SAF-NTU MASTER'S PROGRAMME PRODUCES PIONEER GRADUATES

It was her dream to graduate from one of Singapore's top universities.

On 31 Jul, that dream came true when Major (MAJ) Yip Cheng Yee received her master's degree in Management through the Continuing Education (CE) Master's programme jointly run by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

But getting there was a tough journey.

A typical day would see her heading to campus for classes after a full day of work in the office. She would then head home, tuck her nine-year-old son into bed at 11pm, and hit the books again till 2am. Such a punishing schedule could take place up to four times a week.

"All these were struggles which I had to deal with for the past two years. But I never thought of giving up," said MAJ Yip, who added that she has to bring up her son single-handedly. She obtained her bachelor's degree through a distance-learning programme from the University of London.

MAJ Yip is the only female among the 35 SAF senior officers and military experts to graduate from the SAF-NTU CE Master's programme, with master's degrees in their selected courses, like Logistics, Management, Strategy, Strategic Studies and Instructional Design and Technology.

They are the first group of graduates from the programme which was launched in 2008.

The programme allows senior SAF officers and military experts, who have completed their Command and Staff Course, to upgrade themselves academically through part-time or full-time study.

Co-chair of the SAF-NTU Academy Management Board and Chief of Staff-Joint Staff, Brigadier-General (BG) Tan Ming Yiak, said: "We are pleased to see the first batch of our officers graduate with their master's degrees. They have worked hard to achieve this and I am confident that their new knowledge and skill-sets will help them to operate better in today s dynamic and complex environment."

MAJ Yip said the Management course she attended had honed her analytical skills which she could apply to her work as head of the Discipline and Regimentation branch in the Naval Personnel Department.

Also benefiting from the programme was Military Expert (ME) 6 Ranjeet Singh, who obtained a master's degree in Logistics. He felt that his interactions with NTU lecturers and industry guest lecturers had allowed him to keep abreast of the latest industry trends in supply chain and contract management.

As a result, he can contribute more effectively to the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) as the Commanding Officer of 806 Squadron which maintains the Air Force's helicopters.

He said: "The concepts and theories discussed (with the lecturers and consultants) added a new set of lens through which I can tackle challenges and issues at my work place."

ME6 Ranjeet is also grateful to the SAF for the opportunities to upgrade himself.

Back in 1989, he enlisted with the RSAF with 'O' levels through the Joint SAF-Polytechnic Sponsorship. He excelled in his work and was selected to undergo conversion to be an Air Engineering Officer. He then went on to obtained a bachelor's degree from NTU in Mechanical Engineering - also through SAF's sponsorship.

He said that his educational journey would have stopped at the polytechnic had the SAF not recognised his potential and decided to sponsor him for further studies.

For MAJ Darren Ler, who obtained a master's degree in Technology Management, learning alongside international students has honed his inter-cultural communication as well as interpersonal skills.

"It is a real broadening of my experience and understanding of the world outside," said the 35-year-old who made it into the Dean's List. "The greatest takeaway is the confidence to interact with the best minds in the world, and be able to hold my own against them."

On how he plans to use his new knowledge in his new role as Commanding Officer of 9th Singapore Infantry Regiment (9 SIR), he said: "The analytical skills, and the general stretching of my mental faculties will prepare me well to handle new challenges and grapple with complexities."

NTU Provost Professor Freddy Boey concurred: "The SAF officers gain from the academic rigour and multi-disciplinary learning at NTU, and exposure to the latest ideas and best practices relevant to their military careers."

"This partnership between the SAF and NTU is an excellent fit because we are both committed to advancing educational opportunities to train and develop Singapore's future leaders," he added.