Plenary Speaker
Dr. Paul J. LeBlanc
Presentation
Innovation, Re-Inventing Higher Education, and Aligning Education and Workforce For This New Era
Synopsis
Higher education was built on an industrial age “one size fits all” model that envisioned a world for which four years of education at age 17 or 18 would serve one well for the whole of a career and lifetime. A college degree was a signal to the labor market that you were “worthy” and ready for the world of work, possessing the range of skills that employers sought as a foundation for the additional training and acclimation into the workplace they would provide. However, tectonic changes are underway today, as lifespans approach 100 years, jobs change at a dizzying pace, AI and automation disrupt the workforce (creating new jobs and displacing many others), and professionals constantly retool to remain up-to-date and relevant. The old, well-established industrial age model that has served us so well is not well suited for the Fourth Industrial Age.
Society needs to create a learning eco-system that allows learners to dip in and out over the course of a career and a lifetime, one that offers a broader arrange of credentials from a greater variety of educational providers, one that can recognize and certify learning in many forms, and that is much more individualized around the learner. This is our version of “precision medicine” – call it “precision education,” of a kind that gives learners just the right amount of education at the just the right time in just the right way. In such a learning eco-system, competencies become the “exchange rate” that provides coherence and connectedness for a kind of educational bio-diversity within which traditional higher education continues to play a key role, but for which it no longer has a monopoly on how people demonstrate and get credit for what they know and what they can do.
Keynote Speaker
Professor Mick Healey
Presentation
Engaging Students as Partners in Learning and Teaching
Synopsis
Universities need to move towards creating inclusive scholarly knowledge-building communities. … The notion of inclusive scholarly knowledge-building communities invites us to consider new ideas about who the scholars are in universities and how they might work in partnership. (Brew 2007, 4)
Ways of engaging students in higher education as partners in learning and teaching is arguably one of the most important issues facing higher education in the 21st Century. Partnership is essentially a process for engaging students, though not all engagement involves partnership. It is a way of doing things, rather than an outcome in itself. In this interactive session we will explore four ways in which students may be engaged as partners through: a) Learning, teaching and assessment; b) Subject-based research and inquiry; c) Scholarship of teaching and learning; and d) Curriculum design and pedagogic advice and consultancy. We will examine many mini case studies from different parts of the world, including SE Asia, and discuss the principles and values which should underpin student-staff partnerships.
Professor Tan Thiam Soon
Presentation
Impact of an Applied Learning Education
Synopsis
As the world evolves and traditional jobs disappear, new jobs are being created, clamouring for qualified and capable workers. Educating the next generation of workers will take on a deeper significance and universities need to shake up established education models so that our young minds will be able to cope with disruption and thrive. With the blurring of boundaries between the classroom and workplace, the future will not be defined by paper qualifications, but by real skillsets. A university of applied learning will hence have to build skills, not degrees. This has to be done through an industry-focused education, hands-on training and solving real-world problems. The quality of higher education should be determined by the impact on various stakeholders, including the students, industry and the community at large.
For students, an applied learning education provides aspiring individuals, young or those returning to learn, a chance to pursue their passion and fulfil their dreams. For industry, an applied learning ecosystem offers a solution by blurring the lines between work and study, and training work-ready graduates to fill the gaps of missing skillsets in the market. Challenging the traditional concept of an ivory tower, an applied learning pathway can disrupt the higher education landscape in offering unique industry partnerships and applied research opportunities leading to a whole ecosystem comprising entrepreneurs, startups focusing on practical, everyday solutions for the community. Educators will be pivotal as they navigate challenges arising from the symbiotic relationship developed between the university and industry.
Distinguished Guest Speaker
Professor Dr. Georg Nagler
Presentation
The importance of corporate studies as an element of sustainable human resource management and development in times of global economic crisis
Synopsis
The presentation is based on an in-depth analysis of two key considerations in applied higher education, the first one being the changing needs of human resource management and the second, how universities can change the way they prepare students to meet these changing needs. In modern organisations, human resource management is often challenged by the rapid change in customer demands, developments in disruptive technology and shareholder expectations. As one who has worked in the health industry for more than a decade, the presenter will examine these demands and draw significant conclusions relevant to higher educational institutions.
