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ADDRESS BY MR TEO CHEE HEAN, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, COORDINATING MINISTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AND MINISTER IN CHARGE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AT THE 2017 PSC SCHOLARSHIPS AWARD CEREMONY ON 12 JULY 2017, AT 1700 HRS, GRAND COPTHORNE WATERFRONT HOTEL, SINGAPORE

 

“Building a future-ready Public Service to serve Singapore and Singaporeans”

 

Mr Eddie Teo, Chairman of the Public Service Commission,

Members of the PSC,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

          Good evening to all of you. I am happy to join you at the 2017 Public Service Commission Scholarships Award Ceremony.  First of all, congratulations to all our 71 scholarship recipients this year. I would also like to thank the families, principals, and teachers who have put in much effort to nurture, guide and support our scholarship recipients.

          Please join me in also giving our scholarship recipients, their parents, families, principals, and teachers another round of applause.

New Challenges in the New Global Environment

           We face many uncertainties in today’s global environment and Singapore faces many new challenges. Many drivers that have brought global growth and prosperity – free trade, openness to talent and immigration and a safe and secure operating environment – are no longer taken for granted in many developed countries. Governments worldwide are seeking new pathways for success and new sources of growth.   

          At the same time, rapid advances in technology such as artificial intelligence and robotics are disrupting existing ways of doing things and can be a source of anxiety for many workers and in fact, people in many countries. But these disruptive technologies can also provide new opportunities for growth for Singapore-based companies and workers and can provide an opportunity for Singapore to stay ahead, if we can master them, and we can organise our society to take full advantage of them.

            So to continue to harness these opportunities, Singaporeans need to deepen our skills and have a positive and innovative mindset to constantly upgrade ourselves to be future-ready. This applies to the Public Service as a whole and to our public officers.

Deepening Skills

            First, deepening our skills. By encouraging our officers to acquire technical skills in engineering, digital and related fields, the Government is sending a strong signal on the skills required to help Singaporeans prepare for the future. We are developing a stronger engineering core in the Public Service. We also need more public officers with expertise in areas such as digital technology, who are constantly exploring ways to make lives better for our people by leveraging new technology. For instance, to succeed in our vision of a Smart Nation, officers skilled in data and cybersecurity can help our agencies to better address the threats from cyber-attacks, and also put in place policies and measures to help Singaporeans benefit from advances in digital technology.

        To nurture the next generation of leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and strengthen Singapore’s engineering leadership pipeline, the Public Service Commission introduced the new PSC Scholarship (Engineering) last year. This scholarship aims to attract talented and passionate young Singaporeans who are keen to pursue a career in engineering and related fields within the Public Service.

        To develop them into specialist leaders, the PSC Scholarship (Engineering) holders will undertake stretch postings in one of three engineering clusters in (i) the Defence & Security cluster, (ii) the Information & Communications Technology and Smart Systems cluster, or (iii) the Infrastructure and Environment cluster. The technical demands of their postings will sharpen their domain skills and groom them into experts in their selected engineering field. This will add valuable, high-technology expertise to the Public Service and advance our capabilities to address complex challenges in defence technology, Smart Nation, climate change and scientific skills. Their analytical and technical skills will also be very useful when they apply them in broader jobs which are applicable all across the Public Service, and not just in their engineering specialties.

Developing an Innovative, Bold and Creative Mindset

            Second, developing an innovative, bold and creative mindset. Knowledge and hard skills need to be complemented by a spirit of innovation, boldness and creativity. We did not get here by simply following what others did. We were daring. We were bold. We were prepared to experiment, and we were prepared to adapt what others had done elsewhere to our own environment in creative and innovative ways. In our constantly evolving operating environment, we must update our policy assumptions, and challenge the status quo. Our officers must also help spot “pattern-breaks” early so that we can adjust our policies, act fast and put in place the necessary measures to test new ideas, and scale up good solutions for the benefit of Singapore and Singaporeans.

