SP Group donates S$1.35m to support 450 disadvantaged ITE students

SINGAPORE utility group SP Group is donating S$1.35 million to support 450 engineering school students in the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) through the inaugural SP Group Engineering Study Awards.

The funds will be disbursed monthly to the students, who come from low-income families, over the next 3 years, the group said on Tuesday (Apr 12).

Launched today, the new awards will complement existing book prizes for ITE's electrical engineering students offered by the group.

The group is working with ITE to send students on work-study stints in areas like power grids, sustainable energy, and new technologies. It also links students up with SP Group's engineers, who serve as mentors.

The group noted that more than 16 per cent of its 3,600 staff are ITE alumni. Among them, close to 60 per cent went on to pursue further education and attained diplomas or degrees.

Stanley Huang, group chief executive officer (CEO) of SP Group, said the group is committed to encouraging youth to pursue their career aspirations, regardless of their socio-economic background.

"ITE has provided many of our technical officers and technicians a strong foundation to grow their engineering capabilities," he added.

ITE CEO Low Khah Gek said the study award will enable students with financial needs to take on fewer part-time jobs and focus on their education.

One such award recipient is Jackie Lim, a first-year Nitec mechatronics and robotics student who works part-time at a supermarket to help with his family's expenses.

"I am happy to receive the study award, because it means I do not need to keep thinking about having to work more hours and can instead focus more time on school," said Lim.

For over 20 years, SP Group has awarded more than 450 education scholarships, sponsorships and book prizes, amounting to S$10 million, to students with a passion for engineering across all tertiary education institutions.

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