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2022 Singapore Chongqing Youth Talent Internship Program Launching Ceremony

Chongqing, December 17, 2021 – The opening ceremony of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Big Data Intelligent Industry Demonstration Park was held in the Xiantao International Big Data Valley in Yubei District. During the event, the online signing ceremony of China-Singapore cooperation projects in the field of information and communication was inked, together with the launch of the 2022 Singapore Chongqing Youth Talent Internship Program

The launch of the Singapore (Chongqing) Youth Talent Station internship program in 2022 signifies the determination of Chongqing enterprises to bring in high-quality overseas talents. The program is a talent cooperation project created by China and Singapore to jointly promote remote internships and entrepreneurship among Singaporean university students and young talents.

WiseNet Asia, as a close partner of the Singapore (Chongqing) Youth Talent Station, is represented by Karen Woong, General Manager, China.  Ms Woong, together with leaders of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Connectivity Initiative Bureau and the People’s Government of Yubei District, jointly launched the 2022 Singapore (Chongqing) Youth Talent Station Internship Program. The heads of the four universities, National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Polytechnic University, and Singapore Xinyue University of Social Sciences, also participated in the launching ceremony online.

According to the plan, in 2022, we will continue to launch summer joint internships, accelerate the progress of cooperation with Singapore Management University (SMU) and University of Technology and Design (SUTD), and strive to achieve full coverage with all 6 public universities in Singapore within this year (currently four post pandemic).  It is planned to promote 100 young talents from universities and colleges to come to Yubei for field inspections, innovation and entrepreneurship, and provide more international outstanding young talents for high-quality enterprises.

The Singapore (Chongqing) Youth Talent Station will be based on the Yubei District Youth Talent Station. Through the establishment of strategic cooperation with top universities in Singapore, it will take the lead in promoting young talents from Singapore and the “Belt and Road” countries to come to Chongqing for internship training, entrepreneurship and employment.

With its sound talent servicing mechanism and collaboration model, the youth talent station will continue to expand its network base in the future, and explore to provide more international outstanding young talents for Singapore enterprises and Sino-Singapore projects in Chongqing.

About the Singapore (Chongqing) Youth Talent Station

Singapore (Chongqing) Youth Talent Station is jointly started by the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative Bureau (CCIB) and the People’s Government of Yubei District. Based in Yubei District, it is the first to promote Singapore and the “Belt and Road Initiative” through the establishment of strategic talent cooperation with top universities in Singapore. “National young talents come to Chongqing for internship, training, entrepreneurship and employment, to create a demonstration platform for Sino-Singaporean youth talent cooperation.

In September 2019, the Yubei District Talent Service Center, Xiantao Big Data Valley and WiseNet Asia, Singapore inked the “Singapore (Chongqing) Youth Talent Station Collaboration Agreement”. In the same month, the People’s Government of Yubei District and the National University of Singapore signed an agreement for joint development of the Youth Talent Station. In December 2019, the first batch of 30 students from the National University of Singapore successfully carried out a 5-week cross-border internship training in more than 10 companies including Huawei Innovation Center in Xiantao Big Data Valley and Transsion Communications.

In May 2020, April 2021, and October 2021, on the basis of cooperating with the National University of Singapore, Yubei District also collaborated with Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) respectively.  In the 2020 summer remote internship program, 30 students from Singapore, Malaysia and other regions carried out a 2-month remote internship in major companies in Yubei such as Jinshan Technology and Haite Automobile Exhaust.

WiseNet Asia is responsible for coordinating the selection and placement of interns with employers, assisting interns to go to Chongqing Xiantao Big Data Valley for internships and exchanges, and will also provide a series of pre-training programs for students going overseas for internships, such as personal assessment, workplace training, cultural IQ training, etc., to prepare overseas interns for pre-employment and to integrate them into Chongqing’s culture more easily.

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Related News:

AI is Shaping Our Future and it is Not Slowing Down Anytime Soon

WiseNetAsia Knowledge Center
Copyright © 2021 WiseNet Asia Pte Ltd.  All Rights Reserved.

Tech Trends in 2022 and Future

Brace yourself, the next big thing in the tech sphere that could ultimately impact our life is when artificial intelligence (AI) teaches itself to achieve goals that humankind have yet to achieve, or have a hard time achieving.

2020 and 2021 are no doubt the toughest times for many generations – from baby boomers, millennials to Gen Z. Though there are still lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which causes fear, uncertainty and doubt in humankind, it is not surprising that people may think that the world’s progress have reached a plateau, or worse declining.

