President's Message
Hey Everyone!
I am Yong Heng, a Year 2 Mechanical Engineering student. I am extremely honoured to be given the privilege to serve you all as the 27th President of the Society of Mechanical Engineering.
This academic year will be a challenging one, as the Covid pandemic is beginning to move towards an endemic phase. For the past year, we have been adapting to the reality of digital-based learning, from mostly physical exams of the post-pandemic period, to the 'new' digital proctoring setup that we have all come to be used to. We have also experienced a back and forth of reopening and reduction of face to face interactions. However, despite whatever changes that may arise , I would like to encourage everyone to keep up the effort in adapting to changing environments. I have always believed that rare opportunities arise in times of change, and so hope that everyone can be willing to step out of our comfort zones to reach heights otherwise not achievable.
Despite uncertainty in AY2020/2021, the 26th Committee has succeeded in providing a stepping stone for Mechanical Engineering students to enhance their academic lives in NUS.
From exciting opportunities in technical workshops, to educational career talks with engineering companies of all different industries in Singapore, SME aims to be the pillar of support for Mechanical Engineering students in NUS who wish to expand their technical expertise and knowledge of industry trends, to better prepare themselves for the world beyond graduation.
Through the challenging times that are to come, the 27th Committee will continue to serve Mechanical Engineering students in the following ways:
I look forward to working with my committee to serve you. As the proverb goes: If you want to go far, go together. SME is here to give Mechanical Engineering students the support they need to excel. Seek excellence through consistent effort, but stand out by sharing your learning experience with other like-minded individuals.
Wishing everyone a great year ahead!
Regards,
Sin Yong Heng
President, NUS SME 21/22
I am Yong Heng, a Year 2 Mechanical Engineering student. I am extremely honoured to be given the privilege to serve you all as the 27th President of the Society of Mechanical Engineering.
This academic year will be a challenging one, as the Covid pandemic is beginning to move towards an endemic phase. For the past year, we have been adapting to the reality of digital-based learning, from mostly physical exams of the post-pandemic period, to the 'new' digital proctoring setup that we have all come to be used to. We have also experienced a back and forth of reopening and reduction of face to face interactions. However, despite whatever changes that may arise , I would like to encourage everyone to keep up the effort in adapting to changing environments. I have always believed that rare opportunities arise in times of change, and so hope that everyone can be willing to step out of our comfort zones to reach heights otherwise not achievable.
Despite uncertainty in AY2020/2021, the 26th Committee has succeeded in providing a stepping stone for Mechanical Engineering students to enhance their academic lives in NUS.
From exciting opportunities in technical workshops, to educational career talks with engineering companies of all different industries in Singapore, SME aims to be the pillar of support for Mechanical Engineering students in NUS who wish to expand their technical expertise and knowledge of industry trends, to better prepare themselves for the world beyond graduation.
Through the challenging times that are to come, the 27th Committee will continue to serve Mechanical Engineering students in the following ways:
- To provide Mechanical Engineering students with opportunities to learn highly applicable skills
- Allow students to gain insightful knowledge about the industry
- Offer cross-disciplinary opportunities for students to gain exposure to different skills and experiences.
- Provide welfare activities to students to give support and enhance learning experience in NUS
- To provide Mechanical Engineering students a platform to network with one another
- Expand SME's presence and reach in the school, industry and beyond
I look forward to working with my committee to serve you. As the proverb goes: If you want to go far, go together. SME is here to give Mechanical Engineering students the support they need to excel. Seek excellence through consistent effort, but stand out by sharing your learning experience with other like-minded individuals.
Wishing everyone a great year ahead!
Regards,
Sin Yong Heng
President, NUS SME 21/22
26th President's Closing Note
Dear all,
I hope everyone has been coping well with the semester so far! This year has been extremely challenging for all of us as we adapt towards a new normal in our academic and personal lives. With the improved COVID-19 situation, many modules have been adopting a hybrid approach, with some even reverting back to physical classes. However, safety and well-being of students are still paramount, and we have taken this into account during the planning of events while doing our best to maintain the quality and value that we bring to students.
SME held its second virtual AGM on 3rd September, which marked the end of the 26th EXCO's term. I would thus like to highlight some of the key events and initiatives that we have organised during our term, and also acknowledge the efforts made by the team who worked hard to bring these events to bear and made our term successful despite the hurdles we faced.
Starting off with our Welfare committee, they have worked above and beyond to plan for the welfare activities for our students. Led by our Welfare Director Leon, we managed to hold 2 welfare pack giveaways to complement your revision sessions. The first was the Chinese New Year Welfare Pack giveaway, where we included snacks and tidbits, a pandemic-ready pack that included face masks, hand sanitisers, and even our very own SME Lanyard designed in-house! We also had an Exam Welfare Pack giveaway, where student essentials like foolscap papers and highlighters were included. These packs were curated to meet the needs and challenges faced by students, so let's show some gratitude to the team who made these events possible!
