Singapore Polytechnic's Students Take Flight with Pratt & Whitney

SINGAPORE, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SINGAPORE AIR SHOW -- Singapore Polytechnic (SP) and Pratt & Whitney signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today. Under the MOU, SP's students will have the opportunity to embark on their Overseas Industrial Training Programme (OITP) at Pratt & Whitney's Customer Training Center in Beijing, China.  Pratt & Whitney is a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

Over a six-week period, SP's students will gain relevant exposure and training in aviation at Pratt & Whitney. They will receive the same training, both instructional and practical, as aircraft maintenance engineers under this program.

"We are very proud that Pratt & Whitney's China Customer Training will provide this training to Singapore Polytechnic students," said Jim Guiliano, vice president, Pratt & Whitney Global Customer Services.  "The program offers these students an outstanding opportunity to learn about the aviation industry from a well-respected OEMRO® company."

Pratt & Whitney's Customer Training Center in Beijing is a joint venture company partnered with China Aviation Supply Holding Company.  Opened in 2002 and serving more than 400 students annually, this training center offers a wide range of aerospace courses and hands-on training opportunities for aviation professionals in the Asia-Pacific region.

"SP's students will benefit greatly from the opportunities to learn from an industry leader like Pratt & Whitney," said Tan Hang Cheong, principal, Singapore Polytechnic. "This newly forged relationship is a commitment to ensuring that our students are given the most relevant exposure and are thoroughly prepared for work in the aviation industry."

SP already has a group of 30 students who underwent training with Pratt & Whitney in Beijing in September 2009.  Due to the positive experiences from both the students and from Pratt & Whitney, the number has been increased to 39 for the current program.

SP has also recently launched the Common Engineering Programme (CEP) for the academic year 2010/2011. Under the CEP, students will experience basic multi-disciplinary engineering and will be exposed to mechanical equipment, biomedical instruments, electrical circuitry and gadgets. The students undertake mini-projects and assignments to help them realise where their passion in engineering lies.

To further encourage more bright young minds to pursue engineering diploma courses, SP recently launched the SP Engineering Scholarship. Besides having their studies completely covered, scholars qualify for a textbook subsidy, undergo leadership courses and have the opportunity of being involved in R&D work and attachments locally or overseas, which includes Pratt & Whitney Customer Training Center in Beijing. Scholars will also be sent for engineering conferences to keep abreast of developments in related fields.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines.  United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.

About Singapore Polytechnic (www.sp.edu.sg)

Established in 1954 to meet the manpower needs identified by the government, Singapore Polytechnic (SP) is Singapore's first educational institution of its kind. Its nine academic schools offer 49 full-time diploma courses for its 15,500 students and courses are kept relevant through close links with industry and government bodies, as well as with various overseas institutions.  

SP offers broad-based, multi-disciplinary and flexible curriculum dedicated to hands-on experience and is committed to the development of its applied research and development capability to enhance the quality of teaching and commercialisation efforts. Beyond the classroom, close to 90 student clubs covering areas like arts, culture, sports and community service make student life vibrant and fulfilling. The presence of foreign students from countries such as China, India and Indonesia also provides a variety of cultures and perspectives, nurturing a global mindset in Singapore Polytechnic students.

Among SP's 149,000 graduates are successful entrepreneurs, top executives in multinational and public-listed corporations, and well-known professionals, many of whom are captains of industries, university professors and researchers, and leaders in government.

SOURCE Pratt & Whitney