Institute of Technical Education

Institute of Technical Education
工艺教育学院 (Chinese)
Institut Pendidikan Teknikal (Malay)
Agency overview
Formed1 April 1992; 32 years ago (1992-04-01)
Preceding agency
  • Vocational and Industrial Training Board (VITB)
JurisdictionGovernment of Singapore
Headquarters2 Ang Mo Kio Drive, Singapore 567720
Agency executives
  • Andrew Chong, Chairman[1]
  • Low Khah Gek, CEO
Parent agencyMinistry of Education
Websitehttp://www.ite.edu.sg
Footnotes
Vocational education

The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) is a post-secondary education institution and statutory board under the purview of the Ministry of Education in Singapore.

Established by the Ministry of Education, it was formerly known as Vocational and Industrial Training Board (VITB). ITE has three colleges, ITE College West, ITE College Central and ITE College East. It offers the National ITE Certificate (NITEC), Higher NITEC, Technical Diploma and Work-Study Diploma.

Apart from providing vocational education to secondary school graduates, ITE offers apprenticeships for the skilled trades and diplomas in vocational education for skilled technicians and workers in support roles in professions such as accountancy, architecture, business administration, engineering and nursing.

History[edit]

1960s to 1970s: Vocational and Industrial Training Board (VITB)[edit]

During the 1960s and 1970s, vocational education was managed by two separate statutory boards, the Adult Education Board (AEB) and the Industrial Training Board (ITB). They were merged in 1979 to form the Vocational and Industrial Training Board (VITB). The VITB was formed to promote and develop vocational education.[2][3]

1992: Institute of Technical Education (ITE)[edit]

The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) was established as a post-secondary education institution to improve the employability of vocational trainees and to restructure the VITB's programmes. The government decided that every student in Singapore had to have at least ten years of general education, with technically inclined students filtered into the Normal (Technical) stream in secondary schools as preparation. These students would then attend the ITE after they finished secondary school education.[4]

Student intake[edit]

Every year, ITE takes in about 25% of an annual school cohort[citation needed], or an intake of about 14,000 students,[5] with an annual enrollment of about 25,000[citation needed]. Full-time students are typically secondary school graduates with the requisite GCE 'N' or 'O' Level qualifications.[citation needed]

Colleges[edit]

To refine technical education in Singapore, the "One ITE System, Three Colleges" Model of Education and Governance was introduced in 2005 to merge the 10 satellite campuses into 3 regional colleges.

Awards[edit]

ITE has won a number of local awards as well as international awards. In 2005, it became the first educational institution to be awarded the Singapore Quality Award by Spring Singapore. This award is awarded to world-class organisations that demonstrate the highest standards of business excellence. ITE has also won the Public Service Distinguished Award, awarded by the Prime Minister's office in 2010, as well as the Singapore Innovation Class, awarded by Spring Singapore in 2011.

In 2007, among 30 countries that participated, ITE won the inaugural Harvard-IBM Innovations Award in Transforming Government. This prestigious award was conferred by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation of Harvard University and recognises ITE's programmes as having a profound impact on the lives of citizens.[6][7]

Notable alumni[edit]

Entertainment[edit]

Sports[edit]

Politics[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "ITE appoints new Chairman".
  2. ^ "Technical and vocational education". NLB. May 2019. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Vocational and Industrial Training Board (VITB)". NLB. September 2018. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Institute of Technical Education". Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  5. ^ Yang, Calvin (7 March 2017). "Parliament: Polys, ITE to take in up to 15 per cent of students based on talents and interests | The Straits Times". Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  6. ^ "ITE, polys soar in global skills contest". The Straits Times. 7 October 2009. p. 31.
  7. ^ "ITE wins prestigious Harvard award". The Straits Times. 25 September 2007. p. 3.
  8. ^ "ITE gave actress Jayley Woo a fresh start in life". 2 September 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2019.

External links[edit]