University Students Must Prepare for Workforce: Education Minister

Education Minister Heng Swee Keat urged university students to apply knowledge gained from school in the workforce.

By Jo-ann Quah

GENEROUS SUM: Education Minister Heng Swee Keat (fourth from left) poses for a photograph as STJobs pledged a donation of S$150,000 to NTU Fest.
PHOTO: CLIFFORD LEE

Singapore’s Minister for Education Heng Swee Keat said that going to university should not just be about getting a degree, but also about applying knowledge gained from school in the workforce.

Addressing queries about the aim of a university education at NTU’s inaugural fundraising event yesterday, the Minister said: “Our (students’) ability to synthesise knowledge and to then apply that knowledge in new and creative ways will be the way forward.”

“What we should do is to prepare our students… to face new situations and to be able to think out of the box, solve problems and come up with innovative ideas,” he added.

Mr Heng also highlighted that the value of a university degree should be judged based on what students do after graduating.

“The value comes from the impact that the students are able to make in our society and at the workplace,” he said.

The Minister was speaking at NTU Fest 2014, a carnival organised by NTU Students’ Union to raise funds for needy Institute of Technical Education (ITE) students.

Proceeds from the sale of carnival coupons and registration fees for a 4.8 kilometre fun run will go towards the ITE Endowment Fund, which provides financial assistance to needy students.

He praised students for giving back to society through this event, saying: “(I am) very encouraged by the enthusiasm of our students to organise this fair in a very creative and resourceful way.”

“(I am) very much heartened by the (students’) enthusiasm in the whole variety of community service projects,” he added.

Cheryl Lee, 22, a third-year student from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, agreed, saying that the event would help needy ITE students in different ways.

“I really support NTU donating to ITE, especially as it increases the students’ welfare and benefits their education in a holistic manner,” she said.

Other students the Nanyang Chronicle spoke to said that a university education should mean more than just grades.

Shawn Wee, 22, a first-year student from the School of Art, Design and Media, said: “We sometimes seek so much for the results that we miss the main point of education, which is to learn.”

According to NTU, the event — featuring Korean stars Kang Gary and Jung In — attracted more than 8,000 people consisting of students, runners and fans.

In addition, the event featured the cast of Mata Mata, a locally-produced crime drama set in 1950s Singapore. Homegrown bands The Huckleberry Friends, District 12, and other local artistes also performed.

First published: 07:00
Edited: 08:44
(Updated with confirmed number of attendees from NTU office)