News

Mr Eddie Teo
Chairman, Public Service Commission,

Members of the PSC

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen

1.           Good evening. I am happy to join you today at the 2013 PSC Scholarships Award Ceremony.

2.           Congratulations to the 92 scholarship recipients. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise your parents, principals and teachers. Your guidance and support have played an important part in nurturing your sons, daughters and students.  Please join me in giving our recipients, as well as your parents, principals and teachers, a warm round of applause.

3.           By taking up the PSC scholarship, you have made a commitment to Public Service. What makes a good Public Officer, and collectively, a good Public Service? There are many important attributes that we would like to see in our Public Officers. But if I had to distil it down to just three or four words, I would say Ability, Diversity, Empathyand Integrity.

Ability – building capabilities, preparing for the future

4.           First, ability. Our 92 recipients from 14 schools and 3 polytechnics have been selected from a pool of over 2,000 good applicants. You have shown strong ability not just academically, but also in leadership and community service, as well as a strong commitment to serve Singapore and Singaporeans.

5.           You will be going on to universities in Singapore, as well as in China, France, the United Kingdom and the United States. Some of you may choose a more broad-based education while others venture deeper into specific areas that you are passionate about. You will also have opportunities for different experiences in and outside the classroom – in research projects, co-curricular activities, overseas exchanges, or volunteer work. I encourage you to embrace all these opportunities. These experiences will help to hone your abilities in different ways, and make you a more rounded person. They will provide you with a wide range of perspectives and make you better Public Officers.

Diversity – recruiting widely, developing different strengths

6.           It is also important to have more diversity across the Public Service. We have widened our outreach to recruit able and energetic people with different backgrounds, skills and experiences into the Public Service. The PSC scholarship is but one route into the Public Service. There are other opportunities to join the Service, including immediately after graduation or as a mid-career entrant.

7.           We also recently launched the Public Service Leadership Programme to develop specialist leaders with deep domain knowledge in five key areas: economy, infrastructure and environment, security, social, and central administration. They will work alongside generalist leaders in the Administrative Service who have traditionally been developed to be strong in whole-of-government perspectives. We need different types of leaders and officers – a combination of specialists as well as generalists – in the Public Service. Together, the sectoral officers and Administrative Officers will form strong teams with a deeper and wider range of capabilities, perspectives and experiences to better serve Singapore and Singaporeans.

Empathy – Understanding and engaging the public

8.           But ability and diversity are not enough. A good Public Officer must have empathy, and seek a deep understanding of the needs of Singaporeans. Public officers must have our hearts in the right place, and derive happiness from other people’s happiness and well-being.

9.           To develop solutions that benefit the largest number of Singaporeans, or which are tailored to specific groups or needs, public officers must proactively reach out to different segments in society, to better understand their specific and collective needs. In this way, we benefit as many Singaporeans as possible. Even though some may not benefit from each specific policy or programme, all Singaporeans will benefit from the totality of programmes and a better Singapore. We must be open to ideas and suggestions, which can help us to develop a better proposal, or refine an existing initiative or policy. We should actively seek to harness the collective wisdom of Singaporeans to generate better solutions wherever possible.

10.       The Our Singapore Conversation (OSC) initiative has provided a useful platform for around 46,000 Singaporeans to share their aspirations for a better Singapore. These conversations have also provided an avenue for Singaporeans to engage more deeply on key policy issues, such as housing, education, jobs and healthcare, and have a deeper understanding of the sometimes difficult choices and trade-offs that we need to make. Some of the ideas and suggestions have already been acted upon. For example, the inclusion of neo-natal and congenital diseases under Medishield and the introduction of paternity leave were announced earlier this year.  

11.       As PSC scholarship holders and future Public Officers, I hope you will continually listen to, and stay engaged with, the people that you serve. Participate actively in discussions on Singapore’s future and deepen your own understanding. Help develop the Public Service’s capabilities in engaging the public through different channels, both traditional face-to-face and online. Through constant communication and mutual listening, citizens and public officers together can develop a better understanding of Singaporeans’ needs and concerns, make the most appropriate policy choices, and implement programmes that benefit more Singaporeans.

Integrity – Upholding high standards in the Public Service

12.       Undergirding all of this is integrity. Our work as Public Officers can only succeed if it is built on trust – trust that the Public Service is made up of upright officers who have the interest of Singapore and Singaporeans at heart, and will do what is right.

