Study abroad but 'make future here' - Ng Eng Hen
-
GAIN experience abroad, but come back to Singapore and be part of the adventure that is Asia's growth.
In making the call to 400 Singaporeans studying overseas, Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen told them that an exciting decade lay ahead for the country and region.
A diversified economy and strong growth presented ample opportunities and jobs that 'we need able people to fill', he said at a dialogue organised by Singaporean students and graduates studying overseas.
The Government paid particular attention to views from those who worked and travelled widely as these helped 'us keep our edge', he said to the 400-strong audience.
He told students their generation would witness a 'reinvigorated and renewed Singapore' - the result of domestic policies and regional growth powered by the likes of China and India.
So while they should gain experience and 'stretch (their) boundaries' abroad, he urged them to eventually return home.
His remarks at the dialogue, held as part of Confluence 2007, a career networking event at The Shangri-La hotel, reflected an ongoing effort by the Government to keep Singaporeans abroad connected with developments here.
What Dr Ng was particularly pleased about was that the event - held for the second year - continued to be organised by Singapore students abroad. It was, he said, a ground-up initiative which showed their desire to remain plugged in to national issues and learn about challenges facing the country.
Organising committee chairman Moses Lin Weiwen, 26, a University College London law graduate, said Dr Ng's overview about prospects here tied in with the aims of Confluence 2007.
It sought to raise participants' awareness of job opportunities here as well as keep them connected emotionally to Singapore, he said. 'We need people to feel for home, to miss home and to want to contribute to Singapore. If we don't, no one else will.'
Which is why participants like Imperial College student Cumarran Kaliyaperumal, 21, feel that the Government's pitch to those abroad should emphasise the emotional aspects of their connection to Singapore.
'Career opportunities and economic growth can draw someone anywhere. But what's going to bring me back here is the feeling that this is home and that family and friends are here,' the aeronautical engineering undergraduate said.
Echoing the sentiments, Dr Ng said: 'Home is what you feel; not what I say.'
He noted that of the 150,000 Singaporeans living, working and studying abroad, 40 per cent are in their 20s.
These young, bright Singaporeans are highly mobile, versatile and adaptable - and in demand among top companies worldwide.
The Government was creating more platforms for those abroad to keep in touch with home.
Among these is a revamped website for Contact Singapore, a network set up by the Manpower Ministry to highlight job opportunities here.
The issue of attracting Singaporeans back was one of several during the hour-long dialogue. Participants also expressed their views on matters such as foreign policy and political apathy.
Dr Ng said he found the exchange stimulating: 'Even though they have been away for some time, they are still very much interested in what Singapore is.'
Additional reporting by Cassandra Chew
Zakir Hussain, [email protected] - Sun, Jul 22, 2007,The Straits Times
________
Laughable! Painting picture! -
He thinks those people are idiots.... escape from a take your money as they please place and come back to let them take more...
Sure, if their parents can take public money to spend like it belongs to their grandfather, these people might come back and see if they too can do it with the help of their parents.
Anyone else that has to work for their money is not so idiotic. -
They simply lack the vision and don't open their eyes to the possibilities that the whole world offers.Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:He thinks those people are idiots.... escape from a take your money as they please place and come back to let them take more...
Sure, if their parents can take public money to spend like it belongs to their grandfather, these people might come back and see if they too can do it with the help of their parents.
Anyone else that has to work for their money is not so idiotic.
Rather, they are content with being weak. -
Their parents work to send them overseas to see the world and see other systems and lifestyles for themselves and they decide to come back to a place that treats them like second class citizens and spoon feed them propaganda day in day out.Originally posted by Fingolfin_Noldor:They simply lack the vision and don't open their eyes to the possibilities that the whole world offers.
Rather, they are content with being weak.
But then the number that never comes back shows that the majority are not so idiotic. Then there are those that come back because of family commitments and other personal matters.
The article is talking about asking those that have seen other systems at work and want to actualize their existence to come back.... fat hope. -
If you have lived abroad, you will definitely not want to raise your family here.
-
True, that's why those siblings of mine who went for overseas study never return to Spore for good. They are happily living and working overseas.Originally posted by LazerLordz:If you have lived abroad, you will definitely not want to raise your family here. -
They may come back to visit because of friends or family, but more or less, the thought of settling back here for good, is far away...Originally posted by qlqq9:True, that's why those siblings of mine who went for overseas study never return to Spore for good. They are happily living and working overseas. -
Yes, true. the good reasons for not returning for good - don't like and accept the way the MIWs run Singapore, cost of living here is constantly rising, overseas is not so stressful as spore.Originally posted by LazerLordz:They may come back to visit because of friends or family, but more or less, the thought of settling back here for good, is far away... -
Two things:Originally posted by qlqq9:GAIN experience abroad, but come back to Singapore and be part of the adventure that is Asia's growth.
