Speech at Temasek Polytechnic Graduation Ceremony

Mr Gan Kim Yong, Acting Minister for Manpower, Temasek Convention Centre

Mr Seah Moon Ming, Chairman, Temasek Polytechnic Board of Governors;

Mr Boo Kheng Hua, Principal & CEO, Temasek Polytechnic;

Parents, Graduands, Distinguished Guests, Ladies & Gentlemen

Introduction

1.   Good morning. I am pleased to be with you today to celebrate the graduation for some 500 graduands. This is indeed a happy and special occasion. Your Diploma is a result of the sweat and toil you have put in throughout your years of education. I congratulate all of you for your achievements. I would also like to commend the faculty and staff of Temasek Polytechnic, who have provided a world-class education for you and prepared you well for the world.

Meeting needs of changing economy

2.   Amongst us today is the pioneer batch of 81 graduands from the Diploma in Retail Management. New and exciting career opportunities are emerging for you. New developments, such as ION Orchard and Orchard Central, which will both open this year, will add to the vibrancy of the retail industry. The two integrated resorts will further elevate the Singapore retail experience. New retail concepts are also taking root, such as warehouse retailing, integrated fashion and technology stores, mobile retail containers, and online retailing.

3.   The nature of retailing has transformed into one that requires professionals well-versed in the science and art of retail management. I was told ten of you had the opportunity to undertake your internships overseas. Such exposure will no doubt enrich your learning experience and help bring new ideas and concepts to our retail industry. I look forward to your contributions towards improving the standards and quality of our retail landscape.

4.   To meet the demands of our changing economy, our polytechnics are offering new courses such as those in retail and hospitality, as well as introducing innovative learning methods. I understand that a team comprising senior Hospitality and Tourism Management students has won the "Dream Team Challenge" at the recent Food & Hotel Asia 2008 event, beating teams from world-renowned establishments such as the Burj Al Arab. Such remarkable achievements attest to the high quality of education of our polytechnics, where graduates are indeed well-equipped to meet the needs of the job market.

Helping graduates fulfill aspirations

5.   Graduands, today also marks the day that you embark on the next phase of your lives. Standing at this momentous threshold, you might be wondering what is in store in your future. Some of you may be thinking of pursuing further studies. This is a worthwhile endeavour. The majority of you are considering career opportunities in the labour market. For the gentlemen, I know National Service beckons, but it is never too early to think about your future too.

6.   Employment growth in Singapore has remained strong in the first quarter 2008. Many of the new jobs created are at the Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians level. However, the outlook is uncertain. The US economy is facing the risk of a recession. The National Wages Council has just announced its recommendations. One key guideline is to ensure built-in wage increases should be sustainable. It also has recommended a one-off special payment to help the low-income workers.

7.   Therefore, we need to have realistic expectations as you embark on your career. That is why the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) released the Career Compass in February this year, to help students make informed career choices. The Career Compass provides students with a clear overview of the developments in the current and future job market, including forward-looking information on manpower demand in key industries, and detailed occupational information such as nature of work, educational qualifications, training, employment conditions and earnings. As you embark on your career search, I would encourage all of you to access the Career Compass' website to find out more about the opportunities in the various industries.

8.   While the Career Compass is targeted primarily at students, adult job seekers can also benefit from having more information on the labour market. They are more interested in current information on specific occupations. To meet these needs, I am pleased to announce that MOM is launching the Labour Market Highlights today.

9.   Let me cite a few examples of information in the Highlights that job seekers might find useful. The Highlights show that engineering professions, such as mechanical engineering technicians and semi-conductor engineers, continue to be in strong demand in the manufacturing sector. In services, employers are also actively seeking talents for various positions such as restaurant services managers, sales and marketing executives and auditors. To help job seekers understand what these jobs entail, the Labour Market Highlights also provide key information such as job vacancies, recruitment prospects, wages, as well as relevant skills and qualifications.

10.   Together with the Career Compass, the Labour Market Highlights will help students and job seekers understand the diverse jobs available in the economy, and make informed choices about your future careers.

Conclusion

11.   Finally, to all graduands, congratulations once again. Even though you have received your Diplomas, this is not the end of your education. As Confucius once said, 学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆 --"learning without thought is labour lost, while thought without learning is perilous". In your future endeavours, you must take advantage of every learning opportunity, and be a lifelong learner. I wish you continued success.

12.   Thank you.