The presentation will touch on aspects of employment such as qualifications, selection procedures, contracts, staff maintenance, job performance, termination, outplacement, etc. It will then focus on the role of universities in contributing to sustainable human resource management in the future by incorporating studies specifically in this area in the university curriculum. The presenter will then provide detailed analyses of examples of the working activities of a corporate state university in day-to-day cooperation with thousands of industrial companies.
Panelists
Professor Yaacob Bin Ibrahim
The discussion will also be joined by Dr. Paul J. Leblanc, Professor Tan Thiam Soon & Professor Dr. jur. Georg Nagler.
Distinguished Invited Speakers
Bio
Mr Muhammad Khairulanwar Bin Abdul Razak
Year 4 Student, Bachelor of Engineering in Systems Engineering
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
I am a senior at the Singapore Institute of Technology, majoring in Systems Engineering (ElectroMechanical Systems).
Recently, I completed my 8 months Integrated Work Study Programme (IWSP) at Baumann Spring Company, where I had applied to be Project Engineer. The responsibility of this role includes selection, planning and review of the given project that was assigned to me.
During my free time, I invest and am involved in doing community work. Apart from that, I have a great interest in technology development, primarily actions that improve everyday human life.
Learning Re-Defined
Ms Ong Toon Hui
Dean & CEO,
Civil Service College and Deputy Secretary (Leadership), Public Service Division, Prime Minister’s Office
Employers Are Looking Beyond Grades
Mr Douglas Foo
Founder & Chairman,
Sakae Holdings
Synopsis
Employers Are Looking Beyond Grades
There is a move towards broadening the definition of success and looking holistically at students’ development. Hiring organisations are also looking beyond grades, focusing on what other aspects graduates can bring to the table. We must recognise that a lot of learning is done on the job, at the workplace and not just in school. In this session, we will talk about competencies required by new graduates in this era of disruptive change, how education institutions can partner enterprises and companies to prepare these graduates. From a business perspective, we will discuss what it means for graduates to be ready for work.
Bio
Mr Douglas Foo
Founder & Chairman,
Sakae Holdings
Mr Douglas Foo, who is appointed as Nominated Member of Parliament of Singapore on 26 September 2018 is the President of Singapore Manufacturing Federation and Vice Chairman of Singapore Business Federation as well as Vice President of Singapore National Employers’ Federation. He is also one of Singapore’s three Appointed Representatives to represent Singapore to serve on the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC). On 5 March 2019, Mr Douglas Foo was appointed by the President of the Republic of Singapore HE Halimah Yacob as Singapore Non Resident High Commissioner (Designate) to the United Republic of Tanzania.
Mr Foo is also the Founder and Chairman of Sakae Holdings Ltd., a public listed company that he has led from a humble company to be listed on Singapore’s stock exchange and with overseas presence and business in more than 10 countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Chile. He continues to spearhead the overall strategic direction and diversification of Sakae’s global strategic plans to diversify into Fintech and Cybersecurity industries.
Mr. Foo is the recipient of numerous illustrious accolades and awards, which are testament of his outstanding management and entrepreneurial efforts. Some of his awards include JCS Top Outstanding Young Person Award 2002, Singapore Youth Award 2003, the prestigious ASEAN Youth Award 2004, Singapore Youth Award (Medal of Commendation) 2008, ASEAN-China Young Entrepreneur Award 2011, Public Service Star Award 2013 from His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Singapore for his tireless efforts in his philanthropic and voluntary contributions to the society.
How does Fintech Affect the Way We Live, Work and Play?
Dr. Lillian Koh
Founder & CEO,
FinTech Academy (Singapore)
Bio
Assoc Prof Indriyati Atmosukarto
Deputy Programme Director,
BEng (Hons) Telematics,
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
Associate Professor Indriyati Atmosukarto is the Deputy Programme Director for the Telematics (Intelligent Transportation System) programme at SIT. Prior to joining academia, she was a Research Scientist at ADSC. She obtained her PhD from University of Washington, Seattle. Her research interest are in computer vision and machine learning.