Working closely with the Welfare committee is our Business Committee, where Yong Heng led his team to secure sponsorships from companies to support our welfare pack giveaways. He played an integral role in ensuring that SME stays financially independent and maintains sufficient funding for the activities that the society organises. An important aspect of this Committee is fundraising through merchandise sales. This was done through a collaboration with SME's OCIP, Operation Ulysses, to provide bouquets of flowers for sale during Valentine's Day. We even reached out to our fellow ME Students to host an SME T-Shirt Designing competition, where the best design won Capitaland Vouchers and was featured in T-shirts in our merchandise sales.
Next up is our Publicity committee, who managed to keep things exciting on our publicity channels. Kaiting, our Publicity Director, has been working hard to bring you updates on our events and collaboration opportunities with other industry partners. A new initiative was also the creation of our LinkedIn Page, which would help add an additional layer of visibility to the society and increase SME's online presence with companies and professionals. You may have also seen her creative poster-design skills in our instagram posts on "Humans of Mechanical Engineering'', where we shared stories of fellow ME students who expressed their reasons for joining Mechanical Engineering. "#WhySME" also showcased our very own EXCO members who shared their experiences during the term. Thank you Kaiting for all your hard work!
Providing exposure to the industry and improving technical competencies of students are some of the main goals of our society. Frederick, our Enhancement Projects Director, served well to achieve these objectives by bringing to our students opportunities to e-meet some of our industry partners. Due to the pandemic, it was unfortunate that we had to cancel plans for industry visits to company sites. Despite this challenge, Frederick has managed to liaise with companies to bring you an "Industry Career Talk" held during recess week. We invited well-established companies like Schlumberger and SMRT to provide insights into their company culture and opportunities. We also collaborated with high-growth startups like F-Drones and Weston Robotics, inviting their founders and leaders to share more about the industry and what they do in their work. Our Solidworks Accreditation examinations have always received strong demand, and we enhanced the experience for students by inviting Russel Bradley, a Solidworks Champion and Student Leader with extensive knowledge in 3D Designing, to hold workshops to complement the examinations.
SME’s very own Overseas Community Involvement Project (OCIP), Operation Ulysses, was managed by Terence. Following the successful completion of the first cycle in May 2019, Terence was working tirelessly to bring the second edition which was a service project in Nepal. Due to the stringent regulations on international travel, it had to be postponed, and thus the team diverted their efforts to planning for local projects that would serve the communities in Singapore. The OCIP team also took initiative to support SME and its operations by leading the Valentine's Day flower sales. Thank you Terence for spearheading the team through the term despite the setbacks and making the best out of the situation. As the situation improves, let us hope for a favourable environment so that the next OCIP EXCO can finally set forth to make change in the international community and provide students with this invaluable experience.
The Freshman Orientation Camp is an important tradition in SME to introduce new ME students into NUS. During our term, the FOP EXCO was led by Abdillah, who successfully planned our second virtual to induct freshies into NUS. With creative games and sharing sessions, Abdillah and his team have definitely worked hard to bring the best possible experience to the new students. Despite the social gathering restrictions, the team successfully planned a comprehensive orientation programme to equip the new students with essential information to ease their transition into NUS. Much appreciation to the team for your efforts in organising a successful e-Orientation!
I would also like to thank the members of the Presidential Cell who have strongly supported the EXCO in its operations. Our 2 Vice-Presidents, Abdullah and Wei Jie, who oversaw the committees and provided guidance to the directors; Thia Leng, our General Secretary who diligently supported the society in administrative duties; and Nathaniel, our Financial Secretary who planned budgets for the different projects and kept our finances accounted for. Displaying effective communication, teamwork and leadership, they have worked closely with me to keep the society running smoothly through this turbulent period.
Last but not least, I would like to extend my immense gratitude to our staff advisor, Prof Teo Chee Leong, the Mechanical Engineering Department and fellow ME students, for showing strong support for the society our activities.
This year has definitely spurred all of us to grow as individuals and adapt to the volatile environment. We faced many challenges in planning and organising events, but managed to pull through with the strong support from the faculty and fellow members in the society. Giving my best wishes to the 27th EXCO Committee, I hope that you will continue to enrich the lives in the student community and stay true to the vision and missions of our society.
Warmly,
Aegan Tan
President, NUS SME for AY20/21
I hope everyone has been coping well with the semester so far! This year has been extremely challenging for all of us as we adapt towards a new normal in our academic and personal lives. With the improved COVID-19 situation, many modules have been adopting a hybrid approach, with some even reverting back to physical classes. However, safety and well-being of students are still paramount, and we have taken this into account during the planning of events while doing our best to maintain the quality and value that we bring to students.
SME held its second virtual AGM on 3rd September, which marked the end of the 26th EXCO's term. I would thus like to highlight some of the key events and initiatives that we have organised during our term, and also acknowledge the efforts made by the team who worked hard to bring these events to bear and made our term successful despite the hurdles we faced.
