Innovative Changemakers Programme

Our Goals

In our pursuit to foster an innovative mindset among our students, the school's innovation thrust endeavours to create diverse platforms for Pei Hwa students. These platforms serve to introduce students to the dynamic innovations of the VUCA world, enabling them to explore, apply, and showcase their innovative ideas and projects.

Leveraging on our very own Pei Hwa Innovation Cycle, we aim to develop an innovative mindset in our students, equipping them with the eight characteristics of an innovator’s mindset as defined by George Couros.

Our Programmes

To bring our School's vision of nurturing Future-Ready Learners and Forward-Looking Leaders to fruition, it is essential to foster an innovative mindset within our students.

In Pei Hwa Secondary School, the approach of a tiered student development is adopted. This differentiated approach aims to provide suitable platforms for students with different readiness levels to be exposed to, apply and exhibit the innovative mindset:

• School Wide Programme (Whole school)
• Talent Development Programme (Students with higher readiness)

As part of the tiered student development in Pei Hwa Secondary School, the Innovation Talent Development Programme (TDP) aims to target and select around 30 Secondary 1 to 3 students who have indicated a keen interest in the areas of innovation.

Exposure

Innovation TDP provides opportunities for students to gain exposure through learning journeys, discussion forums, speaker series and workshops.

1. Learning Journeys to Design Bridge, Red Dot Museum, 3M, Temasek Polytechnic (School of Design)
2. Speaker Series and Discussion Forums with Established Industrial Experts
3. Training Workshops

Application

Students in the Innovation TDP are also provided with opportunities to apply their innovative mindsets in external platforms/competitions that are nationally recognised.

• MOE Innovation Programme (MOE IvP)

MOE Innovation Programme provides a unique opportunity for pupils to develop their problem-solving and thinking skills. In this year-long journey, students will be able to work alongside with Innovation mentors from the partner institutions where they are able to receive quality feedback and mentorship from industrial experts.

In 2022, a total of 7 teams comprising Secondary 2 and 3 students eagerly participated in a competition aimed at generating innovative solutions to foster a more inclusive society or create a sustainable and livable city in Singapore. It fills us with great pride to announce that Pei Hwa has achieved remarkable success, securing 1 Distinction and 6 Merit awards. Furthermore, the team that earned the prestigious Distinction award has been bestowed with the esteemed Tan Kah Kee Young Inventors' Encouragement Award, highlighting their exceptional accomplishments.

• Design for Change Singapore Challenge

The Design for Change Singapore Challenge is one of Singapore’s largest inter-school challenges, recognising young change makers and their meaningful work. Student participants will apply the Design-Thinking problem-solving framework to identify and address community problems and lead social change projects in their own schools, homes, neighbourhood or community.

• Shell STEM Challenge

This programme aims to build awareness, develop knowledge and provide thinking tools and complex problem - solving skills to the leaders of the future.

• Digital Business Challenge

The primary objective of this programme is to identify existing needs and propose groundbreaking business ideas by harnessing the power of smart technology. A team of students won the award for the best visual merchandise.

• Youth Technopreneur Hackathon

Presented by Temasek Foundation and organised by Science Centre Singapore, the Young Technopreneurs for a Sustainable 2030 challenge aims to encourage young people to brainstorm, develop and prototype solutions to achieve sustainable development, as encapsulated in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

• Samsung Solve for Tomorrow

Through harnessing the potential of cutting-edge technologies and fostering a spirit of innovation, this competition platform aims to inspire and ignite the creation of impactful inventions with tangible real-world benefits.

In 2018, a team of students emerged as one of the top 3 winning teams in the Secondary School category in Singapore.

Exhibitions

The inclusion of exhibition opportunities in the TDP aims to provide a platform for students to showcase and exhibit their innovative endeavours on a diverse array of internal and external exhibition platforms, celebrating their creativity and achievements.

One of the teams which had participated in the MOE IvP was provided with an opportunity to share their innovative solutions at the Young Innovators’ Fair.

Some of these platforms include:

• School assembly talks
• Streamnovation Week
• Young Innovators’ Fair
• Maker Extravaganza
• Edutech Asia
• Tan Kah Kee Young Inventors' Award