ITE College East ambassadors & Temasek Junior College students engaged in a 2-day exchange programme to bridge the perception gap between students from both institutions.

From 16 to 17 March 2009, a group of ITE College East ambassadors and students from a select Mazarin programme from Temasek Junior College (TJC) embarked on a 2-day exchange programme where students spent one full-day at each other’s college. The aim of the programme was to bridge the perception gap between the students of both institutions as a result of the different types of education they receive.
 
Students from both colleges had an enriching time at each other’s institution – exchanging their experiences, satisfying each other’s curiosity about the kinds of lives they led, the things they learnt, sharing their aspirations and the pressures they had to live up to. 
 
On the first day of the exchange programme, the CE ambassadors played host to the TJC students at ITE College East. The TJC students had the opportunity to experience building a raft at the pool, deal with a code blue situation at the ITE Centre for Healthcare Simulation Training, learn about the pasteurisation of ice-cream at the Food Processing Lab and the measurement of body fats at the Human Performance Lab, and marvel at the well-equipped Beauty Therapy Training Centre, Hair Design Training Centre and ITE-ABB Automation Technology Solutions Centre. The TJC students were thoroughly impressed by the comprehensive facilities available at the College and the hands-on training received by our students at the College.

The CE ambassadors also had their fair share of excitement on the second day as an exhilarating amazing race around TJC was planned by the TJC students. The CE ambassadors also got to experience a science exposé in the chemistry labs, immerse themselves in a literary appreciation of Chinese calligraphy in their art studio and groove to the infamous mass dances synonymous with the culture in the Junior Colleges.

 

 

Through the exchange programme, new friendships were forged, and there was a change in the mindsets of students from both institutions. This programme proved to be a fruitful and engaging learning experience for both the CE ambassadors and TJC students!

 

Here are some quotes from students that participated in the programme:

"...Even though we have a different education system, ultimately we are still students hoping for a better future...Almost all the sectors are world-class - hairstyling, nursing and so on...I also learnt that ITE College East provides many hands-on courses that we can never learn in JC, it really prepares the students for the working life. College East really Rocks!!...it is an honour to meet and know the College East student ambassadors..." - Indora Tanudin (Temasek JC)

"ITE students learn specialized skills that are highly useful…The student ambassadors and teachers in ITE were very enthusiastic about hosting us and the whole event was well planned..." - Noor Iman (Temasek JC)

"…Before the event, I felt nervous and excited as it was my first time hosting TJC students….but as time passed, I realised that we all have our strengths regardless of whether we are JC students or ITE students…" - Derence Loh (ITE College East)

 

"I have learnt that JC life is just as similar to that of any form of institution… the TJC students are just as fun and outgoing as us. I am very happy I got a chance to be part of this exchange programme and enjoyed it very much…" - Nur Rahmah Fatin (ITE College East)