Being a student can be a lot of fun but when it comes to applying the learnt it can be a different story altogether as students often fail to see the direct practical application or they are finding it hard getting jobs where they can apply the newly gained knowledge. Now the Singapore Polytech (SP) has found a clever way around this by partnering with long-time innovation centric Changi Airport (IATA: SIN) in Singapore. The two provide a real-world experience for students through SPELL, a retail store wholly run by students.

SPELL was created in line with SP’s mission to allow their students to put entrepreneurial thinking into practice through authentic learning. This is also the first time that Changi Airport is partnering with an educational institution in setting up a retail business at the airport. In its initial press release, Changi’s Vice President for Landside Concessions, Ms Hung Jean said, “In addition to the aviation galleries at Changi Airport and visits we host for schools, this is part of our effort to contribute to the learning of students in Singapore.”

The most beautiful thing about SPELL is the combined effort of 100 students across various disciplines, including business administration, communications, accountancy and electrical engineering. The students are wholly responsible for the operations of the 54 sqm outlet – from product sourcing and determining the retail mix, to preparing to get the store up and running, and sustaining its business in the long run. Retailing a wide range of street wear including fashion apparel and accessories, the product offerings are targeted at teenagers and young adults, and priced affordably from $7 for a small leather purse to about $99 for a jacket.

Besides tapping on the talented student population, SPELL is also collaborating with industry partners, such as Motorola, to enhance the customer’s overall retail experience through the use of technology. With Motorola’s Magic Mirror, customers will be able to see how they look like in SPELL’s clothes without having to physically try them on.

If you are at Changi airport, make sure you drop in to the SPELL store and check it out for yourself. You can find it in the landside basement level of terminal 3 (#B2-52/53, opening hours: 10 am – 11 pm
, Tel: (65) 62143858, info@spellverve.com, www.spellverve.com).