[4] An ad-hoc committee, chaired by educationist Thio Chan Bee, petitioned the government in 1952 for the creation of a fully-equipped polytechnic to address the shortage of skilled workers.

This committee was tasked with determining the curriculum, estimating costs and equipment needs, and evaluating the institution's integration into Singapore's existing education system.

[8][9] This report defined a polytechnic as an institution offering part-time technical and professional training primarily for employed individuals, with potential for full-time programs.

[10] The report highlighted the need for a polytechnic to equip local workers with modern skills, prepare them for managerial roles, and establish a centralized training system.

[11] Proposed departments included Commerce, Engineering, Management, Architecture and the Applied Arts, and Vocation Training in Language and Science, with English as the medium of instruction.

[16][17] The campus was officially opened by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on 24 February 1959, with the then-Governor, Sir William Goode, and the then-Chief Minister, Tun Lim Yew Hock.

[9][18] By then, over 2,800 students were enrolled across 58 courses in 5 departments: Engineering, Building and Architecture, Science and Technology, General Education, and Commerce.

[9] Singapore Polytechnic has 10 Academic Schools and offers 30 Full-Time Diploma Courses and 4 Common Entry Programmes.

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