            We are committed to making the Public Service a conducive place for innovation. We are looking into streamlining processes such as procurement. We are also encouraging pilot projects, and creating new spaces for experimentation. The introduction of “regulatory sandboxes” in our government agencies will allow officers to experiment with new regulatory methods before making changes to existing regulations or laws on a wider scale.

             For instance, we have been testing autonomous vehicles in one-north and Cleantech park since 2015. As autonomous vehicle technologies are evolving rapidly, we need to have adaptive rules as well. The Road Traffic Act was amended earlier this year so that the Ministry of Transport and the Land Transport Authority can better support innovations in the transport sector, while safeguarding commuters’ interest. These changes will support the trials of autonomous vehicles on our public roads so that we can reap the benefits as technology advances. This will also create a vibrant ecosystem of companies skilled in autonomous technologies which can be used in other sectors such as healthcare and service delivery.

            I visited our hospital and healthcare clusters recently and the innovations that they are putting in place in healthcare are quite ground-breaking – from the way they do imaging and using data analytics, to the work that our nurses and our doctors do at the bedside with the hospitals and the patients. All these are remarkable innovations which we are putting in place to deliver better healthcare in a cost-effective way to Singaporeans. And we hope that such ongoing efforts will spread all across the public sector in the Public Service and encourage greater innovation.

            Our public officers will be supported in formulating new solutions. Bold, creative, and innovative mind, together with deep skills, will enable our public officers to better serve Singapore and Singaporeans in this new global environment. We must continue to have the boldness, innovativeness and creativity, and dare to break new grounds to take Singapore further. The Public Service must be at the forefront of this.

Conclusion

            To our scholarship recipients, I commend you for taking this first step. By accepting the PSC scholarship, you have taken on a commitment to serve Singapore through a Public Service career. In the next few years, make the best of your education. Use the opportunities wisely to deepen your skills, make new friends, learn with an open mind.

           When you return, I am certain that you will have opportunities to work on exciting issues and projects. At the same time, remember to live up to the Public Service values of integrity, service and excellence, and develop policies and programmes that will serve Singapore and our people well into the future.

           Once again, my congratulations to all of you! I wish you all the very best as you embark on your studies and your career to serve Singapore and Singaporeans.

            Thank you.

OPENING ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, MR EDDIE TEO  AT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION SCHOLARSHIPS AWARD CEREMONY ON 12 JULY 2017 AT GRAND COPTHORNE WATERFRONT HOTEL GRAND BALLROOM

 

Deputy Prime Minister Mr Teo Chee Hean, Minister in charge of the Civil Service, and Coordinating Minister for National Security,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen

     Good evening and welcome to the 2017 Public Service Commission Scholarships Award Ceremony. Congratulations to the 71 PSC scholarship holders this year, who were selected from a pool of over 2000 applicants.

        My congratulations also extend to your family members, principals and teachers who have played a role in developing and supporting you. This evening’s ceremony is an occasion of great pride and joy for you and for them. Much of what we achieve in life is never due to only our own effort and we must all have the humility to realize this and recognize the nurturing care, guidance and support from others.

 

A Heart for Singapore and Singaporeans

        You are here today not only because you recorded stellar academic performances or have high intellectual abilities. An academic high-achiever without integrity, a drive for excellence and a heart for service is a poor fit for the Public Service.

         As PSC Scholarship recipients, you have committed to serving Singapore and Singaporeans through a Public Service career. The PSC believes that you have the values and qualities, such as compassion, integrity and empathy to contribute to Singapore’s progress and provide excellent service to the citizens through the different career tracks which you will embark on.

 

A Tapestry of Diverse Talents

        Today we live in a complex world with many uncertainties. But for Singapore, being small is a certainty which we forget at our own peril. Being small means we cannot be complacent and depend on past success to propel us into the future. The Public Service cannot rely on successful past formulas to meet future challenges. As future public officers, you need to continuously ensure that the Public Service is future-ready to solve problems which you may not even be aware of today. Meeting such problems requires new, innovative solutions. Being innovative requires you to be brave enough to challenge old, conventional thinking, and risk failure and criticism. Facing an uncertain and complex future requires us to build a Public Service which has a diverse set of talent to generate a wide range of ideas to formulate robust policies.