However, on the flipside, scientists have made huge advancements through research on artificial intelligence in the recent years. Many people still associate AI with science fiction robots, but in reality, AI improves and streamlines our day-to-day processes, eliminating repetitive and mundane tasks, allowing us to accomplish more in less time.

AI makes it possible for machines to learn from experience and perform human tasks, from customer service, to self-driving cars, from tools aiding us in avoiding traffic, instant translation of machines, offering books, movies and music recommendations are just some forms of examples that AI has taken up today.

Here are five interesting AI trends that will change our lives in 2022 and beyond:

  1. Bigger, bolder and better language modeling

Language modeling is a process that allows machines to comprehend and communicate with humans in a language that both understands.

Data scientists and engineers have been working on this for years and it seems to be coming into fruition, the most plausible and logical way of achieving this is by taking natural human languages and turn them into computer codes that can run applications and programs.

This is one step closer to being able to create a universal language and hold conversations that are indistinguishable from those of humans.

  1. Shifting the Future of Working

With the occurrence of a sudden pandemic that has shifted the ways of how we work, with employees being accustomed to remote working, organizations are going to need to leverage technologies seamlessly to enable collaboration for all employees regardless of location.

With tools like Slack, Zoom, Cisco, Discord, Microsoft, Google and Salesforce, we can expect to see a software and hardware boom that will continue to advance where new operating systems for work will be built to improve meeting equity and enable a level of unmatched collaboration.

The work shift is also changing how we interact and function to enable us to be more productive. More tools are going to be deployed rather than just employees living in their inboxes, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and traditional productivity tools.

  1. Effective self-driving cars powered by lithium-ion batteries

Over the coming decade, AI will inevitably guide autonomous cars, aircrafts and other moving vehicles that is going to revolutionize travel and society.

Based on an research article by WHO, approximately 1.3 people die of traffic accidents every year, and 90% were caused by human errors. When the public starts adopting the use of autonomous cars, the rates of traffic accidents will decrease tremendously.

As effective autonomous cars start penetrating into the automobile industry with further good news, Tesla says that its cars will demonstrate full self-driving capability by 2022 but more testing has to be done prior before it can be sold to the public and ready for general use.

  1. Increased adoption of Creative AI

It is a known fact that AI is being used to create art, music and video games, but 2022 will be a game changer, Google Brain, who are literally the brain behind Google’s AI research team under the umbrella of Google AI, a research division at Google dedicated to AI – they are set to redefine the boundaries of what is possible, as we can expect more creative output from them.

For instance, when AI is increasingly being applied to routine creative tasks, such as designing logos and infographics and more. Creativity has long often been seen as a human skill but we are now experiencing these capabilities appearing in machines, meaning AI is moving a step closer in terms of scope and function in what we constitute as genuine, authentic intelligence.

  1. Advanced AI in Cybersecurity

In 2021, World Economic Forum identified cybercrime as a potentially significant risk to society than terrorism itself.

This comes as a shock because physical weapons used in warfare used to be the biggest threat among all but ever since technology advanced in such an unprecedented rate where machines have almost total control of our lives, hacking and cybercrime have inevitably become a major nuisance for governments, businesses and individuals. For example, every connected device we add to a network is a potential risk where a hacker could use against us.

Here is where AI intervenes to save the day, by analyzing network traffic and learning how to recognize patterns that suggest nefarious intentions, regardless of locations, smart algorithms are playing a vital role in keeping our data and ourselves safe.

AI relies heavily on natural language processing and deep learning, not only is it just a technology but it has gradually but steadily seep into our daily lives. Many find it fascinating that AI has fully become intertwined in our lives and existence, we rely on technology on a daily basis in our lives without even realizing when did it occur.

Though unfamiliar to many at first but through curiosity and our willingness to adapt and learn, we have successfully embraced tech into our daily lives without hesitation due to the benefits it brings.

Artificial Intelligence is impacting the future virtually in every industry, and also humankind. AI is the main driver of great technologies like big data and robotics, needless to say, AI will continue to act as a technological innovator for the foreseeable future.

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Everything you need to know about the working culture in China

WiseNetAsia Knowledge Center
Copyright © 2021 WiseNet Asia Pte Ltd.  All Rights Reserved.

Understanding China’s rapid growth – How China’s work ethics shaped their present state

Confucius was a Chinese philosopher and politician around 500 BC, his Confucian values have shaped and influenced the working culture and business ethics in China. Confucianism is an ancient Chinese belief system that focuses on the importance of morality and personal ethics.

A simple understanding of Confucianism values can be of great help to recognize the impact on relationships within Chinese businesses. The fundamentals of Confucian values aim to achieve social harmony as there is a strong belief in the Chinese society that adhering to a system of hierarchy and patriarchy is the respected path to communal success, and the maintaining of harmonies is more highly valued than an individual’s success.

