Uncategorized – 51 Blog /blog Where Lifelong Learning Begins Tue, 03 Oct 2023 08:05:59 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.7.2 /blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FAVICON-Coat-of-Arms.png Uncategorized – 51 Blog /blog 32 32 Online MBA vs Regular MBA: Which Is the Right Choice for You? /blog/online-mba-vs-regular-mba-which-is-the-right-choice-for-you/ Thu, 27 Apr 2023 08:08:42 +0000 /blog/?p=4096 2 Students are studying in the Library.

In today’s highly competitive job market, advanced degrees such as an Online MBA vs a Regular MBA have become increasingly important for career advancement and success. Among the most sought-after degrees in the business world is the Master of Business Administration (MBA), which provides students with broad skills and knowledge in finance, marketing, management, and leadership. 

Traditionally, earning an MBA required attending classes at a prestigious business school on campus, where students would engage in immersive learning experiences, network with industry leaders, and form lasting connections with peers. However, in recent years, the rise of online learning has disrupted the traditional model of higher education, offering students a flexible and convenient way to earn an MBA from anywhere in the world. 

Online MBA programmes have gained popularity among working professionals who want to enhance their skills and knowledge without taking a break from their careers. 

However, the question remains: is an online MBA as valuable as a regular, on-campus MBA? In this blog, we’ll explore the difference between online MBA and regular MBA programmes and assist you in deciding which one is the right fit for your career goals and lifestyle. 

Major Difference between Online MBA and Regular MBA 

When pursuing an MBA, students have two options: an online MBA and a regular MBA. The differentiating factor between them is the mode of delivery.

Traditional MBA programmes typically have full-time classes conducted on campus. In contrast, online MBA programmes offer more flexibility, allowing students to complete their coursework and assessment remotely. 

Another significant difference between online MBA vs regular MBA programmes is the level of interaction with lecturers and peers. 

Regular MBA programmes offer face-to-face interaction with professors and classmates, providing a more immersive learning experience. In contrast, online MBA programmes rely heavily on communicating through video conferencing, online forums, and school email to pursue the course curriculum. Additionally, the structure and pace of the programs may differ based on your chosen educational partner. For example, regular MBA programmes usually follow a strict curriculum plan with a set schedule of classes and assignments. In contrast, online classes allow students to plan around their schedules to study. 

Online MBA: Best for Working Professionals 

We’ve covered the main difference between online and regular MBAs. Now we’ll explain why earning your MBA online might be better if you are a working professional. 

Flexibility 

Suppose you are currently working and you are looking for a promotion. In this case, the online MBA programme is a great option. The best business schools that provide top MBA online programmes ensure that their students have a hassle-free experience with flexible schedules.  

from The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business revealed that the figures of accredited US schools with online MBA programmes increased by 85% from the academic year 2016-17 to 2020-21. 

It is one of the reasons why many working professionals with career aspirations of attaining managerial positions pursue them nowadays.

Career Advancement 

The job industry is growingly competitive, and it is challenging to secure a job, let alone climb up the corporate ladder to a higher position. With the emergence of remote work, managing employees has also become tricky. 

Adaptability and eagerness to learn are top traits employers look for in managers, which can significantly improve your . An online MBA will prepare you for this. They will allow you to become better at working in and leading teams across virtual platforms and remote workplaces. You will also be versatile in your job operations. 

Learn Modern Concepts 

An online MBA programme will equip you with crucial knowledge to increase your worth at the workplace and have excellent career opportunities in various sectors. 

The online MBA also emphasises modern business concepts to prepare you for the evolving workforce. For example, digital marketing, financial analysis and risk management are some of the most in-demand areas in doing business.  

Regular MBA: Best for Fresh Graduates/Switching Careers 

However, a regular MBA may be the better fit if you are a fresh graduate or looking to switch careers. Here’s why:  

Networking Opportunities 

A big reason why you should enrol in an MBA is that you can build your support network. Pursuing a regular MBA in school offers many opportunities, from working with academic leaders and industry experts to networking with alums and forging meaningful relationships.

