September 2008 Highlights 2008 Formula 1™ Singtel Singapore Grand Prix
“Working on the F1GP event had given me a glimpse of the operational characteristics of the leisure industry. As glamorous as it can be, it is no walk in the park and much perseverance is required. However, it is gratifying to serve others and to ensure they have enjoyed themselves in the process.” Malia Ang, LRM Freshman Malia was amongst the 300 Business School students selected to work as ushers in the inaugural Singapore Formula One Grand Prix in September 2008. The selection process was carried out after a series of group interviews conducted by Kelly Services in TP. The successful candidates were selected based on their level of maturity, service attributes and communication skills. This initiative was part of the Diploma in Leisure and Resort Management’s effort to engage the industry by involving the students in real major events. Here’s what we gathered from an interview with Malia… What do you learn from the training sessions that you think might help you in your studies? I learnt that being on the frontline, we need to be able to convey the correct information to all customers. In addition, protocols are also set for a reason. This is relevant case of a security threat where it is very important to follow instructions to help maintain order and keep people safe. What positions would you like to assume in the next Night Race and why? I would like to be an usher again. Being an usher would allow me to mingle with all the other spectators in the grandstand and experience a live event. Working in the frontline also enable me to feel the electricity in the air, the excitement! It makes working there all the more exhilarating and memorable. Student Officials at the Singtel Singapore Grand Prix | SNAP SHOTS
Photos taken by Lee Shen | |
August 2008 Highlights 29th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly During the week of 18th August 2008, 18 senior students participated in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). The event had welcomed high profiled dignitaries from the ranks of Datoks and Heads of Foreign Affairs Departments to the Ministers of State in the ASEAN countries as well as other regions. Our seniors had the privilege and honour to serve as personal Liaison Officers to these foreign dignitaries. Each student was responsible for the day-to-day itinerary management of these foreign delegates. An all encompassing VIP state event management experience also provided our student with the professional discipline necessary to ensure seamless management of their programme duties. Such professional discipline would require good communication skills, instill a professional image, and require an understanding of cross culture differences and the ability to think instantaneously. Hear what two of our students have to say about their personal encounter… “Being a Liaison Officer was really an eye-opener for me and had tested my service skills to the limit. Being attached to Indonesia, one of the most demanding and biggest delegations to handle, I was constantly running around and liaising with other countries on their behalf. It was a harrowing first time experience, and I’m glad that I came out of it better, smarter and had learnt more about important political leaders of various countries. In addition, I also made new friends in the process.” Lena Ng, LRM Senior Year Student “I was entrusted with one of the fastest growing countries in the east, Vietnam. After being attached to them, I could see why bilateral and networking meetings were consistently on their agenda. From the moment they had landed till a day after the meetings had officially ended, I had to find ways to squeeze in more meetings for them. It was demanding to be attached to the Vice President of the National Assembly as well as other high ranking officials. However prior training through my internship had allowed me to build good rapport with these delegates. In the span of 8days, there was an exchange of cultures and traditions, and good friendship was formed between myself and the delegates. As a whole, this experience was truly an eye opener and had helped me in my overall development.” Joel Tay, LRM Senior Year Student | SNAP SHOTS
Pictured above: Lena Ng, Joel Tay, President of AIPA and Speaker of the Singapore Parliament Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, and Lecturer Mr Tan Teck Ming
The LRM Student Liaison Officers, Ms Eunice Olsen (NMP) and our lecturer for MICE, Mr Tan Teck Ming | |
Familiarisation Trip to Marina Barrage and Gardens by the Bay Regular tours such as this are given to students to hear from the movers and shakers of the leisure tourism industry on their latest developments and programmes.
LRM Junior year students with our lecturers at Marina Barrage. | ||
July 2008 Highlight Mizuno Wave Run Our freshmen, gearing themselves up and gaining some hands-on experience in the operations of a sports event. The diploma offers a module on Festivals and Events Management (BLR3001) in year 2.
Closewise: (top left) Students with their care person, Ms Sandra Goh at the start/finish point after the event; (top right) student marshalls clearing the barricades; (bottom left) students in charge of the drink station; (bottom right) LRM Freshmen posing a picture together | ||
April 2008 Highlight 7th Asian Club Managers’ Conference 2008 Between 20th and 22nd April 2008, 26 Leisure & Resort Management students were involved as front-of-house staff, hospitality officers, event photographer and tour guides, at the prestigious 7th Asian Club Managers’ Conference organized by the Club Managers’ Association Singapore(CMAS), the conference was held at the world class One°15 Marina Club. This opportunity was made possible by one of LRM lecturer and the organising committee member of CMAS, Ms Joan Ho. The international conference drew more than 200 renowned Club Managers, CEOs, GMs and professionals from Asia, Australia and America. The focus at the conference was Club Management in a Global Competitive Environment. The international speakers lists included Dr Andy Nazarechuk, Dean of UNLV Singapore; Joe Purdue the famous guru of Club Management; and Academic Advisor of CMAA amongst others. Our students had displayed excellent attitude in their respective conference event helper roles. They were there on their feet from 7am to 7pm and yet none of them had complained about the fatigue. In essence, they had lots of fun and had enjoyed the invaluable rewarding experience.
