Singapore Polytechnic (SP), a renowned institution known for nurturing creative and entrepreneurial minds, has recently received an additional donation of SG$100,000 from renowned advertiser Ian Batey. This generous contribution, combined with a matching grant from the Ministry of Education, brings the total endowed funding for the Batey programmes for SP students to an impressive S$1 million.
Since its inception in 2012, the Batey fund has been instrumental in offering scholarships and organizing creative programmes like ‘The Batey Challenge’ and ‘The Batey Hackathon.’ These initiatives have provided support and creative stimulation to 114 students so far, as reported by the school.
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Batey, the benefactor behind these programmes, aims to inspire SP students to expand their horizons. “I hope that through The Batey Hackathon and The Batey Challenge programmes, we can inspire SP students to dream more, to stretch their imagination, to explore new avenues that can contribute to Singapore’s growing success as a creative lighthouse on the world stage,” he shared.
The effects of this charitable act will continue to ripple from 2023 onwards. SP expects 50 students per year to benefit from both Batey programmes, which are open to all students across various disciplines. These initiatives will promote collaboration on business ideas or the development of promising prototypes. In the final year of the programme, the school’s SP-Entrepreneurs-in-Residence will mentor the participants.
Reflecting on the impact of the donation, Tan Yen Yen, Senior Director, Business and the Creatives at SP, commented, “Batey’s generous gift to Singapore Polytechnic opens up a world of opportunities in enabling the transformative journeys for our SP students. The Batey Hackathon and The Batey Challenge programmes will provide seed funding and invaluable mentorships, empowering our talented individuals to transform their ideas into impactful ventures.”
Among the recent beneficiaries of the Batey programmes are the indie video game development studio Cloud of Pinky and Stick’em, a 3D-printed geometric connector startup aiming to make education affordable and accessible for underprivileged children in Singapore and Southeast Asia.
SP’s endeavor aligns with the broader trend in Singapore’s polytechnics, which are dedicated to nurturing students’ creative abilities. Last year, Nanyang Polytechnic partnered with Mediacorp to establish a new centre for omnichannel marketing, designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This joint effort strives to strengthen the development and training of learners and academic staff to better navigate the global media and entertainment industry.
This article is based on information from Marketing Interactive.
