MEDIA RELEASE: China-Quotient Student Forum – “Bilingualism and Biculturalism – Singaporean youths’ unique edge”

China-Quotient Student Forum 2012
– Business China and Raffles Institution collaborate for the first time to discuss developing bilingual and bicultural amongst the youths

Singapore – This morning, 28 July 2012, Business China and Raffles Institution (RI) jointly invited Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister of State for Finance and Transport, to share her Chinese-learning journey as the Guest-of-Honour at the China-Quotient Student Forum.

The series of China-Quotient (CQ) Student Forums were conceptualised to keep students and youths abreast of the changes in the rapidly morphing China society, to up their China-quotient, so that they can better prepare themselves for the emerging opportunities.

Partnering with RI for the first time, this half-day forum was themed “Bilingualism and Biculturalism – Singaporean youths’ unique edge”. It also saw two young speakers joining Mrs Josephine Teo in sharing their personal anecdotes in China through presentations of their traveling photos taken in various provinces of China.

One of the speakers was Ms Sim Chi Yin, a former journalist for The Straits Times who is currently based in Beijing and working as a photojournalist. Also on the panel was Mr Cheng Chek Lim, graduand of Peking University and Manager with Singapore Tourism Board. Chek recently completed a secondment stint in China with leading travel site TripAdvisor.

Some 700 students from RI as well as other secondary schools and junior colleges participated in the forum, which was conducted mainly in Mandarin.

Other distinguished guests, including Business China’s Board members, as well as our Chairman, Mr Chua Thian Poh also seized this excellent opportunity to further engage and mingle with gen-Y Singaporeans.

– End –

For more information, please contact:

Eunice Ong (Ms)
Senior Associate (Corporate Communications & Go East)
Business China
Email: eunice@businesschina.org.sg
Tel: (65) 6213 0413

About Business China

Business China was launched in November 2007 by our Patron, then Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and 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 multicultural heritage, and to develop a cultural and economic bridge linking the world and China.

For more information, visit www.businesschina.org.sg.

About C-Quotient Student Forum

This is a half-day forum targeted at pre-university and tertiary students who are interested in China affairs. An initiative of Business China, the Forum aims to motivate them in upkeeping their proficiency in the Chinese language, deepening their understanding of Chinese culture, and keeping pace with contemporary developments in China.

The Forum for 500 participants or more will feature outstanding speakers from areas such as technology, lifestyle, popular culture, volunteerism and social entrepreneurship, which interest the youths. Through these student forums, Business China hopes to encourage as well as better prepare our youths to engage China, whether at work or play.

About Raffles Institution

Founded in June 1823 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Raffles Institution (RI) is the oldest school in Singapore, and also one of the most progressive, welcoming girls and offering pre-university classes as early as 1844 and 1886, respectively.

In 1984, RI became one of the first schools selected by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) to offer a school-based Gifted Education Programme. RI was first awarded the School Excellence Award in 2004, the highest award in MOE’s Masterplan of Awards.

For more information, visit www.ri.edu.sg.