Growing people, growing impact: How Republic Polytechnic lives its purpose beyond SG60
 

When Singapore marked its 60th year of independence, Republic Polytechnic (RP) took the moment to pause and reflect, not just on what it has achieved as an educational institution, but on why it exists in the first place.

For RP, SG60 was a moment to reaffirm its purpose: shaping individuals who grow through service, and creating impact that reaches well beyond its campus. Guided by the twin ideas of #GreaterMe and #GreaterImpact, RP’s SG60 initiatives show what happens when organisations weave purpose into everyday learning, work, and partnerships.

From staff and student volunteering to sustainability education and community fundraising, RP offers a practical example of how institutions, and the businesses they collaborate with, can turn intent into action.

Achieving personal growth through service: #GreaterMe in action

RP believes that people grow when they serve others.

This belief came to life in 2025, as staff and students volunteered with charities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and social service agencies (SSAs) across Singapore and the region. Service-learning projects formed the backbone of these efforts, embedding real-world social issues directly into the learning experience.

For example, RP students engaged seniors through Learn‑to‑Play Sports Workshops, creating inclusive spaces that encouraged movement and meaningful connection. They also brought joy to participants at the Metta Day Activity Centre for the Intellectually Disabled through Crafting Smiles, a student‑initiated service‑learning project. Working closely with centre staff, the students planned and facilitated arts‑and‑crafts sessions thoughtfully tailored to each participant’s strengths, abilities, and interests. With intentionally small group ratios, each session offered personalised attention, meaningful engagement, and a supportive environment for creativity to thrive. Through these efforts, the students gained valuable hands‑on experience — from planning and facilitation to direct interaction — building trust, boosting confidence, and creating genuine moments of joy, one smile at a time.

These experiences helped students build empathy, leadership skills, and a deeper understanding of social issues – lessons they can’t learn from textbooks alone.

RP’s annual Make A Difference (M.A.D) Festival 2025 further amplified this spirit of service. More than 1,700 staff and students connected with 50 community partners, exploring causes ranging from environmental action to digital literacy for seniors. Over 100 student leaders co-created showcases and talks, learning how to engage communities meaningfully and responsibly.

The results speak for themselves: 95% of student respondents reported feeling more motivated to participate in future service-learning initiatives.

Volunteering also extended into RP’s wider neighbourhood. During the Northwest CDC Service Weeks, staff and students packed and distributed food and daily essentials to residents in need. These simple acts helped build a shared culture of care, reminding participants that giving back doesn’t always require grand gestures – just consistency and heart.

Partnering for good: Learning with the community

A defining feature of RP’s approach is collaboration. Its service-learning programmes are designed with community organisations from the start, ensuring that learning addresses real needs while delivering genuine value to partners.

Organisations like Care Community Services Society (CCSS) have seen the impact of this model firsthand. As CCSS Executive Director Mr Dewin Lee shared, “Our partnership with RP has created meaningful service-learning opportunities for students while supporting children and seniors in our community. We look forward to growing this collaboration further.” 

For organisations, this sets a practical example: purposeful partnerships work best when they’re long-term, mutually beneficial, and embedded into core activities rather than one-off projects.

Showcasing sustainability in action: RP’s Green Campus Tours

Sustainability was another key focus of RP’s SG60 journey. Instead of keeping their sustainability efforts behind closed doors, RP chose to make them visible and accessible.

Through its Green Campus Tours, RP opened its doors to the public, welcoming nearly 200 participants across eight sessions in 2025. Visitors explored eco-smart features such as solar panels, vertical green walls, and energy-efficient infrastructure, learning how thoughtful design can reduce energy use and environmental impact. By making sustainability visible and accessible, RP helped participants connect theory with practice.

This hands-on approach matters: seeing sustainable solutions in action can spark new ideas and encourage organisations to adopt greener practices in their own spaces. 

Turning miles into hope: Community giving in action

One of RP’s most visible SG60 initiatives was its inaugural Miles of Hope virtual fundraising run. Held from 7 August to 30 September, the campaign brought staff, students, and alumni together under a simple message: “Run a mile, bring a smile”.

More than 260 participants clocked over 19,800 kilometres, while over 180 donors rallied behind the cause on giving.sg. Together, they raised more than S$60,000 for the RP Education Fund.

These funds will go directly towards bursaries, scholarships, and enhanced learning spaces, helping students pursue their aspirations with confidence. Each step taken translates into tangible support, a powerful reminder that small individual actions can add up to meaningful change when a community moves together.

Beyond SG60: Volunteering as company culture

RP’s commitment to giving back doesn’t end with SG60 celebrations. In line with the national #InGoodCompany movement by LinkedIn and the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), RP renewed its focus on embedding volunteering into organisational culture.

Through NVPC’s Project V, RP staff volunteered as youth mentors, senior befrienders, and supporters of local causes. As Mr Ng Tion Huat, Senior Director of Corporate Services at RP, put it: “At RP, giving back is part of who we are. When we serve with heart, we create impact that goes far beyond campus.”

This mindset hinges on RP’s ExCITE values, where C stands for “Care” as a lived practice rather than a slogan. It shows leaders how purpose becomes sustainable when systems, recognition, and leadership commitment support it.

All these efforts have even been recognised nationally. In 2025, RP received the Organisations of Good (Public Institution) award at the President’s Volunteerism and Philanthropy Awards and was also named a Champion of Good (COG) by NVPC.

Looking ahead: Building a legacy beyond SG60

As the SG60 celebrations drew to a close, RP’s experience offered a clear lesson: purpose is most potent when it’s embedded in everyday operations.

By integrating service-learning into education, opening its campus as a sustainability classroom, and mobilising its community to give back, RP has set a strong benchmark for Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL) in Singapore. More importantly, its legacy lies in the people it nurtures – articulate self-starters, passionate community builders, and purposeful game-changers ready to shape a better society.

For organisations reflecting on their own role in Singapore’s next chapter, RP’s journey shows what’s possible when growth of the individual (#GreaterMe) and impact on society (#GreaterImpact) are pursued together. With the right intent, partnerships, and culture, purpose becomes part of how work gets done every single day.