Education & Career Guidance through Partnerships

Introduction of Partnership Programmes to support Education and Career Guidance (ECG)

Education and career guidance through partnerships is a core experience that students go through, aimed at providing our students with exposure to potential career paths and real-world experience. Over the years, we have partnered with companies from different industries on learning journeys and work attachment programmes. Through these opportunities, students have a clearer understanding of how their knowledge and skills are applied in the job setting and make informed career choices which are aligned with their strengths and interests.

At the same time, we believe in the importance of community partnerships to foster stronger connections and personal growth. These initiatives are designed for students to work with diverse groups of people and examine real-world challenges. Through these experiences, students develop a deeper understanding of social issues and cultivate a sense of empathy and responsibility, empowering them to contribute meaningfully to society.

Key Learning Experiences: Examples of Learning Journeys and Work Attachment

1. Quest for an Environmentally Sustainable World - Work Attachment and Learning Journey to The Polyolefin Company

The Polyolefin Company, which focuses on manufacturing and sales of Low Density Polyethlyene (LDPE) and Polypropylene (PP)¹, offers Queenstownians a glimpse into the petrochemical world where the chemistry knowledge they acquired in the classroom magically comes to live.

Leveraging on our partnership with TPC, Queenstownians have, for over 12 years, been blessed with the opportunity of travelling into a land where few are able to step foot on – Jurong Island, which is the main reason why Singapore is the top oil exporting country in the world despite not having any oil reserves of our own.

Following a 3-hour learning journey where they are able to gather a broad overview of the innovations and operations at TPC, a few Queenstownians, passionate about making a difference with their science mastery, furthered their experience and learning by going through a full-day work attachment. During the work attachment, they interacted with the engineers at TPC, gaining invaluable insights into the rigour and satisfaction derived from the role of creating products used widely.

¹ https://www.tpc.com.sg/2.12_OurBusiness.html ↗ (opens in new tab)

2. Quest for an Informed World – Learning Journey to Aeroviation Pte Ltd

With keen interest to bring people and culture across the world together through aviation, an afternoon to Aeroviation was what it took to give 13 aspiring Queenstownians their first taste of the dynamic world of aviation.  

Under the guidance of Captain Jaffar Hassan, a Queenstown alumni with 36 years of experience in the aviation industry, they gained valuable insights about the different roles behind the scene that allows for travellers to depart from and land safely at their desired destinations. From the commanding presence of pilots to the strategic minds in Air Traffic Control, from meticulous Flight Planning to precise Ground Control operations, the participants were immersed in the fascinating ecosystem that powers modern aviation.

As the learning journey ended, one message resonated clearly: in aviation, what matters it not the flying, but the connection and bonds that are built because of it.

3. Quest for a Safe and Sustainable World – Learning Journey to voco Orchard Singapore by IHG

Being the one of the largest hotel groups in the world, IHG operates in more than 100 countries across 19 brands such as Intercontinental, Holiday Inn, and voco being a few of them. Their dedication to providing unforgettable experiences to their guests while incorporating sustainable development places them in a good position to allow our Queenstownians to gather firsthand information about the thought processes and beliefs necessary to remain at the forefront of the highly competitive hospitality industry.

During the learning journey, Queenstownians understood the importance of understanding the needs of the different guest profiles as they were brought through how IHG address these diverse needs via the different brands under them. They were then treated to a tour around the hotel, both front of house and back of the house to better appreciate the different departments that come together to create a welcoming and safe experience for the hotel guests. Candid questioning with the hotel staff and interns of the hotel wrapped up this learning journey as Queenstownians better appreciate the challenges and motivations behind the smiles and friendly dispositions that greet every hotel guest that arrives.