          Therefore, I am pleased that our scholarship holders this year come from quite different backgrounds.

        We have Miss Jacinth Chia from Pioneer Junior College, who showed strong community involvement by conducting events like the Values-In-Action project and exercise classes for her school and the community. We also have with us Mr Soon Qing Rong from Ngee Ann Polytechnic. He exhibited community-mindedness through his Final Year Project which explored a method to diagnose premature deliveries among women, which in turn allows an earlier and better management of the health impact of pre-term delivery on the infant.

        It is encouraging to see excellent candidates from across 15 different schools with the desire to make a difference through a career in the Public Service. They will bring valuable insights to the Public Service and enrich the discussions within.

         I encourage students from all schools who are interested in pursuing a career with the Public Service through a Government scholarship not to hesitate to take the first step of putting in an application. The PSC has no quota for scholarships awarded nor do we prefer students from certain schools. Rather, beyond academic excellence, the PSC takes into consideration whole-person qualities and awards the scholarships based on merit regardless of the candidate’s background.

        I am also heartened that some of our scholarship holders will be taking the path less well-trodden to study in the non-traditional countries.

        This year, 2 scholarship holders will be going to non-English speaking countries for their undergraduate studies. Miss Yuki Chong Yu Qi will be furthering her studies in China, at Peking University. We also have Mr Jasdeep Singh Hundal, who will be heading to France as part of his dual-degree programme at Sciences Po and UC Berkeley to read Social Sciences and History.

        The rich and unique threads of experience that they will bring back from their time abroad will add colour and vibrancy to the Public Service tapestry.

 

Building up Engineering and Technological Capabilities for the Public Service

        In December 2016, we launched the PSC Scholarship (Engineering). This year, we have a total of 17 recipients choosing to study a STEM subject. 8 scholarship holders will be doing so under the PSC Scholarship (Engineering). The favourable response from the applicants shows that the younger generation is eager to contribute to our goal of being a government at the forefront in using technology to improve the lives of our people.

 

Conclusion

       Our new scholarship holders have significant roles to play in the next chapter of the Singapore story. Keep yourselves up-to-date with developments in our country, and if you are overseas, an important role you have is to make friends not only for yourselves but also for Singapore. Always watch and observe what you can bring back to Singapore to help improve the lives of your fellow citizens.

       I am confident that you will fly Singapore’s flag high wherever you are, and I look forward to your future contributions to Singapore.

        Congratulations.

       Thank you.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean

and Mrs Teo

 

Acting Minister for Education (Schools) Ng Chee Meng

and Mrs Ng

 

Excellencies

 

Chairman and Members of the Public Service Commission

 

Ladies and Gentlemen

 

Good evening

 

Every year, the President’s Scholarship is awarded to exceptional young men and women who pledge to serve Singapore and Singaporeans through a career in the Public Service. Recipients of the President’s Scholarship are among the most outstanding in their cohort. Besides achieving academic excellence, the recipients are distinguished by their leadership qualities, sound values and commitment to improving the lives of the people in our community.

 

2016 President’s Scholars

 

This evening, the Public Service Commission recognises five outstanding young men and women for their leadership capabilities and strong passion to contribute to the continued success of Singapore.

 

They are Mr Joshua Chin Zen Jie, Miss Natasha Ann Lum Mei Seem, Mr Timothy Ong Kah Yong, Miss Olivia Ong Si Hui and Mr Sean Ong Zhi Han. Joshua and Natasha will be serving in the Singapore Armed Forces. Joshua will be studying Environmental Science. Natasha is the second ever female recipient of the SAF scholarship and President’s scholarship. Timothy will read Law and join the Singapore Legal Service upon graduation. Olivia will be reading Psychology, and Sean History.

 

My heartfelt congratulations to the five of you.