Mdm Ho Geok Choo
Lifelong Learning: A Strategic Pivot for Continuous Transformation and Economic Growth
Chief Executive Officer,
Human Capital (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Synopsis
Lifelong Learning: A Strategic Pivot for Continuous Transformation and Economic Growth
The Singapore Government seeded the concept and strategy of lifelong learning way back in 1979 when it started the Skills Development Fund to finance the training of employees, retrain retrenched workers, and upgrade business operations and technology.
In the last 20 years, Lifelong learning has evolved into a uniquely Singapore economic growth narrative. Its relevance, sustainability, frontier thought- leadership and impact on the socio, economic and political landscape cannot be over-emphasized.
The emerging technological and demographic changes aggravated by changes in the global political and trade relations of nations will create deeper market and skills gaps in the workforce. Singapore, who is ahead of many others in Asia, in lifelong learning will have a strategic competitive edge in our workforce.
Bio
Mdm Ho Geok Choo
Chief Executive Officer,
Human Capital (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Mdm Ho has more than 40 years of experience in both the public and the private sector. She had served as a Member of Parliament; Elected President, SHRI; and President, Asia Pacific Federation of HRM. She has also been involved in strategic planning, organisational development and development of employees in both small and large companies, including GLCs such as CIAS and SIA. Mdm Ho holds a BA in Political Science and Economics from the University of Singapore, MSc in Asia Pacific HRM from NUS, and Advanced Professional Qualification (APQ) from Georgetown University. She is also an Adjunct Professor at SUSS.
The WHY, HOW and WHAT of Self and Peer Assessments
Dr. Chew Lee Chin
Senior Lecturer,
Psychological Studies, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technology University Singapore
Learning From People, Not Just Classes
Mr Vinoth Pannirsilvam
Chief Engineer,
TRIGEN Automotive (a division of HOPE Technik)
Bio
Mr Muhammad Khairulanwar Bin Abdul Razak
Year 4 Student, Bachelor of Engineering in Systems Engineering
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
I am a senior at the Singapore Institute of Technology, majoring in Systems Engineering (ElectroMechanical Systems).
Recently, I completed my 8 months Integrated Work Study Programme (IWSP) at Baumann Spring Company, where I had applied to be Project Engineer. The responsibility of this role includes selection, planning and review of the given project that was assigned to me.
During my free time, I invest and am involved in doing community work. Apart from that, I have a great interest in technology development, primarily actions that improve everyday human life.
Bio
Assoc Professor Foo Yong Lim
Assistant Provost (Applied Learning),
Office of the Deputy President (Academic) & Provost,
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
Associate Professor Foo Yong Lim is the Assistant Provost (Applied Learning) at Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). He supports Provost in developing a learning environment that strengthens SIT applied learning pedagogy.
Interactive Roundtable Discussion:
Case-based Learning
Professor Ho Yew Kee
AssociateProvost, SkillsFuture and Staff Development,
Professor of Accounting, Singapore Institute of Technology
Dr. Wong King Yin
Lecturer, Division of Marketing,
Nanyang Business School
Bio
Professor Ho Yew Kee
AssociateProvost, SkillsFuture and Staff Development,
Professor of Accounting, Singapore Institute of Technology
Professor Ho Yew Kee is the AssociateProvost (SkillsFuture and Staff Development) and Professor of Accounting at Singapore Institute of Technology. He is a director of a listed insurance company in the Singapore Stock Exchange. He has served as Chairman of various human resource, investment and nomination committees at educational institutions and charities.
Bio
Mr Muhammad Khairulanwar Bin Abdul Razak
Year 4 Student, Bachelor of Engineering in Systems Engineering
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
I am a senior at the Singapore Institute of Technology, majoring in Systems Engineering (ElectroMechanical Systems).
Recently, I completed my 8 months Integrated Work Study Programme (IWSP) at Baumann Spring Company, where I had applied to be Project Engineer. The responsibility of this role includes selection, planning and review of the given project that was assigned to me.
During my free time, I invest and am involved in doing community work. Apart from that, I have a great interest in technology development, primarily actions that improve everyday human life.
