Change

Types of Change:1. Social 2. Environment:Climate change3. Economic 4. Medical 5. Political6. Technological advancements

1. Social: Change in education culture:culture of innovation

ViewQwest, a company featured in the paper last week, which is marketing smart devices that allow users to control their home appliances with their voice.

Page Advisor, allows customers to create a tender for a job that merchants can then bid on.

KK Women's and Children's Hospital and Singapore General Hospital have started a trial on a new method to detect gestational diabetes, which is both affordable and can help reduce premature births and obstructed labour

Nanyang Technological University held a lecture via holographic display.

New education paradigm comprises three shifts in attitudes:

go beyond learning for grades to learning for mastery; learn not just in schools but throughout life; and learn not for work but for life.

2. Environment: climate change

Impact of Climate Change on SingaporeSingapore is not insulated from the impact of climate change. From 1972 to 2014, the annual mean temperature has increased from 26.6°C to 27.7°C. The mean sea level in the Straits of Singapore has also increased at the rate of 1.2mm to 1.7mm per year in the period 1975 to 2009. 

Rainfall has become more intense in recent years. According to Singapore's Second National Climate Change Study, there has been a general uptrend in annual average rainfall from 2192mm in 1980 to 2727mm in 2014. 

In 2001, the first recorded cyclone near the equator, Typhoon Vamei, swept north of Singapore and caused major flooding in the region. It is uncertain whether such tropical cyclones near the equator will occur more frequently in the future.

How Can Climate Change Affect Singapore?

Sea level rise

As a low-lying island, the rise in sea level poses the most immediate threat to Singapore. Much of our nation lies only 15 m above the mean sea level, with about 30% of our island being less than 5 m above the mean sea level.

Water resources

An increase in the intensity of weather variability could present significant challenges to the management of our water resources. Periods of drought can affect the reliability of Singapore's water supply, while sudden episodes of intense rainfall could overwhelm our drainage system and lead to flash floods.

Biodiversity and greenery

A mean temperature increase of 1.5°C to 2.5°C could affect the natural diversity of Singapore's plants and animals at risk, as this alters our ecosystem’s natural processes such as soil formation, nutrient storage and pollution absorption. 

Effect on public health

Singapore is situated in a region where vector-borne diseases are endemic. Most cases of vector-borne diseases like dengue are observed during warmer periods of the year. In addition, frequent and severe instances of warm weather may lead to more occurrences of heat stress and discomfort among the elderly and sick.

Urban heat island effect

Urban areas tend to be warmer due to the replacement of natural land cover with buildings and other infrastructure that retain or produce heat. Higher annual temperatures can also lead to heat stress as well as greater use of air-conditioning, increasing Singapore’s energy demands. This in turn results in higher domestic carbon emissions.

Food security

The effects of climate change, such as intense storms, flooding and prolonged droughts, are one of the trends threatening global food security. In Singapore, we are particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in global food supply and prices, as we import more than 90% of our food. A small increase in global temperature can cause changes in weather patterns that will disrupt crops grown in other countries, and eventually our food supply.

3. restructuring of economy

Singapore Budget 2016:

Over the past five years, our economic restructuring journey has focused on raising productivity to achieve quality growth.-tightened the inflow of foreign workers-invested significantly in broad-based measures such as the Productivity and Innovation Credit (or PIC)-introduced the Transition Support Package1 to help firms adjust to economic restructuring and rising business costs

1 The Transition Support Package consists of the Wage Credit Scheme, the PIC Bonus and the Corporate Income Tax (CIT) Rebate.

Effectiveness:-More firms are engaging in productivity efforts. For instance, a survey has shown that around 9 in 10 of our SMEs embarked on productivity initiatives2 in 2015-The net inflow of foreign workers has slowed significantly from nearly 80,000 in 2011 to less than 23,000 in 20153

Continued Support from Transition Support Package and Public Infrastructure ProjectsThe first source of support for firms comes from existing measures and public spending, including public infrastructure projects. This year, total spending is expected to be $5.0 billion (7.3%) higher than in FY2015. The increases are mainly in healthcare, education, security and urban development.

The Transition Support Package that was introduced in FY2013 will also continue to support our firms in raising productivity. In particular, this month, firms will receive a total of $1.9 billion for qualifying wage increases given under the Wage Credit Scheme12, the largest payout to date.

Enhancing Corporate Income Tax RebateSecond, to help companies, especially SMEs, through raising the existing Corporate Income Tax (CIT) Rebate, from 30% of tax payable to 50% of tax payable, with a cap of $20,000 rebate each year for YAs 2016 and 2017. The last time we had this 50% rebate was in YA 200114.

Extending Special Employment CreditOur third measure to support companies is the Special Employment Credit (or SEC). The SEC is due to expire this year. I will modify and extend the SECfor three years, to the end of 2019, to provide employers with a wage offset for workers aged 55 and above earning up to $4,000 a month15.

