ITE, yacht operator sign 4th MOU on scholarships, internships for passenger services students

SINGAPORE – She had to contend with rocky waters during the monsoon season and long working hours over the course of her six-month internship, but while “it was not all smooth sailing”, Ms Priscilla Pang said she still looked forward to going to work on the Royal Albatross.

During that time, she served guests, managed registrations and arranged tables aboard the luxury yacht, which offers cruises and dining experiences departing from its base on Sentosa. When the stint ended in 2023, she continued to work part-time on the ship as a server, and embarked on a full-time role as a reservations executive in May – despite securing a place in early childhood education at a polytechnic.

The 24-year-old, who graduated with a Higher Nitec in Passenger Services from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), had interned with Tall Ship Adventures (TSA), which operates the Royal Albatross. The tall ship is rigged with masts and sails to harness wind power, although it also has a modern engine.

On July 24, TSA and ITE signed their fourth memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will offer students a bond-free scholarship and internship opportunities on the leisure ship.

For the next three years, up to 20 scholarships worth about $4,000 each will be handed out annually to passenger services students, covering their training for industry certificates in areas such as food safety, and a specialised certificate for managing passengers on a ship. 

The recipients will then undergo eight days of training, consisting of theory and practical lessons, followed by eight days working on board the Royal Albatross. Following interviews, three to five students will then be selected for a six-month internship with TSA.

More than 120 ITE students have undergone training and internships with TSA since the first partnership was inked in January 2015.

TSA will hand out scholarships for the first time since 2021 under this latest agreement. As the Covid-19 pandemic had disrupted its operations, it could not sponsor students for training under the previous MOU, but still offered internships.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education Shawn Huang, who was guest of honour at the MOU signing on Sentosa, said the agreement highlights ITE’s emphasis on industry-focused training by working with industry players like TSA. 

Speaking to about 180 guests at the event, he said: “Companies can get to know and discover the goals and needs of future employees, while tapping on their fresh perspectives to explore new boundaries. At the same time, students have the opportunity to gain insight into companies’ ethos and ambitions.”

ITE chief executive Low Khah Gek, who signed the agreement with TSA CEO Peter L. Pela, said the partnership between ITE and TSA will help students to build careers in the tourism sector.

“By bringing the classroom to the decks of the Royal Albatross, we provide students with the opportunity to learn through practical experience, helping them to foster a deeper understanding of industry standards and cultivate the necessary skill sets to thrive in this dynamic environment.”

Mr Pela said: “As portrayed in Netflix’s Below Deck, yachting is a fun, rewarding and a well-paid career. But unfortunately, there aren’t many opportunities for locals to get exposure to this industry in Singapore.”

Unlike commercial shipping, yacht crews are small and multi-disciplined, so everyone must start on the bottom rung of the ladder by learning the ropes, he added.

“We appreciate it’s not for everyone. However, unless we expose the opportunity, the career, the lifestyle and our industry to the students, they will never be given a chance to marry passion with a career. So we are just trying to do our bit, in hope that we can attract young blood with passion into the industry.”

While most of Ms Pang’s course mates served as interns in the aviation industry, she had been intrigued by the unique working environment on a ship. “I enjoyed my internship on board the Royal Albatross, and how close-knit this company is... I am treated like family, and it feels very homely.”

Explaining her decision to work with TSA instead of furthering her studies, she said: “Do I really want to waste seven years (studying), or should I work my way up now, somewhere I actually enjoy?”