Pre-University Seminar 2010

The Pre-U seminar is an invitation to youths to

engage in the political, social and economic
issues that form the framework of our society. It
reflects the growing process of a young nation
as it seeks to establish a firm foothold in a fast
changing world.

Themed ‘One People, Living Our Pledge’, this

year’s seminar saw participants examining the local and global networks which
contributed to Singapore’s success. Over 500 students from various secondary
schools, pre-university institutions and polytechnics attended this 4-day camp at
National University of Singapore (NUS).

This year’s seminar included an outreach programme called “An insight into the
building blocks of our nation”, which brought students on a learning journey with
leading statutory boards, ministries and agencies which were involved in building
Singapore’ economy. REACH was happy to receive students’ reflections from this
programme. Let’s see what some of them have to say!

A learning journey to:

1. Building and Construction Authority (BCA)

2. Land Transport Authority (LTA)
3. National Archives of Singapore (NAS)
4. Changi Water Reclamation Plant
5. HortPark
6. School of the Arts (SOTA)
7. MediaCorp
8. LASALLE College of the Arts
9. Housing Development Board (HDB)
10. Agency for Science and Technology (A*STAR)
11. Wong & Hassel’s (WOHA) Architectural Firm
A fruitful experience at Building and Construction Authority (BCA)

After the trip, we gained insights on the success of BCA and their future plans. Their
mission is to shape a safe, high quality, sustainable and friendly-built environment.
There are many things that were taken into consideration for building a friendly
environment, such as materials used and the amount of waste generated. To ensure
minimum pollution, they strive to use fewer resources so as to generate less waste.
A green mark is used to measure how green a building is.

One example is BCA’s Zero energy building, an eye-opener to all of us. We were
amazed by its cost efficacy and the amount of energy it can save. High technology
was used to building this structure. Using solar panels to provide just enough energy
needed by the building, a net zero energy is achieved. This minimizes the amount of
energy used while meeting the needs of the people.

Altogether, we have gained insights of how BCA is trying to create a friendly

environment in Singapore. The IMCSD is targeting to make 80% of the buildings in
Singapore green by 2030. One of the challenges they may face is the difficulty in
transforming existing buildings. By saving the environment, you can save money too.
So, let’s work together to make Singapore a better home for everyone.

A Mind-blowing Experience at the Land Transport Authority (LTA) Gallery

On the 2nd of June, my group was honoured to be invited to the LTA Gallery. We had
a fruitful experience and learnt many valuable lessons. We were introduced to
strategies employed by the LTA in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable travel
experience for commuters. Besides improving the current transport system, the LTA
envisions a people-centred land transport system. Three key strategies of their
initiatives are managing land use, meeting diverse needs of the people and making
public transport a choice mode.

For our group, the greatest take-away was the efforts made by the LTA in ensuring
that the needs of the people are met. We learnt that LTA strives to keep up with
current times and technology. The vision of LTA – to establish a people-centred land
transport system, is deeply etched in our minds.

We learnt that 12% of Singapore’s land is used for transport, compared to 15% used
for housing. This shows the urgent need to address the land scarcity issue in
Singapore. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that Singapore allocates land use
fairly and appropriately. While managing proper land usage, LTA also has to juggle
environmental challenges such as pollution and its negative effects. As such, eco-
friendly technology has been introduced to combat the situation of pollution in
Singapore. More can also be expected as part of the government’s efforts in going
green.

After today, we were deeply inspired to join the public service sector to do our part
for society and our country. LTA has ignited the spark within us to serve and lead the
future generations.
A trip to the National Archives of Singapore (NAS)

A common misconception of the National Archives is that it is a place where old,

yellow and dirty documents are stored. The trip to the National Achieves corrected
this misconception and allowed us to learn more about Singapore’s history.

During this learning journey, presentations and tours were given to us to let us
understand how history was recorded and stored (audio-visual, documents, voice
recordings of interviews, etc) and how we could store documents if we wish to. We
were also told about some events in Singapore history that we never knew about,
such as the experiences of the survivors of the Japanese Occupation.