The connections you build with your peers, lecturers and mentors may provide you with career opportunities or even help with specialised tasks.  

A  by Santander Universities revealed that 25% of UK students currently run or plan to start a business while studying. Therefore, if you’re a budding entrepreneur wanting to build your own company, having a supportive network is crucial to start a business

Develop Skills Fast 

We are sure that you – like many others, probably think that choosing work experience is superior to a school experience, as it provides real-world problems that cannot be easily replicated in a classroom setting.  

However, one of the benefits of a regular MBA is that it provides the learning environment for you to pick up the right skill sets needed quickly, to either work in an organisation or even build your own business. It could be a cheat sheet.  

The regular MBA covers many aspects of business operations, including finance, marketing, management, operations, etc. So yes, you could learn about it when working in an organisation or setting up your business. But it would take so much longer. A regular MBA provides you with crucial knowledge to set foot into the business world within a year or two, depending on the programme duration. 

You Can Make Mistakes 

Sounds cliche? But it is a valuable piece of advice. If have not tried, you will never know. Making mistakes and learning from your failures is key to developing an adaptable, flexible and resilient mindset.

The regular MBA programme is great because it creates a safe space where students can fail and get recommendations from industry professionals, peers and professors before they go ahead with their ideas.  

It is a highly underrated aspect of the programme because there are no second chances in the real world. Therefore, it is crucial to use failure as a stepping stone to work towards success. The regular MBA programme provides you with the opportunities to try some ideas. 

Online MBA vs Regular MBA Admissions Requirements 

If you have decided which MBA to take, the next step is to determine if you qualify for the programme. The admissions requirements are different at each educational institute. At 51, the requirements for the regular MBA awarded by the University of Sunderland, UK, are as follows:  

· Possess a relevant degree  

· Have an equivalent professional qualification  

· Working in a senior/managerial role but without a formal academic background  

Here are the requirements for the online MBA programme awarded by Edinburgh Napier University, UK, at 51:  

· Possess a Bachelor (Honours) Degree with at least a 2.2 CGPA and 2 years of working experience  

· 8 years of relevant work experience if the applicant is above 30 years of age 

Online MBA vs Regular MBA Cost at 51 

Now that you know more about the programmes offered by 51, let’s look at the difference between an online MBA and a regular MBA in terms of cost. 

For the online MBA, you can choose a specialisation track in one of four disciplines; health management, hospitality and tourism management, leadership and innovation, and marketing.  

The tuition fees are S$20, 120.40* for local and international applicants. 

Meanwhile, the tuition fees for the regular MBA programmes are S$23,760.00** for local applicants and S$27,864.00** for international applicants. 

* Source: Online MBA from Edinburgh Napier University, UK

**Source:  MBA from University of Sunderland, UK

Online MBA vs Regular MBA Career & Salary 

Moving on to a hot topic, career opportunities and remuneration are always one of the main things that candidates look forward to when they pursue an MBA. You may be worried that an online MBA will limit your career opportunities and salary range. 

According to a faculty director of MBA programmes and professor of management at the University of Mississippi School of Business Administration, it was  that the online MBA graduate’s salary range from USD$100,000 to USD$250,000, level with mid-career professionals. 

Simply put, the earning potential and career opportunities are similar for graduates of both the online MBA and regular MBA programmes. 

Pros and Cons of an Online MBA vs Regular MBA 

If you have forgotten everything up to now, don’t worry. Here is a summary of the pros and cons of the online MBA vs regular MBA for you to make the best choice.

Pros & Cons of Online MBA vs Regular MBA infographics

Online MBA vs Regular MBA: Conclusion 

The online and regular MBA are great options for increasing your skill sets and expanding your career opportunities. However, it is also essential to choose reliable programmes from reputable educational institutes to ensure that your learning journey is experiential and fruitful.  

Established in 1956, 51 has been a pioneer in the private educational landscape for six decades. We offer a range of full-time and part-time MBA programmes awarded by UK and US universities. Contact our consultants today who will assist you with your online MBA or regular MBA queries. 