Some interesting facts about China; the Chinese people do not dismiss the importance of working hard but they truly embrace it, believing that hard work begets success. The working culture in China is a unique one and it can be seen as a stark difference and almost a clash with the working culture of the Western world.

In China, most employees regularly work overtime, working hours can start from 8am and 10am and finish between 6pm to 10pm or later. Working on the weekends is not uncommon as China is known for its 996 system where employees are expected to work six days a week, from 9am to 9pm. Overtime is part and parcel of the working culture in China, especially in the technology and start-up industries where employers have high expectations that their employees will get their job done in the shortest time allocated. Though it may sound daunting to foreigners, employees in China generally receive a substantial amount of annual bonuses, which can range from three to six months’ worth of salaries.

A rule of thumb in China is that juniors must show respect to seniors, this is one of the common practices in China. Seniors appreciate being introduced not by their first names, but by their titles such as Professor, Sir, or Chief.

At the workplace, the leadership team does not appreciate being contacted too frequently by juniors for matters that can be handled by their direct supervisor as they value hierarchy, they trust that their appointed direct reports are able to do their job well by guiding and coaching their juniors. Seniors cherish juniors who are able to take instructions and are accountable to perform their work without much nuisance.

In a work environment with a rigid structure, employees adhere to strict rules and guidelines, supervision by their direct report is customary. Any form of objections should be discussed in a private setting and should not be challenged in group meetings, as reputation is extremely important for seniors.

Moreover, employees who perform unasked tasks might be deemed as equivalent to subordination. In China, information flow follows a vertical hierarchical line, an employee conventionally receives vital information and clear direction from their seniors above, also regarded as top-down communication, which leaves little room for communication and feedback.

The Chinese grew up in a society of constant competition and having the spirit of being exceptionally goal-oriented and KPI-driven. The use of KPIs enables businesses to specify their goals and quantify the performance of their employees, KPI is widely implemented in most industrial enterprises and also the internal government system of China.

Bridging an intercontinental relationship through language is essential but one should not leave out the cultural expectations and social etiquette as it plays a huge role in determining workplace success.

In China, one must always take into account the importance of punctuality. Punctuality is a sign of professionalism and it helps a person stand out as a reliable and trustworthy employee. Secondly, the Chinese value respectfulness and politeness above everything, when having a conversation, never cut someone off who is speaking to make a point.

Furthermore, when a person is having their first business meeting, it is important to bring an abundant supply of business cards, which are frequently exchanged with the rest of the people present in the room.

The idiom “Hard work beats talent” is something the Chinese can firmly attest to. The Chinese are being taught that through hard work and diligence, anything can be achieved. This is a testament to the fact that China is being highly regarded as an economic superpower, in 2020 and 2021, where the COVID19 pandemic caused global economies to plummet, many countries are struggling to plan effective strategies to reopen their economies after repeated lockdowns and restrictions, China appears to be one of the largest countries to control the virus in an astounding manner and continue to show staggering growth in its economy.

For the past decade, it is not just rapid developments in the technological aspect that allowed their country to prosper but the matter of fact lies in the work ethics that the Chinese practiced on a daily basis and are accustomed to.

Gone were the days when the US was leading in artificial intelligence (AI) research. Chinese researchers are publishing more research papers on AI and securing more patents than US researchers. China is in a position to pioneer in AI to become the leader in businesses of all sizes, primarily in the tech industry where firms’ main focuses are on speech recognition and synthesis, image, and video recognition applications.

China has overtaken the US by impressive speed due to favorable circumstances such as rapid technological improvement, market conditions, and policy environments have allowed latecomer China and forerunner US on an equal footing, or more so reducing the advantages of incumbents.

China boasts great leadership in philosophy, religion, medicine, astrology, literature, and wide access to the examination system. While these attributes have influenced China today has the lures of markets and trades, promising their allies and counterparts the associated promise of wealth. China’s imperial past has shaped its present success in all three structures – economic, social, and politics.

One must always remember that, China’s old vernacular architecture will continue to disappear, and the imperial past has become an artifact, and with the new and growing governing system of China, it further reaffirms the glory, stability, and prosperity of indigenous predecessors of the present.

 

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A billionaire’s secret to success: Building a healthy routine

WiseNetAsia Knowledge Center
Copyright © 2021 WiseNet Asia Pte Ltd.  All Rights Reserved.