In making the call to 400 Singaporeans studying overseas, Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen told them that an exciting decade lay ahead for the country and region.
A diversified economy and strong growth presented ample opportunities and jobs that 'we need able people to fill', he said at a dialogue organised by Singaporean students and graduates studying overseas.
The Government paid particular attention to views from those who worked and travelled widely as these helped 'us keep our edge', he said to the 400-strong audience.
He told students their generation would witness a 'reinvigorated and renewed Singapore' - the result of domestic policies and regional growth powered by the likes of China and India.
So while they should gain experience and 'stretch (their) boundaries' abroad, he urged them to eventually return home.
His remarks at the dialogue, held as part of Confluence 2007, a career networking event at The Shangri-La hotel, reflected an ongoing effort by the Government to keep Singaporeans abroad connected with developments here.
What Dr Ng was particularly pleased about was that the event - held for the second year - continued to be organised by Singapore students abroad. It was, he said, a ground-up initiative which showed their desire to remain plugged in to national issues and learn about challenges facing the country.
Organising committee chairman Moses Lin Weiwen, 26, a University College London law graduate, said Dr Ng's overview about prospects here tied in with the aims of Confluence 2007.
It sought to raise participants' awareness of job opportunities here as well as keep them connected emotionally to Singapore, he said. 'We need people to feel for home, to miss home and to want to contribute to Singapore. If we don't, no one else will.'
Which is why participants like Imperial College student Cumarran Kaliyaperumal, 21, feel that the Government's pitch to those abroad should emphasise the emotional aspects of their connection to Singapore.
'Career opportunities and economic growth can draw someone anywhere. But what's going to bring me back here is the feeling that this is home and that family and friends are here,' the aeronautical engineering undergraduate said.
Echoing the sentiments, Dr Ng said: 'Home is what you feel; not what I say.'
He noted that of the 150,000 Singaporeans living, working and studying abroad, 40 per cent are in their 20s.
These young, bright Singaporeans are highly mobile, versatile and adaptable - and in demand among top companies worldwide.
The Government was creating more platforms for those abroad to keep in touch with home.
Among these is a revamped website for Contact Singapore, a network set up by the Manpower Ministry to highlight job opportunities here.
The issue of attracting Singaporeans back was one of several during the hour-long dialogue. Participants also expressed their views on matters such as foreign policy and political apathy.
Dr Ng said he found the exchange stimulating: 'Even though they have been away for some time, they are still very much interested in what Singapore is.'
Additional reporting by Cassandra Chew
Zakir Hussain, [email protected] - Sun, Jul 22, 2007,The Straits Times
________
Laughable! Painting picture!
>> Either Ng Eng Hen is kidding himself...
>> Or he thinks locals abroad are Royally Idiotic...
I say to the government; cut with the crap-reports, and start making some changes (particularly in CPF and FT policies) and people MIGHT come back... -
how can we feel home when we are treated like 2nd class citizen!Originally posted by qlqq9:GAIN experience abroad, but come back to Singapore and be part of the adventure that is Asia's growth.
Echoing the sentiments, Dr Ng said: 'Home is what you feel; not what I say.'
Zakir Hussain, [email protected] - Sun, Jul 22, 2007,The Straits Times
________
Laughable! Painting picture! -
Frankly, even if you're in the upper class here, sooner or later, you'll realise that Singapore offers little in terms of fresh lifestyle opportunities or intellectual pursuits.
The fate of a city-state is a transient and globalised population. -
Why would i come back when i'm treated like a 2nd class citizen?
What's the point? -
Agree. I studied in London for three years and what I miss most about London are the huge range of cultural and intellectual activities available there. Singapore is a desert by comparison.Originally posted by LazerLordz:Frankly, even if you're in the upper class here, sooner or later, you'll realise that Singapore offers little in terms of fresh lifestyle opportunities or intellectual pursuits.
The fate of a city-state is a transient and globalised population. -
As Dr. Catherine Lim has put it there is a wedge or disaffective divide between the governing elites and the people because of many years of wrong approaches emphasising on their own self-importance to the disregard of motivating the people.
