Record 50m passengers pass Changi Airport gates this year

By Nisha Ramchandani
The Business Times

SINGAPORE - Changi Airport has crossed the 50 million passenger milestone this year, just two years after hitting the 40 million mark, as low-cost carriers and intra-Asia travel continue to boost passenger numbers.

From January to November, Changi Airport handled 46.3 million passengers, on a par with the 46.5 million passengers for the whole of 2011, thanks partly to strong double-digit growth in travel to and from North-east Asia and South Asia, airport operator Changi Airport Group (CAG) said last Friday.

Typically strong markets, such as South-east Asia, the South-west Pacific and Europe, continued to register growth, even as numbers for the full year are being tallied.

"Despite a sluggish global economy and an uncertain outlook for air travel, Changi Airport has risen against the challenges to deliver another record-breaking year in 2012. CAG will continue to invest in infrastructure to ensure that we keep pace with future growth and that we continually provide passengers with a first-class Changi experience," said CAG's chief executive officer, Lee Seow Hiang.

Said Nicodemus Lampe, vice-president (Asia) of Garuda Indonesia: "Singapore is an important market for Garuda Indonesia and also the largest international destination in our global network. Today, we operate more than 130 weekly flights to and from Changi to Jakarta, Bali, Balikpapan and Makassar, with more destinations to follow in 2013."

Indonesia is Changi's top market.

Its 6.2 million passengers between January and November, up 8.6 per cent year-on-year, accounted for 13.4 per cent of total traffic handled at the airport.

Nearly 60 per cent of the 6.2 million passenger movements were on the Jakarta-Singapore route.

Changi is expanding to cater to the rising number of travellers walking through its gates, with the Budget Terminal being revamped to reopen as Terminal 4 in 2017, raising Changi's passenger-handling capacity to 85 million passengers per year.

Given projections of flight traffic growth, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is working to raise the airport's aircraft handling capacity from the 302,000 take-offs and landings it recorded last year.

Measures to improve air-traffic management and increase runway availability are being put in place, as are collaborative projects with industry players, which could raise capacity by 40 per cent to 430,000 aircraft movements in coming years.

To ease traffic congestion, the possibility of a third runway is being studied by the multi-agency Changi 2036 Steering Committee.

To celebrate hitting the 50 million threshold this month, CAG last Friday held an event together with Garuda to welcome flight GA824 from Jakarta to Singapore, the second-busiest international air route in the world.

The flight touched down at 10.18am last Friday to a water-canon salute, and the 160 passengers onboard were given a special gift pack, which included shopping vouchers and a commemorative certificate.

Singapore ushers in 2013 with fireworks display at Marina Bay

By Vimita Mohandas | Posted: 01 January 2013

SINGAPORE: It was a celebration full of song, dance and a magnificent display of fireworks as Singapore ushered in 2013 at the Marina Bay countdown.

Spectators thronged the Marina Bay area to soak up the celebrations as the nation counted down to the New Year!

And with a slew of performances... there was something for everyone.

Whether it was grooving to the beats of regional acts like Korean Hip Hop group M.I.B.... or homegrown talents like Taufik Batisah and John Klass and his band The Professionals.

One of the highlights of the night was from award winning musical group Jersey Boys.

Grant Almirall, Cast of Jersey Boys, said: "It's an amazing opportunity to perform for Singapore. It's raining at the moment but it's a rain or shine event so we still will be performing anyway. Hopefully, the crowd will be cheered up and ready for us. So yeah, it's going to be awesome."

Right after that, spectators were treated to an eight-minute fireworks display at the stroke of midnight.

www.edusingapore.sg
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Study in Singapore @ Polytechnic

ABOUT POLYTECHNIC EDUCATION IN SINGAPORE ?

Polytechnic offer a variety of courses in different fields. They play an important part in preparing young Singaporeans and International students for satisfying careers.  Unlike school type classes and examinations that you have been familiar with, the Polytechnics offer the atmosphere, challenge and excitement of life in a tertiary institution. The courses offered are market-driven and career-oriented, leading students to fulfilling and rewarding careers as well as preparing them for further education.

Education

One of the distinguishing features of polytechnic education is the strong emphasis on practice-based learning. Work attachment is included as part of the practical curriculum and this can vary from the usual 6 - 8 weeks to 6 months in certain courses. This enables students to gain on-the-job experience. The education provided is directly relevant to the students' future careers. Polytechnic graduates therefore find it easy to get a job.