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Tips on Managing Time Effectively /blog/tips-on-managing-time-effectively/ /blog/tips-on-managing-time-effectively/#respond Mon, 20 Jun 2022 02:38:58 +0000 /blog/?p=3779
  1. Time Audit: Calculate how much time you actually spend on your current tasks 
  1. Set goals & time limit: What are your Most Important Tasks to achieving your goals? Can you delegate the less important tasks? How much time are you willing to give up?  Give yourself a certain amount of time for your tasks 
  1. Prioritize: List down your tasks from most important & urgent to least important & not urgent. Delete the not important or urgent.
  1. Break Time: Step away from long tasks and come back with fresh eyes.
  1. Stay Organized: Organization is key to keeping track of your goals. Plan your daily activities and keep track of your deadlines.
  1. Be Patient: It’s ok to break away from your plans once in a while – you are human, not a machine! Not everything will go according to plan, so it’s most important that you are patient with yourself 
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Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in Singapore for 2022 /blog/top-10-highest-paying-jobs-in-singapore-for-2022/ /blog/top-10-highest-paying-jobs-in-singapore-for-2022/#respond Mon, 04 Oct 2021 01:00:00 +0000 /blog/?p=3007 Unarguably, no one likes waking up in the morning and going to a job you do not like. Everyone hopes to be in their dream job, one that is aligned with your passion, interest and career goal, and at the same time, pays well.

If you are a fresh graduate, a job seeker, or maybe you are contemplating furthering your studies, it is important to understand the current job market and hiring trends and plan your career path wisely. By doing so, you can work towards achieving your desired income and perhaps, earning yourself a career in one of the highest paying jobs in Singapore.

Overview of jobs in Singapore with high salary

In Singapore, some of the growth sectors with high salary package includes Finance, Healthcare, Technology and Business. 

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the labour markets were disrupted significantly, with noticeably shifting demands to the job markets and industries in Singapore.

Some of the sectors were hit hard by the effects of the pandemic, while others were able to withstand or even thrive in the difficult times. Despite uncertainties that remain in the job market and elevated unemployment rates1, it is sensible for anyone to change jobs and re-evaluate his/her career path during a crisis. Afterall, many growth sectors will continue to hire whether the Covid-19 pandemic will remain or not.

Should a high salary be an important consideration?

Voted as one of the highest cost of living countries in the world2, it is true that a high salary in Singapore will be able to help you cope with the urban lifestyle expenses and high standard of living.

However, a high paying job usually means that a certain level of education certification and experience, especially for specialised sectors like healthcare. It is therefore important for you to plan your career path early and understand what you would like to achieve in life.

The best-paying jobs and salaries in Singapore

To help you plan and better understand some of the highest paying jobs and industries in Singapore, the below table shows the list of our top 10 jobs with high salaries.

Job PositionSalary per Annum (SGD)
Chief Financial Officer$300k – $450k
HR Director$240k – $310k 
IT Cyber Security Manager/Specialist $190k – $350k
Supply Chain & Logistics Specialist/ Head of Global Sourcing $180k – $400k
Regional Marketing Manager (Consumer Goods, e-commerce) $180k – $240k  
Head of Marketing/Communications Director $160k – $250k
Research & Development Director (Life Sciences/Biomedical Engineering) $150k – $260k
Nurse Manager / Nursing Director$110k – $200k
Data Engineer/Network Engineer$80k – $180k
Project Manager $80k – $200k

What degree pays the most for new graduates in Singapore?

1.  Technology 

The Information Technology and Computer sector is one of the highest paying industries for fresh graduates and could be one of the best to start if you are going after a high paying job.

Having an interest in computers and technology is essential for this industry – and a specialised field like IT will require you to have a related degree.

Many companies are adapting to a new digital future, which has driven a demand for IT professionals who are equipped with in-demand skills in areas of Cybersecurity, Networking Technology and Database Systems. According to Salary Explorer3, a specialist with Ethical Hacking skill typically earns an income of around $6,800 per month.

