Guest-of-Honour Minister Teo Chee Hean

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

I extend a warm welcome to all of you here at the annual PSC Scholarships Ceremony. This is a joyous occasion where we congratulate the new cohort of PSC scholars as well as their families, teachers and friends.

2.         PSC received 1215 scholarships applications this year. A total of 264 candidates were interviewed between January and May and I am proud to announce that 49 will receive the PSC Scholarships today. You will join the ranks of past PSC scholars, many of whom have made significant contributions to Singapore and held senior positions in the public service. Besides the 49 here today, another 135 have been awarded ministry scholarships. The ministry scholars will receive their awards at ceremonies organised by the respective ministries.

Profile of Scholars

3.         I am especially delighted to note that the countries of study for this batch of scholars will be the most diverse since the introduction of the Management Associate Programme in 2002. Besides the traditional universities in the United States of America and the United Kingdom, a number of you have chosen to further your education in China, Japan and Germany. Some of you have also decided to pursue your studies locally. For the first time, we will also have scholars going to liberal arts colleges such as Amherst and Macalester. This bodes well for the public service as diversity in experience will enhance our ability to react to different challenges.

4.         We will soon celebrate our nation’s 40 year of independence. Though Singapore has come a long way in this short span of time, the need for a clean and capable public service has not diminished. We need men and women with passion to serve our country, and compassion for the people. We must continue to identify and groom individuals who embody these special qualities, to take on leadership positions in the public service.

Development of Scholars

5.         To fully harness the potential of our scholars, we place great emphasis on our scholars’ grooming process. Under the Management Associates Programme, the development of our scholars begins right from the first day they accept the PSC Scholarship. Our new scholars spent the last 3 weeks undergoing their Pre-Departure Course, which not only prepares them for their studies, but also provides them with a flavour of the diverse challenges faced by the public service. During the course, they had the chance to meet one of our founding leaders, Encik Othman Wok as well as several senior public service leaders. From these interactions, scholars gain a clearer understanding of the obstacles that Singapore overcame to reach our present level of development. They also have a better appreciation of the potential roadblocks that could hinder our future growth.

6.         A leader must be one who has a strong understanding of himself, the values he holds dear and his mission in life. For this reason, scholars received feedback from psychologists regarding their strengths and weaknesses during the Pre-Departure Course. They also attended an experiential learning session at the Outward Bound School to raise their self-awareness and develop their innate leadership ability. In addition, they were attached to neighbourhood schools, voluntary and grassroot organisations. These attachments gave them a deeper understanding of the different strata of our society and a greater appreciation of the concerns and aspirations of the people whom they will be serving.

7.         The journey of self-development and honing of competencies never ends. The Management Associates Programme will see our scholars through milestone courses like the PSC Scholars’ Mid-Course Programme and the Administrative Officers Foundation Course. They are also at liberty to choose from a plethora of enrichment programmes during their undergraduate studies to better equip them with the relevant skills.

Conclusion

8.         The selection criteria for the award of the PSC Scholarships are stringent, and only deserving candidates are considered for the awards. The 49 of you can be justifiably proud of your achievements thus far. However, always remember that the PSC scholarship awarded to you is not just in recognition of your talent, but also in the expectation that you will contribute in a significant way to your country and your people. Receiving the scholarship is only the beginning. It now remains for you to chart your path in the interest of Singapore. We have high hopes on you.

9.         On this note, let me extend my warmest congratulations to all of you. I wish you the very best in your studies, and success in the years ahead.

Thank you.