Scholars,

Parents,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Introduction

1. Good evening. Let me first congratulate our 25 undergraduate and 18 postgraduate scholars. I am sure that your parents, principals and teachers must be very proud and happy for you.

2. MOT introduced the Beacon Scholarship in 2010. It is an umbrella branding for the different scholarships offered by MOT HQ and our four Statutory Boards. Through the branding, we have raised the profile of our scholarships and extended our outreach. This is the seventh year of the Beacon Scholarship. We have awarded 152 scholarships to-date.

3. The Beacon Scholarship offers meaningful careers. Transport is a key pillar of Singapore’s economy and urban infrastructure. As members of the MOT Family, you will have an important role to play in shaping transport policies and projects, and make a difference to the lives of Singaporeans. You can look forward to exciting career mobility and advancement prospects not just within your Statutory Board, but across the entire MOT Family.

MOT’s Need for Talent in a More Challenging Landscape

4. MOT’s mission is to develop Singapore’s aviation, maritime and land transport systems. This is a heavy responsibility.

5. Our air transport sector directly contributes to 3% of Singapore’s GDP and creates more than 50,000 jobs. Our extensive connectivity to the rest of the world is a major reason for businesses to set up their regional or global headquarters, manufacturing facilities and logistics hubs in Singapore. It is also key to our tourism sector. Towards these ends, CAAS scholars will get to work on Terminal 5, which will be our largest terminal by far; air traffic negotiations between Europe and ASEAN, the world’s first bloc-to-bloc air traffic agreement; policy and rules formulation at the International Civil Aviation Organisation; safety, security, airspace, and other regulatory issues to ensure that Changi remains the world’s best airport; and many other areas.

6. Our maritime sector is the other lifeblood of Singapore, contributing 7% to our GDP, and employing over 170,000 people. We are the world’s busiest transshipment hub. Through the port, Singaporeans get their necessities and comforts – food, clothes, and your iPhones and laptops. And with our port as anchor, Singapore has developed into a leading international maritime centre. Today, we have a bustling eco-system of ship owners, ship operators, ship brokers, maritime lawyers and charterers.

7. Land transport, on the other hand, is a daily touch point for every Singaporean. How we perform has a direct and tangible impact on their quality of life. We connect people to where they work, play and live. And we are working hard to make their mobility experience come alive so that commuters will look forward to their daily journey. There is much to do and numerous opportunities in the coming decade, as LTA reforms and expands the public transport network, improves its quality, and introduces new and more sustainable modes of mobility.

8. It will be challenging work. Our operating environment is getting increasingly complex, with higher public expectations locally, and fiercer competition on the aviation and maritime fronts. This is why the MOT Family invests a significant amount of resources to attract talent and develop our officers through the scholarships. In particular, because so much of what we do in transport is driven by technology, I am heartened to note that more than half of our 25 undergraduate scholars will be pursuing engineering degrees.

Challenging Jobs, Exciting Careers

9. I am told that returned Beacon scholars are doing well and have been involved in many interesting projects.

10. Ray Wen, an MPA scholar from the 2010 cohort, is currently a Marine Surveyor. Part of his job entails enforcing regulations and carrying out inspections of Singapore ships to ensure their seaworthiness. Ray tells us that his inspection responsibilities add tremendously to variety in his work, allowing him to get away from the office environment, to climb on board ships and interact with ship crews.

11. Jonathan Lee, an LTA scholar from the 2011 cohort, is responsible for the quality certification of new MRT trains. The job took him recently to Shanghai where he spent a few months inspecting and monitoring the testing and commissioning of our trains.

12. Indeed, there will be no shortage of exciting challenges upon your return from your studies.

Well-rounded Individuals for a Stronger MOT

13. We received more than 2,400 scholarship applications this year, compared to about 1,500 last year and 1,400 in 2014. The rising number of applications attests to the growing attractiveness of working in the MOT Family. After a painstaking process, we whittled this year’s applications to just 25. We were impressed not just by the quality, but also the diversity of the applicants.

14. For example, James Teo, an LTA engineering scholar, was previously a practising lawyer. As the only child of lawyer parents, James thought that he ought to follow in their footsteps. But he tells us that he has always had a passion for engineering, having taken apart toys and put them back together piece by piece since young. James in the end decided to go with his ‘heart’ and study to be an engineer, leaving a well-paying legal job. We apologise to his parents, but are very happy for ourselves!

15. Lesley-Anne Tan, a CAAS scholar, on the other hand, is a published author whose works include the “Danger Dan” series and “Secrets of Singapore.” This might ring a bell for those of you with young kids.

16. Tonight, we are also giving out postgraduate scholarships to 18 staff from across the MOT Family. They have served their organisations with dedication and distinction and the scholarships are a recognition of their contributions. They will be pursuing advanced studies in specialised disciplines, and I look forward to them making even greater contributions to the MOT Family upon their return.

MOT’s Expectations of Scholars

17. Receiving a Beacon scholarship is both a privilege and a responsibility. While we expect our scholars to excel in their studies, you should also develop yourselves as leaders of exemplary character.

18. Like the beacon, a Beacon scholar must be the guiding light that illuminates the path and the moral reference from which others take their bearings. Indeed, a Beacon scholar must be an exemplary leader both in the head and heart. You need to be able to appreciate the world strategically and have a sound grasp of issues, trends and developments. But you also need to have strong leadership, collaborative and empathy skills - skills that are best learnt not in the classroom but in the real world of human interaction. Do take the opportunity of your next few years of studies to ensure a well-rounded development.

Conclusion

19. Let me conclude. This evening’s ceremony is as much a celebration of your achievements, as that of your parents, principals and teachers. They have all played an important part in your success. None of us succeed in life’s endeavours alone, and your achievements bear testimony to their guidance, support and care. So remember this, and show your appreciation, not just for today, but for all your future successes.

20. I wish you well in your studies, and your future in the MOT Family. Thank you.