A common denominator between Jack Ma and Mark Zuckerberg – Good routines and self-discipline

There are approximately 7.6 billion people on earth but only a small fraction of them are billionaires. The common household names of such billionaires are none other than Elon Musk, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Dorsey, Jack Ma, and more. These are the people who have managed to change the world in a significant manner and have created phenomenally successful businesses in the world. The average Joe would regard them as role models, entrepreneurs that they look up to, mesmerized by their ability to inspire the world with their vision, passion, and work ethics.

One might ask, what is their secret to achieving such monumental and awe-inspiring accomplishments? What could be their belief and value systems? Do they ever have bad days and how do they overcome them? How are they able to have perpetual motivation and determination on a daily basis to achieve their ambitious goals? What did they do differently from an average person? Can we actually embark on this aspiring journey as them and achieve greater heights in life as well?

Rafael Badziag, an entrepreneur and expert in the psychology of entrepreneurship, stated in his book “The Billion Dollar Secret: 20 Principles of Billionaire’s Wealth and Success” wrote that “In the long term, your habits will determine your future”. In other words, “What you eat is what you become”. Furthermore, it would not be a surprise if all billionaires attest to this quote “You cannot build wealth without a strong foundation”.

Badziag interviewed 21 billionaires and found these common traits in them which created the foundation for their financial success.

  • Billionaires wake up early in the morning

On average, most billionaires go to bed and wake up early. This is a big component for their success. They follow a set routine every day, even on the weekends. There is a saying that when the sun rises it exudes a primal energy. There is more time for solitude where you can cultivate good thoughts and mentally start your day positively, followed by a healthy breakfast and a quick exercise. Many things can be accomplished when you get out of bed early as others are still sound asleep, that is where you can get a head start on your tasks.

  • Billionaires get sufficient sleep each night

Getting less sleep does not make a person productive nor successful. Though it is true that a few billionaires can function perfectly well with only 3-4 hours of sleep but the majority of them require 7-8 hours of sleep and rest in order to function at their optimum levels. Studies have shown that having insufficient amount of sleep can lead to serious repercussions such as chronic health issues, reduced cognition and delayed reactions.

  • Billionaires exercise and keep themselves healthy

“Health is wealth” is a line that people tend to throw around, but does everyone actually prioritize their health? Based on a survey, the level of physical activity was significantly reduced during the COVID19 pandemic period, the percentage has dropped from 83% to 50% for males and 46% to 31% for females. Without good health, no amount of success or money can make life better. Most billionaires maintain their good health by exercising regularly, practicing meditation and incorporating healthy eating habits into their diet.

  • Billionaires are avid readers

From Warren Buffett to Mark Zuckerberg, both voracious readers whom shared that reading is the most valuable source of knowledge. Zuckerberg would encourage his followers on Facebook to read by postings pictures of his current favorites that he read and thoroughly enjoyed, from self-help books to autobiographies to classic, they do read quite an array of different genres. Though it is not just books that billionaires read, many of them enjoy business and economic articles from The Economist, Bloomberg and Financial Times.

  • Billionaires practice immense self-discipline

Billionaires set extremely high standards of discipline for themselves and the people around them. Whether you are in sports, music, culinary – in order to master your skill, you need to practice and train regularly. As they say, nothing comes easy in life, in order to succeed, you need to work hard. Another tip is to limit the distractions and temptations that hinder your progress, always be eager to enhance your skills.

Many individuals yearn to live the lives of billionaires but the ultimate setback would be the lack of self-discipline. Here are 3 helpful insights to help cultivate self-discipline.

  1. Know your weaknesses

Acknowledging your shortcomings. For instance, it could be a technological addiction to social applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Netflix or it could be an unhealthy food addiction, such as having too much of a sweet tooth. Once you address the root cause, the next step is to take action. Too often people try to pretend that their vulnerabilities do not exist and constantly find excuses to cover up their pitfalls, but in reality, we have to own up and overcome our weaknesses.

  1. Resist unnecessary temptations

The phrase “out of sight, out of mind” may seem foolish to an ordinary person but these words do carry weight. If you are a shopaholic and would kill for sale items, take a step back and re-evaluate your situation, ask yourself, “Is this a need or a want?”, “Am I going to use this item more than once?”, “Does the price justify its value?”, once you are able to convince yourself to remove the biggest temptations in your life, it will greatly improve your sense of self-discipline.

  1. Change your perception about willpower

Based on a study by Stanford University, a person’s willpower is determined by their belief and value system. If you trust that you have a limited amount of strength and willpower, your mind will tell you that you are not able to surpass those set limits. It is our internal conceptions about willpower and self-control which determines the amount of power that we have, if we remove these subconscious barriers from our minds, we can definitely achieve our goals and make it a reality.