A fresh graduate in the Technology field can take back an average salary of about $3,005 per month or about $39k per annum.

Be integral to the evolution of technology at 51

2.  Financial Services 

A financial hub is a city in which a large amount of financial transaction takes place. The Global Financial Centres Index ranks Singapore at the 6th spot for the Top Ten Global Financial Centres.

With the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s announcement in the issuance of four digital banking licenses4 in December last year, we can expect to see more hiring in the financial sector subsequently. Expected demand in job roles for this sector include operational risk, compliance, and financial analysis.

As a globally recognised, vibrant and competitive financial market, a fresh graduate in financial service can earn about $3110 per month or $40k per annum in Singapore.

Be the next top financial analyst at 51

3.  Business & Sales 

The Business and Sales unit in a company plays a vital role in driving revenue in the company. A business degree often offers a myriad of career choices and opportunities for fresh graduates, including Business Administration, Marketing and Sales. The entry-level salary for business and sales estimates around $3,000 per month, or $39k per annum. Do note that this depends on the industries as well.

Develop effective business strategy with 51 education

4.  Engineering

With so many different types of engineering to choose from, including electrical and electronics, mechanical, construction, and many more, the role of engineers is important and in-demand across all industries.

Some of the in-demand skills and qualifications in emerging jobs of engineering hiring include Robotics Technology and Internet-of-Things (IoT). According to Salary Explorer5, a robotic engineer working in Singapore can earn around $8,230 per month depending on years of professional experience and education qualification.

With an estimated salary of about $2,700 per month, or $35k per annum for fresh graduates, the opportunities for engineers are wide-ranging and offer career progression and prospects.

Gain recognition for your engineering feats at 51

5.  Healthcare

Local entry-level registered nurses currently take home about $3,300 per month or around $43k per annum.

Since the pandemic, the shortage of trained healthcare professionals has been magnified. The Singapore government is working to retain healthcare professionals by increasing their pay, to ensure competitiveness for the workforce.

With the opportunities and demand ahead in the healthcare sector, many are now considering a healthcare career. Whether a student looking to enter the industry, an existing medical professional looking to upskill for career progression, or even a mid-career switcher.

Interestingly, in comparison to other professions, a career in nursing is more versatile as nursing skills are always in high demand almost everywhere in the world. Therefore, it provides a greater opportunity if you aspire to work overseas in the future.

It is important to remember that as a specialised industry, having relevant education and qualifications is required for this industry.

Local institutions such as the 51 School of Health and Nursing offer a clear progressive educational path for anyone looking to work in the healthcare industry.

Some of the programmes include:

Supercharge your health and nursing career at 51

What’s Next

With the ever-changing landscape in the job market, it is critical to know and understand what kind of industries you want to go into. Keeping this in mind, it will be much easier to gear yourself towards the right education path and choose your specialisation.

Fresh graduates and job seekers may be faced with uncertainties, but it is still possible for you to land your dream job if you keep this in mind:

  • Be well-prepared
  • Equip yourself with the right skills
  • Know your worth

And lastly, stay positive and keep working towards your goals!

For more information on the courses and various educational paths, visit the 51 website to find out more.


Source:

1 Ministry of Manpower, 2021, Labour Market Statistical Information, Summary Table: Unemployment (Q3 2020).

2

3

4

5

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My Preparation for the eNational Cocktail Competition 2021 /blog/my-preparation-for-the-enational-cocktail-competition-2021/ /blog/my-preparation-for-the-enational-cocktail-competition-2021/#respond Wed, 15 Sep 2021 12:00:00 +0000 /blog/?p=2998 Hello everyone! I’m Grace Wong from batch HTHD2 2014A, and I’m excited to tell you about my preparation for the eNational Cocktail Competition! It all started in March when I signed up for the Inter-class Mocktail Competition. We all started from basic, creating our own concoction to technical skill and oral presentation. We frequently had to stay up late at night to practice our own routine; those were enjoyable times because we contestants got to bond with one another while practicing at our own pace. Many videos were taken, and I would watch them at home to see where I could improve. We were allowed to bring the glassware home to practice, and because I don’t live in the dorm, there was plenty of space for me to use. I used glasses of water to represent the juices, and I practiced in front of the mirror.

