Introduction
Professor Phoon Kok Kwang, President, SUTD
Distinguished guests from the French Embassy, SkillsFuture Singapore and Industry Partners,
Graduates and students of 42 Singapore,
1. It is my pleasure to join you today to celebrate the first batch of graduates who have completed the 42 Singapore core curriculum. My heartiest congratulations to the graduates.
2. A warm welcome also to the third intake of the 42 Singapore students, who have successfully completed the first and second Piscine in early 2025 – you survived the swim! I wish you all the best as you join the existing batch of students and embark on your 42 Singapore journey.
42 Singapore – an innovative and skills-based offering for learners
3. Today's ceremony marks a milestone in the partnership between SUTD and Paris-based Ecole 42. 42 Singapore was set up to pioneer in Singapore a model of teaching and learning amidst rapid technological advancements and growth of the digital economy.
- It is an innovative skills-based upgrading pathway that caters to the needs of adult learners through a shift away from traditional learning, with no teachers, no classes, no textbooks, and no course fees.
- Instead, it harnesses project-based, peer-to-peer learning and gamification pedagogy.
4. This unique environment helps students to be agile and creative, and to foster a 'design mindset' – something that is ingrained in SUTD's DNA.
- Students develop critical soft skills, such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creative problem-solving. These are increasingly needed in the workplaces of today and of the future.
42 Singapore graduates – versatile and resilient learners
5. Although our graduates today come from diverse backgrounds, from fresh school leavers to mid-career professionals above 40 years old, one common thread is that all of you are versatile learners who have chosen to pursue this alternative skills-based upgrading pathway. You are trailblazers.
- Jeremy Choo, today's valedictorian, was working as an electrical technician before joining the programme, where he discovered his passion for coding. Empowered by its unique pedagogy, he recently earned a placement at Google's Skills Ignition traineeship programme, successfully making the leap into the tech industry.
- I hope Jeremy's story will inspire all graduates and students here today.
6. Completing Level 9 of the curriculum is significant as it marks your successful acquisition of foundational computer science principles, and I applaud all of you here today for demonstrating your resilience and determination in achieving this milestone of this very rigorous programme.
Three key messages for graduates/students, IHLs and employers:
7. So, what is next after this milestone? Today, I have three messages, one each for our graduands, the Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and the employers.
Encouraging graduates and students to create and contribute
8. First, I encourage graduates and current students to keep your networks and continue to contribute as a community.
- The world of knowledge is increasingly commoditised, especially with advances in AI. Learning can take place practically anywhere and anytime.
- I encourage all of you to pursue further specialisation beyond Level 9 with 42 Singapore – I understand there are 21 levels.
- Keep the diversity of ideas flowing to create new value propositions.
- The 42 Singapore community is a good start. Many of you worked together to build on each other's expertise to solve problems and complete projects.
- I encourage you to continue to network widely and collaborate with others to trailblaze new solutions for the problems of today and tomorrow.
Encouraging IHLs to innovate CET
9. Second, I encourage SUTD, and our other IHLs, to continue to innovate with new models of teaching and learning to cater to the needs of adult learners in this rapidly changing world.
- I hope that SUTD can continue to leverage insights gained from the 42 Singapore pedagogy to drive innovation in Continuing Education and Training offerings in Singapore.
Encouraging employers to embark on skills-based hiring
10. Third, I encourage employers to continue to recognise skills beyond academic credentials.
- I thank employers who have allowed your employees time off from work, and invested resources for them to pursue lifelong learning programmes such as 42 Singapore.
- 42 Singapore graduates are trained not just with the technical skills in coding, but also come with their networks, their soft skills and adaptive learning dispositions.
- With their new competencies, they have pivoted into expanded technological roles and can also enhance their contribution in their current roles at the workplace.
- I am heartened to hear positive feedback from our industry partners who have offered traineeships, jobs or internships to 42 Singapore graduands.
11. It is my hope that the success of 42 Singapore will inspire many more employers and industry partners to reward your employees' growth mindset and help them keep upskilling.
Closing
12. I thank SUTD, donors and partners for your contributions in pioneering 42 Singapore.
- Your support is invaluable to support adult learners in upskilling at every stage of their lives, so that they in turn, can contribute better.
13. Together, students, workers, employers and IHLs can build a society that keeps learning and growing, so that we may all stay relevant in this rapidly changing world.
14. Finally, my congratulations once again to the students who are graduating today. You are pioneers of this innovative learning model, and you are testament that skills-based pathways can open doors.
- I encourage each of you to continue your journey of lifelong learning and to inspire more adult learners on this pathway.
15. Do not panic, keep going, keep learning. Thank you.