NURTURING FUTURE-READY CITIZENS FOR A SMART NATION: A VIEW FROM SINGAPORE
PASET FORUM 2019 Rwanda How far advanced are Countries in preparing their Workforces – Lessons from Asia
Dr Fei Victor LIM About Singapore
2 About Singapore
3 About Singapore
Area 722.5 SQ KM Population 5.6M 74.3% Chinese 13.3% Malay Ethnic Groups 9.1% Indian 3.3% other 554.8BN SGD GDP (PPP) (2018) 407.4bn USD
4 5 “A smart nation applies digital tech and data to address strategic issues through a whole-of-government approach and in collaboration with citizens” (Hoe, 2016).
Policy initiative guiding Singapore’s digital transformation. Launched in 2014 .
• Aims to support better living, stronger communities , and create more opportunities, for all. • Improve people’s lives and connect citizens using technology (Social development). • Create new economic opportunities using technology.
6 Five key domains:
1. Transport 2. Home and Environment 3. Business Productivity 4. Health and Enabled ageing 5. Public sector Service
7 Enablers for Digitisation Public Administration Reform • Smart Nation and Digital Government Office • https://www.smartnation.sg
Educational Programmes • ICT in Education Masterplan • https://ictconnection.moe.edu.sg/masterplan-4 Upgrading Programmes • SkillsFuture • https://www.skillsfuture.sg
Delivery of Government Digital Services • GovTech • https://www.tech.gov.sg
8 Enablers for Digitisation
Test-bedding and Research Collaborations • Culture of Experimentation and Sustaining Innovation. • Data sharing through open data portal and Smart Nation Platform. • https://data.gov.sg
Investments in Research and Development • ‘Living laboratories ’ for piloting and developing tech solutions. • Changi Airport • Growing industry and start-up ecosystem • Biopolis, Fusionopolis, Blk 71 Singapore http://www.blk71.com • Cyber-security and data privacy 9 Financial Support for Digitalisation
Project Financing in Emerging Markets
Government Support for SG companies to adopt Digital Technologies • Productivity and Innovation Credit Scheme
Build on the role of Clifford Capital • Specialist provider of structured finance solutions established with support from the Government of Singapore • https://www.cliffordcap.sg
Simpler Regulatory Framework for Venture Capital Firms
Crowd Funding Facilitated as an Alternative Source of Financing
10 Connectivity to Universities and TVET Institutions
• An ultra-high speed (wireless broadband) network of one gigabit per second to connect all Singaporeans in schools (universities and TVET institutions), home, and office • Wireless@SG • Singapore’s largest free Wi-Fi network • https://www.imda.gov.sg/wireless-sg
11 Changes to Regulations, Pricing, Investment in Infrastructure
1. Government's focus on areas with high potential for tech and industry innovation 2. Regulation's need to keep pace with tech and industry innovation 3. Ground-up perspective when reviewing regulations 4. Harmonising of the various standards and compliance requirements
12 Skill Needs Forecast
1. Changing Economic Landscape 2. Disruptive Technology 3. Automation and greater emphasis on technical and soft skills 4. Demographic Trends
13 SKILLSFUTURE
14 SKILLSFUTURE
1. MySkillsFuture: one-stop education, training and career guidance online portal 2. SkillsFuture Credit: SGD500 for all Singaporeans aged 25 and above 3. SkillsFuture Advice: Community Outreach Initative 4. Skills Framework: existing & emerging skills required + list of training programmes
15 SKILLSFUTURE
5. SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme: work-learn programme that lead to diplomas 6. SkillsFuture Study Award: 2000 awards annually of SGD 5,000 to support mid-career Singaporeans to grow specialist skills 7. SkillsFuture Fellowship: Presented by the Singapore President, the SkillsFuture Fellowships honour individuals SGD 10,000 8. SkillsFuture Employer Award: Honour exemplary organisations
16 Involvement of Universities & TVET
Smart Nation Scholarship • Develops and nurtures technology talents and leaders within public service. • Offered by CSA, GovTech and IMDA. • Provides recipients the opportunities to develop own career pathway in applied technology for public good
Singapore Polytechnic’s Specialist Diploma in Digital Technologies for a Smart City • Trains working IT and Engineering professionals in operating, developing and consulting for technologies • Equips adult learners with knowledge and skills of using digital tech to develop smart nation services and apps
17 Involvement of Universities & TVET
SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace with Nanyang Polytechnic • Training programme to equip learners with foundational digital literacy skills in the workplace Nanyang Polytechnic’s modules on Data Analytics and Visualisation • Emphasis on critical thinking for students • Focuses on students’ abilities to leverage data to solve real, community-wide problems Singapore Management University’s HR Analytics Course • Use analytics to make decisions
18 Involvement of Universities & TVET
New programmes to boost technological entrepreneurship • Incubator supporting start-ups from polytechnics and alumni • Commercialise products and expand markets National Lean LaunchPad • 10-week programme for scientists and engineers • Mentors provide guidance to participants to convert academic research into commercial products
A Key Role of Education is to Support our Economy…
– People are Singapore’s only natural resource – Education prepares our children for joining the workforce in an increasingly uncertain and globalised world – Close coordination to develop these connections ◦ Between Ministries and other government agencies ◦ Between our Post-Secondary Education Institutions and Industry
… While also Fulfilling the Aspirations of our Children – Helping Children be the best that they can be – Multiple Pathways for Success, Customised programmes from schools
20
Journey
1997 - 2002 Journey
2003 - 2008 Journey
2009 - 2014 Journey
2015 & Beyond
° Deepen student’s learning with quality ICT-enabled learning and design.