Due to the current pandemic situation, the Inter-class Mocktail Competition was rescheduled, which made me sad, but I am grateful that Mr. Clarence Lua saw the potential in me and I was selected to participated in the eNational Cocktail Competition organized by the Association of Bartenders and Sommelier, in which I am required to submit a 2-minute video. We had to come by Tropical Breeze Training Restaurant to practice for a few sessions before the actual recording by the School of Media and Communication.

Since I work as a part-time Floor Manager at McDonald’s and have submitted my monthly schedule, I have to manage my work and practice sessions; it was exhausting for me, but the end results were worth it. I kept practicing and reviewing my videos, despite the fact that the side of my hands were sore from hitting the shaker! There were many last-minute changes made prior to the recording day, and I was pessimistic, which affected my mood during practice. But my teammates were always encouraging one another, and my friends helped lift my spirits. Finally, it was D-day! We had to record it several times before it was perfect, but the end result was fruitful.

My encouragement to all who inspire to be a bartender or desire or to take part in any bar competition: –

“Stay dedicated. Be persistent. Remain positive. Dream big and conquer all you want.”

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Making Meaning During a Pandemic: Singapore Cancer Society Interschool Competition 2020 /blog/making-meaning-during-a-pandemic-singapore-cancer-society-interschool-competition-2020/ /blog/making-meaning-during-a-pandemic-singapore-cancer-society-interschool-competition-2020/#respond Fri, 20 Nov 2020 03:35:00 +0000 /blog/?p=2665 Last week, my team and I were pleasantly surprised to win the Overall Winner and People’s Choice awards at the . Firstly, we would like to extend our greatest gratitude to our lecturers, as well as the 51 Media Club for which without them, this film would not have been made.

As the undergraduate team, we had been given the theme of cervical cancer. With that theme in mind, we decided to create a dramatized film depicting the story of an actual survivor. The objective of our film was to raise awareness about cervical cancer, and the essential steps needed to prevent cervical cancer.

Prior to the production, we interviewed a source who had battled cervical cancer in order to base our storyline according to our source’s experience. This would bring truthfulness and authenticity to our film, which we felt would add to the emotional appeal of our film, thus further captivating our audience’s attention. Once we have successfully obtained the audience’s attention, we will then present them with the information we intended to convey; the steps needed to prevent cervical cancer. As a finishing touch, a personalized message from a gynecologist to spread the word about HPV vaccination.

Creating the film was an interesting process for us, as we had little experiences handling filming equipment during that period of time. We had to simultaneously produce this film while learning how to utilize said film equipment to our film’s potential, which was challenging but also a fun experience at the same time. We were very particular about what we wanted the film to be, so a number of issues came up during the process of filming; clips that weren’t to our satisfaction, re-shoots, trying to successfully create a video effect with our little camera experience, finding the right music to fit our film, and so on and so forth. All the whilst, a global pandemic was occurring and we were just moments away from Singapore’s circuit breaker, which meant we were on a very strict time schedule.

To be filming a project amidst a chaotic pandemic was truly a once in a lifetime experience we are sure to not forget. Despite all the setbacks we faced, it’s safe to say that we created a film to our satisfaction, and even won two awards for it.

This article is contributed by Andini Mahindira Amiraputr from the School of Media and Communications.

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Concept of “Safety” and “Ergonomic Risks” /blog/concept-of-safety-and-ergonomic-risks/ /blog/concept-of-safety-and-ergonomic-risks/#respond Mon, 15 Jun 2020 08:28:44 +0000 /blog/?p=2456 In understanding the concept of safety and ergonomic risks, the most important aspect is to understand the term itself.

Safety is the state of being “safe” (from French sauf), the condition of being protected from harm or other non-desirable outcomes. Safety can also refer to the control of recognised hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk.”
(Wikipedia, accessed 5 May 2020, )

From here, it can be observed that the definition is slightly ambiguous due to certain words used that require further explanation. For instance, “non-desirable outcomes, requires further explanation on what the type of outcomes are. Thus, it is imperative to be clearer in the definition of non-desirable outcomes and how they can be avoided. 