Not only had we gained more knowledge about the preservation of documents and
Singapore’s history, we learnt to that happiness should not be taken for granted and
that we should adopt some attitudes of our forefathers, such as resilience and
staying united with our fellow countrymen. We were impressed and admired Lt.
Adnan’s patriotism and his “Duty before Death” attitude. From his story, we felt a
need to reflect on what we feel about being Singaporean and how far we would go
for the safety of our people and country’s sovereignty.

We feel that that is a need for the youths to be educated on the importance of
archiving and expand archiving in Singapore to a regional level such as ASEAN, so
as to achieve the National Archives’ goal of being the leading archiving organization
in the region.
A trip to the National Archives of Singapore (NAS)

Today, Group 9 visited the National Archives of Singapore (NAS). It was certainly an
enriching experience for most of us, as we got to know a side of Singapore that most
of us never seen or heard before.

This trip raised a few points of reflection. First off, I would like to bring up our initial
views of the NAS. Our group discussed this and in general, most of us were not
aware of its existence. Only a handful of people in the group were aware but did not
know it was open to the public. Some in this handful had perceived it to be a
museum.

Indeed, this trip has helped us gain an understanding on how the NAS has helped
Singapore step forward in our future and live out our pledge. What the NAS does is
to archive and store various artifacts of the past and through this, it documents
Singapore’s illustrious past. Documenting our past is crucial as we have to know our
origins before we can progress. For instance, by viewing exhibits of The Japanese
Occupation, we learnt about life then and from there, draw lessons to further improve
our nation. As such, NAS has a rather important role in enhancing our abilities to
make plans for our future.

The lessons we learnt from NAS are relevant to our lives where we learnt that we
should record our own memories and data. Likewise, it is our duty and responsibility
to preserve remnants of life at present for future generations so history can
continually be alive and Singapore will be left with a legacy.

- Group 9
A Unique Experience at Changi Water Reclamation Plant

The visit to Changi Water Reclamation Plant was a fulfilling one as we got to visit
restricted areas which are not yet open to the public. Through an insightful
presentation by AD Mr Yong, we were introduced to Singapore’s unique water
management system.

One of the key highlights of the presentation was Singapore’s innovative Deep
Tunnel Sewage System (DTSS). Partially completed in 2008, it meets the need of
various sewage pumping stations, while in the process, save operating costs and
land space. To the team, the DTSS represents a breakthrough in innovation and
technology that characterises Singapore’s approach to its unique challenges since
its birth in 1965.

Another favourite was the feature of Marina Barrage. As students, we enjoy the
scenery and spaciousness it offers as a gathering location, not realising that it is also
Singapore’s achievement of water self-sufficiency. The Marina Barrage was
envisioned by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1987 as a way to increase the
water catchment area of Singapore. However, using a highly urbanised business
district as a catchment area was never done before, and for this, we are greatly
inspired by our Minister Mentor’s bold visionary nature.

After the presentation by Mr Yong, we were taken on a tour around the plant - the
influent pumping station, the liquid treatment module and finally the solid processing
building. Our team was awed by the engineering complexity of the entire plant. It is
truly a master plan together with the DTSS! From this, we learnt that Singapore
requires the continued efforts of talented engineers in the area of research and
development (R&D) as key engines of future growth.

Singapore still faces many water security issues and hence it is crucial for strong
political will and good governance to achieve sustainable water conservation and
reclamation strategies for the sake of Singapore’s survival.

- Group 28
A Unique Experience at HortPark

In our learning journey, we discovered interesting trivia about the flora and fauna that
we often overlook in favour of other interests. We discovered the invasiveness of
rubber trees, or the peculiar orientation of budding flowers. It was an eye-opening
experience that we would not have otherwise undergone.

As Singaporean youth, we hold responsibility to national issues so as to mould a

better future. This learning journey has been an enriching one, and has made us
more critical of our current status. For example, we have learnt to consider striking
balance between greenery and the sustainability of our economy. At this age of rapid
development, it is crucial for us to be environmentally conscious citizens.

