U.S. Embassy-ITE Alumni Mentoring Program Celebrates 10 years, Introduces Mental Health Literacy
PRESS RELEASE
SINGAPORE
April 30, 2022
Deputy Chief of Mission Rafik Mansour launched the tenth edition of the U.S. Embassy-ITE Alumni Mentoring Program on Saturday, April 30, 2022, at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College Central.
A total of 40 ITE students, 34 mentors, and four U.S. companies are participating in the U.S. Embassy’s flagship community engagement program which celebrates 10 successful years in 2022.
From April to September 2022, American companies will host monthly Saturday morning mentoring sessions. Boeing, Nike, Hilton, and Google will join participants to discuss topics like innovation, resilience, sustainability, and staying relevant in an uncertain and complex world. Participants will learn skills that enhance their personal and professional competencies in preparation for the job market and future leadership opportunities.
A new addition this year is the introduction of a mental well-being module using a mobile application, in which mentors and mentees will develop the important skill of how to improve and manage their mental well-being in a world where COVID-19 is the new normal.
At the launch, DCM Mansour said, “The U.S. Embassy and ITE partnership is a great example of what the United States and Singapore can do together to create opportunities for students from across Singapore. Mentorship is an important American value, building mutual understanding through shared experiences and guidance. Learning from failure builds resilience and prepares us to face difficult challenges ahead.”
ITE College Central Principal Suresh Natarajan said, “Mentors from different walks of life and successful in diverse fields have guided our students in pursuing their passion and exploring their career options. While the lasting impact of their mentorship on our students is undeniable, it is also said by many that mentoring is not a one-way street, but an opportunity for growth and sharing for both mentee and mentor. Seeing returning and new mentors committing to this program each year is a testimony of the value it brings to everyone.”
The program connects ITE students with mentors who are notable Singaporean alumni of U.S. government exchange programs such as the Fulbright Program, the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), and the Southeast Asian Young Leaders Program (SEAYLP).
Since it began in 2013, over 700 mentors and mentees have participated in the U.S. Embassy-ITE Alumni Mentoring Program. For this year’s mentoring program, over 25% of mentors have participated in the program for seven years or more.
The U.S. Embassy-ITE Alumni Mentoring Program demonstrates the U.S. commitment to Singapore by strengthening people-to-people connections, investing in human capital, and tapping the talents and resources of U.S. companies based in Singapore
Media interested in covering future sessions should email SingaporePASMedia@state.gov.
Media Contact:
U.S. Embassy Singapore
Hazlina Abdul Halim
Tel: 9105 3901/ 9066 7721
Email: AbdulhalimH@state.gov
Institute of Technical Education
Jailani Nathan
Tel: 6590 2025/ 9871 8009
Email: Jailani_Nathan@ite.edu.sg
###
About U.S. Embassy Singapore:
U.S. Embassy Singapore consists of 25 U.S. Federal Government agencies working in Singapore and the region. The U.S. Embassy works to maintain a strong bilateral relationship with the Government of Singapore and to increase the security and prosperity of Americans at home and in Southeast Asia. Additional information about the U.S. Embassy in Singapore can be found at https://sg.usembassy.gov/.
About Institute of Technical Education (ITE):
The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) was established as a post-secondary institution in 1992, under the Ministry of Education. ITE is a principal provider of career and technical education and a key developer of national skills certification and standards skilling Singapore for the future economy. It offers three key programmes – (1) Pre-Employment Training for youths after secondary education (2) Continuing Education and Training for adult learners and (3) Workplace Learning and Work-Study Programmes with employers. Under its ‘One ITE System, Three Colleges’ Governance Model, ITE has three Colleges – ITE College Central, ITE College East and ITE College West. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.ite.edu.sg