PSC | News

25 June 2025

Dr Asyifah Binte Mohamed Rashid (left), Ms Loo Qingwen, Jean (right)

2025 LEE KUAN YEW SCHOLARSHIP AWARD CEREMONY

The Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship was set up in 1991 by the Tanjong Pagar Citizens’ Consultative Committee in commemoration of the significant contributions made by Singapore’s founding Prime Minister. The scholarship, which receives funding support from the Lee Kuan Yew Centennial Fund, is awarded to exceptional individuals who demonstrate a strong sense of commitment to serve Singapore and Singaporeans.

2. Two outstanding candidates have been awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship this year for their postgraduate studies. The recipients are:

S/N	Name/Age	Field of Study, University and Country
1	Dr Asyifah Binte Mohamed Rashid Age 34	Master In Business Administration, INSEAD Singapore
2	Ms Loo Qingwen, Jean 吕晴文 Age 40	Master of Social Work, National University of Singapore, Singapore

S/N

Name/Age

Field of Study, University and Country

1

Dr Asyifah Binte Mohamed Rashid

Age 34

Master In Business Administration,

INSEAD

Singapore

2

Ms Loo Qingwen, Jean

吕晴文

Age 40

Master of Social Work,

National University of Singapore,

Singapore

3. Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship holders are fully sponsored for their tuition fees and receive an annual allowance of S$50,000 for the duration of their postgraduate studies. They may choose to pursue their postgraduate studies in any country and field of study that best develops their potential as leaders and are expected to continue contributing in their respective fields of work to benefit Singapore and society.

4. “The Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship has enabled me to pursue the INSEAD Global Executive MBA, which will equip me with advanced capabilities in strategic leadership, organisational transformation, and decision-making in complex environments. These capabilities are critical as I continue to lead national efforts within A*STAR to translate scientific innovation into impactful health and economic outcomes for Singapore,” said Dr Asyifah Binte Mohamed Rashid, recipient of the 2025 Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship.

5. Fellow recipient of the 2025 Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship, Ms Loo Qingwen, Jean, said, “It is a privilege to be awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship. Its significance inspires me to broaden my perspectives on social change and systemic problem solving and expands my toolbox and leadership skills to better contribute towards disability inclusion and social services.”

6. More details on the scholarship can be found at https://www.psc.gov.sg/scholarships/postgraduate-scholarships/lee-kuan-yew-scholarship.

13 August 2024

Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education and Minister-in-Charge of the Public Service

Chairman and Members of the Public Service Commission

Distinguished Guests

1. My heartiest congratulations to this year’s President’s Scholarship recipients!

2. I am glad that your parents, family members, school principals and teachers are here with you for the occasion.

3. Each year, the public sector awards many scholarships to outstanding young Singaporeans who are committed to serving the nation through a career in the public service. Among these scholarships, the President’s Scholarship is awarded to the most exceptional individuals in each cohort, who demonstrate all-round excellence and dedication towards improving the lives of Singaporeans.

4. When we award a public sector scholarship, whether it is the President’s Scholarship or one of our other scholarships, we are first investing in capabilities.

5. Over the years, I have often told my peers and friends abroad that a capable public service has been one of Singapore’s stand-out strengths.

6. There is high international regard for our incorruptibility. But less well known are the constantly evolving capabilities within the public service, its rare ability to work on a whole-of-government rather than siloed basis, and the networks between government, the business sector, the labour movement and the community that give Singapore significant advantage. Never perfect, always being improved, but a real stand-out strength for Singapore. It has enabled us to overcome crises relatively quickly, and helped Singapore and Singaporeans make steady progress.

7. These capabilities within the public service are now needed more than ever. We live in an unstable and profoundly uncertain world. More polarised, faced with an accelerating crisis of global warming and the environment, growing energy and food security challenges, and more prone to conflicts. We have to live with these risks, hold together, and do well as a people.

8. It will require a continuous stream of capable, dedicated leaders at every level of society. The public service in particular will have to be innovative, forward-thinking and constantly responsive to the needs of Singaporeans. It will have to develop greater expertise in each field, be prepared for a world of more frequent crises, listen to different voices, and respond in creative and sustainable ways to the evolving aspirations of our citizens.

9. For our scholarship recipients embarking on their undergraduate studies, it is not too early to find ways to develop these capabilities. It means expanding your intellectual horizons, and engaging with a broad range of people.

a. Your time in university is an opportunity to step out of your comfort zones, and go beyond excelling in your studies.

b. An opportunity to get to know people from diverse places and backgrounds, and engage meaningfully in the local community.

c. You will, I’m sure, take away something valuable with these engagements, whether it is a new skill, a different perspective, or a deeper empathy for ordinary people in the community.

10. Remember, above all, that our public sector scholarships are fundamentally a call to service. They are not merely a privilege, but a responsibility placed on you.