We are also proud of our reputation as a garden city, and are conscious of the need
to protect our reputation to be at the forefront of innovative redevelopment and
environmental sustainability. This importance is further buttressed by the leaving a
good impression, which then encourages foreigners to visit our green country – for
business or for pleasure.

We have realized the importance of greenery in Singapore and its integral role in
maintaining our lifestyle standards and health. However, we have to acknowledge
the challenges faced in the promotion of greenery. These include land shortages,
urbanization, and the lack of interest in greenery among Singaporeans. As such, we
have to adapt ourselves to changing times, and to approach these challenges in a
timely and flexible manner.

Our group believes that happiness, prosperity and progress can be achieved without
compromising one for the other. Environmental sustainability leads to a higher
quality of life for Singaporeans. Urban development is crucial to our nation’s
progress. Prosperity is the result of urban development and environmental
sustainability being achieved without any compromise.

In conclusion, we believe that only through striking a balance between environmental

conservation and economic progress will the country be able to continue to remain
competitive and relevant in the increasingly inter-connected world of today.
Trip to School of the Arts (SOTA)

The trip to School of the Arts (SOTA) has truly widened the perspective of our group.
From the first exercise, we learnt that everyone perceives the same things
differently, and that all of us will have different adaptations of the same thing. This
was one major learning point and the whole group agreed that it was the greatest
enlightenment from this trip.

The vice-principal of SOTA spoke to us about various aspects of the school and how
they have taken an alternative approach to educate their students. Instead of art-
centric subjects, they have amalgamated both art and the normal academic subjects
together in a way that maximises both time and efficiency. We have benefited much
and this trip is something not to miss out on.

- Dennis Ong
Insights from MediaCorp

We went to MediaCorp for our learning journey and were rewarded with great
insights into the press and the media in Singapore.

Through a Q & A session, we were able to see how MediaCorp tries to maintain
objectivity and professionalism in their work, amidst the constraints they face in their
daily operations. During the presentation, we were told of MediaCorp's history from
SBC to TCS to finally, MediaCorp. This made us realise how reflecting on one's past
is integral for us to find our direction and build up our future. We saw the
transformation of Singapore's media as it evolved from a government-controlled
entity to a commercial enterprise.

We also learnt that with the advent of globalization, the rapidly changing whims and
fancies of consumers have forced service providers to meet their needs. This has led
to problems such as piracy and increased competition due to the increase in
technological capabilities. Displaying their adaptability, MediaCorp has come up with
innovative ways such as increasing their consumer interactivity as well as providing
a human touch to their service.

Our group also reflected on the meanings of 'happiness, prosperity and progress' in
our pledge. In the past, progress was almost synonymous with economic growth,
with the happiness of the population being defined by the level of economic progress
of the nation. However, with the rising affluence of Singapore, Singaporeans have
begun to demand progress in other areas, such as the cultural and social spheres.

In light of the changing times, Singaporeans need to actively reflect on our goals and
aspirations that are encapsulated in our pledge. It is imperative for us to be
adaptable. Also, we also realised that there is a need to change our mindsets and go
beyond our comfort zones in order for us to take ownership of our country and be
active citizens. It is vital to our survival as a nation as well as our competitiveness in
this fast-paced world. Lastly, our group strongly believes in the ideas that are
expressed in the quotes below:

'It's not what you do but why you do it.'

'Don't ask yourself what your country needs. Ask yourself what makes you come
alive and then go do that. Because what your country needs are people who have
come alive.'

- Dominic, Group 21
Insights from MediaCorp

Our group went on a learning journey to Mediacorp Broadcast centre. It was an

exciting and enlightening experience as we got to witness how broadcast media
works. Our first stop was the conference hall, where we had a stimulating panel
discussion with various divisions of Mediacorp. The members of the panel were
engaging and informative as they shared with us information about the media
industry and their personal anecdotes. It was a rather edifying experience as those
of us who had no prior knowledge about the media received an informal education.

