The Ministry of Education (MOE) in Singapore offers scholarships to pre-university students with a passion for mathematics, science and engineering. This especially applies to uni students specialising in STEM.
In this article, you’ll read:
- The MOE Scholarships for Pre-university Students Interested in STEM
- What You Need to Know About the New MOE Scholarships
- The Value of Engineering and STEM in Singapore
The MOE Scholarships for Pre-university Students Interested in STEM
The Ministry of Education (MOE) in Singapore opens new scholarships for pre-university students interested in STEM. They aim to give the opportunity to students with a keen interest in STEM subjects.
As soon as early next year, pre-university students can opt for new scholarships funded by the MOE. The institution aims to deepen the pool of engineering and technology talent in the country. Initially, it hopes to provide benefits to 200 students each year.
On the 11th of May, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing announced the new scholarships during a ceremony. It is the ceremony to mark the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU).
The agreement is between the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and the James Dyson Foundation. The foundation is a charitable set-up started by the British inventor.
Strengthening STEM in Singapore
Image Source: iStock
The MOE aims to strengthen STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Aside from that, they are initiating to facilitate the flow of Stem talent further upstream, particularly in engineering. The engineering and tech programme scholarships serve as integral parts of this effort.
While Minister Chan Chun Sung was delivering his opening address, he said in a statement,
“STEM education plays a critical role in our school’s curriculum, not only to develop the STEM workforce needed for the economy but also science-savvy citizens who can apply their understanding into real-life decision making.”
Furthermore, Minister Chan added that the scholarship supports Singaporean citizens with a strong mathematics and science foundation. They hope to prioritise students interested in applied and interdisciplinary learning.
Minister Chan also called the attention of both local and multinational businesses. He requested them to support the scholarship and further enrich the learning experience for students. It will be helpful, especially in inspiring them to join the engineering and technology fields.
The Value of Engineering and STEM in Singapore
Education Minister Chan Chun Sung emphasises the importance of engineering in the future of the nation. He elaborated its importance by outlining the three goals for the next lap of Singapore’s development.
“To tackle these existential challenges, our young Singaporeans must feel a strong sense of mission to have a stake in the nation’s future,” said Minister Chan.
Goals for Future Development:
- The nation’s future position in the global value chain
- Overcoming land scarcity
- Energy sustainability
“Through engineering and technology, they can be vested members of our Singaporean core to provide new transformative solutions not just for ourselves but for the rest of the world,” added Minister Chan.
What You Need to Know About the New MOE Scholarships
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The new two-year scholarships will cover school fees and be capped manually at $2,400. Aside from that, they will also provide a yearly allowance of $1,000. Students may use this budget for essential items such as school books.
The first-year junior college students may also apply for the new scholarships. Meanwhile, Millennia Institute students taking a three-year programme can apply during their second year.
The students who are taking International Baccalaureate programmes are eligible to apply for scholarships in their last two academic years. The same thing goes for those enrolled in the National University of Singapore High School of Math and Science.
What Uni Students Can Look Forward To
The beneficiaries of the scholarship will have more opportunities to master STEM skills. They will have a chance to participate in workshops at tertiary institutions and corporate learning trips hosted by industry representatives.
Students can also gain a deeper understanding of the STEM industry. They will have that chance to perform their internship in an engineering and technology companies. The good thing about it is that the companies are not limited to just the public or private sector.
The MOE will work with the Economic Development Board to offer corporate internships. Participating companies include known firms like ST Engineering, Abbott Baroatories, and GlaxoSmithKline.
Further Information Is Soon to Be Announced
The MOE will soon announce more details about the scholarship later this year. Meanwhile, the MOU bet SUTD and James Dyson Foundation plan to collaborate. They will soon build an engineering studio at SUTD. It will become a part of a five-year tie-up.
According to the Professor Chong Tow Chong, the president of Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD),
“This will greatly benefit SUTD students as they can experience first-hand how design, innovation and engineering take place in a real-world commercial environment. I am sure our students are very much looking forward to this.”
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