Professor Tan Eng Chye

President of NUS

Ms Janet Ang

Chairman of NUS-ISS

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good evening. It is my pleasure to celebrate the National University of Singapore-Institute of Systems Science (NUS-ISS)’s 40th anniversary with you. 

In the 1970s, Singapore had no Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry to speak of. We faced the challenge of preparing our society for a whole new era driven by a knowledge-based economy. At the time, all we had were ‘microcomputers’. They were termed ‘micro’, but these computers were massive by today’s standards. It was clear that these machines would influence Singapore’s digital landscape in the years to come.

One challenge we faced venturing into a digital future was an acute shortage of talent, with fewer than 800 IT professionals in Singapore at the time. Against this backdrop, NUS-ISS was established through a partnership between the National Computer Board and IBM, to build a pipeline of digital talent for the nation. Since 1981, this is a mission you have tackled on two fronts:  upgrading the skills of working IT professionals in a fast-paced industry, while providing non-IT professionals with conversion pathways to carve out exciting digital careers. 

Today, thanks in part to your efforts, we are proud to call ourselves a Smart Nation. We have worked hard to develop world-class infrastructure and talent. Among cities, we placed eighth out of 30 on the Digital Cities Index 2022, which ranks global cities on their technology across four thematic pillars: connectivity, services, culture, and sustainability. But Singapore is a small state, and talent remains a key resource for us to stay ahead. The Government has remained committed in its efforts to nurture a strong pipeline of local tech talent and to ensure that our workforce remains competitive amidst rapid technological evolution. This is done by equipping our workforce with in-demand skills, enhancing job opportunities, and working with partners to scale both the reach and impact of such initiatives.

To this end, NUS-ISS has remained a steadfast partner. To date, the institute has trained over 166,000 digital leaders and professionals, more than 8,000 corporate client organisations, and 7,600 graduate programmes alumni. These individuals have fuelled the country’s economic growth and elevated our competitive advantage. Many of them have in turn contributed to accelerating the development of digital talent.

Beyond skills training, the institute offers a myriad of services such as career advisory, job placement support, mentorship clinics and communities of practice. It is not just about training people in digital technologies, but more importantly about empowering everyone who walks through the doors of NUS-ISS. This is achieved by helping them map out their career aspirations, navigate the fast-changing job landscape, and forge a meaningful career in digitalisation.  

More than just an institute of learning, NUS-ISS’s multifaceted contributions are evident through its industry partnerships. Since its formative partnership with IBM, all NUS-ISS programmes have borne a deep understanding of industry needs and strong partnerships with ecosystem players. This reflects the broader approach across Government of working closely with industry partners to develop tech talent. Take for example, the TechSkills Accelerator initiative and the partnership with NUS on the 5G Academy. These programmes, among others, address the critical skillsets required in the Digital Economy. 

We are once again standing at the cusp of change. Globally, we are exiting a pandemic that has sped digitalisation up by at least seven years. The past two and a half years have been unprecedented, but history suggests that we have always been living in unprecedented times. The question that remains is how we can emerge stronger and better prepared for the future.

One group of Singaporeans that will play a central role in addressing this question is our youth. They grew up in a world of smartphones and mobile apps, with information at their fingertips. They are bold, imaginative, and they are eager to make a difference to the world. I am heartened to see that they are also putting their digital skills where their hearts are. 

There are many examples of digital natives leveraging digital technologies and platforms for the greater good, from helping communities in need to raising awareness on sustainability. This was demonstrated in the solutions put forward by the participants of the Digital Futurist Challenge organised by NUS-ISS, as they envisioned what Singapore would be in 2060. They have also applied their knowledge of technology to create positive social impact. With support from partners like Amazon Web Services and Intel, over 300 secondary school and junior college students developed tech solutions to address real-world problems. These included a prototype to facilitate diagnosis of sports injuries and neurological conditions, as well as a web-based app to raise awareness about proper recycling.

We must also be cognisant of the digital divide. This is why the Digital for Life (DfL) movement was launched last year, together with the President’s Challenge 2021 theme of ‘Building a Digitally Inclusive Society’. Through the DfL movement, over 130 partners have come together to empower Singaporeans to lead digitally enriched lives. Youth have been a driving force of the DfL movement. For instance, since July 2020, 900 volunteers from Youth Corps Singapore have been working with IMDA to run digital learning workshops at Senior Activity Centres, helping close to 1,800 seniors acquire digital skills.

To our young futurists and innovators, you have much potential to be unlocked. I encourage youth to join the DfL movement. Start a project that is of interest to you or find one to contribute to, and take action to show how technology can enable and enrich the lives of others around you. I urge you to follow your passion and expand your creativity, and invest in digital skillsets to solve challenges. Some of the possibilities in the future era painted by mural artist Mr Yip Yew Chong may very well be implemented by you!

Once again, happy 40th anniversary to NUS-ISS. You have made immense contributions over the last four decades, and played an instrumental role in helping Singapore develop a competitive digital workforce. You have many more exciting initiatives that will help our industry and workforce climb the next curve of digital excellence. I wish you all the best in your future achievements and milestones.

Thank you.