Mr Soh Wai Wah, Principal and CEO, Singapore Polytechnic
Principals and Deputy Principals
Distinguished Guests
Polytechnic Faculty and Students
1. Thank you for having me here today.
2. As we conclude Polytechnic Forum 2025, I want to first thank the organising committee from Singapore Polytechnic for curating new meaningful opportunities for students to engage in current and national issues at greater depth over the past five days, and give you the opportunity to embark on projects that bring about new possibilities for you as you develop and grow, but also new possibilities for us as a nation. I hope you have had a chance through this forum to share your hopes and ideas for Singapore and to think how you can contribute to a more united, more resilient, more inclusive nation.
3. As I was coming in I saw some of the project displays. I was very heartened to hear what your friends and colleagues had to say about their intent behind the projects and what they took away from it. I hope that you will continue these conversations, well beyond the space and opportunity afforded by this forum.
4. This year's forum is especially meaningful as we celebrate 60 years of nation-building. Not such a short time, not such a long time, in the context of large nations. but for us, we came from very little and so much has been achieved in 60 years. while we have come a long way, I think you have a sense of how much our nation has changed. The world has also grown in complexity, and we are witnessing the emergence of a new global order. There is uncertainty about how the world is changing, there is uncertainty about what the future is going to hold for the world, for our country, for international trade, for international relations. And so for us in Singapore it is important to keep an eye on what's going on outside of our island nation. Because we are so open, we are so engaged, we are so integrated. We are multicultural, multi-generational, but also with 60 years of change and development. We have a sense of history. We understand where we come from, where our forefathers came from, what we are rooted to, but we also look outwards to the world. We are globalised, and we know that's where opportunity rests for us - to become increasingly globalised, interconnected and developed. And so we must understand what is happening in the rapid advancements in technology, in AI, and in the global developments. All of this has disrupted industries. They fundamentally change the nature of how we learn, how we work, and how we live. Probably since you were in secondary school, your teachers, your faculty, your mentors, have been telling you that you have to be prepared for a disrupting world, and you must be prepared for changes throughout your working career. And sometimes I'm sure it can feel like you're being told by people who grew up in a very different time. I would like to assure you the changes that the world is facing, it is not starting now. These are changes that we have been dealing with for some decades, now we have skills future as a movement, our Lifelong Learning movement is 10 years old. That means 10 years ago we already started this movement. 20 years ago, we were already worried about this and so your faculty, your teachers, your mentors were right. We have seen transformations in our careers and opportunities in our working lives over the last 10 or 20 years, and so when they are providing guidance to you as students, it's not that they don't have the direct experience, but they have experienced it as adults – seeing their working lives change before them. So work with them to grow your skills, work with them to grow your opportunities as you think about your path going forward. I would like to offer suggestions on how you can start preparing for future success, and we can continue to unpack this in our dialogue later.
5. Broadly speaking, there are three things I would like to emphasise. The first, you have a chosen field, you've chosen a course of study to get a certificate in, something to focus on, so take it seriously. Even though we talk about AI and technology, it's not going to remove the need for people to understand a domain deeply and seriously. If you're studying food, you need to understand food on behalf of the rest of us because maybe we don't have the skill to do so in quite the same way. If you're in accounting, we need you to be a good accountant before you learn about AI. Your skills in your chosen domains will be valuable, and you will see progress and success of opportunity by taking those seriously. Your time in the polytechnics will help you pick up those in-demand skills, and gain work experience first-hand. However, my second point, you will need to know about AI. because your use of technology will continue to intensify. You may be worried about how you might be displaced, but actually your job role is more likely to change. Your institutions will prepare you by teaching you about AI, using AI, and learning with AI as part of your curriculum. Embrace the idea of lifelong learning, continuous reskilling, and learn about technology in parallel with your chosen focus area. This will set you up to adapt and meet evolving demands. At the same time comes my third point, you need to have a sense of broader life skills, critical thinking, communication, creativity, passion for what you're doing, compassion for people around you, leadership, the ability to build genuine connections. These are going to be useful life skills for you to thrive and succeed as you go through your career path. And so, you need to focus on this just as much as AI and your chosen domain.
6. PM, during our recent National Day Rally, talked about a "We First" society, caring for each other instead of just looking out for our self-interests. And as part of that "We-First" society, is having that compassion and that empathy and ability to bring people together. I hope through this forum, all of you have had the opportunity to learn and engage with each other about the different types of skills that you have. with the seeds that have been sown. I encourage all of you to set your sights beyond self, to your communities, to our nation, to your highest aspiration. Find a cause you resonate with, and explore how you can play your part in building a stronger, better Singapore. Remember, the impact does not need to be big for it to be meaningful — it can start with you, your own sphere of influence, whether that is your family, friends, or neighbours.
7. Once again, I thank the organising committee, the students who put on the displays, the students who walked me through their projects and shared your interests, ideas and takeaways. Thank you very much, and I look forward to our dialogue and very insightful sharing.