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It does not matter that they are not from a business school. By applying their Problem-based Learning (PBL) skills, these Republic Polytechnic (RP) students surpass their peers as first runner-up at the recent Singapore HR Challenge 2010.
Perhaps it is exactly the diversity, which gives these students the edge against competitors. With courses as diverse as information technology, engineering, as well as technology for the arts, it is actually apt that these five students ace a competition themed Managing Diversity: Bridging Communication Gaps.
Clockwise from left: Dinesh Ravichandran, Tan Chun How, Rawwinton Tan, and Samuel Lee. (Not in pitcure: Estelle Lim)
In the finals, these year one and year two RP students, Rawwinton Tan, Tan Chun How, Samuel Lee, Estelle Lim, and Dinesh Ravichandran, came face to face against two other polytechnic teams – both of which consisted of final year students specialising in Human Resource (HR).
Nevertheless, says Rawwinton, not having relevant credentials is not a handicap. “I believe it was quite possible for us to win the first runner-up placing. We are trained daily with the Problem-based Learning (PBL) approach and in making presentations, and we can search online and research on the theories and methods that we lack.”
RP’s daily classroom presentations also give the students an advantage as they are unfazed by having to present their analysis and solutions, and to field questions from judges. With this combination of skills, the team cruised away in second place.
According to Mr Tan Huan Peow, Director of RP’s Centre for Innovation and Enterprise (CIE), “This Singapore HR Challenge 2010 competition organised by the Singapore Human Resource Institute (SHRI) provides an opportunity to enhance and add value to our students’ development and help showcase their potential to employers.”
With 63 teams from various institutions including 10 polytechnic teams, the second placement is especially sweet to these students.
“The Q&A was particularly challenging,” recalls Dinesh. “We took hours of preparation and our experience with PBL allowed us to answer questions confidently. Moreover, with different students from other faculties in the team coordination was difficult. We would work every evening.”
Chun How adds, “The teamwork, research and great networking opportunities made the experience worthwhile because it has shown us what to expect in the working world. There is so much more to HR that we’ve learnt now.”
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