Ergonomic refers to the field of science that studies the interaction between human and machines, and also human and the work environment (WHSC). Ergonomic risks refer to unsafe practices in these instances that compromise the workers’ safety and working conditions (WHSC). Examples of ergonomic risks include awkward postures, overstretching of body parts, over-straining the eyes, excessive motions, repetitive movements. These ergonomic risks, if not taken into consideration and mitigated appropriately, would lead to occupational injuries such as musculoskeletal disorders.

Hence, it is imperative, to prevent ergonomic risks from occurring at the onset when workers operate machinery. In the case of a vehicle driver, the possible ergonomic risks are improper sitting position that could lead to back injuries, prolonged use of the eyes leading to poor vision, increase in cognitive usage during driving leading to mental stress, excessive bending of the arms during manoeuvring of the steering wheels, which could lead to musculoskeletal injuries and many more. It is important for research to be conducted in this area to identify these ergonomic risks and provide recommendations to mitigate them.

Sources:
1.
2.

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51 Transits to E-learning /blog/mdis-transits-to-e-learning/ /blog/mdis-transits-to-e-learning/#respond Mon, 27 Apr 2020 04:14:43 +0000 /blog/?p=2451 Schools provide families, communities and entire economies with structure and support. Primarily, it is known to all that good teaching requires a teacher to be present in the classroom with his/ her students.  Most teachers enjoy their profession teaching in person because this gives them an opportunity to interact and engage with students with passion and enthusiasm.

Teachers also know when they teach in a classroom, they do not leave students to play with their own devices.  They want to be actively involved in the students’ learning process, engaging in classroom activities. Most teachers come to class early to set up for class. Teachers also prefer to take this opportunity to get to know individual students, talking one-on-one and interacting with a student who may need extra support.

Since early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on the learning community worldwide significantly. The coronavirus epidemic has also affected the daily lives of those across the globe. Schools have been closed after the Governments have put their countries in lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus.

“The speed and scale of the educational tumult caused by COVID-19 has impacted around 300 million students globally, the United Nations said that this has little parallel in modern history.”1 The effect on education globally will last for several weeks, months and may even be a year. Eventually this will result in unforeseen consequences for the students and the society at large.

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, academic institutions have turned to conducting lessons online. To facilitate ease and continuity of learning, the 51 School of Languages and Education has invested in “Zoom” to launch its online training to schools in China, Vietnam and other countries.  Lecturers are also being trained to deliver the programmes to support overseas students’ learning just as they would in a campus-based classroom.

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Customised Training Programmes that BEST FIT your Organisation /blog/customised-training-programmes-that-best-fit-your-organisation/ /blog/customised-training-programmes-that-best-fit-your-organisation/#respond Tue, 21 Apr 2020 02:30:00 +0000 /blog/?p=2290 As part of a Human Resource Development team, have you ever been in this dilemma – 
Combing through a whole barrage of courses to get the most suitable training for your employees?

Or, have you ever wished you could chop and change bits between courses, to have a course more aligned to further develop your employees’ skills?

If your answer is “YES” then, customised training is something you should be looking at.

‘Customised’, commonly known as ‘In-house’ is the tailoring of a programme to suit your staff/company’s needs. The term ‘training’ refers to the course of imparting work-related skills and knowledge to participants with the objective of improving the quality and efficiency of their scope and by extension, the company holistically. 

Customised training has other benefits such as

  • Better value for money compared to outsourcing individual employee for training
  • Flexibility on the training schedule
  • Ability to perform on-the-job training
  • Employees are able to co-relate to inter-department troubleshooting
  • Improves internal communication within the company
  • Fosters better working relationships

At MDC, we have a team  of accredited, highly-experienced and inspiring trainers, facilitators and coaches who possess a potent combination of management experience, practitioner knowledge and industry know-how in their respective fields of profession, to deliver active learning programmes to serve training needs across all industries. With our customised training, delivery of best practices to your company may be more affordable than you might think! 