13.       The Singapore Public Service has built up a strong reputation and won the trust of the public that we serve. This has required determination and hard work over several decades, with strong support from the public. And it requires constant effort and vigilance. All Public Officers must maintain a high standard of personal conduct, to uphold the integrity of the Public Service and public confidence in it.

14.       There have been some cases involving even senior Public Officers which have put the integrity of the Public Service in the spotlight. The Service does not tolerate any form of corruption, misconduct, or wrongdoing. From time to time, there may be individual failings. But we will uphold the integrity of the Public Service by upholding the law and bringing wrong-doers to justice. And we will do so without fear or favour. By so doing, we maintain confidence in our public institutions and also in the people who continue to serve in them.

15.       As PSC scholarship holders, hold yourselves to these high standards of professionalism and integrity. Conduct yourselves honourably and responsibly. And never betray the trust that Singaporeans have placed in us as Public Officers. 

Conclusion

16.       As you embark on your university education, always remember why you chose to be a Public Officer. Think about what you can do to make Singapore a better home for Singaporeans. Remember the people who helped you to become who you are today – your parents, your teachers, your loved ones – and your country which has given you all these opportunities.

17.       As Public Officers, you have the opportunity and responsibility to shape our nation’s future. You have the opportunity to make the lives of Singaporeans better. The true measure of your success is not the number of ‘A’s in your exams or how many academic accolades you collect. It will be determined by the impact you make to improve the lives of Singaporeans in the years to come.

18.       I wish you all the best as you prepare yourself to serve Singapore and Singaporeans. I look forward to welcoming you back to work together with, and for your fellow Singaporeans to build a better future for all of us.

Congratulations and thank you.

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

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

1.      Welcome to the 2013 PSC Scholarships Award Ceremony. I would like to congratulate the 92 PSC scholarship recipients this year, who have been selected from a pool of over 2,200 applicants.

Beyond academic excellence

2.      You were not chosen merely because you were book or exam smart. This is because academic results alone do not make a candidate suitable for the Public Service. Our experience in the Public Service shows very clearly that not all candidates who do well academically will make good Public Officers. Conversely, a person who fails to score straight ‘A’s can still be an excellent Public Officer.

3.      You were chosen because you possessed qualities beyond academic ability, that the PSC believes will make you a good fit for the Public Service. These include leadership, commitment, integrity, empathy, people skills and a strong desire to help others. I am pleased that you have chosen to take up the PSC scholarship, and realise that in doing so, you are committed to a career to serve Singapore and its citizens.  I would also like to express my appreciation to your families, principals and teachers who have nurtured and supported you along the way. A true measure of meritocracy is when the people who succeed realise how much help they got from the people around them.

Breadth in scholarship recipient pool

4.      This year, 26 PSC scholarships are being awarded for science, mathematics and engineering courses – the highest since 2009. This is heartening, because we believe it is important to have officers with a broad range of training and knowledge in the Public Service.  In addition, there will be many complex challenges on the horizon in many different fields of work within the public sector that could benefit from specialised training. In planning for our future transport and housing systems as well as regulating complex industries such as our energy market, it would help if our future public sector leaders are at least familiar or feel comfortable with these subjects when they help formulate government policies. 

5.      I am also happy to note the diverse educational backgrounds of this year’s scholarship recipients. They include students from 3 different Polytechnics as well as 2 students from the School of the Art (SOTA)’s pioneer cohort. The PSC continues to be on the lookout for good candidates from all schools and backgrounds.  

6.      Incidentally, one of the scholarship recipients from SOTA, Miss Ruby Gayle Thiagarajan, will also be the first scholarship recipient in 7 years to be heading to France to pursue her undergraduate studies. I congratulate Ruby for choosing the path less travelled. I am confident that she will discover many enriching experiences that she can bring back to Singapore when she returns to start work in the public service. 

7.      I would also like to congratulate the 3 PSC Masters scholarship recipients today – Mr Jeevaraj Suppiah, who will be pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University later this year; Ms Xie Jiayin, who had started work at MOF before her course commences in 2014; and Mr Tham Zhi Kang Jansen, who recently graduated with a first class honours in Chemical Engineering at NUS.

