(i) ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

UNCOMMON AND EXCEPTIONAL ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

The following is a brief summary of the Tutor's academic qualifications:

2006 Jan – 2010 Jul National Institute of Education / Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)

· Awarded MSc degree in Masters in Life Sciences (Environmental Science)

· Completed Masters Dissertation entitled “Removal effect of Clidemia hirta and Hevea brasiliensis on plant regeneration in secondary forests of Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West, Singapore”

2004 Jan – 2005 Jan National Institute of Education / Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)

· Awarded Post Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) (PGDE with Merit)

· Undertook an elective in “Understanding and Teaching Gifted Students”

· Awarded Rotary International Gold Award “Best Student Award” 2004

2000 July – 2003 July National University of Singapore (Singapore)

· Awarded Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) (Merit) in Biology

1995 July – 1998 July Ngee Ann Polytechnic (Singapore)

Awarded Diploma in Biotechnology (Medical Laboratory Science)

· 1.5 Years (1997-1998) training attachment to Laboratory Medicine in laboratories of Clinical & Special Chemistry, Clinical Microbiology, and Clinical Haematology of National University Hospital (Singapore)

· Awarded ‘A-’ Grade for Final Year Assignment “Restriction Isotyping and Apolipoprotein “E” Polymorphism Studies”.

Though without an upper secondary background education in Biology, the tutor’s passion for biology and its application led him to achieve a Diploma in Biotechnology (Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore), with an ‘A-’ Grade for his Final Year Assignment “Restriction Isotyping and Apolipoprotein “E” Polymorphism Studies”. Together with a small select pool of Polytechnic graduates, he was offered a place to read Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Biology from National University of Singapore, from which he graduated with further conceptual understanding and technical skills in ecological sampling and metabolite quantitative analysis. Increased exposure to environmental science led him to complete Masters in Life Sciences (Environmental Science) from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), with successful NTU acceptance of dissertation on removal effect of invasive species on plant regeneration in Singapore.

As a student in both his undergraduate and postgraduate days, he prizes integrity in science learning, research, and award interviews above any of his achievements.

He did not flinch from reporting anomalies and discrepancies in his project reports. In cases encountered during reading of his BSc and MSc, the events and data—though anomalous—were faithfully reported in his submitted written reports. Facing the unexpected data led him to research more into his studies, which facilitated him to learn more via cross-referencing and corroborating his encountered phenomena with fresh insights and derived explanations. Such intellectual engagement definitely broadens and deepens the quality of research learning. The notion of releasing falsified scientific documents into circulation, which could later be translated into company or public policies, or to misinform the scientific community in its related researches, is simply unimaginable.

The Tutor topped his cohort during the post-graduate teacher training course of Post Graduate Diploma in Education offered by National Institute of Education / Nanyang Technological University (Singapore). Training to be a Biology teacher during the course in NIE has helped him to inculcate skills and techniques in effective learning and pedagogy. Such functional skills aided invaluably in facilitating the exchange and impartation of information with supervisors, peers, and students.

Though shortlisted for the award due to his outstanding grades, he openly shared with the NIE interview of his personal struggles and setbacks in his past educational experiences, and how the trainings and experiences of his past can be used to lift students to their potential in studies and eventually society. This ability and practice is affirmed by the presentation of the ‘Rotary International Gold Award ‘Best Student Award 2004’, as well as the gracious ample education opportunities afforded by many students and their parents.