Individuals that spend less time debating whether to indulge in behaviors that are detrimental to their health have a higher degree of self-awareness and control. They have the ability to make better decisions on a daily basis. Impulses or emotions do not dictate their choices as they make level-headed, rational and logical decisions instead.

Also, does luck play a factor in a billionaire’s success? While luck certainly is a factor but it is not the sole justification for the monetary success of billionaires, but rather, success is a product of a billionaire’s mindset, practices and principles.

 

 

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News Release: SUSS partners WiseNet Asia and YDPG to promote cross border talent exchanges

Singapore, October 12, 2021 — The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), WiseNet Asia, and the Chongqing Yubei District People’s Government (YDPG) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly develop human capital.

The tripartite MOU, signed by SUSS Provost Professor Robbie Goh Boon Hua, WiseNet Asia Founder Mr Wesley Hui, and YDPG’s Vice Director Ms Yang Man, will see SUSS offer graduate programmes such as the Master of Management and Master of IP and Innovation Management to upskill Chongqing’s workforce. WiseNet Asia will work with YDPG and hiring companies to provide internship and employment opportunities for SUSS students in Yubei District, a major tech hub in Chongqing. YDPG will provide relevant resources in support of students’ internship programme lasting between one and six months in duration.

Professor Goh, said: “SUSS is proud to be part of this collaboration, which aims to facilitate increased collaboration in talent development and mobility between China and Singapore. For SUSS, this partnership aligns with our intention to provide students with meaningful overseas experiences to complement their academic learning. We hope to produce global-ready graduates who understand the world and its emerging issues better.”

Mr Hui, said: “China is leading the world in its economic recovery since the pandemic hit last year. Post recovery, China companies have been operating with unprecedented efficiency through accelerated technology and leading-edge systems. Yubei District, being the leading tech hub that has over 700 companies and potential employers, is the right place for students to be, where they will be exposed to some of the world’s leading technology and working standards.”

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For media queries and interviews, please contact:

SUSS
Valerie Ng (Ms)
Senior PR Manager, Communications & Marketing
Singapore University of Social Sciences
Email: valeriengww@suss.edu.sg

Tian Zhiyuan (Mr)
Manager, Communications & Marketing
Singapore University of Social Sciences
Email: ztian@suss.edu.sg

WiseNet Asia
Regine Chin (Ms)
GM, Marketing
WiseNet Asia
Email: regine.chin@wisenetasia.com

About the Singapore University of Social Sciences

Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) is a university with a rich heritage in inspiring lifelong education, and transforming society through social sciences. We develop work-ready graduates and work-adaptive alumni to their fullest potential through our 3H’s education philosophy – ‘Head’ for professional competency with applied knowledge, ‘Heart’ for social awareness to meet the needs of the society, and ‘Habit’ for passion towards lifelong learning.

We offer over 80 undergraduate and graduate programmes, available in full- and part-time study modes, which are flexible, modular and inter-disciplinary, catering to both fresh school leavers and adult learners. SUSS also offers a broad range of continuing education and training modular courses for the professional skills upgrading of Singapore’s workforce.

Our programmes and courses are made available through our five schools:

  • S R Nathan School of Human Development
  • School of Business
  • School of Humanities and Behavioural Sciences
  • School of Law
  • School of Science and Technology

To date, over 38,000 graduates have experienced our unique brand of education, and each year, about 15,000 students are pursuing their full- and part-time studies with us.

The Institute for Adult Learning (IAL), as part of SUSS, leads in the field of research on adult learning to build capabilities of the training and adult education sector in Singapore and beyond.

For more information on SUSS, please visit www.suss.edu.sg

About WiseNet Asia Pte Ltd

Founded in the year 2011, WiseNet Asia Pte Ltd is a one stop HR solutions provider and management consulting firm headquartered in Singapore, with other locations in Kuala Lumpur, Chongqing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.  WiseNet Asia’s HR solutions consist of talent acquisition, talent transition, talent development, HR outsourcing, internship programs and consulting.  WiseNet Asia’s core value is to accelerate human resources development through innovative HR models and knowledge sharing. For more information, visit http://wisenetasia.com/

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Workshop: Advance Your Career Through Overseas Opportunities In the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

The Singapore Management University (SMU) and WiseNet Asia are jointly organizing a workshop as follow:

Advance Your Career Through Overseas Opportunities In the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
DESCRIPTION:

The pandemic has provided a peek into the future, in which digital is key to all interactions.

The world, has changed dramatically. In the midst of this change, how can graduates distinguish themselves from their peers when navigating the increasingly competitive job market?

