Upgrading of ITE campuses Smart home tech used to change the way students learn

Revamped lab at ITE College East equipped with sleeping capsule, hydroponics systems

- Elisha Tushara

Beam me up, Scotty!

The iconic phrase from Star Trek pops to mind when one enters a certain ITE College East lab, which has been modelled after the starship Enterprise from the science-fiction TV series.

With its sleek, sci-fi-inspired design and high-tech training areas, the revamped facility is changing the way students learn about electronics and automation.

The lab makes learning interactive and exciting, said Mr Austin Wu, senior lecturer at the School of Electronics and Info-Comm Technology, with students feeling like they are boarding a spaceship for an exciting mission.

As Star Trek's Captain James T. Kirk would say: "To boldly go where no man has gone before."

The transformation of the Connectivity Solutions Lab began in 2021, when the Institute of Technical Education saw the need to update its learning spaces to keep up with modern industry trends.

What was once a regular classroom has now become a high-tech training ground where students can practise their skills in different zones that replicate real-world applications.

The revamped lab, officially launched in 2023, had its newest upgrade—a smart home technology program by security and investigations company Fermax—installed in November 2024.

ITE College East also upgraded its HortiTech Hub in 2024, turning it into a fully automated high-tech indoor farm.

In this second instalment of a three-part series, The Straits Times has a closer look at how all three ITE campuses have updated their facilities to keep up with evolving industry needs and deepen student learning.

CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS LAB

A special training space for students in the Higher Nitec in electronics engineering course, the Connectivity Solutions Lab allows hands-on experience with smart systems, automation and modern technology.