On 13 March 2026, AICET hosted a high-level delegation from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), led by its Deputy CEO, Dr. Ang Kiam Wee. Accompanied by five other key leaders specializing in educational design, technology, and examination systems, the group’s visit served as a dynamic platform for exchanging ideas on how artificial intelligence and advanced digital systems can reshape the landscape of vocational training and assessment. Their presence underscored ITE’s steadfast commitment to staying at the forefront of pedagogical technology and fostering innovative learning environments.
A Vision of Pedagogy First
Prof. Ben Leong opened the session by reviewing AICET’s journey from 2021 to 2026 and the post-pandemic shifts in education. He shared critical insights into Singapore’s pioneering role in AI integration, focusing on how AI can be utilized efficiently and effectively in schools. Central to his presentation was AICET’s core philosophy: Pedagogy First. Rather than letting technology dictate the classroom, Prof. Ben Leong explained how tools must be designed to serve the fundamental needs of teachers and students. As a glimpse into the future, he introduced the Multimodal Learning Experience, a forthcoming technology designed to enable real-time AI interaction with student work to provide a richer, more interactive educational journey.
Real-World Solutions for Practical Challenges
Understanding that the visitors were deeply interested in the practicalities of EdTech and examination systems, the presentation pivoted to realistic, on-the-ground applications. To address the critical area of assessment, Mr Ooi Ming Sheng, Senior Software Engineer at AICET, conducted a live demonstration of the latest evolution in digital grading within Softmark. He showcased how technical precision in AI-assisted grading can drastically reduce the administrative burden on educators, allowing them to focus more on teaching and less on paperwork. The demonstration sparked a lively discussion, with the ITE delegation exploring how such precision could be integrated into their own rigorous examination frameworks.
A Visualized Future
The visit concluded on a high note. The delegates from ITE expressed that while the path toward AI integration in education can sometimes feel abstract, this visit helped materialize their vision for the future. Seeing the actual implementation of Softmark and the multimodal learning prototypes gave them a concrete roadmap for what is possible. As one attendee noted, “The future of technical education is no longer a distant concept; it is being built right here through these practical, teacher-centric innovations.”
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