600 youths told China-savviness an essential future work skill
Singapore – More than 600 students from about 12 Junior Colleges, IP Schools, Polytechnics and other Institutes of Higher Learnings (IHLs) participated in the China-Quotient Student Forum held at Jurong Junior College this afternoon.
China-Quotient Student Forum 2014 was jointly organised by Business China and Jurong Junior College. The Forum, with the theme of ‘Rising China: Globalisation Opportunities for Bilingual & Bicultural Youths’, aims to motivate Singaporean students to ride on the myriad of opportunities presented by the exponential growth of China. The Forum was conducted in Mandarin.
Three guest speakers, Mr Chia Kim Huat, Go East Committee Member of Business China and Executive Committee Partner: Head of Corporate & Transactional Practice, Rajah & Tann LLP; Mr Arthur Loo, Principal Consultant of Harbourlink Consultant Associates and Business Partner of ITT Global Learning Pte Ltd of Singapore; and Ms Ming Chew, Executive Director, Vision Park Education, shared personal insights on the importance for Singaporean youths to build up bicultural competency, develop a global outlook, as well as be more pro-active in creating and harnessing opportunities brought about by a rising China.
In his presentation, Mr Chia Kim Huat shared his observations on the increased English proficiency level of Chinese youths through his personal experience of working with Chinese counterparts over the years. With China set to overtake the United States as the world’s largest economy by 2020, Mr Chia urged Singaporean students to continue building up their bilingual capabilities and international outlook in order to engage with China and gain a headstart in being future-ready and China-savvy.
Singaporean entrepreneur, Mr Arthur Loo, who has been living and working in Shanghai for the past 13 years, shared his personal experience working and interacting with the Chinese. Through an interesting interactive game with the students, he illustrated that there would always be more than one solution to a problem. He urged the students to stay inquisitive, stay motivated and think out of the box to co-create their desired future base on their core interest and competency.
Ms Ming Chew, with her extensive experience living and studying abroad and her broad global outlook, further inspired the students to stay enthusiastic, pursue their interests and to consider the less-travelled path of being educated or to build a career out of Singapore.
Chairman of Business China, Mr Chua Thian Poh, highlighted the necessity to promote Chinese know-how relentlessly in his opening address. He said, “This Forum is one of the diversified platforms that Business China initiates to promote better understanding of the Chinese culture, society and language. As China’s society is constantly evolving, it is necessary for us to always keep up-to-date of her developments and its relevance to Singapore.”
Principal of Jurong Junior College, Ms Tay Lai Ling, expressed in her welcome speech that the school had been striving to create more platforms and opportunities for students to learn and understand the developments of China since the commencement of the China Studies module in 2007. Miss Tay also shared that through this collaboration with Business China, the students would have an exclusive opportunity to interact with and learn from these experienced speakers.
For more information, please contact:
Deng Shiying (Ms)
Associate (Corporate Communications)
Business China
Tel: 6213 0412
Email: shiying@businesschina.org.sg
About Business China
Business China was launched in November 2007 by our Founding Patron, Singapore’s Founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew and former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. We are a platform integrating language, economic and cultural elements. Our mission is to nurture an inclusive bilingual and bicultural group of Singaporeans through extensive use of the Chinese language as the medium of communication, so as to sustain our multi-cultural heritage, and to develop a cultural and economic bridge linking the world and China.
For more information, please visit www.businesschina.org.sg/en.
About China-Quotient Student Forum
As part of the efforts to engage youths, Business China has been striving towards promoting bilingualism and biculturalism in Singapore to better prepare Singaporean youths for global development in the future. As China is projected to be the world’s largest economy by year 2017, it is imperative that our youths have the means to effectively engage with China in years to come.
Launched in 2010, the China-Quotient (CQ) Forum Series aims to upkeep the bilingual and bicultural quotient of Singaporean youths. Through panel discussions, outstanding speakers from areas such as technology, lifestyle, popular culture, volunteerism and social entrepreneurship will share how Singaporean youths can leverage on their unique edge as bilingual and bicultural individuals in an increasingly competitive global market place.
About Jurong Junior College
The Ministry of Education (MOE) Singapore established Jurong Junior College (JJC) in 1981, then the ninth junior college. It attracts students from about 100 local secondary schools as well as international students from various countries. It prides itself as a Language Elective Programme (Chinese) Centre as well as the Centre of Excellence for Character Development in the West Zone. It was the first school in Singapore that received the Outstanding Development Award for Character Development in 2006. The College was revalidated and received the same award again in 2011.
The college’s vision is to be a College of Choice, providing an Education of Value. Its mission is to nurture confident learners with a global outlook, and develop leaders of character with a heart to serve.
For more information, please visit www.jurongjc.moe.edu.sg.