Continuing our Forefathers’ Legacy

 

            Two weeks ago, we gathered to celebrate Singapore’s 51st year of independence. Our forefathers dedicated their lives to transforming Singapore from a small trading port to a successful first world nation. Despite hailing from diverse cultures and backgrounds, they shared the vision of creating a better future for Singapore, and took on challenges with courage and determination.

 

            In the formative years of our nation, we were blessed with leaders, like former President S R Nathan. Mr Nathan dedicated his life to serving Singapore. He struggled side by side with others of his generation, united in the same purpose – to help our fledgling Singapore flourish. He truly embodied the values of public service, placing country before self even to the point of quite literally risking his life, during the Laju hijacking incident. He was a fearless defender of Singapore’s interests abroad, and a passionate nation-builder at home, patiently weaving the fabric of a caring and cohesive society.

 

            From starting the President’s Challenge to encourage more Singaporeans to help the less fortunate, to investing in Singapore’s future through education, to promoting racial and religious harmony, his heart for and commitment to the people of Singapore were clear and inspiring. Mr Nathan will be missed.

 

            As we reap the fruits of this previous generation’s labour, we continue to need leaders with resilience, commitment and foresight, who will build on the foundations laid for us.

 

Building a Future-Ready Singapore

 

This year is a turning point for Singapore as we enter our next half century as an independent nation. While those who came before have left us a rich legacy, we remain a small country with no natural resources apart from our people. We constantly need to refresh our knowledge and renew our system to safeguard Singapore from external threats and prepare ourselves for the future.

 

As recipients of the President’s scholarship, you bear a special responsibility to continue the efforts to take Singapore forward. I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and seek opportunities to broaden your outlook. In doing so, you will acquire fresh perspectives that enable you to connect the dots from global developments to national issues.

 

As leaders of our future generations, you play an integral role in leading by example to inspire fellow Singaporeans to become forward-looking citizens. This future-orientation is necessary because Singapore and the world around us are changing ever faster. The effects of globalisation and rapid technological change can be seen in everything from the volatility of our external environment, to the growing threat of trans-national terrorism and to the changing aspirations of our citizens.

 

To keep pace with these changes, you will need to challenge yourselves and continually push boundaries in acquiring new skills that are pertinent to the future. As public officers, you will need not just to forge ahead yourselves, but to inspire fellow citizens to come with you, cultivating citizens’ sense of ownership as you build Singapore together. To do this you must stay closely connected to the ground, and listen closely and respectfully to the concerns and opinions of the people.

 

As you lead Singapore towards a brighter future, remain true to our culture, heritage, values, and the core principles that our forefathers believed in. Never lose sight of the mission to serve the people and our nation.

 

Conclusion

 

Let me conclude by congratulating the families, principals and teachers of our new President’s Scholarship Recipients. You were essential in shaping their character, values and strong ethos for service. Your support and guidance throughout the years have nurtured them into outstanding individuals.

 

Joshua, Natasha, Timothy, Olivia and Sean - I am confident that all five of you will do Singapore proud, and be role models of the Public Service values of Integrity, Service and Excellence for those around you. Embrace your responsibility to become exceptional public service officers, and dedicate yourselves to going the extra mile in serving our nation and our people.

 

I wish you success in your journey ahead, and look forward to you serving the nation with passion and pride when you begin your career in the Public Service.

 

Thank you.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY MR TEO CHEE HEAN, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, COORDINATING MINISTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AND MINISTER IN CHARGE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AT 2016 PSC SCHOLARSHIPS AWARD CEREMONY ON 20 JULY 2016

 

“A Public Service with the Head, Hands and Heart to build a Better Singapore”

 

Mr Eddie Teo, Chairman of the Public Service Commission

Members of the PSC

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

 

1.             Good evening to all of you. Congratulations to our 73 scholarship recipients this year. I would like to congratulate the parents, principals and teachers who have helped, supported and guided you over the years.

