PSC | News

Show

for

Keynote Address by Minister for Education and Minister-in-charge of The Public Service, Mr Chan Chun Sing, at The Public Service Commission Scholarships Award Ceremony on 19 July 2023

Read News

Opening Address by Mr Lee Tzu Yang, Chairman of The Public Service Commission at the 2023 PSC Scholarships Award Ceremony on 19 July 2023

Opening Address by Mr Lee Tzu Yang at 2023 PSC Scholarships Award Ceremony

Read News

2022 President's Scholarships Award Ceremony: Speech by President Halimah Yacob

Read News

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

Read News

19 July 2023

Chairman and members of the Public Service Commission

Scholarship recipients and your families and friends

All of you who are here and who have made this possible

1. A very good afternoon to all of you.

2. First, let me congratulate all the scholarship recipients today. As Tzu Yang has mentioned, you are here not just because of your hard work or intelligence. You are here because of the love and support of your families and the opportunities provided to all of us by our country.

A more diverse cohort

3. Next, I would like on this occasion to particularly thank the Public Service Commission for your hard work behind the scenes all these years.

4. As you can see, this cohort of scholarship recipients is much more diverse than ever before. And this is a continuing journey that the Public Service Commission has committed itself to. Diversity not just in terms of the kinds of backgrounds that you have, the kinds of schools that you come from – be it polytechnics, A-level programmes, IB programmes and so forth – but diversity also in terms of how you are awarded a scholarship.

5. In the spirit of what we mean by truly being a continuous meritocracy, where the system is porous, we want people to know that even beyond your initial years after the A-levels or IB programme, even while you are in university, or even as you are completing your university and may have started work, you can still apply for a scholarship with the Public Service Commission. This is a mark of the diversity that we aspire to, and this is the work which the Public Service Commission is committed to do. So, I thank Tzu Yang and your team for leading us in this, to broaden the diversity that we have in the Public Service.

6. To all our recipients today, I thank you for stepping forward to serve. You are entering the service of our nation in interesting times.

Challenges and opportunities ahead

7. The world is fragmenting. The global security order that we are so used to for the last 30 to 40 years can no longer be taken as a given. The war in Ukraine and the many crises, in this region and beyond, have shown us that the international rule of law is no longer a given. How can Singapore survive and thrive in this new environment? This will be a big challenge for our generation and your generation.

8. The global economic order is fragile. The international dispute settlement mechanism has broken down. Today, under the guise of security considerations, many countries are adopting protectionist measures. What does this all mean for a country like Singapore that is so dependent on trade? How do we seek out new ways to earn our livelihoods?

9. Today, we live in a much more fractious social environment. Part of this is caused by a growing inequality — real and perceived, absolute and relative. How do we pull people from different walks of life, different backgrounds, with different aspirations, towards a common goal? We should and we must have diversity of views. But we should not have diversity of purpose.

10. A fragmenting global order, a fragile economic order, and a fractious social environment. These are the challenges that you will be confronted with as part of the team serving our nation in the Public Service. Yet at the same time, there are many opportunities for us to seize.

11. New technologies and connectivity have allowed Singapore the opportunity to transcend our geography and our geographical location. If we look back at the history of Singapore in the last 700 years, this is the first time we are trying to defy the odds of history as an independent and sovereign nation without a conventional hinterland. Therein lies both our challenges and opportunities. With the new technologies and new connectivity, we must think about how we can entrench our relevance to the world, earn our keep and keep our people together through thick and thin.

What is required of those in Public Service

12. Having said that, what do we need from you? Today, I would just like you to remember a simple imagery – the iceberg. Whenever we see the iceberg, most of us will see the beautiful part that is above the water. But the true strength of the iceberg is actually beneath the water. For every inch of iceberg that we see above the water, many more inches of ice lie beneath the water. What has that to do with the public service and your future?

13. Above the surface, people will look at your capabilities and connections. All those are essential. We talk about the different skillsets that you must acquire within the Public Service – the ability to make good policies; the ability to execute good operations; the ability to communicate and mobilise stakeholders to work with us; the ability to build networks both domestically and internationally, to leverage our collective strength as well as the strength of our networks for us to overcome any crisis. These are all important and I have no doubt in time to come you will build up these capabilities and connections.

