Speech by MOS Tan Kiat How at the iBuildSG Scholarship and Sponsorship Award Ceremony 2022

Thursday, 10 February 2022

A very good afternoon to everyone. I am happy to join you at this year’s iBuildSG Scholarship and Sponsorship Award Ceremony.  Firstly, let me begin by warmly congratulating all our 2021 awardees.

Built Environment sector transformation

For most of you, this scholarship or sponsorship marks the start of your journey into the Built Environment (BE) sector. It is certainly an exciting time to join the sector, as we undertake transformation in three key areas.

First, we are using technology to automate the way we build. We have been making progress in adopting Design for Manufacturing and Assembly, or DfMA, as a construction method. DfMA harnesses automation and offsite prefabrication of modules to improve productivity and reduce our reliance on manual labour at construction sites.

Second, we are digitalising workflows throughout the building lifecycle. This helps connect and enhance collaboration across different stakeholders throughout the entire value chain from design, off-site fabrication and on-site assembly, to the operations and maintenance of buildings.

Thirdly, we are greening our buildings. Currently, buildings are responsible for more than 20 per cent of carbon emissions in Singapore. By prioritising super low energy building designs, developing energy efficient solutions, or adopting smart FM, we can build a more sustainable Singapore for future generations. Some of you will be attending classes at the new NUS School of Design & Environment 4, which is one such example. It is certified as a Zero Energy Building and helped NUS to obtain the BCA Green Mark Platinum Champion Award last year. The architects, engineers, developers and builders working on this project incorporated thoughtful design to reduce the energy used to cool the premises, enabling the building to rely fully on solar power for its energy needs.

Transformed jobs of the future

As the BE sector becomes more productive, digitalised, and sustainable, the jobs within the sector will also need to be transformed. Some of your seniors are already part of this change. For example, Mr Daryl Chew received an undergraduate scholarship to study Civil Engineering at NTU from BCA and Soil-Build Pte Ltd in 2016. He is now working as a Production Planning Engineer at Soilbuild’s Integrated Construction and Prefabrication Hub, managing the systems that drive the automated production of precast components. Daryl also works with industry partners and Institutes of Higher Learning on research initiatives related to emerging technologies in DfMA and sustainability. These projects cover topics such as waste valorisation in concrete, and Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technology in concreting materials. In simple terms, these technologies seek to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into our atmosphere from concrete utilisation.

Recipients of this year’s scholarships can similarly look forward to good jobs in the areas of DfMA engineering and sustainable materials. In addition, there are also emerging areas such as virtual design and construction or digital innovation in the BE sector.

Learning is a continuous journey

While a school curriculum will equip you with a good foundation, exposure and experiences outside of the school environment are equally important.

Even as a student, there are opportunities for you to network with practicing professionals and gain insights into your future work environment. For example, you can participate in BCA’s iBuildSG BE Formation Programme or iBEFP. The iBEFP is an industry preparatory programme to prepare students for work during their internship through four days of training workshops, industry sharing sessions and simulation activities. For example, Mr Joshua Tan received an undergraduate scholarship to study Civil Engineering at SIT from BCA and KTC Civil Engineering and Construction Pte Ltd in 2021. Through the iBEFP and his internship at KTC, Joshua had the opportunity to engage professionals across the BE sector and visit project sites. It left him with a deeper appreciation of how engineering knowledge is being applied to real projects.

For those who are already in the sector, you would want to continually acquire new skills, to capture new opportunities as the sector transforms.  BCA has developed a Skills Framework that provides information on key career tracks in the BE sector and the relevant skills required. I encourage you to use it as a resource for career planning. For example, Mr Alvin Fong, a consultant and contractor with over 20 years of experience, has used the Skills Framework to chart his career path and identify the relevant training programmes to upgrade his skills. Alvin is dedicated to lifelong learning. After graduating with a National Technical Certificate in Civil/Structural Drafting from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), he received two sponsorships from BCA and Kimly Construction Pte Ltd in 2017 and 2021 to further his studies in Construction Engineering and Construction Management respectively. He also took the initiative to attend additional courses on Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Virtual Design & Construction, or VDC, and is now a VDC Manager at Kimly.

Employers are a key part of the journey

Although personal motivation and having the right attitude towards learning are critical to your career success and satisfaction, employers also play a key role. On this note, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the sponsor firms. We are heartened to see firms investing more in young talents through the iBuildSG scholarship and sponsorship programme.  Thank you for being a crucial part of our transformation journey, and for grooming the next generation of talents in the BE sector.

Many of our sponsor firms have worked with BCA on this programme for a number of years. They have also implemented progressive HR practices in their companies. Arup is one such forward-looking firm. To accommodate the different needs of their staff, they implemented a flexi-week working arrangement, where staff can choose to work their normal hours more flexibly over the course of a week. Arup also offers overseas development opportunities for their staff, and access to a global expertise skill-sharing network to support them in their personal growth and professional relationships. Another example is Lum Chang Building Contractors. They have put in place a mentorship programme where returning scholars are assigned to experienced staff who can provide one-on-one guidance to help our young talents work towards their career aspirations.

These are just two examples of many firms that have taken the lead to transform their HR and talent development practices. I encourage all firms in the sector to consider similar moves, to attract and retain talent for the future.

Conclusion

Singapore is a relatively young nation, but we have come so far in developing and curating our built environment. I am confident that there will be more exciting development ahead. Our homes and offices, underground MRT networks, iconic megastructures like Jewel Changi Airport or Gardens by the Bay, exist because of the hard work by our architects, construction managers, engineers, quantity surveyors, facility managers and so many more. Together with our agencies, our BE firms and professionals, we have built up the Singapore that we call home. And with your support, we will make it even better for future generations.

I hope that the scholarship or sponsorship you receive today provides you with many opportunities to grow as an individual and as a professional, so that we can continue building our Singapore.

Let me congratulate the iBuildSG scholars and sponsorship recipients once again. And congratulations to your family members. I wish everyone a fulfilling journey ahead.

Thank you.