The root cause of all the problems from escalating costs of living to loss of economic competitiveness caused by lack of motivation of people in pursuits of practical entrepreneurship is self-centredness or narrow-mindedness in looking only after their own ruling party interest.
Unless the root cause of the problem is eradicated, minister Ng Eng Hen will have to keep pretending all is well while overseas Singaporeans are too discerning to see through his scheme as plain hypocrisy. -
its always about making more money in singapore.Originally posted by dakkon_blackblade:Agree. I studied in London for three years and what I miss most about London are the huge range of cultural and intellectual activities available there. Singapore is a desert by comparison. -
I think a word was omitted from his sentence.
Study abroad but 'don't' make future here. -
Maybe Minister Ng shall start with asking all their own elites' sons and daughters to come back to Singapore to make their future here.
-
elites never learn
-
The root of the problems have been existing for long, don't think they are going to change, old man is going at any time and the son lives up to his age will not change for the better either. The worst is they either don't see this as their root of problems or if they know they may just ignore so that life goes on and they can continue to do whatever that meet their needs, wants and fancies, without having to let the conscience prick them. Politicans who are not willing to put aside the self to serve the nation wholeheartedly will hardly or will not win the trust and respect of the people.Originally posted by robertteh:As Dr. Catherine Lim has put it there is a wedge or disaffective divide between the governing elites and the people because of many years of wrong approaches emphasising on their own self-importance to the disregard of motivating the people.
The root cause of all the problems from escalating costs of living to loss of economic competitiveness caused by lack of motivation of people in pursuits of practical entrepreneurship is self-centredness or narrow-mindedness in looking only after their own ruling party interest.
Unless the root cause of the problem is eradicated, minister Ng Eng Hen will have to keep pretending all is well while overseas Singaporeans are too discerning to see through his scheme as plain hypocrisy.
Dr Ng is better off going back to hospital to be surgeon. So far as a Manpower minister what has he done to help the locals? Instead of helping the locals, he is allowing more and more of foreigners here to work without setting quota. Who suffer, local people! He is more for foreigners! So don't think we need him as our manpower minister. Those overseas are not ignorant or idiots, they are very aware of what is going on in Singapore that is why many after their study refuse to come back for good. They are smart and will not be taken in by what Dr ng said in his article. So he can jolly well give up his hope to get these people back for good. -
The issue is not so much about stress IMO - some things are just common sense. After all, I don't see London, Geneva or New York any less stressful than Singapore, but these cosmopolitan cities still draw the best brains by the thousands, if not millions.Originally posted by qlqq9:Yes, true. the good reasons for not returning for good - don't like and accept the way the MIWs run Singapore, cost of living here is constantly rising, overseas is not so stressful as spore.
If you're ambitious and driven, you would naturally want to compete with the best in the world - and in the process, you expect to be remunerated on terms befitting the world's best, not some elites of a third-world regime. -
Mmh, being abroad allows you to look at Singapore from different angles. Some think Singapore is still good, but others like myself thinks that unless the Government starts listening and caring more for it's people, Singaporeans are screwed.
The point is not that PAP is bad, but they need to improve on some factors like addressing the citizens' concerns and not brush them away. -
They need to do more than what is stated above. Do not make the press under their control, allow democracy, serve the nation with their hearts and souls rather than be so $$$ oriented, respect the old and human life.Originally posted by bigmouthjoe:Mmh, being abroad allows you to look at Singapore from different angles. Some think Singapore is still good, but others like myself thinks that unless the Government starts listening and caring more for it's people, Singaporeans are screwed.
The point is not that PAP is bad, but they need to improve on some factors like addressing the citizens' concerns and not brush them away. -
Apparently, the reason why most people study aboard is that they are unable to get a place in the local universities. look into this reasons and most of these problems can be solved.
most of them returns home because this is where our roots are. give them a reason to some back -
I am not too sure when u said most of them return home , on what basis are u talking about.Originally posted by Lin Yu:Apparently, the reason why most people study aboard is that they are unable to get a place in the local universities. look into this reasons and most of these problems can be solved.
most of them returns home because this is where our roots are. give them a reason to some back -
There is 150000 local studying n working abroad n it seemed the govt has started feeling the heat they might not come back for good. More will joinOriginally posted by LazerLordz:Frankly, even if you're in the upper class here, sooner or later, you'll realise that Singapore offers little in terms of fresh lifestyle opportunities or intellectual pursuits.
The fate of a city-state is a transient and globalised population.
to go other countries.