Hello all. The past Thursday, I participated in SEAMEO RIHED's Inter-Regional Research Symposium on, 'Transforming HIgher Education: Towards Sustainable Development'. There, I had a little role introducing one keynote speaker, Prof. Tan Tai Yong, who talked about world trends, Singapore, and his university (Singapore University of Social Sciences-SUSS). Our little group of 'TPop Plus' also had dinner with him and his wife, which gave us even more joy to ask him some leadership questions.
Setting the context this way, here is what I've chosen to tell you, including a few questions from my curiosity ka.
- As a small country, Singapore has its main focus on the quality of its people. The most significant is its visionary leadership to have lifelong learning as a national movement paving paths from primary education to the world of work, with SkillsFutureSG started as early as 2015. Now they have vouchers and urge people over 40 years old to upskill/ reskill.
I researched about it quite a while ago and was quietly jealous of Singapore how they could manage to do it ka. A good number of us from different sectors went to visit them. Yet, not much is mentioned and no actions are obviously seen from the learning. We also repeatedly mention upskilling/reskilling but it needs to be one macro policy with strategic and monitoring actions and assessment na ka. I recall Khun Tonson said that Singapore also has some issues about course providers but they tackled them right away. Ours hasn't really started systematically nor continuously na ka.
- Accountability is high on the agenda. Prof. Tan was citing an issue of one minister who was jailed because he took gifts worth more than $311,882 while in public office, which included tickets to the Formula 1 Grand Prix, a Brompton T-line bicycle, alcohol, and a ride on a private jet. Such a high profile person and enforcement have sure built trust for the Singaporeans and their collaborators to work together na ka.
There was also another case about a university chair who stayed for over 20 years and was abusing his/her authority. Those higher-ups removed this big shot.
- Out of my curiosity, here are some questions and responses, not exactly wordings na ka:
I really wanted to know who he asked to go with him when taking up the SUSS presidency. He said he had his secretary with him as she's been working with him for over 30 years and can help manage his schedules, who to meet, and what best to do.
When asked if he had any plan to do in his first 100 days? It was some actions about his vision,. communication to the community and meeting 1-1 when needed, cutting down what seemed to be repeated processes, etc.I also asked him how he could identify who to be trusted. Besides walking around to meet his team members, he has his lunch in the canteen to get to meet more. It could also be that there were several cases popping up to identify who must be fired (he took action after probing them and preparing the processes carefully!)
I really like his vision, 'To be a university that inspires learning for life and impacts life' He said it's to stress life-long learning but more powerful to think of two aspects when putting it as,'learning for life' to mean lifelong and for an impactful, productive living ka. The Values are short to cover key desirable qualities (RAISE: Respect, Adaptability, Integrity, Service, Empathy).He even checked his workforce for mutual understanding na ka. I asked him when he came up with them. He said when he showered ka.
Sanuk mak but so ตาร้อนมากค่าาาาาา!
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