I am pleased to join you here at the Official Opening of NTU Career Fair 2015.   As an alumnus of NTU, I have been following the university’s growth and development with interest.

NTU has much to be proud of as one of the world’s fastest-rising universities. In the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Ranking 2014, NTU was ranked 39th among the world’s top universities, climbing 35 notches within the last four years. NTU is also first among QS’ list of the world’s best young universities.  Its strong reputation among international employers and the diversity of its faculty and student populations have enabled it to reach pole position.  NTU also scored high marks for its reputation among global academic, attested by its score of 93 for academic reputation in the same QS World University Ranking.

Increasingly, more employers are turning to NTU and other institutes of higher learning to recruit talent and potential leaders for their organisations. This is evident in the 32 per cent increase in employers participating in this flagship Career Fair over the last five years. I understand that this year’s NTU Career Fair features a remarkable 230 employers, representing all industry sectors. Besides the public sector employers, the top five industries from the private sector are Engineering & Manufacturing; Energy & Chemicals; Building & Construction; Logistics & Transportation; and Banking, Finance & Insurance.

There are good jobs in all these sectors. In Manufacturing, for instance, the Government’s Future of Manufacturing (FoM) initiative is helping the sector to transform and build new capabilities, in areas such as Addictive Manufacturing (AM), Robotics and Manufacturing Information Technology. This will enable companies to create new growth and business opportunities, and create diverse jobs for students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). I encourage all students to explore fully the opportunities available here, including those offered by small and medium enterprises, or SMEs. SMEs present graduates with a different, albeit equally exciting set of challenges and experiences that are just as valuable to shaping a career as a first job in an MNC.

With manpower being the single most important resource for Singapore’s economy, we need to continuously build deeper skills, complemented by broad-ranging multi-disciplinary knowledge among our workforce, to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global economy. It is therefore commendable that NTU is constantly reviewing its programme offerings and curriculum to meet these evolving needs. For example, the university launched the Renaissance Engineering Programme that combines engineering with business and liberal arts, and includes a stint with prestigious overseas universities. The first batch of students enrolled in this programme will be graduating this December.

We will all need to play a role in developing our workforce to propel Singapore forward – individuals, employers, government agencies and education institutions.  This is why the SkillsFuture Council, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, was set up – to  develop an integrated system of education, training and career progression for all Singaporeans, promote industry support for individuals to advance based on skills, and foster a culture of lifelong learning. 

I would urge our universities and companies to continue to strengthen collaborations to develop industry-relevant programmes and curricula. I would also urge employers to actively engage and develop students through internships, and to provide skills upgrading opportunities for your employees through Continuing Education and Training (CET). Lastly, I encourage students to take charge of your own training and career development, and to seize the opportunities available. Your journey does not stop upon graduation, but rather, lifelong learning and skills mastery will be critical pursuits as you develop your career. 

On that note, it is now my pleasure to declare the NTU Career Fair 2015 open.  I wish you all a pleasant and fruitful time at the fair.

Thank you.