Ngee Ann Poly, J&J S'pore tie up to open training centre for data analysis, marketing

NP students Kishor Chidambaranathan (left) and Huang Qiling demonstrating the POP6 retail technology on April 13, 2022. ST PHOTO: THADDEUS ANG

SINGAPORE - About 500 Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) business students will be trained in data analysis and the development of marketing strategies, thanks to a three-year tie-up with global healthcare company Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Singapore.

To facilitate this, the J&J Experience Centre was launched on Wednesday (April 13), so that students can learn to manage a bricks and mortar store and experiment with online-to-offline marketing strategies.

J&J Singapore may adopt some of the strategies developed by the students.

The partnership will also see the company providing real-life business scenarios for students' projects, arranging mentorships and organising workshops on the latest industry trends.

NP principal and chief executive Lim Kok Kiang said the collaboration will offer students authentic learning opportunities.

"By infusing industry-real learning in our curriculum, our students will gain access to a wealth of relevant industry expertise to hone their skills and competencies, as well as first-hand knowledge of industry trends and developments," he added.

Second-year accounting student Huang Qiling, 20, told The Straits Times on Wednesday that she is looking forward to studying the latest technologies that are relevant to a career in the financial sector.

"I aim to go into either auditing or financial planning, which means analysing data is important."

Mr Jan Meurer, J&J's president for South-east Asia, said that with the tie-up, the company aims to groom the next generation of business leaders.

"Our goal is to provide industry-leading guidance to spur career development and professional growth, and broaden their (the students') career aspirations in the healthcare retail sector."

Ms Low Yen Ling, the Minister of State for Trade and Industry, and Culture, Community and Youth, officially opened the centre, which is on the NP campus in Clementi Road.

(From left) President of J&J Southeast Asia Jan Meurer, Principal & CEO of NP Lim Kok Kiang and Minister of State for Trade and Industry, and Culture, Community and Youth Ms Low Yen Ling on April 13, 2022. ST PHOTO: THADDEUS ANG

She said the partnership will give the retail sector a much-needed boost.

"This will allow us to develop a pipeline of industry-relevant future-ready talent to ensure that we will have a vibrant retail sector... and also to ensure that Singapore remains a very attractive and compelling lifestyle destination for tourists in the new normal," she added.

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