SPEECH BY MR CHAN SOO SEN, MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION & MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE SINGAPORE EDUCATION SERVICES CENTRE, ON THURSDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2005, AT 2.00 PM, AT THE YMCA BUILDING

INTRODUCTION
1. It gives me great pleasure to be here today to officially open the Singapore Education Services Centre. I am happy to see so many young faces among us. I was told that the entertainment for today’s opening and the exhibits you see around you were all put together by student volunteers. This bodes well for the Centre, which aims to become a hub for international student activities. I hope that in the years to come, the Centre will establish itself as a welcome haven for the many international students studying in Singapore.

KEY LEARNING EXPERIENCES
2. Today, we have about 66,000 full-time international students from over 60 countries pursuing an education in Singapore’s public schools, universities, institutes of higher learning and private institutions. Many have ventured a long way to Singapore, eager to seek quality education to improve their lives and build the foundation for a better future.

3. However, many of us who have had the chance to study overseas will know that the value of an overseas education experience is shaped not just by the quality of teachers or lessons, but also by the learning experiences that occur outside of the classroom. For example, discovering new cultures and lifestyles, making new friends from all over the world, and gradually feeling at home in your country of stay. These are important factors which will determine whether you have a wonderful time or a less-than-positive experience.

4. Hence, we want to help international students in Singapore enhance their learning experience outside of the classroom. This can include helping them to become more familiar with their surroundings, facilitating opportunities for them to make new friends and network with their peers, or getting them involved in activities which help them to integrate into the wider Singapore society.

FOCAL POINT FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
5. This is where the Singapore Education Services Centre can play a leading role. The Centre provides a one-stop shop for international students in Singapore. It should aim to become a welcoming haven, a home away from home. This will help Singapore establish itself as an education hub, where international talents converge to teach, learn, share and discover. Aptly located in the heart of the Learning Hub, the Centre will be a convenient destination where students can receive information and assistance to help them adjust to studying and living in Singapore. For those who seek to know more about educational opportunities in Singapore, the Centre houses a complete range of prospectuses providing information on educational institutions and course offerings.

6. The Centre will be manned by a dedicated team who will advise students on the various education options available to them and the registration process of most Singapore education providers. Students can also receive information on Singapore’s social and cultural norms, along with guidelines for the sourcing of accommodation. In addition, the Centre will conduct regular orientation tours to help newly-arrived students familiarise themselves with our public transportation system and library services. These student services will go a long way in helping international students ease and settle into their new life in Singapore.

7. The Centre also aims to be a lively focal point for international students. It will be the home of the planned International Students Association, a worthy effort to bring together and engage foreign students in Singapore. Upon attaining official registration, the Association will undertake the organising of various student activities, such as cultural and sports festivals, community service projects, talks and workshops, as well as other social events that will enable its members to interact with Singapore students and the local community.

8. The Association will be driven and managed by international students, with support from the Singapore Education Services Centre. I understand that elections were held recently, with 12 international students being elected by their peers to head the Association. I am happy to see international students take the lead in helping the Association take shape, and I encourage all international students here to come forward to support and participate in the Association’s activities.

9. I am confident that, together, the International Students Association and the Singapore Education Services Centre will make a difference in fostering a sense of belonging among international students, and helping them to feel more at home in Singapore.

SINGAPORE EDUCATION - A HOLISTIC PRODUCT
10. This Centre is part of a wider effort to ensure that Singapore education remains a strong and holistic product, one that will go beyond course offerings and educational facilities to caring for the well-being of students.

11. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has plans to replicate the Singapore Education Services Centre concept in key markets in the near future, so that potential students can have access to accurate and timely information on Singapore education. This will help them make informed decisions about pursuing their studies in Singapore.

12. These Centres will help establish and strengthen the Singapore brand of education overseas. They can also help to build ties among alumni who have successfully completed their studies in Singapore and have returned home. The alumni play an influential role in shaping the perceptions of potential students towards studying in Singapore. Going forward, STB plans to engage these student alumni in various markets to participate in and support the activities of Singapore Education Services Centres in their home countries.

CONCLUSION
13. I congratulate STB for setting up the Singapore Education Services Centre and for providing international students with a place to call their own during their stay in Singapore. I look forward to seeing more students invest their creative energies in the Centre as they join in the activities of the International Students Association.