11. The President’s Scholarship in particular is a pinnacle award within each cohort, but it is not the pinnacle of your life, nor an assurance that you will reach the pinnacles of the public service. It reflects your exceptional record to date and potential as a young Singaporean, and trust in your ability to inspire others and work with them, tirelessly, for the betterment of our nation.

12. This year, we are proud to have Emily Tan, Dylan Toh, and Marianne Wang as the recipients of the President’s Scholarship. Emily and Marianne have also been awarded the Public Service Commission Scholarship and Dylan the Singapore Police Force Scholarship.

13. We will soon hear the full citations for each of them. They have each demonstrated all-round excellence, in different combinations of sports, the arts and volunteer work, alongside their studies.

14. I encourage each of you, Marianne, Dylan and Emily, to keep your intellectual and social horizons wide. As President’s Scholars, you will be role models in both the pursuit of excellence and humility, and in your commitment to improve the lives of all Singaporeans.

Conclusion

15. Your success is a result of collective effort and the many people who have been supporting you. I extend my congratulations to your families, school principal and teachers, and friends, for making you who you are.

Once again, my heartfelt congratulations to each of you, and I wish you the best in the journey ahead.

17 July 2024

Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education & Minister-in-Charge of the Public Service

Scholarship award recipients, families and friends

Your Excellencies

Distinguished guests and colleagues

Welcome to the Public Service Commission Scholarships Award Ceremony. It is a happy occasion for all here today — not only the recipients of the scholarships but also your families, friends and teachers. Congratulations to all of you, and especially to those who have helped and supported those who will receive their awards.

2 Today, we have 54 recipients of scholarships from a range of 14 pre-university institutions, of which four are mid-term students from institutions of higher learning. We look forward to welcoming you into the Public Service as we look to build strength in key new areas.

3 One important area in the public sector we are addressing is sustainability. From an initial three PSC Sustainability Scholarships, this year we will award four scholarships. Although you will follow different disciplines in university, you will be involved in setting direction, building understanding, and steering the work of various agencies when you return. You will be key in bringing more Singaporeans on board Sustainability, which requires interdisciplinary understanding and implementation.

4 Another area in which we continue to build strength is from the diverse experience and interests of our new public officers. For Singapore to succeed, we need not only the brightest but those who can identify and meet the aspirations of all Singaporeans, as well as handle the range of challenges that the external world will throw at us.

5 We would like future public officers to have diverse educational experience and international exposure. I am encouraged by the diversity of countries that our scholarship recipients are going to this year. The scholarship offers a great opportunity to go out and see the world to learn new lessons and practices and develop skills for what we want to do for Singapore.

6 28 per cent of our recipients this year will study in our local Autonomous Universities. They will have the opportunity to do part of their courses overseas through the different options that are offered by every Autonomous University. If they go on to do Master's courses, we will insist these are undertaken internationally.

7 Apart from those studying locally, we will see 57 per cent headed for the United States and the United Kingdom. The remaining 15 per cent will study in other overseas universities, and this year, I am pleased to see more scholarships being awarded to outstanding individuals for study destinations that are not the norm for Singaporeans. Out of 54 recipients of scholarships this year, three will go to Japan, three to France, and two to Germany.

8 I would like to express our appreciation to our foreign partners – governments and universities – who have partnered us to increase interest and uptake in studies in their countries. One partnership we have reinstated after a hiatus of 10 years is with the Japanese Government through the Monbukagakushuo (or Monbusho scholarship) and we will see more PSC scholars again studying in Japan.

9 It is important for our Public Service that we do not restrict our contacts to the familiar, tried and tested. Our talent must not fear new things, whether these be technology, ideas or people. Indeed we should look forward to and be excited by the opportunities provided through new languages, culture and contacts.

10 I do not minimise the challenges of living and studying in foreign countries. You will have our full support. We are willing to look at whatever help you require, including sending you on language and preparatory programmes, as well as support from the scholarship officers during your time away.

11 To all recipients of scholarships today, your challenge is to refashion the norms of the university academic journey that has been ingrained over generations, to ensure that your journey widens your horizons and prepares you with both the depth and breadth to pursue service to Singapore. Be active and thoughtful agents in your own education. Do not succumb to the easy way out, to just do whatever others do.

12 After all, you will be expected by citizens to help anticipate and define tomorrow’s challenges and opportunities, as well as help design and implement successful approaches to them.

13 The PSC Scholarship will provide you ample support and opportunity to try new approaches to defining and solving challenges, and building your skills, experience and networks.

14 In conclusion, I want to thank all of you for stepping forward to serve. Remember why you are taking this direction, as you take the next steps. Enjoy your student days, take good care of yourselves and each other, and keep in touch with your scholarship officers. They are there for you.