Dr. Mark Chong
Associate Professor of Corporate Communication (Practice),
Singapore Management University
Dr. Liu Zhao Ping, George
Assistant Professor,
Hospitality Business Programme of Singapore Institute of Technology,
Coordinator, SIT’s Case Method Community of Practice (CoP)
Bio
Assoc Prof Indriyati Atmosukarto
Deputy Programme Director,
BEng (Hons) Telematics,
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
Associate Professor Indriyati Atmosukarto is the Deputy Programme Director for the Telematics (Intelligent Transportation System) programme at SIT. Prior to joining academia, she was a Research Scientist at ADSC. She obtained her PhD from University of Washington, Seattle. Her research interest are in computer vision and machine learning.
Bio
Professor Ho Yew Kee
AssociateProvost, SkillsFuture and Staff Development,
Professor of Accounting, Singapore Institute of Technology
Professor Ho Yew Kee is the AssociateProvost (SkillsFuture and Staff Development) and Professor of Accounting at Singapore Institute of Technology. He is a director of a listed insurance company in the Singapore Stock Exchange. He has served as Chairman of various human resource, investment and nomination committees at educational institutions and charities.
Interactive Roundtable Discussion:
Essence of Integrated Work Study Programme
Assoc Prof Foo Yong Lim
Assistant Provost (Applied Learning),
Office of the Deputy President (Academic) & Provost,
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
Ms Yeo May-Fung
Director, Centre for Career Readiness,
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
Synopsis
Employers Are Looking Beyond Grades
There is a move towards broadening the definition of success and looking holistically at students’ development. Hiring organisations are also looking beyond grades, focusing on what other aspects graduates can bring to the table. We must recognise that a lot of learning is done on the job, at the workplace and not just in school. In this session, we will talk about competencies required by new graduates in this era of disruptive change, how education institutions can partner enterprises and companies to prepare these graduates. From a business perspective, we will discuss what it means for graduates to be ready for work.
Bio
Mr Douglas Foo
Founder & Chairman,
Sakae Holdings
Mr Douglas Foo, who is appointed as Nominated Member of Parliament of Singapore on 26 September 2018 is the President of Singapore Manufacturing Federation and Vice Chairman of Singapore Business Federation as well as Vice President of Singapore National Employers’ Federation. He is also one of Singapore’s three Appointed Representatives to represent Singapore to serve on the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC). On 5 March 2019, Mr Douglas Foo was appointed by the President of the Republic of Singapore HE Halimah Yacob as Singapore Non Resident High Commissioner (Designate) to the United Republic of Tanzania.
Mr Foo is also the Founder and Chairman of Sakae Holdings Ltd., a public listed company that he has led from a humble company to be listed on Singapore’s stock exchange and with overseas presence and business in more than 10 countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Chile. He continues to spearhead the overall strategic direction and diversification of Sakae’s global strategic plans to diversify into Fintech and Cybersecurity industries.
Mr. Foo is the recipient of numerous illustrious accolades and awards, which are testament of his outstanding management and entrepreneurial efforts. Some of his awards include JCS Top Outstanding Young Person Award 2002, Singapore Youth Award 2003, the prestigious ASEAN Youth Award 2004, Singapore Youth Award (Medal of Commendation) 2008, ASEAN-China Young Entrepreneur Award 2011, Public Service Star Award 2013 from His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Singapore for his tireless efforts in his philanthropic and voluntary contributions to the society.
Bio
Professor Ho Yew Kee
AssociateProvost, SkillsFuture and Staff Development,
Professor of Accounting, Singapore Institute of Technology
Professor Ho Yew Kee is the AssociateProvost (SkillsFuture and Staff Development) and Professor of Accounting at Singapore Institute of Technology. He is a director of a listed insurance company in the Singapore Stock Exchange. He has served as Chairman of various human resource, investment and nomination committees at educational institutions and charities.
Assoc Prof Indriyati Atmosukarto
Deputy Programme Director,
BEng (Hons) Telematics,
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
Mr Quek Chin Hock
Vice-President, DTL P-Way,
SBSTransit
Bio
Assoc Prof Indriyati Atmosukarto
Deputy Programme Director,
BEng (Hons) Telematics,
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
Associate Professor Indriyati Atmosukarto is the Deputy Programme Director for the Telematics (Intelligent Transportation System) programme at SIT. Prior to joining academia, she was a Research Scientist at ADSC. She obtained her PhD from University of Washington, Seattle. Her research interest are in computer vision and machine learning.
