Speeches
Address By Radm (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Senior Minister Of State For Education And Information, Communications & The Arts, At The Collaborative Agreement (Ca) Signing Ceremony Between Singapore Polytechnic And The University Of Manchester, Uk To Jointly Offer The Bachelor Of Science (Honours) In Optometry Degree Under The Polytechnic-Fsi Collaboration Framework On 13 November 2008, 9.30am At Singapore Polytechnic
Mr Tan Hang Cheong, Principal, Singapore Polytechnic;
Professor Colin Stirling, Vice President, The University of Manchester;
A/Prof Thomas Lew, Assistant Chairman, Tan Tock Seng Hospital Medical Board;
Ms Sarah Croft, representing the British High Commissioner, Singapore;
Dr Khoo Chong Yew, Chairman, Optometrists & Opticians Board,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to be here this morning to witness the signing of a Collaborative Agreement between Singapore Polytechnic (SP) and the University of Manchester to jointly offer the Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree programme in Optometry. Today’s ceremony seals the sixth degree tie-up in our Polytechnic-Foreign Specialised Institution (Poly-FSI) framework since the initiative was announced in 2005.
Diversity in Educational Upgrading Pathways
This newest collaboration provides us with even more diversity in educational upgrading pathways available. It is imperative that we are able to provide both quality and variety in education choices for our young, and I believe that the Poly-FSI initiative has done just that, in providing a number of degree programmes in such niche areas like Food Technology, Early Childhood Education, Naval Architecture, Retail Marketing, Creative Production and now Optometry. These collaborations build on the polytechnics’ capabilities, strengths and infrastructure, and add value to the polytechnic graduates’ learning experience.
As Singapore transits to a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy, with more diverse engines of growth, we must be mindful to remain relevant and agile in our responses to changing industry needs. A high quality and well-directed education is a necessary and long-term investment to produce a quality workforce. We must hence anticipate and design programmes suitable to meet Singapore’s future needs. We have to invest more to develop talent and capabilities in the services and creative industries, where there are significant opportunities for Singapore.
Optometry in Singapore
SP’s collaboration with the University of Manchester is an example of a programme with the needs of our population in mind. This is the first Optometrists and Opticians Board - recognised degree programme in Singapore, and it has been specifically tailored to produce a new breed of superior optometrists to care for our highly myopic and rapidly ageing population. Education in optometry, or primary eye care, first took off in 1990 when SP was requested by the Ministry of Health to deliver the Certificate in Contact Lens Practice. In 1994, SP started offering the first Diploma in Optometry in Singapore. Through clinical services and public education efforts of SP’s Optometry Centre, this diploma programme has benefited Singaporeans from all walks of life.
Need for an optometry degree programme
Today, every 4 out of 5 Singaporeans are myopic, or short-sighted, by the age of 18. An increasing number of pre-schoolers are diagnosed with myopia at a younger age. Well-trained optometrists are hence in high demand. There are currently 600 optometrists working among the 700 optical outlets, eye departments of public and private hospitals, private practices of eye specialists, educational and research institutions, and eye care companies.
Against this backdrop, a degree programme in Optometry is a welcome move. Graduates of the degree programme will be trained to apply diagnostic drugs to perform early detection on young children, as well as diagnosis of sight-threatening conditions like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy on the elderly.
I am pleased that a prestigious institution such as The University of Manchester is collaborating with an established higher learning institution like SP, to launch this degree programme. This is the third degree programme by Singapore Poly under the Polytechnic and Foreign Specialised Institution (Poly-FSI) framework. Earlier this year, Singapore Poly launched its Food Technology degree programme offered by Massey University of New Zealand. SP and NP also jointly offer the Bachelor of Engineering in Naval Architecture degree by Newcastle University, UK.
Key Partnerships
I am also pleased to learn that SP has secured three key partnerships for the capacity and capability building exercise of future optometrists.
The first partnership, with The University of Manchester, enables a transfer of substantial know-how in implementing a world-class optometry curriculum. New campus facilities like lecture theatres and tutorial rooms have been built to optimise physical spaces for greater sharing of newly-acquired knowledge among students. State-of-the-art instrumentation coupled with effective use of IT will provide stimulating learning experiences.
The second partnership, with the eye department of Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), enhances clinical teaching of the programme by highly-qualified eye specialists. There is no better way of learning than seeing a large number of patients with real eye diseases. This is the first such collaboration in Singapore, and I applaud both SP and TTSH for their bold move.
The third partnership, with the eye care industry, augurs well for the programme. Advanced Medical Optics, Essilor and Johnson & Johnson Vision Care will provide six competitive scholarships to students of the programme. This close collaboration between SP and industry partners will provide the gateway for the programme to continuously stay relevant.
I congratulate SP for upgrading optometry education to the undergraduate level, in partnership with The University of Manchester and TTSH. I hope you will not stop there but instead inculcate an active research culture to take root, and propel Singapore’s R&D effort forward in the fields of optometry and vision science.
Lastly, may I wish the optometry degree programme every success as you power ahead to upgrade the quality of primary eye care in our country. Your clarity of vision will contribute to further the care and the prevention of curable eye diseases.
Thank you.