School of Engineering
The School
The largest academic school in Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), the School of Engineering offers a wide variety of courses, together with an Engineering Common Programme, under the following eight clusters:
• Aerospace
• Biomedical
• Design, Media & Infocomm
• Electrical & Electronics
• Environment & Energy
• Logistics
• Marine, Offshore & Mechanical
• Property
The engineering diplomas are infused with multidisciplinary elements to develop well-rounded professionals who are valued for their analytical and problem-solving skills and well-sought after by both the universities and industry.
The Courses
The School of Engineering offers a total of 18 full-time diplomas which are grouped into the eight clusters as shown below:
Aerospace
• Diploma in Aerospace Electronics (AE)
• Diploma in Aerospace Technology (AT)
Biomedical
• Diploma in Biomedical Engineering (BME)
Design, Media & Infocomm
• Diploma in Audio-visual Technology (AVT)
• Diploma in Network Systems & Security (NSS)
• Diploma in Product Design & Innovation (PDI)
Electrical & Electronics
• Diploma in Electrical Engineering (EE)
• Diploma in Electronic & Computer Engineering (ECE)
Environment & Energy
• Diploma in Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE)
• Diploma in Clean Energy Management (CEM) (Available from Academic Year (AY) 2009/2010)
• Diploma in Environmental & Water Technology (EWT)
Logistics
• Diploma in International Supply Chain Management (ISCM)
• Diploma in Logistics Management (LMGT)
Marine, Offshore & Mechanical
• Diploma in Marine & Offshore Technology (MOT)
• Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (ME)
• Diploma in Mechatronic Engineering (MTE)
Property
• Diploma in Leisure & Business Facilities Management (LBFM)
• Diploma in Real Estate Business (REB)
Engineering Common Programme
In view of the multitude of engineering courses offered, Ngee Ann Polytechnic has gone the extra mile to ensure that its students end up with the diplomas that best suit their individual interests and aspirations.
This is accomplished through an Engineering Common Programme (ECP) which was introduced by the polytechnic in 2005 to give engineering students who need more time to decide on their desired discipline of specialisation the flexibility of making their choices only at the end of the first semester in Year 1.
There are nine courses affiliated with the ECP. They are:
• Diploma in Aerospace Electronics (AE)
• Diploma in Aerospace Technology (AT)
• Diploma in Audio-visual Technology (AVT)
• Diploma in Biomedical Engineering (BME)
• Diploma in Electrical Engineering (EE)
• Diploma in Electronic & Computer Engineering (ECE)
• Diploma in Marine & Offshore Technology (MOT)
• Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (ME)
• Diploma in Mechatronic Engineering (MTE)
All first-year students taking the nine engineering courses above, including those who opt for the ECP, share a common curriculum in the first semester. However, ECP students have the added advantage of being able to choose the courses that they wish to continue with at the end of their first semester in Year 1.
Elective modules and Diploma Plus programme
Since 2008, the School of Engineering has adopted a new course structure and curricula to provide greater flexibility and breadth to suit students’ learning abilities and interests, strengthen their foundational knowledge, and further assist those who wish to further their studies or join the industry.
Under the new course structure, engineering students can select elective modules from a wide range of engineering and non-engineering elective clusters. Students have to select two elective modules from any of the elective clusters to complete their diplomas.
All engineering students can also obtain a Diploma Plus certificate when they complete a total of four elective modules with three from the same elective cluster. The Diploma Plus programme was introduced by the polytechnic in 2006 to hone students’ skills, better prepare them for a university education, and increase their employability.
Here is a list of the engineering and non-engineering elective clusters from which students can choose their elective modules:
Engineering clusters
• Advanced Engineering Mathematics
• Aerospace Design
• Aerospace Electronics
• Applied Physics
• Applied Technology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Computer & Communication Systems
• Computing Methodology
• Decision Management for Quality
• Electrical Control & Measurement
• Industrial Control
• Industrial Electronics
• Information Technology
• International Freight Forwarding & e-Logistics
• Mechanical Technology
• Microelectronics
• Network Systems & Security
• Stage Management & Technology
• Telecommunication Distribution Technology
• Workplace Safety & Health
Non-engineering clusters
• Economics & Financial Applications
• Green Development
• Leisure & Retail Management
Engineering students can also pursue Diploma Plus certificates in Business, Innovation & Enterprise, and Foreign Languages, which are offered by other academic schools in Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
Training innovative engineers
A key aspect of the training is the option for final-year engineering students to participate in a six-month internship or an in-house Project Design & Development (PDD) programme.