8.      PSC offers the Mid-term and Masters scholarships because it recognises that not all 18-year-olds may be able to commit themselves to a specific career. We do not want anyone, no matter how talented, to rush into taking up PSC scholarships without fully realising what it means to be a public servant.  Those who were unsure at 18 will still have a chance to take up a Masters scholarship after they have finished their undergraduate studies.

High quality education in local universities

9.      Many candidates at PSC interviews express a desire to study overseas.  They explain that studying abroad would broaden their perspectives and allow them to discuss issues and interact with students of other nationalities. Some also cite the unique qualities and experiences found in world-renowned overseas universities. These reasons are valid, but our students may not realize how much the local higher educational scene has changed and that what they are seeking overseas can in fact be found locally.

10.    PSC scholarship recipients who pursue their undergraduate degree locally now have the opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree in any country of their choice. For example, 2008 recipient Miss Genim Tan Siu Xian, will complete her Master’s degree in Global Health Science at the University of Oxford this year. She had earlier graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS). Another 2008 recipient Mr Kang Ping Song Marvin, also an NUS graduate, is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

11.    The features of an overseas education can also be increasingly found in our local institutions. Our local universities have been raising their global profile and offering a more cosmopolitan experience. Based on the latest US News and World Report, NUS was ranked #25, consolidating its position as a premier institution in the world. NTU also moved up to #47. As the global draw of local universities increases, the opportunities for local undergraduates to interact with peers of different nationalities will increase. Taken together, the initiatives and offerings by local universities have helped enhance the attractiveness and uniqueness of a local education.

12.    Local universities also offer student exchange programmes which allow local undergraduates to experience life abroad. In some cases, they have even partnered with overseas institutions to create new institutions and programmes. Among the 15 PSC scholarship recipients who have chosen to pursue their undergraduate studies locally this year, we have our first scholarship recipients heading to the recently established Yale-NUS College. Miss Leong Wei Shan Clarissa and Miss Priscilla Tay Si Min will be part of the pioneer cohort at the Yale-NUS College to read Economics and Liberal Arts respectively.

13.    Another recently-established institution is the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). Mr Leong Hei Kern will be pursing Engineering in SUTD in 2015 after he completes his National Service. He will have the chance to be part of a unique collaboration between SUTD and MIT.

Conclusion

14.    Regardless of where you will be pursuing your studies, I look forward to seeing you back in a few years. I am sure you will contribute to the Public Service in many ways. Until then, seek every opportunity to better yourself both as a person and as a future Public Officer. Keep your mind open to new ideas and experiences. Get out of your comfort zone whenever you can. Make new friends and sustain the friendships you make, and always remember that there are many lessons in life you can learn outside the classroom.

15.    Once again, my heartiest congratulations. Thank you.

The Straits Times
05 May 2013

Selecting public officers: Academic results not the only factor

We thank political correspondent Jessica Cheam for her comments and agree that the selection of scholarship recipients and leaders should not be based on a narrow definition of success ("A vision for a society of equals"; last Sunday).

When we select public officers, we consider a broad range of indicators and factors to find a good fit for service, so academic achievement is but one factor.

For instance, in awarding Public Service Commission scholarships, we assess the candidates' fit for a public service career based on whole-person qualities, which include their character, integrity and commitment to serve the public.

All deserving candidates, regardless of their school, family or economic backgrounds, will be awarded a scholarship if they are found suitable.

Similarly, in selecting candidates for appointment in the Public Service, qualities such as leadership, teamwork, project management, customer orientation and technical know-how are considered in relation to the nature of work and the positions they apply for.

Likewise, once the officers are hired, they are assessed and promoted based on their job performance and potential to contribute. Academic qualifications do not figure in the appraisal process. They are evaluated holistically not just on their intellectual qualities, but also on their ability to understand, listen to and connect with people.

All deserving officers who have proven themselves in their careers will be considered for leadership and key positions in the service.

In a selection process, it is inevitable that there will be disappointed applicants. This said, we will continue to improve our processes and cast our net wide to reach out to and consider candidates from different backgrounds for our positions and awards, and assess them fairly based on relevant skills and attributes.

In this pursuit, we will keep in mind our fundamental aim of having a merit-based selection and appointment process, one that can help us find the most suitable people for the different jobs in the Public Service.

James Wong
Secretary
Public Service Commission