Employers with Singaporean workers aged 65 and above will continue to receive a wage offset of up to 8%. This is in addition to the wage offset of 3% for the re-employment of workers aged 65 and above till the re-employment age is raised in 2017.

The SEC will be up to 5% for workers aged 60 to 64 and up to 3% for those aged 55 to 59.

2 The percentage of SMEs taking steps to raise their productivity rose from 83% in 2013 to around 90% in 2014 and 2015, according to the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI)’s annual SME Survey. In particular, the proportion of micro SMEs (below $1m turnover) embarking on a productivity drive rose from 80% in 2013 to 86% in 2014 and 92% in 2015

3  MOM Labour Market Report 2015. Total Foreign Workers excluding Foreign Domestic Workers

SME Loan AssistanceB.32. The fourth measure will support viable SMEs that may have cash flow concerns or wish to continue growing their business. We will introduce an SME Working Capital Loan scheme, for loans of up to $300,000 per SME. Under this scheme, the government will co-share 50% of the default risk of such loans with participating financial institutions, to encourage lending to our SMEs.

Enhancement to Revitalisation of Shops Scheme Fifth, we will help our heartland shops to be more vibrant, as these shops give our neighbourhoods a sense of community. MND will enhance the Revitalisation of Shops package, to better support promotional activities and upgrading projects in HDB town centres and neighbourhood centres.

SPRING will also work with the Federation of Merchants’ Associations and local merchant associations to strengthen their capabilities to support heartland businesses.

New Industry Transformation Programme -This builds on our efforts under the Quality Growth Programme, which was introduced in Budget 2013 to achieve inclusive growth driven by innovation and higher productivity.

The Food Manufacturing sector is a good example of how such an approach can succeed:

a. Individually, our Singapore food companies have put in place many innovations. Some, such as Tan Seng Kee, have used technology to develop a whole range of products which stay fresh for longer. This enabled Tan Seng Kee to be the first company in Singapore to export fresh noodles that can be easily

prepared with its special sauce mixes in flavours such as Laksa and Curry Mee. Others, such as Foodgnostic, have transformed their business models to enhance business growth through internationalisation and food exports.

b. As an industry, our food manufacturers built on their innovations and Singapore’s trusted reputation for high quality and safe food to jointly create the “Tasty Singapore” brand. Using this brand, they are internationalising and selling to China, India, the Middle East, and even Africa. They are now expanding through e-commerce, using websites such as Tmall.com.

c. The food industry integrated their efforts. The combined novelty and quality of their individual products allowed them to stand out as a group. The sharing of common facilities gave them economies of scale. And building the Singapore brand together won them global recognition. In turn, their success creates a virtuous cycle of investments.

d. Our food industry has also been investing in their people. These include 280 management associates and interns who they see as future leaders.

e. There have been strong partnerships across firms, as well as between firms and the Singapore Food Manufacturing Association (SFMA), the Food Innovation Resource Centre in Singapore Polytechnic16 and various Government agencies17.

Deepening Innovation CapabilitiesProcter and Gamble Singapore Innovation Centre (SgIC)

Procter and Gamble (P&G) has worked with A*STAR and EDB to set up the Singapore Innovation Centre (SgIC). It is one of P&G’s major innovation centres, focusing on research and product development for its global business units in Home Care, Healthcare, Grooming and Skin Care. The SgIC will be a key open innovation hub to accelerate and facilitate collaborations between P&G and partners in Asia, including Singapore enterprises.

4. changes in healthcare provision by the government

Healthcare 2020 (Issue 1 July-August 2012): Improving Accessibility, Quality & Affordability

Its introduction is timely, given the evolving healthcare landscape. Over the years, the life expectancy of Singaporeans has gone up, while the premature mortality rate, such as among Singaporeans aged 35 to 64 suffering from heart disease, has fallen from 76.2 per 100,000 in 2001 to 49.9 in 2010.

The ageing population will be a strong driver for healthcare demand. With more elderly requiring care for longer periods, pressure on our hospital resources will increase as the population continues to age.

However, beyond just building more institutions or more infrastructural development,

the situation calls for new models of care to be developed. Effective chronic disease management and sustainable intermediate and long-term care and support frameworks are needed. They will help to reduce subsequent complications, which would not only add to the load on our healthcare system, but are also costly to treat.

Making care seamless

One strategy being adopted to better integrate care across different settings is re-organising our healthcare system into Regional Health Systems (RHS). Each RHS will comprise an acute general hospital working closely with community hospitals, nursing homes, home care and day rehab providers, as well as polyclinics and private General Practitioners (GPs) within the geographical region.

