Most students say internships influenced career decisions: Ngee Ann Polytechnic

Internships help students to decide their career paths, a new study by Ngee Ann Polytechnic revealed on Monday (May 18).

According to the survey, 93 per cent indicated that internships influenced their career decisions. Before the stint, 32 per cent said they were undecided about their post-graduation plans. The figure dropped to 18 per cent after their internships, the study showed.

Additionally, about half, specifically 53 per cent, of respondents said they will pursue their interest in fields related to their course before their internships. After the stint, the figure rose to 63 per cent, the polytechnic said.

The study was conducted by Ngee Ann Polytechnic and polled about 900 final-year students.

LEARNING HAS TO BE LIFELONG

Speaking at the graduation ceremony for the first batch of about 300 students at Ngee Ann Polytechnic on Monday, Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin said the country's SkillsFuture initiative is "fundamentally important for the nation and individuals".

That is because the world is changing at such a fast rate that learning has to be lifelong, he added.

Mr Tan said the Government will provide as many options for Singaporeans to stay relevant and continue to grow in their careers. But just as important is how Singaporeans view the world and their attitude towards life, he said.

The minister said graduands would naturally want to find a dream job but "life doesn't always work out as we wish".

He pointed to the qualities of resilience and of being able to learn to adapt, as a way of creating one's dreams and aspirations, however life turns out.