After the informative session, we were shown to the studios where television drama
is filmed. It was especially exciting for those who were lucky to see their favourite
soap stars in action. We were then shown around the Channel News Asia offices
and were informed about how broadcast journalism works. Finally, we got to meet
some DJs from the Perfect 10 radio station and observed the production of radio
shows.

All in all, it was a fun-filled learning experience as we got to learn about the history
and present status of the media industry in Singapore. We realized the importance of
the business and ethics aspects of journalism. It was inspiring for students who
wanted to pursue a career in the media industry and educational for the rest of the
participants.

- Varshini, Group 8

An Art Encounter at LASALLE College of the Arts

Our assigned site visit was to LASALLE College of the Arts. We learnt that it is better
for Singapore to be a marketplace rather than a hotpot. A marketplace is where
diversities (in culture, linguistics, religion, etc) co-exist, whereas in a hotpot, all
distinctions are removed to a singularity.

The next thing we learnt was transferable skills. It does not matter what subjects we
specialise in, because we will learn how to analyse things from various perspectives,
and this is one transferable skill which we can use. With greater commitment and
knowledge in an area, we are able to understand more about other cultures and thus
contribute to the survival of a multi-racial society,

To sum up the trip, we realised the importance of the Arts in shaping Singapore’s
identity and to further support the nation as a global city. In addition, the students’
artwork left a deep impression on us, as most of them having embedded meanings
which are relevant to youth like us.

- Annabelle Yeo, Group 6

A Visit to Housing Development Board (HDB) Hub

The greatest take-away from this learning journey was that public housing is a
tangible asset. We learnt that Public housing works on a multi-dimensional level and
it brings about both economic and social benefits. Public housing promotes a sense
of ownership because Singaporeans will have properties under their names that are
of value. HDB has enabled Singaporeans to purchase properties which are
affordable under the Home Ownership Scheme and the results of the latter are
evident from the very fact that 80% of the population owns HDB flats (as mentioned
during the presentation).

From this experience, we recognize the important role that Singaporeans play in
determining the success of plans aimed at forging national identity. Hence, there is a
need to take initiative and step out of our comfort zone to effect changes.

Singaporeans should be open and receptive towards the influx of foreigners. Foreign
workers take up low-paying jobs in our country to enable us to pursue a top-quality
standard of living. Conventional wisdom has it that it takes two hands to clap.
Therefore, while foreigners try their best to assimilate into the local culture,
Singaporeans should also be accepting of them. Being more accepting also means
that we are preserving our “kampong spirit”, a notion that resonates with our origins.

With the advent of globalisation, there is a widening income gap and it results in
people having diverging expectations of their housing. HDB should address this
because it directly affects the relevance of their role in future, such as the type of
houses they should focus on. With the influx of foreign talent, HDB has to
accommodate them in the public housing system. At the same time, there are
notable changes in lifestyle (such as the increasing trend of people choosing to be
single) which need to be taken into HDB’s long term housing plans.

To solve these problems, we propose that the HDB should relax its ethnic integration
policy, considering how the HDB has already looked into relaxing the Singapore
Permanent Resident (SPR) quota. Another solution that we proposed is that HDB
should anticipate future demands and build more studio apartments for the ageing
population.

- Group 17
A Trip to Agency for Science and Technology (A*STAR)

My group was privileged to be selected for a tour at the Agency for Science and
Technology (A*STAR). Several of its research facilities are located in the buildings of
Biopolis and Fusionopolis.

We first visited the Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) where we saw various
high tech equipment used in protein purification. The researchers gave a
presentation of the Institute and showed us how the various equipment was used.
Although many technical terms were used, the group felt that this learning journey
helped us understand how Singapore’s industries have moved forward into a
knowledge based economy and how Singapore is evolving into a Biomedical Hub.

Next, we headed to the Institute of High Performance Computing at Fusionopolis.

We were enthralled by the 3-D modelling and simulation, which reminded us that
Singapore is not just a small red dot but a country with the research capabilities to
develop such technologies.