The aim? Seamless, hassle-free and holistic care for patients across different stages of their healthcare journey – from diagnosis and treatment, to postdischarge follow-up. Such integration will also help patients navigate across providers more easily, enabling and empowering them to manage their own care needs. The Eastern Health Alliance, launched in November last year and comprising Changi General Hospital, SingHealth Polyclinics, St. Andrew‟s Community Hospital and The Salvation Army Peacehaven Nursing Home, is the first of such multiparty collaborations.

Emphasis on primary care

As Singapore’s population ages and the prevalence of chronic diseases increases, the Ministry is also looking into team-based care disease management models that tap into valuable existing resources within the community. These include:

• Working with GPs to set up Family Medicine Clinics (FMC) to provide team-based care for patients;

• Setting up Community Health Centres to support GPs and provide allied health services for their patients;

• Developing Medical Centres to provide community-based services for patients who require day surgery and less complex outpatient specialist services; and

• Providing portable subsidies to patients under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) so that they can enjoy subsidised services at private GPs and FMCs.

With this, the Ministry envisions that more patients will be able to receive affordable, accessible and quality care within the community.

Wider safety net for Singaporeans

The package of measures rolled out as part of Healthcare 2020 collectively provides for more affordable primary and long-term care for Singaporeans.

To start with, the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS), which was previously known as the Primary Care Partnership Scheme, now comes with a more relaxed qualifying criteria. The minimum age to qualify has been lowered from 65 to 40, while the per capita household income criterion has been increased from $800 to $1,500 per month.

With these changes, more Singaporeans will be eligible to seek treatment at CHAS-registered GPs and dental clinics within their neighbourhoods. (More details on CHAS in the subsequent story)

In addition, to support the care of frail elderly at home, households with a per capita monthly household income of up to $2,200, and which employ a Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) to look after an elderly family member who cannot perform 3 or more activities of daily living or has severe dementia, can apply for a monthly grant of $120 to defray the cost of employing the FDW. This is on top of the monthly levy concession of $95.

Also in an effort to make intermediate and long-term care more affordable, patients staying in subsidised wards in community hospitals will qualify for enhanced subsidies, with middle-income households receiving between 20 to 50% subsidy, and lower-income patients receiving up to 75%.

Up to two-thirds of households will also qualify for subsidies for home-based, community-based, and nursing home care for their frail elders. Where previously eligibility was based on per capita family income, the means-test criteria will now be based on per capita household income. The income ceiling for eligibility will also be raised from $1,400 to $2,200 per capita per month.

Taken together, the Government will spend $250 million annually, or about $60 million more on the care of the elderly. This represents an increase of about 30% more subsidies being given out per year, benefiting 30% more elderly, served by around 100 healthcare and eldercare providers. This includes community hospitals, nursing homes, day rehabilitation and day care centres, as well as home-based services like home medical, home nursing or home-help. Overall Government spending on Intermediate Long-Term Care (ILTC) subsidies is expected to more than double by 2016.

Insurance scheme covers more

Also seeing a significant change is Singapore’s national health insurance scheme, MediShield. The maximum age of coverage will increase from 85 to 90. The Ministry is also studying the feasibility of expanding the scope of the scheme.

Policyholders will see a one-time Medisave top-up of between $50 and $400. Older policyholders will also receive direct and long-term assistance under the GST Voucher Scheme, which will include annual Medisave top-ups of between $150 and $450. These regular top-ups can help policyholders with their MediShield premium payments.

More drugs to be subsidised

To make commonly used medications more affordable, the Government provides drug subsidies. The list of subsidised medications, known as the Standard Drug List (SDL), contains drugs that have been assessed to be cost-effective and essential. The price of most SDL drugs is capped at $1.40 per week for subsidised patients in public healthcare facilities. Other drugs are subsidised at 50% of the retail price.

In a move to further enhance the affordability of medication, the subsidy for higher cost drugs on the SDL used in the treatment of chronic conditions has been raised from 50% to 75%, for patients with a monthly per capita household income of up to

$1,500. In addition, with the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF), Singaporeans who need selected expensive drugs that are not on the SDL, receive up to 75% subsidy, also up from 50% previously. MAF has also been expanded to include additional non-standard drugs, assessed to be clinically necessary for patients.

Twenty new drugs have been added to the SDL and MAF this year, including Olanzapine and Quetiapine for the treatment of bipolar disorders, as well as the antibiotic Co-amoxiclav, better known as Augmentin.

Powering Up the Intermediate & Long-Term Care Sector

By 2020, manpower needs in the Intermediate and Long-Term Care (ILTC) sector, will grow by about four times, from the current 4,000 to about 15,000. Singapore will need more healthcare staff across all levels, from nurses, therapists, medical social workers to healthcare support workers.

The Government will invest in building up the capacity and capability of the ILTC sector, including its ability to attract and retain staff. For a start, up to $32 million will be channelled into manpower initiatives such as pay enhancements for the healthcare professionals in the sector and enhanced staffing for community hospitals and nursing homes in FY2012. These initiatives are expected to support the sector in attracting and retaining more quality staff.

