For his tireless efforts in promoting the profession while juggling his studies, leadership roles, and personal development, final-year undergraduate Shane Lim Ruiyuan became the first Singaporean in almost 20 years to win a Best Student Award from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Shane Lim is the first Singaporean in almost 20 years to clinch the Frederic Barnes Waldron Best Student Award from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. (Photo: Shane Lim)

Shane Lim Ruiyuan’s journey to international recognition was not characterised by a single defining moment, but by a year of sustained leadership, service, and advocacy for the engineering profession.

In October 2025, the final-year Singapore Institute of Technology–University of Glasgow (SIT-UofG) Mechanical Engineering undergraduate was awarded the Frederic Barnes Waldron Best Student Award from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), becoming the first Singaporean in almost 20 years to receive the honour.

Presented annually to students from universities with courses accredited by the London-based IMechE, the award recognises leadership, service, and meaningful contribution to the engineering community. IMechE is an international independent professional body for mechanical engineers.

Adding to the achievement, the IMechE SIT-UofG Student Chapter, which Shane led as President in 2024, won its first-ever Outstanding Industry Student Chapter Award in February 2025, conferred by SIT.

This success was a “full circle” moment for Shane. Just a year earlier, he had attended SIT’s Student Leaders Appreciation Night as a newly appointed student leader, watching various clubs being recognised for their achievements. Turning to those around him, he remarked light-heartedly that he hoped his team would one day be recognised on that stage as well.

That hope became reality at the 2025 Student Leaders Appreciation Night. Under his leadership the IMechE SIT-UofG Student Chapter received the Outstanding Student Chapter Award for 2024 – the first time the chapter had achieved this milestone.

SIT-UofG IMechE Student Chapter exco members at the SITizens Appreciation Night 2025 to receive the Outstanding Industry Student Chapter 2024 award. (Photo: Shane Lim)

“The recognition was surreal; I felt as though I was in a movie,” said Shane, 25. However, the win made sense to those who knew him: this is someone who had always sought to raise the profile of engineering and showcase its impact.

Building a Chapter, Rewriting Its Playbook

When Shane took over as President of the SIT-UofG IMechE Student Chapter in November 2023, he set out to make it more active and relevant. With the guidance and support of Dr David Li, an Associate Professor of the University of Glasgow, who serves as the Student Chapter’s Academic Liaison Officer, and other faculty mentors, Shane organised events and strengthened ties with IMechE Singapore and the UK branch.

The work was meaningful, but the pace was relentless as he was also juggling his studies. Executive Committee members, who were all full-time students, often had to miss meetings due to lab sessions or tests. On some occasions, events were held with only two or three people running the show. “People have different priorities, I completely understand that,” said Shane. “But it doesn’t make planning any easier.”

One major outreach event, “Spread Love With Engineering”, nearly fell apart because of this. The event aimed to teach basic STEM concepts to about 30 children using robots borrowed from the SIT Library. In practice, Shane had to scout the venue, design the activities, and handle most of the logistics himself. Thankfully, with a small group of volunteers, the session went well and boosted the Chapter’s service profile.

An industrial tour to high-precision mould manufacturer Univac was another highlight. Students appreciated the rare opportunity to tour a potential future workplace and ask its engineers unfiltered questions. Together, these efforts helped the Chapter earn its first nomination — and eventual win — for Outstanding Student Chapter.

Honing Skills Beyond the Classroom

At the same time, Shane grew as a communicator. He represented SIT twice at the national Speak Out for Engineering (SOfE) competitions in 2023 and 2024, placing second both times. Ninety per cent of the scoring at SOfE is based on presentation skills, mirroring SIT’s own Effective Communication module that all engineering students take in their first trimester. Shane went further by adding technical depth to his presentations on robotic operating systems and airport improvements, drawing from what he had learnt at school and in his earlier work.

Shane Lim was awarded second place at the national Speak Out for Engineering (SOfE) competition in 2024. (Photo: Shane Lim)

He was also often asked to step up with little notice. At the Young Engineers Singapore event in 2025 organised by IMechE Singapore Branch, the official emcee was stuck in traffic, and Shane was asked to take over on the spot. At another high-profile gala in 2024, he had only half a day to prepare a speech after a fellow student backed out. He handled both confidently — moments that helped him stand out in the eyes of IMechE representatives from Singapore and the UK.

“Presentation skills matter,” said Shane. “In a world of competent engineers, how you communicate sets you apart.”

He found time to explore other interests too. The SIT Running Club, for example, became an important part of his routine and a way to manage stress. Training for an hour about three times a week helped him build stamina. He completed his first half marathon in 2024, followed by a full marathon the following year.

He was also drawn to other hands-on and people-centric CCAs. The SIT Motorcycle Club was where he honed his mechanical fundamentals by taking apart dummy engines. As a member of SIT’s emcee club Viva Voce, structured training sharpened his confidence in public speaking, a skill that is now one of his greatest strengths.

Shane distils his approach to life into three principles: building connections, working smart, and nurturing his passions. These values reflect SIT’s Core Values - being purposeful and agile in pursuing meaningful impact, respectful in working with others, and maintaining a high level of integrity while striving for excellence. They guided his presidency, his competitions, and the countless hours he spent planning events and supporting his peers. “The IMechE Student Chapter now has 70 per cent of the SIT-UofG Mechanical Engineering student population as its members,” said Shane. “I hope that will continue growing to 100 per cent, and one day, SIT will field more representatives for the SOfE competitions, instead of just one or two.”

He also hopes that engineering will gain greater public recognition. “Ask a child what a doctor or lawyer does, and they can tell you,” he said. “But ask them what an engineer does, and most don’t know.”

As Shane’s story shows, engineering is not merely about technical know-how. It is also about soft skills like communication and showing up for others — qualities that SIT continues to nurture in its students.