Finally, we went back to Biopolis where Dr Lim Khiang Wee, executive director of the
A*STAR graduate academy spoke to us about the A*STAR scholarship and why
Singapore requires more PhD holders so as to bring us into a knowledge-based
economy. As the group was mainly made up of science students, many of us felt that
it is a good introduction to a possible education route.

From this trip to A*STAR, my group has learnt much about what is needed for
Singaporeans to succeed in today’s competitive economy. It was therefore not
surprising that being involved in a research showed that Singaporeans could afford
to be ambitious and yet be inspired to to succeed. Singaporeans need the
perseverance to push through all obstacles and challenges. Quoting PM Lee in his
opening speech at Pre-U Seminar 2010, we should always be on guard and not be
too comfortable with our present situation. There will indefinitely be problems and
difficulties but by pushing on, we will be able to gain much from the experience.

Lastly, my group also noted the need for Singaporeans to learn social graces. With
globalisation, many foreign investors will start investing in our economy. At the same
time, we are aware of Singaporeans who are sceptical and wary of foreigners. Also,
there have been complaints that our service industry lacks politeness and the ability
to go that extra mile. Therefore, we should find ways to inculcate social graces in our
young population so that the young ones would be prepared to handle foreigners in
businesses or simply when living with them. Singapore’s international image as a
hub for many key services should also include us being a hub which attracts global
talent because of our graceful nature.

From the visit, we feel that A*STAR may face two main problems in the future. The
first possible problem is foreign talent competition. In recent years, many foreigners
have come to Singapore for work or study. This has resulted in fierce competition for
job positions. Many unemployed Singaporeans have blamed foreign workers as a
reason for their unemployment. To prevent Singaporeans from losing out, we
propose for core competencies to be developed through our education system. This
will ensure that Singaporeans are equipped with the necessary skills, and thus
prevent them from losing out to foreigners.

Secondly, we feel that Singaporeans may lack the motivation to strive for excellence
as they take for granted their priority over foreigners. However, citizenship does not
guarantee employment or positions. Therefore, there is a need to raise awareness
and address this issue as soon as possible so as to prevent more Singaporeans
from losing out.
A Visit to Fusionopolis

Who says science is just for nerds? We had an awesome time at Fusionopolis,
where they house many of A*STAR’s developed technology and collaborations. It
was like walking into a sci-fi movie, and being part of it when we got to try on a
number of fancy machinery.

We learned how future technology can benefit different groups of people in society,
just to name a few: beds that can be stored up in a wall to save space for tiny
houses; self-cleaning windows; motion-censor and face-recognition TV; a machine
that can input data on a computer by reading your brain waves; the world’s 1 st
recycled glasses (which is already on sale); and a programme that can translate
subtitles into major Asian languages almost immediately, with 95% accuracy. This
will be very useful for a multi-lingual society like Singapore!

All these great inventions help to simplify our daily lives. However, the consumer
prices of these technologies may not be suited for the low or middle income
population for now. These tech-savvy equipment will also bring forth the issue of
technology over-reliance.

At a dialogue session, we learnt about pushing the boundaries of research. The main
challenge that Singapore faces is the lack of skilled manpower. There is a need to
encourage interest in scientific research among potential youths. Perhaps we could
bring more youths to Fusionopolis, so that they may understand more about the
subject and realize for themselves the immense potential the R&D sector has in
improving the standard of living and quality of life of the nation.

We feel that Singaporeans do have the passion, perseverance, and hunger for
knowledge to excel and compete in our rapidly globalizing. We are able to adapt
quickly to changes and are receptive to new ideas. All of us have the potential to
excel and make our mark in this ever-changing society!

- Group 14
A Trip to Wong & Hassel’s (WOHA) Architectural Firm

After a trip to Wong & Hassel’s (WOHA) architectural firm, we had many takeaways.
We were presented with a very detailed and meaningful presentation by one of the
firm’s experienced stuff, allowing us to catch a glimpse of the qualities WOHA
possess in order to achieve their success today.