ILTC institutions will also benefit from the training funds set aside for their staff to enhance their skills. Funding of up to $11 million over the next five years will be provided to send staff in the ILTC sector for advanced skills training, so as to further deepen ILTC-specific skills and expertise. Another $10 million will go towards continuing training in the form of short courses, to build up basic competencies in areas such as dementia and palliative care.

To boost productivity, the Government will invest $96 million over the next five years, to support initiatives such as job and process redesign and to leverage on IT to enhance efficiency.

Bringing Affordable Healthcare to The Community

Since 15 Jan 2012, more Singaporeans have been able to enjoy the ease and convenience of visiting their family doctor and dentist – while still paying subsidised rates. That’s because the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS), which was formerly known as the Primary Care Partnership Scheme, now comes with new qualifying criteria.

Previously, only Singaporeans aged 65 and older and with a per capita monthly household income of $800 or less were eligible. Now those aged 40 and over, and living in a household with a per capita monthly household income of not more than $1,500 will be eligible for subsidised care. For households with no income, they will be eligible for the scheme if the Annual Value of their residence is less than $13,000 which covers most HDB flats. Those eligible for the scheme can enjoy up to $480 in subsidies for the chronic conditions at participating private GPs and dental clinics, depending on their subsidy tier.

With the more encompassing qualifying criteria, the Health Ministry hopes to bring affordable primary healthcare closer to the community. Better access to subsidised care means Singaporeans can better manage their chronic diseases, and avoid

unnecessary complications. Early detection and management will also enable Singaporeans to manage their healthcare expenditure over the long term, since timely treatment will reduce the likelihood of chronic illnesses becoming more severe and costly to treat.

However, enhancing CHAS is just the first step. To truly enable more Singaporeans to receive quality and subsidised patient care closer to home, their family doctors have to come on board the CHAS network. Family physicians operate within the community, and are the patient’s first point of contact. They are strategically placed to better monitor and manage their patient’s medical condition, before it escalates or develops complications.

With more GPs joining the CHAS network, the Ministry’s vision of affordable community-based healthcare will become a reality for more Singaporeans. Staying with their family doctors, will also mean more will benefit from the vision of having ‘One Family Physician for Every Singaporean.

5. change in political system

http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/pm-lee-hsien-loong-proposes-changes-to-ncmp-grc-and-elected-presidency-schemes-8-things

"My aim is to strengthen our system to make it more open and contestable, and to

keep it accountable to the people," he said when he joined the motion to give thanks

to the President's Address at the opening of the new session of Parliament.

He said the system must be one where all political parties, especially the ruling

People's Action Party, have to fight hard, stay lean and responsive to people, and

win the right to govern at each election.

It must also be a system where Parliament will always be the place to debate and

decide important policies where alternative views always have a place, where the

opposition will never be shut out, and the Government will be held to account.

This is so "the government of the day - whoever that may be - is always kept on its

toes", he said.

He also announced important tweaks to the Constitution he intends to make:

1. CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION TO STUDY CHANGES TO ELECTED PRESIDENCY (EP)

The President will remain an elected office, said Mr Lee. If the President is not

elected, he will lack the mandate to wield his custodial powers.

But some aspects of the system introduced in 1991 need to be reviewed and

updated.

A Constitutional Commission will be appointed to study changes to the Elected

Presidency (EP) system. Chaired by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, it is expected

to submit its recommendations by the third quarter of this year. The Government will

table the necessary legislation within this year.

The Commission will look into three areas: reviewing the qualifying criteria of EP

candidates, ensuring minorities have a chance to be elected president and building

up the Council of Presidential Advisers.

2. EP CANDIDATES' QUALIFYING CRITERIA TO BE REVIEWED

To qualify for the presidential election, candidates have to show that they have the high-level competence and experience required for the position.

For example, he must be a minister or a top-ranking official in the civil service, chairman or chief executive officer of a statutory board or the CEO of a company with a paid-up capital of at least $100 million, among other conditions.

While the principle behind the qualifying criteria for presidential hopefuls remains valid, it needs to be brought up to date, said PM Lee.

He cited the example of how candidates are required to possess the experience of running a company with a paid-up capital of at least $100 million. Based on inflation alone, that amount in 1990 would be equivalent to $158 million today.

The number of companies with a paid-up capital of at least $100 million has also jumped from 1,200 in 2010 to more than 2,100 now.

At the same time, many changes have taken place since 1991 when the EP system was introduced.

The economy has grown, government spending and reserves have increased, and the size and complexity of organisations subject to the "second key" of the President have increased many fold, Mr Lee said.

Hence, there is a need to review the criteria.