Group photo with CMAS president, Mr Roy Higgs and Chairman of the conference, Mr Peter Goh | STUDENTS' QUOTES “…through conference topics such as club rankings and talent recruitment & retention, I have gained a deeper understanding of the industry and the common issues related to the management of clubs, which is highly relevant to my course… Both Mr. Peter Goh and Mr. Adrian Quek had shared with us about the workings of a club and some of their experiences, which gave me a better understanding on the nature and job scope required of a club manager…” Kang Zihui, LRM Junior Year Student “I was impressed with how I could translate what the speakers were presenting with what I had learnt in class. “This conference also made me realized that communication skill is very important in our industry. Through conversations with the delegates, I realized the importance of understanding various terminologies as it enables me to engage in the conversation constructively too.” Xavier Khoo, LRM Junior Year Student "Through this conference, I manage to get out of my own world and get to meet people who are industry leaders." Hui Min, LRM Junior Year Student “I've learnt how a conference is organized. I've also gained knowledge through the talks held at the conference that helped me understand the various functions in the resort industry.” Charlene Tan, LRM Junior Year Student “An enriching experience with opportunities to meet delegates of different nationalities...” Jasmine Seah, LRM Junior Year Student | |
| Highlights in 2007 | ||
Tour to The Singapore Flyer and Esplanade, Theatres by the Bay LRM students had the exciting opportunity to visit The Singapore Flyer and The Esplanade. During the visit, they learnt about the facilities available and the unique selling point of The Singapore Flyer that will be open to the public in March 2008. At the Esplanade, the students learnt about the arts development strategy of Singapore and The Esplanade’s role as an event venue in spearheading the making of Singapore as a Renaissance City of the Arts. During the visits, our students also had the opportunity to interact with senior management staff through the ‘Questions & Answers’ session. This had provided the students with a better understanding of the strategic intent of mega attractions such as the Singapore Flyer and the rationale for the government’s investment in the arts.
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In the spirit of volunteerism and of acquiring relevant knowledge about the operations and management of a major sports event, over 100 students from the Diploma in Leisure and Resort Management (LRM) participated as volunteers in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon on 2nd December 2007.The event saw a record 40,000 runners from all over Singapore and the region. Our student volunteers who were deployed as Drink Station and Deep Heat Crew reported as early as 12 midnight before standing by for the marathon at 6:30AM on the day of the run. Aside from nurturing the spirit of volunteerism in our students, being involved in such a major event helps learning come alive. Facing the different challenges working as and with volunteers enabled the students to connect classroom theories with reality. Festival and Events Management is subject which all LRM students are required to undergo in the second year of their Diploma studies. These are the quotes from the student volunteers: I recognized that it is not an easy task to manage such a big group of operational staff. To make things tougher, majority of the staffs are volunteers. It is not easy to motivate the volunteers to perform to their best effort due to the fact that they were not paid. It is also important to have a pre-event briefing so as to inform the volunteers what they should and should not do… - Liang Qingyun I was able to witness some of the issues mentioned in lecture in person. Matching skills of volunteers was an issue as management did not know them well; and management cannot predict the level of commitment volunteers have towards the event. - Joseph Lee ...it was a really good platform whereby you can see the coordination of such a big mass of people ranging from staff to volunteers to the runners… - Nikko Aw Jun Li Yes, it was hard work but students also gained beyond the academics as they received:
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The highlight of the talk is on the Meetings, Incentives, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) industry. The speakers included Mr Richard Holmes, the International Director of Meetings for the Epilepsy Congress and Ms Janet Tan-Collis, CEO of East West Executive Travellers. Both speakers shared their insights on the operations of a conference organizer and the role of a Destination Management Company. The students were wowed by the first-hand experience shared by Ms Janet Tan-Collis about an incentive dinner which she organized near the Great Wall of China. Through her illustration, students learnt that the role of a DMC amongst other responsibilities is to provide a unique and lasting experience. A total of 33 industry guests, 145 business students and staff from the Hospitality & Tourism Business, Hospitality and Tourism Management and Leisure and Resort Management, attended this special event held in the Business School Lecture Theatre. |
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Mr Gurjit (Director, Property Services) and Mr Jason Yeo (Manager) from the Sentosa Leisure Group will be giving a talk to the students on the key characteristics of integrated resorts (IR) developments around the world and the latest trends regarding IR developments. |  | |
IMF Participation – Sept 06 About 400 Temasek Polytechnic students were selected to work exclusively inside SUNTEC Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre where they were tapped on their training in the areas of Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism and Culinary skills to ensure that the delegates attending the Singapore IMF-World Bank Meetings 2006 were given the very best attention. Among the students who hail from the Diploma in Hospitality & Tourism Management and the pioneer batches of the Diploma in Leisure & Resort Management and the Diploma in Culinary & Catering Management, are 13 privileged individuals who went through stringent interviews and screening to get the title of ACE students. This group also had to go through extra training to be adept enough to take on the added responsibility of serving high level VIPs and assist the Directors in SUNTEC Singapore. |  (Source: Marina Bay Sands) | |
As part of a series of initiatives to enable LRM staff and students to bond and know each other better, a ‘LRM Olympics’ comprising games like Captain’s Ball and Street Soccer was organised. The fun session also serves to help the LRM Interest Group raise funds to organize more future events for the LRM students. |
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Nosey for a Cause – Jul-Aug 06 Citibank-YMCA Youth for Causes is a community initiative by Citibank and YMCA of Singapore. It aims at being a catalyst to promote social entrepreneurship among youths in Singapore. Piloted in 2003 to commemorate the centennial celebrations of both Citibank and YMCA in Singapore, the Citibank-YMCA Youth for Causes programme has proven to be a runaway success. It has since grown from strength to strength, receiving prestigious endorsement on a national level by President S R Nathan as an event of President’s Challenge 2006. This year, 100 youth teams (comprising 4 individuals each) are selected to develop and implement their projects, over a period of 16 weeks. ‘Nosey for a Cause’ is the name of the LRM team which participated by raising funds through Carwash and Balloon Sculpting. |
(Source: GP Singapore)
At Temasek Business School, our students are also given the opportunities to engage in industry-based projects that take them out of their classroom and into the world of work. Read more about it under Student Projects.