14. But today, I want you to remember that these are but what you see on the surface. What we are looking for in all our public officers and in our public sector scholarship holders goes beneath the water – people with the conviction to help Singapore defy the odds of history, the commitment to do the right things, whether people are watching us or not, and ultimately, the right instincts for Singapore and Singaporeans.

15. Let me just share two lessons that I have learnt from Mr Lim Siong Guan, who was once Head of Civil Service, and was my Permanent Secretary in Defence. He always reminded us that success was not just when we got the job done; and success was certainly not when we got the job done when we were around. Success was when the job was done, and everyone involved felt that we had done it together. Success was also when everyone could get the job done even when one particular leader was not around. I hope you remember that success is not about what we have achieved for ourselves in our time, but what we enable everyone else to achieve together.

16. There was a second lesson that Mr Lim used to share with us – and this is particularly salient to those of us who will be in the security agencies and armed forces. Again, what is success? Once, he told us success was when the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) had built up a capability, trained it, honed it, retired it and never had to use it. From there, I learned a few things.

17. First, the work in the Public Service is not just about the here and now. I learned in my life in the Public Service never to give media interviews for my first 100 days, because I never believed that our work could be measured in days. When I was in the Ministry of Social and Family Development, people asked me after two to three years how many people I had helped. I humbly replied, our key performance indicator (KPI) was not how many people we had helped, but how many people we need not help going forward.

18. Because for every child whose life we have touched, it will only be a success one generation later when the child grows up unshackled from his past, and is able to stand up independently and confidently, and contribute to society. Just like in the SAF and in education, we never measure success by how well we do now. We must have this sense of perspective if we want to help Singapore and Singaporeans defy the odds of history.

Conclusion

19. Finally, you will be the generation that will be present when Singapore celebrates her 100th birthday. The Commission Members and the senior public officers seated in front with me today just have one simple wish – that you have the guts and the gumption to see us through to SG100.

20. I am not saying this lightly, because I know the journey ahead will not be easy. I have never taken it for granted that Singapore will be around effortlessly. Your generation has the chance to join all those who have come before you, to work at helping Singapore defy the odds of history. But you need not worry because you will not be working alone. Our greatest strength is in the collective.

21. Achieving success for Singapore is a team sport. You are part of the team and you must bring more people to be part of that team. With that, I am confident that Singapore will continue to exist and thrive as a strong country in 2065.

22. Thank you very much.

19 July 2023

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

Mr Leo Yip, Head, Civil Service

Fellow Commission Members

Distinguished Guests

Families, Friends, and Scholarship Recipients,

Ladies and Gentlemen

1. Good afternoon and a warm welcome to all.

2. Every year, my Commission members and I look forward to the scholarship season. We are delighted to play our part and take our role seriously. We look hard and wide to select promising young individuals who are prepared to serve in the Public Service, and who wish to grow to become custodians of Singapore’s future. This work requires the collective effort of the Commission as well as our community.

3. Our partners, many of whom are here today, encourage and identify prospective applicants with the right fit to serve. Together, we bring some of our finest in Singapore to contribute to the Public Service. Our schools and universities do not just provide information that helps in selection; they have also nurtured and developed the candidates we meet. I would like to thank our key partners in education for their dedication to developing talent.

4. Families and communities, too, play very important roles. They support their individual members in their aspirations to take on differing pursuits. To the parents and loved ones of our scholarship recipients, thank you for supporting them and giving them the love and confidence to step forward in this pursuit to serve the nation.

5. The joint effort of many groups brings about the promise we see in each scholarship recipient today. That is why, I wish to congratulate both our 66 recipients and everyone who has played a part in building their potential for the future. To our recipients, we say this, and it can never be said too often – every one of you is here not just because of your own efforts but because of the support from those around you. You can be proud to be awarded the scholarship today, but it is not a prize. The scholarship offers you the opportunity to further develop your potential to serve others, and those who have helped you along your way.

