Scholars from Shanghai Administration Institute (SAI) Visited NCPA

Accompanied by Ms Muriel Ang, Deputy Manager, CSC International, Associate Professor Tao Zhen and Associate Professor Luo Fengying, both from Shanghai Administration Institute (SAI), visited NCPA on 23 Nov 2023,  for a sharing and exchange session to learn about NCPA programmes and research as well as Singapore’s crisis management, community resilience, community governance, and approaches to emergency preparedness. They were warmly welcomed by the team at NCPA including Dr Celia Lee, Senior Research Fellow, Ms Kathryne Yew, Senior Assistant Director, Prof Ang Hak Seng, Adjunct Professor, and Dr Kwa Kai Xiang, ICC Lecturer (Ethics & Civics) and Lecturer, School of Social Sciences.

The meeting started with a brief presentation on the Master and executive development programmes by Ms Yew and NCPA’s policy-oriented key research focuses by Dr Lee. The meeting then proceeded with a lively discussion between Prof Tao Zhen and Prof Ang Hak Seng on the challenges lecturers faced at high-level learnings due to changes in the educational setup. They both acknowledged that previous modality of learning based on theories is no longer sufficient, as the students have higher expectations. Lecturers are expected to have both academic and real-world operation experiences, and understand challenges in the ground so that they are in better position to help students learn and apply their knowledge to solve real world problems. Education must now be based on practical applications and live experience.

Prof Ang and Dr Kwa also shared how the whole-of-government/nation with different ministries came together to collaborate and synergize for speed and effective execution of plans during the pandemic. This had helped Singapore keep a low fatality rate and bring Singapore through the journey from pandemic to endemic. Prof Ang also emphasised on how the leadership of the Singapore government was tested to be agile in learning and adapting to the different push and pull of external and internal threats, and working closely with the community. This had also further strengthened the trust of the people towards the government.

At the end of the session, Dr Lee presented the guests with Good Governance in a Post Covid-19 World – Global Health and Economic Recovery and Giving to China – A guide for Asian Philanthropists. Prof Tao and Prof Luo thanked NTU and NCPA for the warm reception and presented Dr Lee with a token of appreciation.