Firstly, WOHA places much emphasis on designing infrastructure that brings out
maximum natural ventilation, making use of green spaces to enhance the overall
appearance of the buildings, and making the buildings energy efficient. Through the
presentation, we were introduced to WOHA’s many well-known and innovative
designs, including their artistic interior designs. For instance, WOHA incorporated a
traditional Dyak device in the windows of Moulmein Rise (a condominium in
Singapore), as well as tropical fruit motifs and colours in the interior design for the
Crowne Plaza in Singapore.

Also, application of metal panels adjacent to the ground allows owners to close their
windows during rainy weather without the expense of ventilation in the room. By
adding such metal panels with holes, home owners will be able to feel the wind
without getting the room wet from the rain. These examples showed WOHA’s
dedication to its customers.

Above all, WOHA also demonstrated how buildings and the natural habitat can
coexist in harmony. This is exemplified by one of WOHA’s projects on the building of
a resort in Bali. The Alila Villas Uluwatu Resort incorporated the terracing seen in
local rice fields to its building sites. This coupled with low rise roofs in the rooms
along the coast, allowing the resort to fit into the surrounding flora and the area to
retain its natural beauty.

WOHA’s high capability can be seen again through the project on Crowne Plaza at
Changi, which utilizes both flower motif sun-shading panels as well as the use
natural ventilation in its corridors, eliminating the need for air-conditioning in the
corridors. This is beneficial not only to the owners due to the lower energy and
maintenance costs, but also to transiting tourists who make up the bulk of Crowne
Plaza’s guests.

From WOHA’s detailed presentation, we saw that architecture not only allows us to
have comfortable spaces to live and work in, but also allows us to address the
problems our nation faces, making this an indispensable tool in the road to progress.

The site visit to WOHA was a truly enjoyable one. We feel highly privileged to be
able to enter and tour the building, as this not a chance that everyone can have. By
understanding how WOHA works, we will be able to apply the knowledge we have
gained by looking at other buildings around Singapore, and understand why they
were built that way. The visit to WOHA was a rare opportunity that we would not give
up for anything else!

- Group 13
A Trip to Wong & Hassel’s (WOHA) Architectural Firm

WOHA – Architecture that Brings Out The Beauty of Nature

Today marks our tour to WOHA where we were introduced to the various
masterworks of architecture. The buildings evolved around two important aspects –
Green and Good Ventilation. The design of these buildings are based on the needs
of the people as well as to integrate them into the environment. Their designs greatly
influence the architecture of Asia.

The greatest takeaway from this learning journey was the appreciation of the beauty
of nature brought forth by culture and design. The designs made good use of space
without compromising style. It is the amalgamation of design, culture and creativity in
the face of tradition, resulting in a work of beauty. It also integrates natural elements
with physical structures.

We foresee some possible challenges the organization will face:

1. Lack of resources (A possible solution is to look for creative or

unconventional means of devising things)
2. Mobility of resources to areas that are inaccessible (They could work with
companies to broaden their network)
3. Technology insufficiency (They could collaborate with research centres to
seen a technology breakthrough)

All in all, there is a constant need to innovate and to differentiate to ensure that we
are at a high level of competition.Our group feel that Singaporeans should be more
flexible, adaptable, creative and sincere in commitment to their pursuit of progress.
They should also be open to external elements such as foreigners to improve and
influence our existing mindsets. We will also need to bear in mind the 3As – Aware,
Accept and Adapt. Drive, passion, purpose, racial cohesiveness and mental strength
are vital points in shaping a new and wonderful Singaporean.

Happiness, prosperity and progress are interdependent and able to co-exist. We

believe that compromising one element will lead to a lack of sustainability of the
others. In short, these three elements are tightly linked, or a subset of the other as
quoted from Mr. Paul in the panel discussion, “Affluence is the cocoon of power.”
Affluence comprises of happiness, prosperity and progress and all these will be
combined to unleash its full potential.

In conclusion, our group felt that the learning journey was a valuable experience and
a good exposure to interesting knowledge and work outside our field of studies. It
has also enabled us to appreciate the talent and creativity of our fellow
Singaporeans. We hope to have more of such learning journeys so that we can
understand what our country is doing to contribute to the society and the world.

Soon Genliang Kent, Group 26