° Sharpen the use of ICT in teaching and learning practices.
° Strengthen the focus on Cyber Wellness and New Media Literacies. 4th MASTERPLAN FOR ICT IN EDUCATION VISION
Future-ready & Responsible Digital Learners
OUTCOME GOAL Quality Learning in the Hands of Every Learner – Empowered with Technology
ENABLER 1 ENABLER 2 Teachers School Leaders as Designers of Learning Experiences & as Culture Builders Environments 4th MASTERPLAN FOR ICT IN EDUCATION
Implementation focuses on
Integration of ICT Professional Learning in Curriculum, Assessment & Pedagogy School Team and Communities
Quality Online Cyber New Media Milestone Good Learning Resources Wellness Literacies Programmes Practices Communities
Research & Innovation Connected ICT Ecosystem In ICT Enabled Pedagogies & Practices Physical and Social Infrastructure
Tech Joint Effective Optimal Apps & Data Community Trends Projects ICT T&L Infrastructure Connectivity Outreach Singapore MOE 21st Century Competencies
https://www.moe.gov.sg/education/education-system/21st-century-competencies Singapore EL 2010 Syllabus Areas of Language Learning
Reading
Representing Writing
Viewing Speaking
Grammar Listening https://www.moe.gov.sg/docs/default-source/document/education/syllabuses/english-language-and-literature/files/english-primary- secondary-express-normal-academic.pdf Singapore English Language Syllabus 2020
3 FOCUS AREAS
1. Multiliteracies 2. Metacognition 3. Inquiry through Dialogue https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/commentary-singapore-s-smart-nation-vision- blurry-without-a-9122400 31 Trade-Offs & Lessons
1. Need to capture public imagination 2. Need clear success story 3. Government centralisation of digitisation drive vs private sector opportunities 4. Centralised government direction vs user-driven innovation . 5. Issues of efficiency vs privacy of data
Siu Loon Hoe , (2016),"Defining a smart nation: the case of Singapore ", Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, Vol. 14 Iss 4 pp. 323 - 333 http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JICES-02-2016-0005
32 Further Readings on Singapore
Digital Readiness Blueprint https://www.mci.gov.sg/en/portfolios/digital-readiness/digital-readiness-blueprint Education Statistics Digest 2018 https://www.moe.gov.sg/docs/default-source/document/publications/education-statistics-digest/esd_2018.pdf Infocomm Media 2025 Full Report https://www.mci.gov.sg/portfolios/infocomm-media/infocomm-media-2025 Report of the Committee on the Future Economy Report 2017 https://www.mti.gov.sg/Resources/publications/Report-of-the-Committee-on-the-Future-Economy Singapore’s Smart Nation Initiative – A Policy and Organisational Perspective https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/docs/default-source/case-studies/singapores_smart_nation_initiative
33 Singapore’s education system has evolved Phases of our economic development…
Innovation-Driven
Knowledge-Based Skills/Capital- Intensive Student-centric, Ability-Based, Values Driven Industrialisation Aspiration Driven • 2012 onwards Efficiency • 1997 – 2011 Survival Driven Driven • 1959 – 1978 • 1979 – 1996
34 Key Education Statistics
Kindergarten 502 Primary 182 Secondary 143 Mixed Level 16 Pre-University 15 University 6 Government budget for SGD 12.8bn = USD 9. 18bn education (2018) 2.5% of GDP
35 36