Starting off with our Welfare committee, they have worked above and beyond to plan for the welfare activities for our students. Led by our Welfare Director Leon, we managed to hold 2 welfare pack giveaways to complement your revision sessions. The first was the Chinese New Year Welfare Pack giveaway, where we included snacks and tidbits, a pandemic-ready pack that included face masks, hand sanitisers, and even our very own SME Lanyard designed in-house! We also had an Exam Welfare Pack giveaway, where student essentials like foolscap papers and highlighters were included. These packs were curated to meet the needs and challenges faced by students, so let's show some gratitude to the team who made these events possible!
Working closely with the Welfare committee is our Business Committee, where Yong Heng led his team to secure sponsorships from companies to support our welfare pack giveaways. He played an integral role in ensuring that SME stays financially independent and maintains sufficient funding for the activities that the society organises. An important aspect of this Committee is fundraising through merchandise sales. This was done through a collaboration with SME's OCIP, Operation Ulysses, to provide bouquets of flowers for sale during Valentine's Day. We even reached out to our fellow ME Students to host an SME T-Shirt Designing competition, where the best design won Capitaland Vouchers and was featured in T-shirts in our merchandise sales.
Next up is our Publicity committee, who managed to keep things exciting on our publicity channels. Kaiting, our Publicity Director, has been working hard to bring you updates on our events and collaboration opportunities with other industry partners. A new initiative was also the creation of our LinkedIn Page, which would help add an additional layer of visibility to the society and increase SME's online presence with companies and professionals. You may have also seen her creative poster-design skills in our instagram posts on "Humans of Mechanical Engineering'', where we shared stories of fellow ME students who expressed their reasons for joining Mechanical Engineering. "#WhySME" also showcased our very own EXCO members who shared their experiences during the term. Thank you Kaiting for all your hard work!
Providing exposure to the industry and improving technical competencies of students are some of the main goals of our society. Frederick, our Enhancement Projects Director, served well to achieve these objectives by bringing to our students opportunities to e-meet some of our industry partners. Due to the pandemic, it was unfortunate that we had to cancel plans for industry visits to company sites. Despite this challenge, Frederick has managed to liaise with companies to bring you an "Industry Career Talk" held during recess week. We invited well-established companies like Schlumberger and SMRT to provide insights into their company culture and opportunities. We also collaborated with high-growth startups like F-Drones and Weston Robotics, inviting their founders and leaders to share more about the industry and what they do in their work. Our Solidworks Accreditation examinations have always received strong demand, and we enhanced the experience for students by inviting Russel Bradley, a Solidworks Champion and Student Leader with extensive knowledge in 3D Designing, to hold workshops to complement the examinations.
SME’s very own Overseas Community Involvement Project (OCIP), Operation Ulysses, was managed by Terence. Following the successful completion of the first cycle in May 2019, Terence was working tirelessly to bring the second edition which was a service project in Nepal. Due to the stringent regulations on international travel, it had to be postponed, and thus the team diverted their efforts to planning for local projects that would serve the communities in Singapore. The OCIP team also took initiative to support SME and its operations by leading the Valentine's Day flower sales. Thank you Terence for spearheading the team through the term despite the setbacks and making the best out of the situation. As the situation improves, let us hope for a favourable environment so that the next OCIP EXCO can finally set forth to make change in the international community and provide students with this invaluable experience.
The Freshman Orientation Camp is an important tradition in SME to introduce new ME students into NUS. During our term, the FOP EXCO was led by Abdillah, who successfully planned our second virtual to induct freshies into NUS. With creative games and sharing sessions, Abdillah and his team have definitely worked hard to bring the best possible experience to the new students. Despite the social gathering restrictions, the team successfully planned a comprehensive orientation programme to equip the new students with essential information to ease their transition into NUS. Much appreciation to the team for your efforts in organising a successful e-Orientation!
I would also like to thank the members of the Presidential Cell who have strongly supported the EXCO in its operations. Our 2 Vice-Presidents, Abdullah and Wei Jie, who oversaw the committees and provided guidance to the directors; Thia Leng, our General Secretary who diligently supported the society in administrative duties; and Nathaniel, our Financial Secretary who planned budgets for the different projects and kept our finances accounted for. Displaying effective communication, teamwork and leadership, they have worked closely with me to keep the society running smoothly through this turbulent period.
Last but not least, I would like to extend my immense gratitude to our staff advisor, Prof Teo Chee Leong, the Mechanical Engineering Department and fellow ME students, for showing strong support for the society our activities.
This year has definitely spurred all of us to grow as individuals and adapt to the volatile environment. We faced many challenges in planning and organising events, but managed to pull through with the strong support from the faculty and fellow members in the society. Giving my best wishes to the 27th EXCO Committee, I hope that you will continue to enrich the lives in the student community and stay true to the vision and missions of our society.
Warmly,
Aegan Tan
President, NUS SME for AY20/21
