Opening Address by Chairman of The Public Service Commission, Mr Lee Tzu Yang at The Public Service Commission Scholarships Award Ceremony on 20 July 2022 at Parkroyal on Beach Road

Good afternoon
Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education, and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service, 
Fellow Commission Members,
Distinguished Guests,
Families, Friends and Scholarship Recipients, 
Ladies and Gentlemen 

1. Today marks the first time since 2019 that we are able to gather in person, in a large group, for the Public Service Commission Scholarships Award Ceremony. This resumption of activity is hard won by the grit and determination of people in Singapore, working together with the Public Service. Our colleague’s in the Public Service’s relentless hard work and dedication to addressing the many challenges thrown up by the pandemic has contributed to making today and many other gatherings possible. 

2. Today I welcome our scholarship recipients to join our Public Service mission, to build a better Singapore for future generations of Singaporeans. I would like to convey my warmest congratulations to you for being awarded the PSC scholarship this year. It is recognition of your potential to contribute to Singapore, and your commitment to do so.

3. As it takes a village to raise a child, so I would also like to sincerely thank the parents, teachers and loved ones who have been part of this “village” that gave their support to you. I would also like to express my appreciation to my fellow PSC colleagues and the Secretariat, who tirelessly worked on the scholarship selection process in a particularly challenging time, and for persevering these past 2 years.

4. The PSC is focused on selecting promising candidates with the values, commitment, and potential to serve Singapore and Singaporeans. Of the over 2,000 candidates who applied for PSC Scholarships in this cycle, the 66 of you who have been awarded the scholarship exemplify the qualities of integrity, dedication to service and excellence that are the bedrock of a first-class public service. 

5. The PSC looks at attributes beyond intellect and grades. We endeavour to reach out widely for suitable candidates. I am happy that we are making progress and are continuing to make steady progress on this front. This year, our scholarship recipients come from 17 different pre-tertiary institutions, including Integrated Programme (IP) schools, non-IP schools, International Baccalaureate (IB) schools, and polytechnics. 6 recipients of our scholarships this year studied at polytechnics. We also continue to award PSC Mid-term scholarships to outstanding medicine students.  In addition, we are also extending our reach to mature candidates in other disciplines. This year we have awarded 3 other PSC Mid-Term and 2 PSC Master’s scholarships, which is an increase from an average of 0.2 and 1 respectively over the previous 5 years. We will continue to look for more mature candidates. The courses these scholarship recipients will pursue are in a wide range of disciplines, from engineering, economics, accountancy, to humanities and political science.  PSC will continue to work closely with all our partners, pre-tertiary institutions and local AUs to identify outstanding candidates for our full-term, mid-term and Master’s scholarships. 

6. As future public sector leaders, we have to understand the concerns of the different groups in our society.  Volunteering and community involvement help you develop to become a better public officer, more in touch with people in the community. I am pleased that many of our candidates have embarked on this. I shall mention just three.

     a. Taufiq, from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, has a keen interest to teach and to meet more musicians. He has dedicated his time to two community service initiatives: tutoring primary school children from less privileged backgrounds on a weekly basis and organising the Jurong Open Mic event monthly. 

    b. Sue-Ann, from National Junior College, has been involved in community work initiatives, such as reading to a primary school student, creating social media content for the National Kidney Foundation, and volunteering with Homeless Hearts of Singapore. 

      c. Clement, taking a Mid-Term Scholarship and continuing his studies at NTU, has been volunteering weekly with the NTU Welfare Services Club in youth mentoring programmes. He is also part of a choir group which performs and interacts with elders at elder care centres.    

7. To help in the development of our scholarship holders, the scholarship will offer opportunities and support to engage in internships, work attachments, academic exchange programmes, policy forums and many other growth activities. You should not neglect your studies, but you should also take up these opportunities.  

8. The responsibility to create a meaningful growth journey is ultimately your own. I would suggest three steps to maximise the opportunities under the scholarship. 

9. Firstly, explore the opportunities and possibilities in your universities. You are going to some of the best universities in the world. They have brought together the best minds to investigate a myriad of interesting fields and concerns. The course you study need not constrain you. There is a richness of possibilities in the university. Your course may offer you certain options but you may also be able to create more options for yourself.

10. Secondly, go beyond the borders of your universities. Layer on experiences in the wider community, in the private, people and even international sectors. Such experiences will grow your skills, develop your confidence, build your networks, and make you more effective public officers in future. Take a keen interest in the affairs of your host countries, if you are overseas. Better understand, connect with, and learn to influence other people who may not be like you. See how others identify challenges and deal with them and consider if there are lessons to be learnt.

11. Thirdly, I’d like to address some of the habits we develop in university. Cultivate intellectual curiosity and the habit to track emerging trends and issues. Consider what they might mean for the world and grapple with their implications for Singapore. Stay attuned to developments globally and in Singapore, and especially explore more deeply those areas you see will have significant impact. Because, these habits, once developed, will serve you well in your future career, wherever you may be.

12. So I would like to end here, to say that scholarships are not rewards, but the responsibility to serve and an opportunity to make an impact on others for the better. Use this time well to place yourselves in the best position to contribute, but also have fun and find out more about both the world and yourselves.

13. I look forward to hearing from many of you over the next few years on your exciting journeys and my best wishes to you.