4. Quest for a Healthy world – Learning Journey to Equip Medical Pte Ltd

As one of South-East Asia’s most prominent medical and baby care distribution companies, the learning journey to Equip Medical Pte Ltd allowed Queenstownians to gather firsthand information about the workings behind the distribution of medical products and equipment. During the learning journey, they even had the opportunity of interacting with Mr Jimmy Tay, Group CEO of Equip Medical Group of Companies, who is also an alumni of Queenstown Secondary School, hearing for themselves how the company navigated through the challenges and respond effectively to the rapidly changing demands in the technological landscape to remain relevant to the needs of a healthy world.

5. Quest for an Inclusive and Environmentally Sustainable World – Work Attachment and Learning Journey to IKEA

Partnering with IKEA, a world-renowned furniture brand that champions for both social and economic sustainability through providing affordable and practical furniture that are innovatively designed to reduce material usage and wastage, has allowed Queenstownians to see the theories they learnt in the classroom being applied in an authentic setting.

Appealing to Queenstownians with a keen interest in design and innovation, this learning journey opened the eyes of selected Sec 3 Design & Technology students as they had the precious opportunity to interact with the IKEA designers and learnt about a product’s life journey, from design to testing and manufacturing, and eventually retail. These valuable experiences enabled our students to appreciate how the design thinking process that they have learnt in the classroom is practiced in the actual design and manufacturing industry; resulting in IKEA addressing the diverse needs of their consumers, ranging from age to affordability and lifestyle preferences.

Key Learning Experiences: Career Mentoring

We kicked off our first Career Mentoring @ QUEST session at the newly-renovated library! It was inspiring to see senior alumni spanning from the 1970s to 2000s return to share their stories and career advice with the junior alumni.
 
The panel and group mentoring sessions sparked meaningful discussions about navigating the evolving career landscape and cultivating timeless competencies. But the session wasn’t just about learning — it was also about building connections and bridging generations to strengthen our QUEST community.
 
We’re excited to build on this foundation and look forward to more sessions in the future!

Key Learning Experiences: Examples of Community Projects

1. Quest for an Inclusive World – MINDS Lee Kong Chian Gardens Schools

Heading into the 12^th year of our partnership, Queenstown Secondary School is glad to have journeyed alongside MINDS Lee Kong Chian Gardens Schools as we continue to promote inclusivity, raise general awareness of special educational needs, as well as the appreciation of the strengths and abilities of people with high special educational needs.

Building on our longest running collaboration – Recess Buddy Programme  – Queenstownians better understand people with high special educational needs while contributing to their growth towards independence. Queenstownians also train and play with students from MINDS LGS as they team up to take part in sports competitions, therein strengthening not only the self-confidence of our friends from MINDS LGS, but also their friendship.

Students from MINDS LGS also give back to the community as they take part in our annual communal lunch, where they perform for and serve the senior citizens alongside our Queenstownians.

As our partnership matures, Queenstownians continue to grow in their empathy and realisation of people with high special educational needs, appreciating that they also have their strengths and ways to contribute to the community. Together, Queenstownians and students from MINDS LGS strive to play our part in moulding a more socially sustainable world.

2. Quest for an Inclusive World – NUS Residential College 4 (NUS RC4)

Queenstownians believe that there is a unique strength in everyone, regardless of who they are. We are glad to collaborate with NUS RC4 on a journey that aims to promote inter-generational bonding as well as active ageing. Through this collaboration, selected Queenstownians interact with youths from NUS RC4, as well as senior citizens, to explore the reasons behind seemingly weak intergenerational bonds over multiple sessions of discussions and activities.

As the participants came together and created programmes and activities that would promote inclusiveness and active ageing among Senior citizens within the larger community, everyone learnt something new from this experience, with senior citizens believing that they still have much to give, and the youths gaining deeper empathy and appreciation of the seniors in our community. All these were accomplished amidst lots of fun and laughter.

More information can be found here: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/playing-mahjong-and-kahoot-nus-students-tackle-ageism-creatively-to-promote-bonding-with-seniors ↗ (opens in new tab)