6. We are encouraged by the diversity of this year’s cohort. The 66 of you came from 19 different pre-university institutions, the highest number to date. The nine mid-term award recipients will take up PSC scholarships in medicine, public administration, sustainability, and engineering. In total, all of you will also be reading courses in 25 different universities, both locally and globally. We will continue to build on these. Today, mid-term scholarships are not offered for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Singapore Police Force (SPF) scholarships. PSC is working with the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on the possibility of extending the mid-term option to give outstanding candidates, who may decide on an SAF or SPF career during university, the opportunity to apply. You, too, can help us by encouraging your peers, who have the capacity and heart for public service, to apply for mid-term scholarships. Let them know that they are eligible, even if they have begun their degree and whether they are in Singapore or overseas.

7. Last year, the PSC introduced the sustainability scholarship. I am happy that we have three recipients for the scholarship – two mid-term awards and one master’s award. Ernest, Li Zhe and Freda, as the pioneer batch, you play an important role in shaping this opportunity and setting the direction for future batches of recipients. We look forward to your progress as you contribute to Singapore’s sustainability.

8. Earlier this year, I spoke to your seniors on their reflections of what the scholarship means to them. Let me share some of their points with you.

9. First, today you commit to be the best possible version of yourself. You have accepted responsibility to take on developmental opportunities that prepare you to contribute to others. Be trailblazers!

10. Your seniors have heeded the call. In this last academic year, they explored opportunities in 16 countries outside Singapore, including Antarctica, Belgium, Israel, Norway, and South Korea. Seven in 10 of those reading a master’s degree are doing so in a country different to their undergraduate studies. One is pursuing a dual degree with Sciences Po in France and Fudan University in China. Another a master’s across three countries – Austria, Greece, and Sweden. Three of your seniors are in the Yenching Academy of Peking University. Two are undertaking work stints in Kenya and Thailand through our Gap Year programme. Through these stints, they connect with other talented young people globally and forge connections that will benefit Singapore.

11. Second, today you commit to make Singapore and our society better. Beyond your familiar social circles, meet and learn from new communities. Gain insights on their institutions, beliefs and values. Empathise with how they interact with and want to help shape Singapore and the world. It is a humbling experience to realise that there are many ways to view the world; even in Singapore. The Youth Corps Singapore Leaders’ Programme provides you with the tools to interact with different communities. This will help you become a better public officer – one who closely understands those you serve.

12. Finally, today you commit to bring the Public Service, and Singapore, to greater heights. Never underestimate what you can achieve. When you start at university or work, it is easy to feel powerless. However, the path of least resistance leads to lesser results. Find the levers that will set positive changes in yourself. When you meet obstacles, as you will, keep your sights on the value to be gained. Even amidst failure, do not lose heart, and find ways to keep moving forward.

13. Your journey of self-discovery will be exciting, but daunting too. There are new challenges to discover and overcome. Your cohort mates, with whom you have forged ties, are there for you. Do the same for them.

14. Each of you was selected because you have the potential to do all that I have spoken about. You are entrusted with the responsibility to grow into leaders who serve others. It is with this mindset and attitude that you will enter the Public Service and bring the nation forward.

15. To end off, I ask that you remember the meaning of public service – to serve Singapore and Singaporeans. You already have many commitments – to family, friends, loved ones, schools, community. But the biggest commitment that you make today is to yourself; because the person whom you aspire to become tomorrow must deliver the promises made by your younger self today.

16. I wish you all the best for the journeys that lie ahead. Thank you very much.

12 August 2022

Ministers

Chairman and Members of the Public Service Commission

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good evening. This event marks the first time in 3 years that we are able to host the President’s Scholarship Award Ceremony in person.

The President’s Scholarship recognises outstanding young leaders for their dedication towards public service. Recipients have exemplified outstanding leadership qualities, strength of character, excellence in both academic and non-academic pursuits, and demonstrated unwavering commitment towards serving Singapore and Singaporeans. This year, I am pleased to award the President’s Scholarship to four remarkable young men and women. They are: Mr Eugene Chua Weiheng, Officer Cadet Govindan Solai Valli, Mr Lau Ka Keong, Andrew; and Miss Ng Si Jie Elizabeth.

Eugene and Andrew will be pursuing their studies in the United States, with Eugene reading History at Harvard University and Andrew reading Economics and English at Yale University. Elizabeth will be reading International Social and Public Policy at London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom. Solai will be going to Leiden University in The Netherlands to study International Relations and Organisations, the first President’s scholar to do so.