A polytechnic education also opens doors to a professional career and other avenues for career advancement. Polytechnic graduates are able to gain recognition by professional bodies.

The Polytechnics are staffed by qualified lecturers with a number of years of working experience drawn from the education field as well as the private sector. They bring with them a wealth of teaching and industry experience. They are professionals who know what students need to know, and whose contact with industry makes sure the students get the best possible education. Their knowledge is constantly upgraded through industrial and workplace attachment or postgraduate courses.

In addition to academic knowledge, the Polytechnics also emphasize the acquisition of certain important life skills. These are the key skills of communication and presentation as well as problem-solving skills. These are intended to develop the students' confidence and critical faculties which are necessary if they are to be effective participants in society.  Students will also learn to develop original and creative thinking and to behave as responsible young adults.

Facilities         

The facilities of the Polytechnics are excellent - providing an environment to help students excel. The Polytechnics have some of the most extensive libraries in Singapore, including a wide selection of books, magazines, video and CDs. The high-tech support is outstanding, in many cases among the best, not just in Singapore but also in the world. They provide the latest computer and technical equipment, and their qualified lecturers employ modern teaching methods.

Yet at the Polytechnics, it is not just all work and no play! Sports facilities include indoor sports halls, swimming pools, running tracks with football pitches and spectator stands, fitness gymnasia as well as courts for tennis, squash, badminton, basketball and sepaktakraw. These are available to enable students to lead a healthy and well-rounded campus life.  In addition, the Polytechnics provide for the intellectual and physical development of their students. There are many clubs and societies catering to a variety of interests. Through participation in these social and recreational activities, students will be able to develop their potential in leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

For more details about course and admission kindly contact us at admin@edusingapore.sg

Website: www.edusingapore.sg

Singapore’s Education Ranks Ahead of UK, Australia, Canada & USA

According to BBC UK news, Singapore education is ranked Top 5th in global league table. The first and second places are taken by Finland and South Korea.

The rankings combine international test results and data such as graduation rates between 2006 and 2010.

Sir Michael Barber, Pearson's chief education adviser, says successful countries give teachers a high status and have a "culture" of education.

The weightings for the rankings h

ave been produced for Pearson by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Global competition
The two education superpowers - Finland and South Korea - are followed by three other high-performing Asian education systems - Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore.

Looking at education systems that succeed, the study concludes that spending is important, but not as much as having a culture that is supportive of learning. It says that spending is easier to measure, but the more complex impact of a society's attitude to education can make a big difference.

The success of Asian countries in these rankings reflects the high value attached to education and the expectations of parents.

The UK was found to have the second best education system in Europe, ahead of countries such as Switzerland, Denmark and Germany which were ranked 9th, 12th and 15th respectively.

The research is designed to help policymakers, school leaders and academics identify the key factors which drive improved educational outcomes.

For educational attainment, based on literacy and graduation rates from schools and colleges, the UK is second only to South Korea, while Finland, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan were ranked highly in the cognitive ability category based on international tests.

While investing in education "undoubtedly reaps rewards", the report - called the Learning Curve - suggested that a culture of support for education is probably more important. It also added that there was no substitute for high quality teaching. "The best performing countries attract top talent, train teachers throughout their careers and allow them freedom too" the report stated.


Learning Curve top 20 countries for education:
1. Finland
2. South Korea,
3. Hong Kong,
4. Japan,
5. Singapore,
6. UK,
7. Netherlands,
8. New Zealand,
9. Switzerland,
10. Canada,
11. Ireland,
12. Denmark,
13. Australia,
14. Poland,
15. Germany,
16. Belgium,
17. USA,
18. Hungary,
19. Slovakia,
20. Russia

Source: FamilyGP news - Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Singapore is rich expats' top place to live and work: Survey

By Aaron Low
The Straits Times
Thursday, Oct 11, 2012

SINGAPORE - Singapore has emerged as the top place for wealthy expatriates to live and work in, a new survey by HSBC Bank has shown.

Expats in the survey ranked Singapore first out of 30 countries based on economic factors such as earning power, disposable income and ability to accumulate luxuries.

Thailand was in the second spot, followed by Cayman Islands in third place.