Who better to answer these questions than the HR experts themselves!

Join us in this workshop and meet HR and industry experts who will share with you how having a global and entrepreneurial mindset will give you the additional boost in your resume. This could be your ticket to the dream career you’ve always wanted.

DATE & TIME:  22 Oct 2021, Friday / 4pm (GMT +8 Singapore Time)

EVENT LINK:  https://us9.campaign-archive.com/?e=%5bUNIQID%5d&u=9fbbd955ed0eaca8758ae805e&id=ecab22fe47

 

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Webinar: The World’s Largest Megalopolis Shenzhen

WiseNet Asia, NUS Business School and the Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum are jointly organizing a webinar exclusively for their members and NUS Business School students.  The topic of the webinar is “Transforming from a Rural Village to the World’s Largest Megalopolis – Shenzhen”.

Being the world’s largest megalopolis, Shenzhen is one of the center of economic attraction for multinationals and global talents in China.  In this webinar, the speakers will introduce multinationals and Singapore companies in Shenzhen and the related career opportunities available.  There will also be sharing on the latest talent attraction policies.

EVENT INFORMATION

Date: 22 Oct 2021, Friday

Time: 2pm (GMT +8 Singapore Time)

Platform:  Zoom


ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS
Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum
Set up in 2001, Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum is the leading social organization that gathers together successful business leaders in one common platform, with the mission of nurturing and facilitating growth of new businesses.  Yabuli’s signature events include the Annual Yabuli Forum, Youth Forum and the China-US Business Leaders Roundtable.  For more information about Yabuli, please visit:  www.cefco.cn or global.cefco.cn/


WiseNet Asia Pte Ltd
Founded in the year 2011, WiseNet Asia Pte Ltd is a one stop HR solutions provider and management consulting firm headquartered in Singapore, with other locations in Kuala Lumpur, Chongqing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.  WiseNet Asia’s HR solutions consist of talent acquisition, talent transition, talent development, HR outsourcing, internship programs and consulting.  WiseNet Asia’s core value is to accelerate human resources development through innovative HR models and knowledge sharing. For more information, visit http://wisenetasia.com/

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Tips on how to foster a healthy working relationship during a pandemic

WiseNetAsia Knowledge Center
Copyright © 2021 WiseNet Asia Pte Ltd.  All Rights Reserved.

 

The COVID19 pandemic is disrupting our work routines and rituals, and these are valuable behaviors that create connection and shared meaning which we unfortunately, took for granted. The fear of not being able to go back to normalcy and the loss of routine can result in disconnection from society and further amplify distance into isolation, as most of us are being ordered to stay home to keep ourselves safe.

It truly has been a while when we could stop by at our colleagues’ workstations, bumping into them in the office hallway, talking about what we have been up to during the weekends, or following up with a colleague about the project that the we have been working on. We may have undervalued the significance of such interactions with our colleagues until we have found ourselves working from home for too long. Humans are born as social creatures; we need connection with a human being to fill the emotional void in us.

These precious interactions are also known as social capital where shared values are evident in individuals, allowing us to work together as a group to achieve a common purpose. Social capital in a person generally stems from kindness and empathy, where one would go above and beyond to support others with mentoring, guidance, and knowledge. These forms of generosity allowed us to build a base of goodwill and familiarity through these informal social interactions.

However, the sudden shift to an indefinite remote work environment has changed the nature of social capital in many industries and it might not necessarily be for the better. Though virtual meetings have increased tremendously to create a sense of connection, it also led to a steep increase in isolation and disconnection.

Since the pandemic has repositioned our ways of working, what could be the fate of employer-employee relationships?

Miscommunication occurs frequently when the intended message is not successfully relayed across the team. Remote teams that rely on chats and emails are more susceptible to miscommunications, as communication is not being exercised appropriately. One thing to take note of is that effective communication relies heavily on non-verbal cues, and most of them cannot be translated correctly and succinctly into words.

One way to solve this is to take full advantage of technology and make use of the various modes of communication that are widely available – instant messaging applications, emails, chats, video meetings, and voice calls. Since a simple punctuation mark can be miscommunicated, it is vital to identify the right channels to use for different purposes.

 

For instance, teams can utilize video calls when it comes to brainstorming activities when interpersonal interactions are being prioritized, whereas disseminating lengthy instructions can be done via emails. When an employer provides clear guidelines on which communication tools are being used for each specific purpose, employees are able to keep their communications compartmentalized.

Remote working requires both employer and employee to be more digitalized, both parties need to come to an understanding that there would be fewer physical interactions in place, and when it becomes a norm in the workplace, both employers and employees may find it hard to transition to a fully virtual state in such an abrupt timing.

