Singapore Students Tackle Maritime Issues at Annual Dialogue
Dr Lam Pin Min, Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Health, engaged about 160 students on key issues facing the maritime industry at the annual Singapore Maritime Dialogue organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on 5 July 2017. Into its fourth year, the 2017 Singapore Maritime Dialogue carried the theme “Navigating through Challenging Times” as the industry and students gathered to discuss how the public and private sectors can overcome challenges faced by the maritime industry.
2 During the panel discussion and Q&A session with the students from high schools, junior colleges, polytechnics, Institute of Technical Education and universities, Dr Lam and the panellists shared the importance of the maritime industry to Singapore’s economy, and discussed ideas that were gathered from the Economics Essay Competition[1] organised by MPA. Through the sharing sessions, students gained a better understanding of the maritime ecosystem, and the wide range of education and job opportunities available should they wish to join the maritime industry. The other panellists were:
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Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive, MPA;
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Ambassador Mary Seet-Cheng, International Maritime Organization Maritime Ambassador for Singapore
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Mr Lim Shaw Chuan Ivan, General Manager (Operations), Keppel Shipyard Limited, Singapore (Singapore Maritime Ambassador);
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Ms Akanksha Batura, Strategic Planning Manager, Sinoda Shipping Agency Pte Ltd; and
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Ms Lorayne Teo, Business Analyst, THOME Ship Management Pte Ltd (moderator).
4 In his address to the students, Dr Lam said, “Despite the challenges we face today, the maritime industry remains resilient as we have a vibrant ecosystem of maritime companies in Singapore. This means that there are many exciting maritime job opportunities for Singaporeans, especially with the advent of new technologies.”
5 Singapore Maritime Ambassador[2] Mr Ivan Lim, who shared his story and experiences during the dialogue, added, “This industry is extremely diverse and dynamic; from shipping, to port and even maritime services. Young professionals will gain exposure to many opportunities and build a rewarding career for themselves. I have never stopped learning since my first day with this industry, and I hope that students will be inspired to join the maritime sector as well.”
6 At the event, Dr Lam also presented prizes to winners of MPA’s Economics Essay Competition. Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of MPA, and Mr Kenneth Lee, Director, Humanities, Ministry of Education (MOE) launched a revised Economics Resource Package.
7 The revised Economic Resource Package is a collaboration between MPA and MOE, with the first version introduced in 2012. This new edition is aligned with the latest GCE A-Level Economics syllabus, and features recent case studies to ensure relevance and enhance students’ learning. The package will provide relevant economic concepts and tools of analysis which can be applied in the context of Singapore’s maritime industry, while the learning activities accompanying each case study will facilitate more in-depth class discussions and group research. Schools will be able to access the package online for their teaching and learning by the end of Q3, 2017.
8 As part of the programme, students had the opportunity to participate in an exclusive port tour hosted by PSA Singapore, where they witnessed the operations and handling of our everyday goods. They were also introduced to the new Maritime Singapore Connect website[3] (www.maritimesgconnect.com), where they could find out more about maritime careers, education options, internship opportunities, and submit their resumes to potential hiring companies.
10 The Singapore Maritime Dialogue is a MaritimeONE outreach event led by MPA with support from Singapore Maritime Foundation, Singapore Shipping Association and the Association of Singapore Marine Industries.
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| SMS Lam delivering his opening remarks at the Singapore Maritime Dialogue 2017.
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| Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of MPA, and Mr Kenneth Lee, Director, Humanities, Ministry of Education (MOE) launched a revised Economics Resource Package.
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| A lively panel discussion and Q&A session was held during the dialogue.
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[1] The Economics Essay Competition was held in partnership with the Economics Society of Singapore in April this year. The competition was conceptualised to encourage young Singaporeans to explore ideas to tackle the challenges faced by the maritime industry.
[2] The Singapore Maritime Ambassador Programme (SG-MAP) is spearheaded by the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) and seeks to inspire more Singaporeans, especially the younger generation, to join the maritime sector through various public outreach activities. Currently, there are 39 maritime ambassadors under the SG-MAP.
[3] The Maritime Singapore Connect (MSC) website allows individuals to deposit their resumes to indicate interest in jobs or internships with Singapore maritime companies and is an initiative of the MSC Office. The MSC Office was established by MPA last year to profile the maritime industry and connect students and jobseekers to the multiple pathways into the industry. The set up under the Singapore Maritime Foundation works in close partnership with government agencies, schools, industry associations and maritime employers, as a central node to connect for maritime opportunities.