 

A New Chapter, A New Generation

 

2.             Today marks the beginning of your public service journey to make Singapore better, and improve the lives of Singaporeans. You are now part of the new generation of public officers who will help to write the next chapter of our shared Singapore story. Each chapter is different from the previous one, and each generation has to tackle its own challenges.

 

3.             Today, we are facing a growing terrorism threat. Our economy is going through a transformation. Our population is ageing, and our young people have more diverse aspirations. But compared to the early years of our independence, we are better equipped to tackle these challenges and seize new opportunities. We are more united as a people than at independence. Our elderly can age actively, and still contribute in various ways. Singaporeans are much better educated, and there are many, many more pathways for Singaporeans to pursue their dreams.

 

4.             What this means for the Public Service is that simply doing the same things as before is not enough to help Singapore and Singaporeans progress further. You will need imagination, to develop new responses and solutions to tackle today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. You will need courage, to stop doing old things which might have worked in the past but are no longer right for the future. And you will need wisdom, to rethink policies and programmes that better meet Singaporeans’ needs.

 

The Public Service Needs a Diverse Team of Good People

 

5.             This is why we need to bring in good people to join the Public Service – dedicated public officers who are committed to making Singapore better for all Singaporeans. Who understand cross-domain issues and trade-offs, and can help strengthen policy development and implementation across the whole of Government. And at the same time, we need officers who have deep skills and specialised capabilities in areas such as technology and engineering, to help develop innovative solutions for complex problems in different specialised domains that are critical for our future.

 

6.             The PSC Scholarship together with agency scholarships is just one of many routes through which good people enter the Public Service. Others may join us as fresh graduates, or after they have gained some experience in other fields, including the private and people sectors.

 

7.             Regardless of the route of entry, we need our public officers to have three key attributes, which I summarise as Head, Hands and Heart.

 

Head

 

8.             Let me start with Head. Our public officers need to have deep knowledge and hard skills. Many of you are going to top universities in Singapore and overseas, to learn from the very best professors, across a wide range of subjects. You will benefit not just from classroom teaching and academics, but also learn and grow through your daily living experiences. Keep an open mind, and be prepared to learn from everyone around you, and to learn throughout life. Armed with a familiarity with new knowledge and where the new world is taking us, you will be able to help us think through issues and long-held assumptions, and come up with new and innovative solutions to make Singaporeans’ lives better.

 

Hands

 

9.             Next, Hands. Because just head knowledge is not enough. We also need public officers to be prepared to roll up your sleeves, get into the details, and do the implementation work. You will face more complex issues that require cross-cutting solutions straddling different government agencies. We are also seeing more Singaporeans come forward to offer their time and expertise to work with government agencies. So you will need to work hand-in-hand with partners, from other government agencies, from the private and people sectors, and ordinary Singaporeans, to develop and deliver good policies, programmes and services. The Public Service must not be an organisation unto itself. It must be out there with Singaporeans, working with Singaporeans, to make Singapore better.

 

Heart

 

10.          But most importantly, public officers must have a Heart for public service. You have to derive happiness from other people’s happiness. No amount of skill or knowledge can compensate for lack of heart. Take the time to listen to Singaporeans’ concerns and better understand their needs. Be empathetic, even as you have to make difficult decisions that may not be universally popular. Always seek to maximise the benefit for the majority of Singaporeans, even if not everyone will benefit from a specific policy or programme to the same extent. Make sure that every Singaporean is brought along through the totality of our programmes and policies. Live by the Public Service values of Integrity, Service and Excellence.

And always do what is right by the people of Singapore. Ultimately, this is what it means to be a public officer – to have Singapore and Singaporeans at the heart of everything we do.

 

Conclusion

 

11.          Our public officers have contributed much to Singapore’s development in our first 50 years. And there is much more to be done as we write the next chapter of the Singapore story together with fellow Singaporeans.

 

12.          I congratulate you once again. I wish all of you very best as you embark on your studies. And I look forward to all of you coming home, putting your Head, Hands and Heart, to make Singapore even better for all of us and for future generations.

 

13.          Thank you.