The tiny island nation of Singapore recently took delivery of its second MiniLab Gas Turbine Power System. Temasek Engineering School, a division of Temasek Polytechnic, operated their jet engine for the first time today. Temasek Engineering follows Ngee Ann Polytechnic, which purchased a MiniLab System earlier this year.
Mr. Chia Kwee Heng of the Department of Mechatronics Engineering at Temasek initiated the purchase of the MiniLab system for usage in their mechatronic and electrical engineering, ECTM and continuing education programs (pictured second from right).
The mechatronic and electrical engineering programs at Temasek include a "cluster option" in aerospace engineering and aerospace electronics. This program, unique to Temasek, allows students to specialize in a particular field of study such as electrical engineering while getting a firm grounding in topics specific to aerospace and aerospace electronics. Operation of the MiniLab System will expose these students to typical aerospace practice while affording them significant hands on operational experience that would be difficult to achieve in a more traditional academic manner.
Temasek's ECTM program works in a similar manner in that it gives first year students a broad exposure to engineering topics in Electronics, Telecommunications, Computer Engineering and Microelectronics. The MiniLab will be used to stress real world applications within these study areas permitting entering students a better understanding of these specific disciplines before committing to a diploma track.
Continuing education programs will also benefit through the hands on aspect. Graduates from Temasek go on to work in a variety of industries. Knowledge and experience gained through operation and study of the MiniLab will serve these students well as they begin their careers in engineering.
