Speech by SMS Lee Yi Shyan at the BCA-Industry Built Environment Scholarship Award Ceremony

Jul 28, 2015

Good afternoon. Thank you for inviting me to be part of this joyous occasion. Investing in human resource has always been the top priority of the Government. Singapore is different because of the quality of our human resource. Today we are witnessing a record number of 190 scholarships being awarded. We are investing in our youth. We are building the future.

Importance of the Built Environment Sector

The built environment sector is an important pillar of our economy, contributing 4 to 5% of our GDP. In addition to GDP contribution, the built environment sector shapes the environment we live in. It adds to the skyline and enriches our interaction with other users of the same space. It determines the quality of our lives. Indeed, the output of the built environment sector is both tangible and intangible.

The built environment sector is also a knowledge-intensive one. Because the urbanised environment is becoming denser and more complex, built environment professionals need to be strong in their own field of specialisations, and have the ability to appreciate and integrate the inputs from other disciplines. For instance, architects need to understand the capabilities or limitations of engineering solutions. Changes in engineering solutions, construction methods or advanced materials can also shape the design of buildings. Yet, technologists need to understand the changing needs of the population and work patterns. With an ageing population across major cities of Asia, mobility becomes an important design parameter. The trend of accommodating “work, live, play” within a small precinct will also require the imaginative design of space for the creation of liveable and inclusive environment.

Productivity targets 

In land-scarce Singapore, we need meticulous planning and good design to make full use of our land resources. From master-planning a new town, to the functional layout of precincts, and the construction of individual buildings and their inter-connectivity, we require the most innovative design approaches and productive construction methods. This is why we are making a big push towards the “Design for Manufacturing and Assembly” or DfMA in short. With this approach, we are able to move most of the labour-intensive onsite construction activities to a factory-like, controlled environment. What remains onsite is cleaner and quieter assembly work. DfMA brings about huge productivity gains by shortening the time needed for construction. It also raises the quality and consistency of the building finishes. 

Changing the way we construct buildings means that our workforce will need new skills. Construction workers in Korea and Japan are highly-skilled, better paid and do not require much supervision. Their higher productivity levels would be a good benchmark for us to aspire to. The question is, how do we get there? 

Getting to the right talent mix 

Our built environment sector is a large employer. It employs approximately 116,000 professionals and 370,000 rank and file workers. As we push towards a higher-skilled workforce, we need to achieve a better mix of professionals and higher-skilled workers. We also need to attain a more sustainable mix, where we build up our local core workforce supported by foreign manpower who can also share their experience and skills.

With locals only making up about 25% of the existing workforce, it is critical for us to continue to attract more of them to lead the transformation of the built environment sector. Apart from attracting new entrants, it is also equally important to upgrade the existing workforce to equip them with the relevant skills, in line with the objectives of SkillsFuture. Let me elaborate.

Attracting new entrants to the built industry 

BCA is working on attracting more local talents to the built environment sector through scholarship and sponsorship programmes. These programmes aim to attract students at all levels: from the universities, polytechnics, ITE and the BCA Academy. To cater to fresh jobseekers and those who are looking for a mid-career change, BCA Academy offers a wide range of courses to equip them with relevant skill sets.

For fresh entrants who want to pursue a technical and supervisory track, BCA is also supporting their competency progression pathways through its enhanced post-diploma and the new post-ITE development programmes. These upgrading programmes are aligned with the Earn-and-Learn Program under the SkillsFuture Initiatives, which means that fresh entrants will go through structured training, acquiring certifiable skills while being paid. 

To raise students’ interests in the built environment sector, BCA will be working with the Institutes of Higher Learnings and industry partners to organise more student competitions and structured internships. To ensure that students learn relevant skills that the industry requires, BCA will also be working with the IHLs on the curriculum of the respective courses. In addition, BCA has worked with the Institutes of Higher Learning to conduct the Teachers’ Attachment Programme for teaching staff. In this way, our teaching staff can also advise students on skills and jobs opportunities in the sector.

Through a rebranding campaign, we are also changing the perception of the built environment sector as being a male-dominated one. So I am glad to see among the recipients today there many females. If fact, among you 40% of you are females. I am very encouraged to see a new generation of female professionals stepping up and overseeing building and infrastructure developments.

Deepening skills of in-service professionals

Apart from making the sector more attractive, BCA is also helping existing built environment professionals to upgrade their skills. BCA is introducing a new part-time Postgraduate Sponsorship and part-time Diploma Sponsorship to help in-service professionals to enhance their skill sets. Under the new programmes, BCA and the sponsoring firms will fully fund the school fees.

Last year, 32 progressive firms signed a Pledge to improve their HR practices through initiatives such as organising learning and development training and regular recreational activities for their employees. BCA is working with the Construction Industry Joint Committee (CIJC in short), comprising all the major industry associations, to develop HR guidebooks to educate industry firms on good HR practices. BCA also plans to roll out training programmes on good HR practices for HR professionals in the built environment sector. With support from the industry to adopt good HR practices, it will help to transform the sector into an employer of choice.

Good HR practices and strong commitment of our firms are critical to the successful implementation of SkillsFuture framework. This is because in most instances, companies are best positioned to provide realistic and useful training when properly structured. There is a number of ways for companies to come on board to support SkillsFuture. One such way would be to provide good internship and training opportunities for students at all levels, including university, polytechnic and ITE. BCA and I will, in the coming months, meet with the industry associations and leading companies to speed up the implementation of SkillsFuture initiatives in the built sector. 

Meanwhile, consider the example of Mr Aslam Bin Salim, our 2012 Diploma scholar. After graduating from Singapore Polytechnic’s Diploma in Architecture, Aslam joined SD Architects and benefited from the on-job-training during his first year of employment. To support Aslam’s competency based progression, his sponsor firm enrolled him in the Specialist Diploma in Architectural Technology course at the BCA Academy. Aslam is now a qualified architectural draughtsman involved in managing a wide range of projects for the firm. 

Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen, we are celebrating SG50 this year. As we reflect upon the past, upon the journey which this tiny nation has taken, and behold the beautiful skyline setting amidst lush greenery, admire the skyscrapers and research labs so filled with economic vibrancy, I don’t think many of our pioneer generations had ever imagined that a modern and successful Singapore was possible. But against all odds, we did.

I think we owe it to our pioneer generations – their foresight and fortitude, to build the modern Singapore from a “mudflat to a metropolis”. May you, as our scholarship recipients today and built environment leaders tomorrow, continue to build upon this foundation and bring about happy, prosperous, fulfilling homes for all Singaporeans. Thank you and my heartiest congratulations.