3. MAKING SURE MINORITIES HAVE A CHANCE TO BE ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT

A mechanism similar to the group representation constituency (GRC) scheme in a general election should be considered, Mr Lee said.

This is to ensure that minorities can be "periodically" elected if a member of a particular minority has not been President for some time.

He noted that Singapore has not had a Malay President since the Elected Presidency system was introduced in 1991.

4. BUILD UP COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTIAL ADVISERS (CPA)

The CPA assists and advises the President in exercising his powers so that the system does not rely on the judgment of a single person.

While the President has to consult the CPA on decisions on supply Bills or key appointments in the public sector, that is not required in other areas where the President exercises custodial powers.

The commission will study whether the views of the CPA should be given more weight.

5. MORE OPPOSITION MPS

Opposition MPs (from left) Low Thia Khiang, Pritam Singh, Faisal Manap, Chen Show Mao and Sylvia Lim on Nomination Day. PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER FILEThe minimum number of opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), including Non-Constituency MPs, will go up to 12 - from the current nine - from the next general election.

Given that at least 30 per cent of voters vote against the Government in any election, Mr Lee said it was reasonable to ensure a minimum of 12 opposition MPs, including NCMPs, in a 100-member House.

6. MORE POWERS FOR NCMPS

New NCMPs Dennis Tan (far right) and Leon Perera (third from right) posing for a photo with constituency MPs. PHOTO: ST FILEThe Constitution will be amended to give NCMPs the same voting rights as elected MPs.

The NCMP scheme, introduced in 1984, awards seats in Parliament to the best-performing losing opposition candidates at a general election.

Under the current Constitution, NCMPs can debate in Parliament and are allowed to vote on all issues except on:

* Constitutional changes;

* Supply and money Bills;

* Votes of no confidence in the Government;

* Removing a President from office

Allowing the NCMPs to also vote on the above would mean that they will be "equal in powers" - though not in responsibility and scope - to MPs. With this change, there will be no reason at all to perceive NCMPs as "second-class", he said.

There are currently six elected opposition MPs from the Workers' Party (WP) and two NCMPs - Mr Leon Perera and Mr Dennis Tan from WP. Ms Lee Li Lian from WP has turned down the third NCMP seat offered.

7. NOMINATED MPS WILL STAY

Mr Lee said the NMP scheme, introduced in 1990, will continue so as to bring into Parliament diverse voices from the civil society.

Together with the NCMPs, there will be at least 21 non-ruling MPs in the House.

8. FURTHER REDUCE THE SIZE OF GRCS, AND HAVE MORE SMCS

The next General Election will see smaller GRCs on average and more SMCs.

There are currently 16 GRCs and 13 SMCs.

The GRC system, introduced in 1988, has been good, and should be kept, said Mr Lee. But he stressed the need to strike the right balance between the number of big GRCs and small GRCs, and the number of GRCs and SMCs.

There are pluses and minuses both ways, he said.

Bigger GRCs benefit from having an anchor minister taking care of issues and from the better economies of scale in programmes and activities that take place across the entire constituency.

But smaller GRCs foster a closer connection between the MPs and residents. SMCs also give the MP direct responsibility for everything that happens in the constituency.

6. technological advancements

Education

1.http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/more-schools-tap-tech-tools-for-learning

From mobile applications that support self-directed learning to analytics for tracking

students' progress, more schools here are tapping technology to aid students in their

learning and prepare them for the future workplace.

Nearly a decade ago in 2007, the Ministry of Education (MOE) named five pioneering

"schools of the future" under its Future Schools project. These schools, picked as

test beds for the use of educational technology, are, according to the MOE,

"trailblazers" in engaging in information and communications technology (ICT)

projects.

In later years, another three schools joined the initiative.

The MOE has since observed that more schools - beyond the eight schools selected

for the programme - have experimented with technology for learning and teaching.

But it did not reveal the number of schools that do so.

Educators told The Straits Times that students, being digital natives, are more

involved when technology is used in their learning. The technological tools also allow

teachers to track their students' understanding of concepts taught in class.

"Many of our students are comfortable with the use of technology even from an early

age," said Dr Victor Lim, deputy director of technologies for learning at the MOE.

"Technology can be used not just to increase students' engagement, but also to help

them learn better."

He added that the tools help students to achieve "future-ready" competencies, such

as thinking critically as well as communicating and collaborating with others.

The efforts by schools to tap technology are supported through the eduLab

programme, where expertise and funding support are provided. The initiative by the

MOE and the National Institute of Education, supported by the National Research

Foundation, is tasked with developing ICT innovations that can be adopted by

schools here.

Tech ‘a tool – teachers make the difference’

At Jurong West Secondary School, students use an online annotation tool to analyse

visual text – such as in advertisements – for subjects such as English. They then

make sense of the links between the visuals and the text, and express their points of

view.

