In this mini series, we feature mid-career SITizens, who have stepped out of their comfort zones in the workforce and embarked on new learning journeys, to find out what drives them to take ownership of their professional and personal development.

Alvin Ong, Year 3, Civil Engineering 

Senior Sales Representative, Highway International

Becoming a Student Again

Alvin Ong, 38, was excited about enrolling into the SkillsFuture Work-Study Degree (WSDeg) programme in Civil Engineering, jointly offered by SIT and the University of Glasgow, back in 2018. However, he had concerns about returning to school as a mature learner. “I hadn’t done Math in 16 years since my polytechnic days. I initially struggled with the transition, having to keep up with my lectures and assignments,” said the father of two boys.

Prior to embarking on the WSDeg programme, Alvin had built himself a decent sales career at Highway International Private Limited over eight years, specialising in building material supplies. With a marketing degree from the University of Bradford (through MDIS) under his belt, he initially pursued a career closer to his field of study before landing a role at Highway International.

“My first job was doing marketing in the FMCG (Fast-moving Consumer Goods) industry, and I was soon recommended for this role at Highway International by a close friend in the construction industry. Although I had a better offer from another FMCG company, I found the work at Highway interesting, particularly their work involving the construction and maintenance of roads.”

Alvin carved out his niche specialising in asphalt systems, leading him to work on all sorts of projects for government and private entities, and taking him to less-travelled locations like Jurong Island and military installations. “I treasure my experience as I’ve seen so much and met all kinds of people from directors to foremen, with the same purpose of wanting to understand how our asphalt system works,” he reflected.

Feeling Limited in the Face of Growing Responsibilities

As he progressed in his career, Alvin moved on to handle more than just sales, to include other aspects of the business, like client management, operations, and project management. Though he had learnt a lot on the job, Alvin felt his current knowledge and skill sets may limit his career growth. He started toying with the idea of furthering his education. “I felt that I needed to understand engineering concepts, so I would be more equipped in the field, and be able to better manage my clients,” quipped Alvin.

He learnt about the WSDeg programme in Civil Engineering that his colleagues were enrolled in. He was drawn to the idea of being able to rotate between his studies and work, under the ‘Work-Day/Study-Day’ model, where he spends three days of the week in university, and the other two days at work. The convenience of having the industrial attachment component at Highway International also made this enticing. Alvin took the leap of faith to apply and was accepted.

It Takes a Village

The journey has not been easy, but Alvin shared that the support from the people around him helped him persevere.

His bosses and colleagues, who were very supportive of him furthering his studies, helped to lighten his load wherever they could. He was also touched by the generosity extended to him by his younger peers in the course. “I expected them to be competitive, and initially thought that as a mature learner, I would not be well-received. I couldn’t have been more wrong. There are no visible barriers between the undergrad and WSDeg students. My classmates were more than willing to help me,” Alvin shared.

Now equipped with new skills and knowledge, Alvin was glad he took the leap of faith. “At the crossroads of any major decisions, you will always feel inadequate. Second guessing yourself is normal. But, if this is truly what you want, go for it!” said Alvin.

Alvin (second from left) and his team working on a road diversion project at Bukit Batok for the Land Transport Authority (LTA).