As trust requires time to build, employers may have a sense of distrust among their employees. Though digital tools allow employers to keep a close tab on their employees, micromanaging them and watching their every move at work continuously will unlikely boost productivity, efficiency or motivation. Employees would feel stressed out as they could not perform their work at ease.

What a manager can do is to delegate tasks accordingly, give employees a timeline and practice effective communication which would lead to better employer-employee relationship.

Employers should cultivate more empathy and trust towards their employees by being transparent and readily available to them. This means having the ability to respond to employees’ needs and concerns within a respectable time frame. Employers can also take the initiative to start off an informal conversation with their employees before a meeting as this will allow them to feel more connected, thus creating an inclusive work environment.

Remote working also leads to a lack of collaboration. This happens when employers do not actively engage in conversations and they avoid sharing their ideas with their employees, or dismissing employees’ opinions and voices. This may cause their employees to hold their tongue and not give necessary feedback that is vital to the company’s operations, as employees may feel undervalued for not being included in the decision-making process.

The strategy to tackle this issue is fairly simple and straightforward, employers first have to instill self-awareness in them to realize that they are not empowering their employees to “speak up”. Employers can start to initiate interaction by having team meetings, where everyone shares their interests outside of work, and from there, employers can start to discuss what is on their minds regarding work, then giving their employees a platform to speak on work issues, including them in decision-making processes and this will create a more conducive environment at work.

Employees often require the need to feel “seen” and “heard” to remain productive, hence it is crucial that employees know that their employers are paying attention to them. A strong organization with a clarity of purpose equipped with a well-defined culture will invariably cause a dedication of both employers and employees to strengthen ties and building good rapport in times of crisis.

For a prolonged period of time, we think of connection as a personal interaction, preferably with close proximity. However, we had it wrong big time. Connection is something everyone experiences differently.  Connection occurs when one is being seen, heard, thought about, appreciated, and most importantly, acknowledged. For instance, when we produce great results on a project and having our work properly recognized and appreciated, we would have a sense of gratitude towards our managers and the company we are working for.

 

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Navigating a Career Transition Successfully

WiseNetAsia Knowledge Center
Copyright © 2021 WiseNet Asia Pte Ltd.  All Rights Reserved.

The information in this article is extracted from the WiseNet Asia’s Career Transition and outplacement course material. 

A career transition may happen voluntarily or involuntarily.  Whether it is an individual decision or a forced move, there will be unexpected changes that comes along, things that we could never foresee coming.  In this article, we outline 11 tips for navigating a career transition successfully.  This list will help you get prepared for unexpected situations, and also equipped you with the right mindset and preparatory steps to embark on a new beginning.

Tips for navigating a career transition successfully:

  1. Accept Help. A good mentor can make the transition from one career into another much easier.
  2. Acquire New Skills. Research skills that will be relevant in your chosen field.
  3. Identify what you want to do, and what you are qualified to do. Successful career transitions rarely happen without acquiring new skills. Embrace the learning process and look at this time as an investment in your future. Rarely will there be time to acquire these new skills. Make time by temporarily taking some of your “free time” and devoting it to your self-development.
  4. Do not rush change, trust the process. Everything will fall together nicely when you consistently work on things that you want.
  5. Opportunities will present themselves, but they may not be all the right or best decisions to make. Qualify the opportunities based on your situation.
  6. Plan on the unexpected. What could go wrong, and how do we handle these situations?
  7. A career transition rarely goes accordingly to plan. Keeping an open mind about where your new skills can take you helps to increase possibilities and secure an excellent “next career.”
  8. Be kind to yourself and keep at it. You are your own best supporter!
  9. Learning new skills and making a career transition is stressful and difficult for most adults. Embracing change is tough. Furthermore, a successful career transition takes time.
  10. Take the time to build your personal branding and image. If you are a brand, what characteristics do you represent? What image do you convey to others? Individual image that is attractive with a positive character is a source of power.
  11. Personality, mindset, energy, attitude, image are all important personal elements that set you apart from the others. Keep adding value for what you do, stay relevant and current, and think about how you can become more indispensable!

With the homework here done, you are all set to a strong ‘start’ for a new career, with your better and stronger self!

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Find out more about our career transition and outplacement coaching:  https://wisenetasia.com/career-transition-outplacement/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Smart China Expo 2021

The Smart China Expo 2021 is held in Chongqing from 23 to 26 Aug.  This year, the theme is ‘Digitalisation: Empowering the economy, enriching lives.  Developing a digital economy, promoting prosperity’.  The event aims to promote exchanges in smart technologies and international cooperation in the smart industry.