Students therefore get a valuable opportunity to apply their skills in solving real-world problems, and engage in innovative research and development activities under the expert guidance of experienced lecturers and practising professionals.
For instance, three Mechanical Engineering students collaborated with physiotherapists from the Singapore General Hospital to come up with an innovative mobility aids system to tackle the problem of “freezing” in Parkinson’s disease patients. This project won the Gold Award at the International Convention on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Student Design Challenge 2008 in Bangkok. The project was also awarded the Gold Award by the Institution of Engineers Singapore in 2008 in a polytechnic-wide competition on designing devices for the elderly and disabled.
To support learning, the School of Engineering is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. The polytechnic also boasts several technology centres and laboratories such as:
• An Alpha Centre for the development of autonomous robots.
• An Automation and Integrated Systems Centre for the development and integration of automated and robotic controlled systems.
• A Biomedical Engineering Centre that carries out applied R&D in the areas of biomedical devices and bioinformatics.
• A Design and Rapid Prototyping Centre that serves as a one-stop centre for the major activities in product design and development: from conceptualization of creative product ideas to the development of detailed design, and making and testing of working prototypes.
• A Digital Signal Processing Centre that supports developments in digital audio and video broadcasting technology.
• A Biomechanics & Rehabilitation Engineering Centre that focuses on the development of biomechanical devices for rehabilitation and improved ergonomic design.
• A Solar Technology Centre for manpower training and development, as well as research and development in solar energy and related technology areas.
Collaborations
The School of Engineering has forged numerous collaborations with various partners, including educational institutions in Singapore (National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University), the UK, Japan, Australia, China and India; industry players such as SIA Engineering, Eurocopter SEA, Creative Technology, Cisco Systems and IBM; and government agencies such as the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and National Parks Board (NParks).
These partnerships provide opportunities for engineering staff and students to engage in joint research and consultancy projects, skills and technology transfer, training, and internships.
Here are some examples of the School of Engineering’s technical collaborations:
• Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP)- AEM-Evertech Holdings Ltd (AEM) Centre of Innovation
This centre links the technical capabilities of NP with the industrial and production expertise and resources of AEM and its customers and suppliers, to develop breakthrough technologies in photonics, imaging systems and microcircuit design and packaging.
• Centre of Innovation in Environment and Water Technology
Jointly established by Ngee Ann Polytechnic and SPRING Singapore, this centre provides R&D expertise and resources to local enterprises to develop commercially viable environment and water solutions to move up the technology value chain. Focus areas include Water & Wastewater, Waste Management, Pollution Control and Clean Energy.
• Centre of Innovation in Marine and Offshore Technology
Also jointly established by Ngee Ann Polytechnic and SPRING Singapore, this centre provides technology support to local enterprises in their R&D journey to develop innovative products and processes for commercialisation. Focus areas include Offshore Construction & Processing Equipment, Inspection & Testing, Design & Analysis and Product & Process Improvement.
• Solar Technology Centre
The School of Engineering has also collaborated with the Economic Development Board (EDB) to set up a Solar Technology Centre under the EDB’s Clean Energy Research and Testbedding programme. The centre will be used as a platform by staff, students and industry partners to carry out manpower training and development, as well as apply research and development in solar energy and related technology areas.
• Commercialisation of solar technology-related products
Six solar technology related products developed by Ngee Ann Polytechnic have attracted interest from Comlec Technologies Pte Ltd. The company, together with NP Enterprise (S) Pte Ltd, has formed a new spin-off company called Greenova Technologies Pte Ltd to commercialise and market these products in 2008. NP Enterprise (S) Pte Ltd is a commercial entity set up by NP to assist the polytechnic’s staff in commercialising their inventions and products.
• Digital Holographic Microscopy System
Staff from the School of Engineering collaborated with AEM-Evertech Holdings Ltd to develop and launch a Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM) System. This system can be used for real-time imaging and measurement. Unlike conventional optical microscopes which can only perform two-dimensional (2D) imaging and measurements (i.e. length and breadth), the DHM system is capable of performing three-dimensional (3D) imaging and measurements (i.e. length, breadth and depth). The system can be used in both bio- and life science applications (e.g. observing the 3D morphology of cells) as well in industrial applications that require the measurement and characterization of microscope and nanoscopic structures.
Last updated: December 2008