These different interpretations, which can be viewed in real time by their peers, allow

students to engage in discussions and reach a common understanding.

The tool is one of the latest introduced by eduLab and may be rolled out in more

schools.

Jurong West principal Michael Muhunthan said technology helps shorten the duration

needed to conduct certain lessons.

"It is not just about using the latest cutting-edge technology for the sake of using it. It

is the students and their learning that is at the heart of this."

Since the Future Schools initiative was introduced, the schools under it have tried out

a range of innovations in their classes. They include Beacon Primary School, Nan

Chiau Primary School and Ngee Ann Secondary School.

At Nan Chiau Primary, mobile technology is used to help pupils learn concepts taught

in subjects such as English and science.

For instance, pupils can record their observations of phenomena taught in their

science classes with text, video, pictures or audio recordings, and then compare the

differences.

The project has since been adopted by nine other schools.

Ms Jenny Lee, Nan Chiau Primary's subject head of ICT for science, said that prior to

using technology in the classrooms, pupils had difficulty drawing links between

concepts and everyday life. "They tend to memorise scientific concepts without

understanding them."

Meanwhile, Ngee Ann Secondary has developed a Web-based program that

promotes students' critical reading skills. The program was piloted in a Secondary 3

class last year and will be adopted across the level this year.

Students will read materials on the Web-based platform and then consider the text's

purpose and points of view, among other things.

Madam Muneira Daud, the school's head of department for English, said a teacher in

a typical classroom can only address a number of concerns. "Technology buys us

time and space, and is another means of communication."

But experts such as Dr Lim noted that technology merely aids teachers in delivering

their lessons and does not replace them.

As part of their professional development, the teachers have gone through training

and mentoring sessions to help them tap technology for teaching and learning.

"Technology is just a tool," Dr Lim said. "It is the educators who make the difference."

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/tech-in-schools-out-by-year-2065

The year is 2065. In schools - if they even exist at all - interactive "smartboards"

replace the conventional whiteboard, and mobile devices take the place of textbooks.

Robots substitute for teachers, and deliver lectures and supervise students' work in

the classrooms.

The conventional and enduring sage-on-the-stage model of education - where

students face the front of the class and passively receive instruction from teachers -

no longer persists. Instead, the students are seated in clusters and plugged into their

mobile devices, while their teachers become guides on the side, facilitating

discussions rather than telling them what to do.

These developments may become commonplace in future schools.

Institutions around the world are reinventing themselves - most of them tapping on

technology -but even then, uncertainty is often the buzzword when it comes to what

schools here might be like in 50 years.

Some experts predict that the bulk of schools, as people know them now, might not

even exist in the next half century.

A robot teacher named "Xiaomei" guiding a class during a demonstration at a

Jiujiang University class in the Chinese province of Jiangxi earlier this month. The

robot, made by a team led by a teacher, is able to narrate the teaching materials and

respond to voice orders such as "repeat" and "continue". In Japan, a robot is being

used as a substitute in short-staffed smaller schools.

It is hard to imagine, since schools have endured the test of time largely unchanged.

In the 19th century, for instance, students packed a classroom and listened passively

to a teacher at the front of the class. In 2015, some 200 years later, most students

still do almost the same thing, but with the inclusion of learning aids such as

PowerPoint slides and gadgets such as tablets.

The conventional way of teaching in a classroom has worked well for learners before

the dawn of digital technology. Back in the day, when books were not readily

available, the best way to acquire knowledge was through a teacher, who would read

to the masses and share his insights.

This model continued and, only decades ago, was extended to include tutorials and

workshops.

But today, students, who are mostly digital natives, learn differently. Armed with

smartphones, many search for answers on Google before approaching their

teachers.

Students now learn "better" from the Internet, from their peers and from hands-on

projects.

American educationalist and author Marc Prensky, who coined the term "digital

native", explained that people are in a "new world full of imagination, creativity and

innovation and digital wisdom", but are only at the ground floor.

Already, signs of change are unfolding in various degrees in different parts of the

world in remaking the traditional classroom.

Perhaps the most progressive, and radical, shift is the idea of the "flipped classroom"

- which reverses the traditional teaching arrangement by delivering instructions, often

online, outside of the classroom, leaving classroom time for deeper learning activities

such as homework and discussions with peers.

The concept, where students go through lectures and course content at their own

pace - via videos or recorded PowerPoint presentations - ensures they are better

prepared even before class.

Flipped-classroom learning is not new, having been around for about a decade, but is

increasingly popular, especially with universities globally. Educators took notice when

two high school chemistry teachers in the United States recorded PowerPoint

presentations of their lectures and uploaded them online for students who missed

their classes.

The presentations were well-received, and the concept has since gained a following

in US schools, where those that have adopted the approach saw fewer disciplinary

cases and higher test scores among students.