About 44 per cent of respondents said they saw a 50 per cent or more increase in their disposable income after they relocated to Singapore, the report said.

The report, which surveyed more than 5,000 expats in 100 countries, also said that 54 per cent of expats here earned more than US$200,000 (S$246,000) a year.

They also ranked Singapore highly for its quality of life, placing the Republic fourth overall, especially for its safe environment in which to bring up children.

Singapore was ranked second in Asia, after Thailand, for quality of life. About 76 per cent of expats in the Republic say they are experiencing a better quality of life after relocating here.

Mr Paul Arrowsmith, head of retail banking and wealth management at HSBC Singapore, said the report showed that Singapore "is fast becoming an all-round expat destination for career progression, financial rewards and quality of life".

But the report also flagged the worrying trend of expats not integrating well in Singapore.

Just 19 per cent here strongly agree that they have integrated well into the local community, while 41 per cent strongly agree that they tend to socialise with other expats rather than locals.

Human resource analysts said the survey did not seem to be fully representative of the expat population here.

They noted that the sample size of expats for the survey here was just 54.

And Mr Phil Stanley, Mercer's Asia-Pacific global mobility centre of excellence leader, said that of the respondents, 46 per cent were from the banking industry.

"The other reason could simply be due to the profile of the individuals targeted to participate in this survey, who may be those at higher income levels," he said.

Why Study in Singapore ?

Why Study in Singapore ?

  Singapore is one among the top ten educational destinations in the world. The country seems to be a preferred place for Indian students owing to the following reasons:

Globally Recognized Qualifications

Singapore offers a progressive education system with state-of-the-art facilities. Students aspiring to study in Singapore receive degrees that are internationally recognized. There are wide range of study opportunities, including state administered primary, secondary schools, universities,polytechnics and private institutions.

A Cheaper Destination vis-à-vis Other Countries

The best thing about studying in Singapore is its proximity with India which reduces the expenses to as low as 60% less than as compared to major destinations like USA, UK, Canada or Australia.

English Extensively Spoken

Students do not find any difficulty communicating as English is the main language of business & administration & is widely spoken & understood in Singapore.

Clean, Green and Safe CountryGenerous pockets of lush gardens and tropical greenery co-exist with an urban landscape. There are strict rules on littering in Singapore, so students rarely see rubbish on the streets or graffiti on walls. It is apparent how Singapore earned its reputation as the Garden City. While the smaller islands around serve as excellent playgrounds for sea sports, Singapore, being only a few hours away from other countries in Asia, becomes ideal for both students and travelers alike in this region. A variety of Spas, shopping malls, carnivals and the presence of world's highest observation wheel all make student-life in Singapore exciting as well as enjoyable.Multicultural SocietySingapore's multicultural society is composed of four major ethnic groups: the Chinese, Malays, Indians and smaller minority groups.  The variety of religions is a direct reflection of the diversity of races living here. Singapore's principal religions are Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity.

Platform for Many Intentional Educational Institutions

Singapore has always been successful in attracting top global talent; this is evident from the fact that it compromises of a population where one out of four persons is a foreigner. Leading universities across the world have set up international campuses in Singapore, offering international degrees at almost half of the overseas tuition fee.A Leading Global Business Hub

More than 6,000 companies from around the worldhave set up base in Singapore, thus students often find it possible to build lucrative careers here after completing their education. Singapore has been consistently ranked as one of the most competitive business destinations for business in the world.

“World Leading” Education System

Singapore's education system has been described as "world-leading" and in 2010 was among those picked out for praised by the British education minister Michael Gove.

Lauded For Education in Mathematics and Science

Singapore has emerged first in both Mathematics and Science in a 49-country study of Grade 4 (Primary 4) and Grade 8 (Secondary 2) students conducted in 2002-03. The study, conducted by the International Association for Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) based in Boston, USA, affirms the high quality of Mathematics and Science education in our public schools in Singapore.

Student Exchange Programmes

About 120 of the 353 primary and secondary schools in Singapore have some form of exchange programmes which allow students to visit overseas schools. In 2005, the Ministry of Education set up a SGD 4.5 million School Twinning Fund to facilitate 9,000 primary and secondary school students to participate in these exchange programmes, particularly in ASEAN countries, China and India.

For more details contact at admin@edusingapore.sg