WiseNet Asia Chongqing is showcased in the virtual Singapore Pavilion of Smart China Expo Exhibition this year.  Visitors are able to access the Singapore Pavilion via:
新加坡资讯通信媒体发展局 (smartchina-expo.cn)


Event Information:

Date:  23-26 Aug (Due to the COVID situation in China, the offline exhibition will be from 23 Aug to 25 Aug while the online exhibition will  continue until 26 Aug)

Main Event Venue: Chongqing Yuelai International Expo Center

News coverage on Smart China Expo 2021:

CGTN Live Coverage –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwDIVbKQZXA

China Daily – http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202108/23/WS61230aeea310efa1bd66a745_1.html

iChongqing –  https://www.ichongqing.info/special/smart-china-expo-2021/

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Webinar: Young Entrepreneurs Charting the Business Future

Netxus Global Singapore, a subsidiary of WiseNet Asia and the Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum are jointly organizing a webinar exclusively for their members, where outstanding second-generation entrepreneurs discuss about strategizing for the future and continuing the legacy.  As the younger generation from successful family businesses, some of them choose to succeed the family business, while some have decided to venture out on their own.  What propels them to make the choices that they are making today?

EVENT INFORMATION

Date: 29 Aug 2021, Sunday

Time: 9am to 10:30am (GMT +8 Singapore Time)

Platform:  Zoom


ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS

Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum
Set up in 2001, Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum is the leading social organization that gathers together successful business leaders in one common platform, with the mission of nurturing and facilitating growth of new businesses.  Yabuli’s signature events include the Annual Yabuli Forum, Youth Forum and the China-US Business Leaders Roundtable.  For more information about Yabuli, please visit:  www.cefco.cn or global.cefco.cn/

Netxus Global
Netxus Global is a Singapore registered company and an associate partner of The Millet Group of companies. It is a deep-tech company that enables new way of connecting community (business and people) through its China-ASEAN bi-lateral trade flow mechanisms. A network of network company. www.neunexusglobal.sg

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Conference Between Mr Zeng Jinghua, Director of the China-Singapore Chongqing Connectivity Initiative Bureau (CCIB) and Mr Wesley Hui, Founder, WiseNet Asia on Multi Level Collaboration

18-Aug-2021 – Mr Zeng Jinghua, Director of the China-Singapore Chongqing Connectivity Initiative Bureau (CCIB) and Mr Wesley Hui, Founder, WiseNet Asia, together with representatives from both parties met via a tele-conference to discuss various ongoing and future collaborations.

During the tele-conference, Mr Hui gave an introduction of WiseNet Asia, whose China’s headquarter is in Chongqing, and its main activity is talent acquisition for multinationals.  Since 2019, WiseNet Asia has been collaborating with National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University to place interns in Chongqing.

With the outbreak of the pandemic, WiseNet Asia initiated long distance internship programs with good results.  At the same time, WiseNet Asia also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Nanyang Technological University and Yubei District to establish an innovation hub which also serves as a talent training base in Western China.  Moving forward, WiseNet Asia will continue to drive talent exchange activities between Chongqing and Singapore by participating in Chongqing Connectivity Initiative talent development activities.  The company will also leverage on its resources in ASEAN to facilitate bi-lateral trade between Chongqing and ASEAN companies, and promote more businesses to set up in Chongqing.

According to Mr Zeng Jinghua, WiseNet Asia has helped to bridge the gap between Chongqing and Singapore through its earlier involvement in various Sino-Singapore projects which brought in top talents and technology to Chongqing.  In the future, the CCIB will strengthen its co-operation with WiseNet Asia.  Both parties will work together on projects such as distance training for teachers of Bashu Secondary School and Nanyang Technological University’s Innovation Hub in Chongqing.  The CCIB will also support WiseNet Asia in setting up of the Sino-Singapore (Chongqing) ASEAN Business Hub in Chongqing, which provides a one-stop service for the development and expansion of ASEAN enterprises in Chongqing.  As a next step, the CCIB will support the collaborations between WiseNet Asia and various government agencies, facilitate more cross-border internship exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore university students and attract more talents to participate in Chongqing’s economic and social development.

Other participants in the tele-conference include Mr Diron Chua, Executive Director, WiseNet Asia;  Mr Lance Guo, Director, WiseNet Asia;  Ms Karen Woong, General Manager (China), WiseNet Asia;  Mr Ethan Neo, Director of Business Development (China), WiseNet Asia;  Departmental Representatives, CCIB; Person in charge from the Information and Communication Department, CCIB

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View original news in Chinese:  https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ChfQKfNNYKzRcdnGXbiRIg