre offers language modules to NYP students. They can choose to learn a foreign language such as French, German, Japanese, or Business Mandarin. FLC organises cultural activities, exchange programmes and overseas trips to provide the students with more exposure to the languages.

Academic schools

Nanyang Polytechnic has seven academic schools, offering a variety of courses.
The Nanyang Polytechnic School of Business Management simulate a modern "Teaching Enterprise" environment that is both web-centric and in tune with the latest developments in the real business world.
Students have an opportunity to work in an actual business environment, supported by the Business Services Group which operates a number of businesses in the school. Students are given a solid foundation in the key business modules in the first two years, and specialised subjects in the second and final year of study.

School of Chemical and Life Sciences

The Nanyang Polytechnic School of Chemical and Life Sciences is in Singapore.
Field trips to pharmaceutical plants and research institutes provide learning experience for the students. Under the Polytechnic's Industrial Attachment program, students can gain first-hand learning experience of the life science industry before they graduate. Opportunities for attachment to companies overseas are also available under the Overseas Industrial Placement Programme where students can gain an international perspective on Chemical & Life Sciences and be exposed to foreign cultures, work styles and economic environments.
The School of Chemical & Life Sciences is headed by two directors; one looking into Life Sciences, the other into Chemical Sciences. Diploma courses under the Life Sciences division are Dip. Molecular Biotechnology, Dip. Food Science, and the Dip. Pharmaceutical Sciences.
The only diploma course under the Chemical division is Dip. Chemical & Pharmaceutical Technology.
Diploma in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Technology prepares students in petro-chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries. The course does not prepare students to work in pharmacies as retail executives or pharmacy technicians. Such career prospects are only applicable to the Dip. Pharmaceutical Sciences. Rather, graduates from Dip. CPT are able to work at manufacturing plants, Jurong Island, and other petro-chemical industries.

School of Design

The Nanyang Polytechnic School of Design in Singapore is a technical school providing training in industrial design, space and interior design and visual communications.

School of Information Technology

The Nanyang Polytechnic School of Information Technology is one of the founding schools of Nanyang Polytechnic and started in July 1993. The current director of the school is Mr Daniel Wee.
The school currently offers 6 full-time diplomas and many lifelong learning courses.

Centre for IT Innovation

The Centre for IT Innovation in Nanyang Polytechnic, School of Information Technology, was established as a platform to provide an impetus towards several key objectives. These objectives focused on CITI as a launch pad for major industrial collaborations and cutting edge R & D projects.

Academic matters

Students are awarded a Diploma in their field after completing the course. The minimum length for courses is between three and two years. Graduating students have the option of joining the workforce or to continue education in local/overseas universities.
Diplomas with Merit are awarded to students with outstanding performance during their course of study.
In 2008, the polytechnic began a new recognition system for students who excel academically.

Co-curricular activities

Nanyang Polytechnic has over 80 co-curricular activities. including Arts & Cultural clubs, Sports & Adventure clubs, Community Service as well as Leadership clubs and a Students' Union and Academic Clubs.

Milestones

As an organisation, NYP has won many awards and recognitions. This includes:
NYP has many students who have achieved successes on both a national and international level. Some accolades include: