Institute of Technical Education

Institute of Technical Education
	File:ITElogo.jpg
Established	1992
Location	Singapore
Website	http://www.ite.edu.sg

The Institute of Technical Education (Abbreviation: ITE; Chinese: 工艺教育学院) is a post-secondary institution in Singapore that provides pre-employment training to secondary school leavers and continuing education and training to working adults.

History

Since its establishment on 1 April 1992, ITE has developed itself into an institution well-known for its provision of a broad-based, multi-disciplinary curriculum that ranges from engineering to technical, business and service skills areas. Students enrolled take a two year course, where upon completion they receive an internationally-recognised National ITE Certificate (Nitec).

ITE has gone through several transformations – from being a provider of basic vocational training to secondary school leavers to its current status as a world-class technical education institution. Today, ITE is recognised locally and internationally for providing a unique brand of college education, pioneering new approaches in teaching and learning, and developing successful Hands-on, Minds-on, Hearts-on graduates.

In 2005, ITE received the Singapore Quality Award that served as a national recognition as a unique world-class institution for overall business excellence and marks the significant transformation of ITE since its establishment as a post-secondary institution in 1992.

To date, nearly 240,000 of the Singapore workforce have benefited from an ITE education. The knowledge, skills and values they acquired at ITE have put many on the path to success in their careers as technicians and skilled professionals. Many ITE graduates have gone on to become supervisors, professionals, managers and entrepreneurs. Others have taken the academic path in progressing to diploma and degree levels.

Other awards that ITE has won include:

- PRISM Award - Excellence Award for Outstanding Overall Corporate Reputation Enhancement Programme - Singapore (2008) 
- People Developer Award (2008) 
- President’s Social Service Award (2007) 
- Harvard University-IBM Innovations Award in Transforming Government (2007) 
- PRISM Award - Excellence Award for Best Public Service Campaign (Government) (2006 & 2000)
- Singapore Quality Award (2005) 
- Distinguished Public Service Award for Organisational Excellence (2005) 
- Outstanding Innovation & Quality Circles Organisation Award (2005, 2000 & 1996) 
- Public Service Award for Organisational Excellence (2003) 
- Singapore Quality Class (1999) 
- People Developer Award (2000) 
- ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System (2002) 
- Singapore HEALTH Award [Platinum (2005); Gold (2004, 2003 & 2002)] 
- Corporate Volunteer Award (Commendation) (1999)

Student intake and conditions

The students of ITE usually enter at one of three stages - they may have failed the PSLE examinations more three times, and as a result, are deemed mentally unfit to go to secondary school and therefore, have to go to the ITE as they would definitely not be able to cope in mainstream schools, and the ITE is better suited for their needs. The second way is that they have completed the Normal Technical course in secondary school, and they want to further their technical education, so they go to the ITE. However, most students are more likely to go to a Polytechnic instead, as a polytechnic offers better courses and is more likely to earn them a better-paying job in future, compared to the ITE. The third way is that they have failed their "N" level examinations and therefore, have nowhere else to go except for ITE. However, dropouts from this are not uncommon.

Colleges

To meet the challenges of the global economy, ITE has adopted a "One ITE System, Three Colleges" Governance and Education Model. The Model builds on the ITE brand name and identity under a "One ITE System" to deliver consistent standards, quality programmes and successful graduates.

Under this system, while ITE Headquarters oversees system and policy changes and ensures standards under "One ITE System", the institution's three Colleges are empowered to develop niche areas of excellence that will enhance the attractiveness of ITE Education, and responsiveness to industry and student needs.