Singapore's universities, such as the National University of Singapore and Nanyang

Technological University, are among those that have embraced the idea of flipped-

classroom learning.

Increasingly, institutions around the world are tapping on technology to enhance

learning.

In countries such as Japan, robots have become substitutes for teachers.

Saya, a female humanoid robot, was initially created to work as a receptionist in local

companies but is now used in smaller schools which lack human teachers.

With brown hair and pink lipstick, "she" closely resembles a human, and is able to

express emotions such as fear and anger through programmed actions and is

capable of ordering students to be quiet.

Researchers in countries such as the United States and Australia are looking at

incorporating augmented reality into lessons.

History students, for instance, may soon be able to experience a historical moment

recreated without stepping out of the classroom.

Medical students are using a virtual knife to remove layers of tissue in a 3D

visualisation of the human body, and trainee dentists are practising with dummies

installed with tactile feedback technology, which allows learning via trial and error.

In three years' time, students at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, for

example, may be able to dissect 3D holographic cadavers in what would be the first

medical school in the world to use virtual-reality simulation on a full scale.

And in future, students could also take "smart drugs" - which have long been the stuff

of fantasy - in the morning to help with memorisation or last-minute cram sessions

before their exams.

Futurist expert Neil Selwyn, professor of education at Monash University in Australia,

noted that these drugs will, without doubt, change the way people think. But he

added that things said about the next 50 years are merely speculations and "must be

taken with a huge pinch of salt".

Technology has taken over many of a school's functions, such as explanation and

feedback, so much so that bringing children together and having them sit in a box for

hours may no longer be necessary.

Prominent artificial intelligence researchers such as Roger Schank and David

Gelernter have predicted the demise of schools.

And with the rise of massive open online courses (Mooc), schools are less relevant

and may even become obsolete. Mooc allow individuals who are not enrolled in a

school to take short courses at their own pace via the Internet.

The courses may range from demanding topics such as computer science to light-

hearted ones such as the music of the Beatles.Elite universities around the world,

including the University of Oxford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,

have been offering such courses on online learning platforms like Coursera and edX.

But the extinction of schools may well defeat the purpose of education. Schools

occupy children and young adults with tasks where they develop extra skills not

found at home, such as the ability to think on their feet and how to socialise with

others.

Schools play another vital economic role. For a few hours each day, they assume the

role of caregivers - providing a safe place for the children so that their parents can go

to work.

At a time when countries are cutting back on their education budgets, shifting

education online in its entirety sounds attractive, but this may not work as online

learning is still new territory, and yet unproven.

Until there is a better alternative, schools will continue to exist, but probably not in

their current form.

2. HealthcareEg Building of Biopolis (biomedical R&D facility)In our hospitals, robotic technology is used in the pharmacy to pick medication accurately and quickly. This frees up time for pharmacy staff to provide advice on medication. Autonomous transporters are used to move supplies efficiently in the hospital. Our hospitals are also trying power-assisted bed transport technologies to reduce the manual effort in moving patients. All these technologies can improve efficiency and transform the healthcare industry.

EFFORTS TO DRIVE INNOVATION IN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMSilver Community Test-Bed Programme

Launched by the Ministry of Community, Youth & Sports (MCYS), the Silver Community Test Bed Programme offers a platform for companies, public agencies and educational institutions to test-bed age-friendly assistive devices and products in a real-life home setting. MCYS had provided up to S$3 million as seed funding to facilitate the test-bed process for the 1st and 2nd grant calls in 2008 and 2009. The first two calls provided a chance for participating seniors to experience state-of-the-art technology, such as personal care robot to a touch-screen communication device and a wireless health monitoring system.

In July 2010, MCYS launched the third grant call for proposals and HWPO supported the grant call with the objective of supporting companies with proposals to develop innovative and affordable solutions that enable seniors to live and remain in the community, across the health and social care continuum. The grant call saw various

SMEs getting sufficient start up grants to work with clinicians to develop and test-bed products catered to the needs of the elder population.

National Grand Challenge

Singapore’s Health Promotion Board (HPB) has launched the inaugural National Grand Challenge in 2010. Supported by HWPO, this sought for proposals from companies to develop new solutions to prevent and control obesity and pre-diabetes. This grant call saw companies, both MNCs and SMEs, working together with partners in Singapore’s public-sector healthcare system to develop and test-bed innovative technologies and business models to address the key national challenges.

Establishment of the Super-platforms

HWPO has also established “Superplatforms” within 2 of the healthcare clusters, Alexandra Health Pte Ltd, and Eastern Health Alliance, in order to drive the development of innovative healthcare solutions. The superplatforms comprise of a dedicated innovation team, and dedicated open infrastructure within the entire continuum of care to prototype and test-bed new solutions. The dedicated team serves to help companies navigate within their respective regional health systems and identify the most relevant patient populations to work with, and drives the co-development and test-bedding of the innovative and comprehensive healthcare solutions across the entire continuum of care, together with industry partners.