Synopsis
How does Fintech Affect the Way We Live, Work and Play?
Will our current degree courses become irrelevant with the advent of technology? How do we embrace technology in teaching and learning? Let’s provide a nexus between theory and practice for engaging learners to prepare them to be future ready. IT’S TIME TO INNOVATE AND TRANSFORM TO A SEAMLESS, END-TO-END learner SERVICE EXPERIENCE.
Bio
Dr. Lillian Koh
Founder and CEO,
FinTech Academy (Singapore)
After being a school leader and the Senior Curriculum Specialist at the Ministry of Education Singapore for Economics, Accounting and Business education, Dr Lillian Koh served 17 years in Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. In her academic role, she teaches and coordinated the post-graduate course modules for Economics, Business and Accounting Education.
Dr Koh is the CEO of Fintech Academy as well as Mentor for Temasek Launchpad. FTA spearheads talent development programmes ranging from financial literacy awareness to deep dive fintech engineering courses. FTA collaborates with educational institutions in Singapore as well as professional associations and bodies and supports the Singapore Fintech Association (SFA) for courses and events. Besides Singapore partners like Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF), NTUC, NTU-IIC and ISCA, she also collaborates with international organizations like ICAEW, ACCA and Pearson. FTA works closely with the polytechnics and universities. Fintech Academy is committed to providing clients with reliable and efficient professional development services. FTA will continue to curate innovative education programs by integrating learning, industry and community. Fintech Academy offers applied courses and co-brand events for growth sectors of the economy with a unique andragogy that integrates work and study. It also offers specialized accredited programmes in partnership with world-class universities abroad too.
Mr Muhammad Khairulanwar Bin Abdull Razak
Year 4 Student, Bachelor of Engineering in Systems Engineering,
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
Mr Mak Keat Meng
Former Partner, Head of Assurance,
Ernst & Young
Bio
Mr Muhammad Khairulanwar Bin Abdul Razak
Year 4 Student, Bachelor of Engineering in Systems Engineering
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
I am a senior at the Singapore Institute of Technology, majoring in Systems Engineering (ElectroMechanical Systems).
Recently, I completed my 8 months Integrated Work Study Programme (IWSP) at Baumann Spring Company, where I had applied to be Project Engineer. The responsibility of this role includes selection, planning and review of the given project that was assigned to me.
During my free time, I invest and am involved in doing community work. Apart from that, I have a great interest in technology development, primarily actions that improve everyday human life.
Bio
Assoc Professor Foo Yong Lim
Assistant Provost (Applied Learning),
Office of the Deputy President (Academic) & Provost,
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
Associate Professor Foo Yong Lim is the Assistant Provost (Applied Learning) at Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). He supports Provost in developing a learning environment that strengthens SIT applied learning pedagogy.
Mr Sean Ooi
Alumni, Bachelor of Accountancy,
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
Synopsis
Lifelong Learning: A Strategic Pivot for Continuous Transformation and Economic Growth
The Singapore Government seeded the concept and strategy of lifelong learning way back in 1979 when it started the Skills Development Fund to finance the training of employees, retrain retrenched workers, and upgrade business operations and technology.
In the last 20 years, Lifelong learning has evolved into a uniquely Singapore economic growth narrative. Its relevance, sustainability, frontier thought- leadership and impact on the socio, economic and political landscape cannot be over-emphasized.
The emerging technological and demographic changes aggravated by changes in the global political and trade relations of nations will create deeper market and skills gaps in the workforce. Singapore, who is ahead of many others in Asia, in lifelong learning will have a strategic competitive edge in our workforce.
Bio
Mdm Ho Geok Choo
Chief Executive Officer,
Human Capital (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Mdm Ho has more than 40 years of experience in both the public and the private sector. She had served as a Member of Parliament; Elected President, SHRI; and President, Asia Pacific Federation of HRM. She has also been involved in strategic planning, organisational development and development of employees in both small and large companies, including GLCs such as CIAS and SIA. Mdm Ho holds a BA in Political Science and Economics from the University of Singapore, MSc in Asia Pacific HRM from NUS, and Advanced Professional Qualification (APQ) from Georgetown University. She is also an Adjunct Professor at SUSS.