His winning mindset

Competitions such as uSPRINT excite Mr Seah Jia Cheng.

The 21-year-old, who is pursuing his diploma in management studies at the Singapore Institute of Management Global Education (SIM GE), was encouraged by the institute to take part in the external competition for greater industry exposure and to develop his soft skills.

The inter-polytechnic investment and trading competition organised by UOB Kay Hian promotes financial literacy in young people.

This opportunity gave him access to a virtual platform to execute investment strategies, apply market theories and experience equities trading using live market prices quoted on the Singapore Exchange.

“I gained vast insights into the finance sector that I can build my future career on,” he says.

Getting ahead

Even as a teenager, Mr Seah was determined to get ahead — and motivate others to do the same.

He used to challenge his friends to see who could score better grades. These days, helping a pal, either through coaching or persuading him to sign up for a course, makes him happy.

Enrolling in SIM GE, too, was a natural decision.

He says: “I felt that, as a Normal Academic student, I had already spent an additional year obtaining my O levels, compared to some of my peers. Pursuing a diploma at SIM GE would help me progress faster to getting my bachelor’s degree.”

The programme at SIM GE enables him to complete his diploma in just 15 months, instead of the three years it would take if he opted for the route offered by local polytechnics. This means Mr Seah will graduate in June this year.

He began his studies at SIM GE in April 2018 after completing his O levels at Queenstown Secondary School.

“Furthermore, SIM GE’s partner universities from different countries offer a suite of programmes that I can pursue for my undergraduate studies,” he adds.

If he chooses to pursue a business degree at SIM GE with its partner universities after his diploma studies, Mr Seah could potentially be fast-tracked to the second year of a degree programme.

Enriching environment

His first group project, though challenging, was made easier with the support of the SIM Student Learning Centre staff and peer leaders who helped him pick up skills, such as Microsoft Office.

But Mr Seah’s thirst for knowledge is not just limited to the classroom.

Eager to gain industry knowhow, he seeks out the various perspectives of his lecturers, many of whom also teach in the local universities and polytechnics.

He says: “My lecturers are always willing to help as long as you show that you want to learn. More importantly, I get to hear what they think of the work industry and how one can progress to higher positions.”

SIM GE also has close to 80 student clubs for a well-balanced, vibrant school life. Mr Seah is an active member of two — dance club DreamWerkz and Toastmasters, which will hone his public-speaking skills.

He would recommend SIM GE to others without a second’s hesitation: “Studying in a leading private education institution gives me greater exposure to international students, which allows me to learn more about different cultures. We also discover exciting career opportunities whenever companies participate in the Career Fair organised by SIM GE.

“To my knowledge, many SIM GE graduates find jobs within six months of graduation and the employability rate is healthy.”