Eugene is an accomplished orator and the Vice-Chairman of the Raffles Institution Gavel Club. As a volunteer with Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centre, Eugene served as a tutor and mentor to primary school children from less privileged backgrounds. The time he spent with them will serve him well as a Teaching scholarship recipient. Eugene hopes to nurture our next generation and build a society where Singaporean youth from all walks of life can find his or her own pathway to success.

Solai followed the footsteps of her mother, volunteering for the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA). She served in various capacities, from a vaccine ambassador, to a 'door-knocker' where she visited underprivileged members of the Indian community to understand their needs and provide aid. She also mentored at-risk youths under the Football Club Guidance & Mentorship programme. Solai is an active sportswoman and was Captain of the ACJC softball team. She will be serving with the SAF upon graduation.

Andrew was the President of the History and Strategic Affairs Society in Raffles Institution, and represented the school in various debate competitions. He has been volunteering as a tutor with the Ulu Pandan Community Foundation, and with the Homeless Hearts of Singapore as a befriender. Through these experiences, Andrew learnt the importance of empathy in understanding the challenges faced by the less privileged in our society. Through a public service career, Andrew hopes to work on policies to enable Singaporeans from all socio-economic backgrounds to find success and lead a fulfilling life.

Elizabeth is a person of many interests. She was the President of the Choir at Nanyang Girls’ High School, and the Bicultural Studies Programme Ambassador at Hwa Chong Institution. As a student leader, she actively galvanised her peers to work on recycling initiatives with grassroot organisations. Elizabeth is a believer of paying kindness forward. Having benefited from the support of her teachers and friends, Elizabeth volunteered in various capacities at Fei Yue Community Services, Lion Befrienders, Assisi Hospice and Singapore Children’s Society. She reached out to Singaporeans from different walks of life, including seniors, patients, and children. She also has a keen interest in foreign affairs and will be joining the public service as a PSC (Foreign Service) scholarship recipient.

My heartfelt congratulations to all of you.

Today is a memorable occasion for you and your family. As a recipient of this prestigious scholarship, you are now tasked with an important responsibility as future Public Service leaders, to lead Singapore forward beyond COVID-19 and to build a better Singapore for all Singaporeans. I am also heartened to see that all of you have a desire in wanting to help fellow Singaporeans and encourage you to keep engaging Singaporeans from all walks of life.

Externally, the geopolitical world order is changing. The global economy and markets are facing fundamental shifts with disruptions in supply chains and rising inflation rates. Climate change remains a long-term challenge, as extreme and unusual weather patterns become the norm across many countries in recent times.

Domestically, our demographics are changing. Our society is maturing, and the needs of Singaporeans have become more diverse. Younger generations of Singaporeans have evolving and different social expectations and aspirations. Many want a greater say in shaping Singapore’s future. Governance has become more complex and will increasingly be so, with many new demands on the Public Service. This also means the Public Service needs to be more diverse in terms of the experiences, backgrounds, and strengths of its officers to respond to these new and varied demands.

To this end, I am pleased to hear that the Public Service Commission has evolved its selection tools for PSC scholarships to capture a broader range of talent in the Public Service. PSC has reached out to outstanding students from more schools and polytechnics to encourage them to apply for the PSC scholarships. PSC also encourages its scholarship holders to pursue diverse subjects, courses, work attachments and internships in different countries, especially within the region.

Over the long term, this will help to develop good public service leaders who are exposed to different networks, cultures, and ways of thinking. This will improve the strength and resilience of the public sector, in tandem with our efforts to be a more inclusive society. Amidst the challenges ahead, there are opportunities to create better outcomes for our people and take Singapore to the next level.

As recipients of the President’s Scholarship, you must gear yourselves up to serve and lead in this rapidly changing landscape. You have the responsibility to lead and galvanise different sectors of society to respond to the challenges that lie ahead of us. You will need to develop the skills to lead while making sure that differing views and concerns of our people are considered and heard. Eugene, Solai, Andrew, and Elizabeth, it is your duty to embody the values of the Public Service, uphold the trust that has been placed in you, and do your part to support Singapore’s continued success.

Finally, I would also like to congratulate your families, principals, teachers, and friends, for their roles in guiding and developing you. I am confident that you will do us proud. I wish you every success in your journey ahead and look forward to you serving the nation with commitment and passion.

Thank you.

20 July 2022

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.