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Field Trip to Mediacorp /blog/field-trip-to-mediacorp/ /blog/field-trip-to-mediacorp/#respond Fri, 10 May 2019 03:12:05 +0000 /blog/?p=1951 On 28 March 2018, students from the visited MediaCorp. MediaCorp is a media conglomerate based in Singapore that was established in 1930s. Back then, it was founded as the British Malaya Broadcasting Corporation.

Students were given a tour of some of MediaCorp’s facilities. They then met Keith Tan, Senior Creative Director for Creative Services, who supervises one of the creative teams. He is well-known for writing and producing various radio, television, print and digital advertisements. He shared some of his experiences and knowledge about working in the media industry over 14 years. Keith also demonstrated how to create good radio advertisements.

One of the facilities that students had the opportunity to see was the media studio where live shows are broadcasted. Students saw a set for an upcoming variety show that would be aired later this year. Also included in the tour: what goes on behind cameras, how sets are created, and how studio lightings are configured prior to recording/broadcast.


Additionally, our students had a lucky encounter chancing upon popular YouTubers Shafie Aziz and Hafiz Aziz from Urban Xtreme Monkeys, better known as UXM! UXM has close to 50,000 followers and over 8,778,836 views for their 102 videos over the last decade. They spontaneously joined the tour to share their experiences with students and advised some to not give up and follow their dreams. A Q&A session followed after.

One of the students Ren Ki, an aspiring YouTuber, asked the duo if they could advise her on starting her channel to which they replied, “Be mindful that you’re communicating with human beings, although you can’t see them”, a reminder of how communications is important in any field of work. Upon returning to campus, many students commented that they enjoyed themselves. Here’s what some of them had to say:

“It was a very nice experience, especially for international students who have not been to MediaCorp before.” – Ren Ki, Batam, Indonesia

“I have seen production and TV studios back home so I was curious to see how the studios and offices are like in Singapore. So, yeah, just looking at MediaCorp’s studios was enough to send chills down my spine – and I’m not dramatising. I literally had chills! They were so beautiful and SO MUCH bigger than I thought they would be.” – Payas, Bangalore, India

Overall, the field trip was a successful learning journey. Having the opportunity to go on field trips is rare, especially at the tertiary level. Such trips have major educational elements that give students a chance to experience hands-on learning related to their course of study, in helping them to prepare for life after graduation. Students had the added benefit of bonding with their classmates and lecturers too!

 

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Water Quality and Aquatic Toxicity of Costal Species in Singapore /blog/water-quality-and-aquatic-toxicity-of-costal-species-in-singapore/ /blog/water-quality-and-aquatic-toxicity-of-costal-species-in-singapore/#respond Tue, 26 Feb 2019 11:16:50 +0000 /blog/?p=1919 Student activity and student engagement: Evaluation of water quality and aquatic toxicity of costal species in Singapore

By Dr Rajarshi Sankar Ray, Senior Lecturer, 51 School of Life Sciences

Aquatic toxicologyis the study of the effects of manufacturedchemicalsand otheranthropogenicand natural materials and activities onaquatic organismsat various levels of organisation, fromsub-cellularthrough individualorganismsto communities andecosystems.Aquatic toxicology is a multidisciplinary field which integratestoxicology,aquatic ecologyandaquatic chemistry. This field of study includesfreshwater,marine waterandsedimentenvironments. Aquatic toxicology tests (assays) are used to provide qualitative and quantitative data on adverse (deleterious) effects on aquatic organisms fromtoxicant(s). Toxicity tests can be used to assess the potential for damage to an aquatic environment and provide a database that can be used to assess the risk associated within a situation for a specific toxicant.

Heavy metal pollutants can be transferred from the environment to marine life via various methods of absorption and this is defined as bioaccumulation. Eventually, such toxins that are accumulated in marine life will be transferred to another trophic level in higher concentration and this process is known as biomagnification. Human health can be affected by the process of bioaccumulation and biomagnification as we are tertiary consumers and rely on the ocean as a food source.

