Thinkers 'should join conversation'
Former top civil servant Ngiam urges academics to 'help the State ask the right questions'
Updated 06:58 AM Nov 09, 2012
by Ng Jing Yng
SINGAPORE - Known for speaking his mind on national policies after his retirement from the Civil Service, former Permanent Secretary Ngiam Tong Dow yesterday called on academics in tertiary institutions here to join the fray on public discourse.
Speaking at the 3rd China-India-Singapore dialogue on higher education hosted by the National University of Singapore (NUS), the NUS Pro-Chancellor challenged the Singapore-based academics among the 160-strong audience - which included academics from overseas institutions - to "help the State to ask the right questions".
Mr Ngiam, 75, argued that this is key to the Republic achieving sustainable economic growth.
Rather than boosting population numbers, what Singapore needs to do is to increase its knowledge base - and, in that regard, universities have to do more than just teach "skills and technical knowledge".
Urging university faculty members to offer views on national issues, Mr Ngiam noted that "unlike the Civil Service, university dons are detached from the Executive".
Said Mr Ngiam: "By elucidating different dimensions of a national problem, our thinkers in ivory towers can indeed enlighten the legislature to make (better) decisions for Singapore."
Speaking to reporters later, Mr Ngiam reiterated that with academics participating in the national discourse, the process could eventually lead to a "more sensible conclusion".
While he acknowledged that some academics may be worried about speaking out on national policies, he stressed that "there is a difference between critiquing and criticising" - the former means looking at things in a different way, he said.
Citing the example of Shanghai, where top brains across disciplines come together to study a local issue, Mr Ngiam said universities here should not research for its own sake.
Citing Singapore's family planning challenges, Mr Ngiam suggested that apart from sociologists, other thought leaders could provide their views, possibly resulting in an inter-disciplinary solution.
University professors TODAY spoke to agreed with Mr Ngiam that academia has a role to play in spurring public discussion.
Nanyang Technological University sociologist Kwok Kian Woon reiterated that faculty members can raise wider and deeper questions, and contribute informed and non-partisan views.
Singapore Management University (SMU) law lecturer Eugene Tan, who has commented extensively on public issues, cited the fear factor as a possible deterrent for academics to speak out.
But, he pointed out: "Precisely because tax-payers contribute substantively to the funding of the autonomous universities here, there is the need for universities and academics not to be stuck in the proverbial ivory towers."
Also, some academics would be uncomfortable with putting forward their views when they do not have all the facts and figures, Asst Prof Tan said. At the same time, some senior faculty "frown upon their colleagues being involved", he said. "They regard such involvement as purely non-academic and not in keeping with the academic norms," he added.
NUS transport analyst Lee Der-Horng, who has also spoken out regularly on transport issues, said he found it strange that compared to other countries, academics here are not necessarily thought leaders who drive discussion on public issues.
Dr Lee, who is born in Taiwan, said he did not feel that his status as a foreigner hampered his ability to contribute to Singapore's national discourse. "People have posted nasty comments online … but I say what I feel and think before I make the comment," he said.
SMU political science lecturer Bridget Welsh felt that "there has not been enough signals that there is acceptance of different points of view".
She suggested that the Ministry of Education assess universities based on their contributions to policies, and facilitate more exchanges between faculty members and bureaucrats.
URL http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC121109-0000057/Thinkers-should-join-conversation
Former top civil servant Ngiam urges academics to 'help the State ask the right questions'
Updated 06:58 AM Nov 09, 2012
by Ng Jing Yng
SINGAPORE - Known for speaking his mind on national policies after his retirement from the Civil Service, former Permanent Secretary Ngiam Tong Dow yesterday called on academics in tertiary institutions here to join the fray on public discourse.
Speaking at the 3rd China-India-Singapore dialogue on higher education hosted by the National University of Singapore (NUS), the NUS Pro-Chancellor challenged the Singapore-based academics among the 160-strong audience - which included academics from overseas institutions - to "help the State to ask the right questions".
Mr Ngiam, 75, argued that this is key to the Republic achieving sustainable economic growth.
Rather than boosting population numbers, what Singapore needs to do is to increase its knowledge base - and, in that regard, universities have to do more than just teach "skills and technical knowledge".
Urging university faculty members to offer views on national issues, Mr Ngiam noted that "unlike the Civil Service, university dons are detached from the Executive".
Said Mr Ngiam: "By elucidating different dimensions of a national problem, our thinkers in ivory towers can indeed enlighten the legislature to make (better) decisions for Singapore."
Speaking to reporters later, Mr Ngiam reiterated that with academics participating in the national discourse, the process could eventually lead to a "more sensible conclusion".
While he acknowledged that some academics may be worried about speaking out on national policies, he stressed that "there is a difference between critiquing and criticising" - the former means looking at things in a different way, he said.
Citing the example of Shanghai, where top brains across disciplines come together to study a local issue, Mr Ngiam said universities here should not research for its own sake.
Citing Singapore's family planning challenges, Mr Ngiam suggested that apart from sociologists, other thought leaders could provide their views, possibly resulting in an inter-disciplinary solution.
University professors TODAY spoke to agreed with Mr Ngiam that academia has a role to play in spurring public discussion.
Nanyang Technological University sociologist Kwok Kian Woon reiterated that faculty members can raise wider and deeper questions, and contribute informed and non-partisan views.
Singapore Management University (SMU) law lecturer Eugene Tan, who has commented extensively on public issues, cited the fear factor as a possible deterrent for academics to speak out.
But, he pointed out: "Precisely because tax-payers contribute substantively to the funding of the autonomous universities here, there is the need for universities and academics not to be stuck in the proverbial ivory towers."
Also, some academics would be uncomfortable with putting forward their views when they do not have all the facts and figures, Asst Prof Tan said. At the same time, some senior faculty "frown upon their colleagues being involved", he said. "They regard such involvement as purely non-academic and not in keeping with the academic norms," he added.
NUS transport analyst Lee Der-Horng, who has also spoken out regularly on transport issues, said he found it strange that compared to other countries, academics here are not necessarily thought leaders who drive discussion on public issues.
Dr Lee, who is born in Taiwan, said he did not feel that his status as a foreigner hampered his ability to contribute to Singapore's national discourse. "People have posted nasty comments online … but I say what I feel and think before I make the comment," he said.
SMU political science lecturer Bridget Welsh felt that "there has not been enough signals that there is acceptance of different points of view".
She suggested that the Ministry of Education assess universities based on their contributions to policies, and facilitate more exchanges between faculty members and bureaucrats.
URL http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC121109-0000057/Thinkers-should-join-conversation
I always thought you are ah neh.