There are different types of toxicity tests that can be performed on various test species. Different species differ in their susceptibility to chemicals, most likely due to differences in accessibility,metabolic rate,excretion rate,genetic factors, dietary factors, age, sex, health and stress level of the organism.

There are many kinds of toxicity tests widely accepted in the scientific literature and regulatory agencies. One of them is the LDH assay. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an oxidoreductase enzyme present in a wide variety of organisms. When toxic material damages tissues, the cells’ LDH is released. Since LDH is a fairly stable enzyme, LDH has been widely used to evaluate the presence of damage and toxicity of tissue and cells.

Glutathione is the principal non-protein thiol involved in the antioxidant cellular defence. In normal conditions, the glutathione redox couple is present in cells in concentrations between 1 and 10 mM, with the reduced GSH predominating over the oxidized form. In the resting cell, the ratio exceeds 100, whereas in various models of oxidative stress, this ratio was reported to decrease to values between 10 and 1.

Glutathione peroxidase catalyses the reduction of hydroperoxides, including hydrogen peroxide, by reduced glutathione and functions to protect the cell from oxidative damage.

Toxicity of littoral flora and fauna is also related to water quality. Biochemical/Biological Oxygen Demand(BOD) is an important water quality parameter because it provides an index to assess the effect of discharged wastewater will have on the receiving environment. BOD is the amount ofdissolved oxygenneeded (i.e. demanded) by aerobic biological organisms to break down organic material present in a given water sample at certain temperature over a specific time period.

Littoral water quality analysis is an important part of measuring littoral aquatic toxicity. Measuring ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, copper, phosphate and iron levels of the water gives preliminary idea of possible aquatic pollution.

Electrical conductivity is also a form of water quality test. Electrical conductivity is the ability of water to carry electric current and this is determined by ions present in it. It is an indirect indicator of pollution as it represents dissolved salt content in water. Hence, unusually high conductivity values are commonly associated with presence of industrial or domestic effluent.

Thelittoral zone is the part of a sea, lake or river that is close to the shore. In coastal environments the littoral zone extends from thehigh water mark, which is rarely inundated, to shoreline areas that are permanently submerged. It always includes thisintertidal zoneand is often used to mean the same as the intertidal zone. Organisms in this area include anemones, barnacles, chitons, crabs, algae, isopods, limpets, mussels, sea lettuce, sea palms, sea stars, snails, sponges, and whelks.

With the National Parks Board’s approval, this ongoing project with our Final Year students of Northumbria University studying Bachelor of Biotechnology Honours programme in the School of Life Sciences in 51 aims to evaluate toxicity of littoral species from different coastal regions in Singapore using the LDH and Glutathione assays and understanding the quality of aquatic environment by measuring oxygen, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, copper, phosphate and iron levels as well as conductivity of the littoral sea water. Our prospective areas of survey for sample and specimen collection are the beaches of East Coast Park, Changi Beach Park, Pasir Ris Park, Sembawang Park, West Coast Park and Sentosa.

Reference

Beverly P. L. Goh, Chien Houng Lai, Lik Tong Tan, Nicholas W. L. Yap and Awantha Dissanayake, 2014. Handbook of marine ecotoxicology techniques. National Institute of Education, Nangang Technological University and National Parks Board, Singapore.

de Sousa, D. N. R., Mozeto, A. A., Carneiro, R. L. & Fadini, P. S., 2014. Electrical conductivity and emerging contaminant as markers of surface freshwater contamination by wastewater. Science of The Total Environment, Volume 484, pp. 19-26.

Lagesson, A. et al., 2016. Bioaccumulation of five pharmaceuticals at multiple trophic levels in an aquatic food web – Insights from a field experiment. Science of The Total Environment, Volume 58, pp. 208-215.

Zenker, A. et al., 2014. Bioaccumulation and biomagnification potential of pharmaceuticals with a focus to the aquatic environment. Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 133, pp. 378-387.

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