The Eastern Health Alliance opened its Centre for Innovation (CFI), together with Changi Simulation Institute, on 23 November 2012. The CFI is intended to be an innovation incubator for healthcare delivery, and has a dedicated Innovation team which will be in charge of fostering an ‘innovation culture’ within the EHA, and facilitating people coming together to develop innovative ideas, and for the ideas to be nurtured, take root and be implemented. More importantly, they will act as the bridge between clinicians and industry partners, by bringing in the industry partners with the capabilities to collaborate and develop complete solutions comprising technologies, services and business models for the prevention, and management of diseases and chronic health conditions.

PARTNERING SINGAPORE IN HEALTHCARE INNOVATION

Companies have leveraged the multiple initiatives and have used Singapore successfully as the “living lab” to co-develop and test-bed new products and business models for Asia. Examples of companies are as follow:

Hill-Rom: Driving Innovation for Asia Pacific in SingaporeHill-Rom has established its Asia-Pacific Innovation Centre in Singapore to focus on applied development in micro-electronics, embedded software and electro-mechanical systems, all of which are integral to the development of new Hill-Rom beds and therapy surfaces. The centre is the base for Hil-Rom to develop R&D projects for global applications for Hill-Rom products.

In 2010, Hill-Rom launched the Patient Support Development Center in Singapore. This centre has collaborated with hospitals in Singapore, and in Asia to develop new

products for the region. Hill-Rom also launched a Respiratory Care Development Center that will identify and develop innovative global respiratory care products in Singapore.

Hocoma AG: Developing Applications for Medical RoboticsHocoma AG - a Swiss medical technology company, a leader in robotic rehabilitation therapy for neurological movement disorders - announced its partnership with Singapore’s Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) Rehabilitation Centre to develop and optimise clinical and equipment applications in 2010. TTSH Rehabilitation Centre is also the Training Centre for Hocoma in Asia Pacific.

Since its inception, TTSH became the first hospital in Asia Pacific to adopt the latest version of the LokomatPro, a robot-assisted walking therapy device. The LokomatPro was incorporated in 2011 at TTSH’s Centre for Advanced Rehabilitation Therapeutics (CART), the first regional centre dedicated in offering robotics and virtual reality programs alongside conventional rehabilitation therapies to help maximise patients’ rehabilitation outcomes.

Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) Rehabilitation Centre and Hocoma AG have renewed their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will chart new territories for both organisations on the use of innovative rehabilitation technologies in Asia Pacific.

A*STAR-Tekes: Developing Online Health Monitoring PlatformIn January 2010, Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, announced the first bilateral Joint Call for Proposals (JCP) in areas including healthcare, wellness and ageing. The JCP is part of the 2nd Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by both parties to promote R&D and scientific collaboration.

This follows the success of projects under the first MOU, which included the development of an online health monitoring platform that can remotely track the sleep activity of elderly patients. This platform has been successfully tested at a Singapore nursing home, allowing caregivers to monitor and advise their patients from anywhere in the world as long as they have an internet connection.

As an advanced urbanised, and rapidly ageing nation in Asia with healthcare excellence, Singapore presents a sophisticated “living lab” that companies can leverage to fast-track their innovation process to develop future solutions that can address Asia’s fast-growing healthcare needs.

https://vulcanpost.com/23281/singapore-healthcare-technology/

The Healthcare IT Master Plan takes into account the various concerns surrounding healthcare in Singapore. This includes the ageing population and elderly who are living alone. As part of the Master Plan, data analytics, tele-health and a national health record repository will be used to help patients self-manage certain conditions, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong in a Channel NewsAsia report. He was giving a speech at the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS)

AsiaPac14 – Digital Healthcare Week, which showcases the latest in healthcare technology.

These IT efforts will make healthcare more affordable and accessible for Singaporeans, while providing more relevant and targeted healthcare. The first initiative, tele-health, caters to mainly the elderly who are living apart from their family. With tele-health, the patient’s vitals and health status can be monitored accordingly, and where necessary, prompt intervention can be made.

Minister Gan Kim Yong gave the scenario of stroke patients as an example. As the first few months after a stroke are crucial to the patient’s recovery, “Tele-rehabilitation allows stroke patients to perform rehabilitative exercises or physiotherapy in the comfort of their own homes,” said the Minister. This is especially useful for patients who are unable to attend regular supervised rehabilitation due to various factors such as financial constraints as tele-health is a more affordable means of rehabilitation.

There is a growing need to coordinate the technological services in the healthcare system. The National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) attempts to integrate medical records across hospitals so information can be shared among clinicians when necessary. It has been implemented in 280 healthcare institutions, reaching out to approximately 14,000 clinicians.The Minister added that future capabilities could include image sharing, care and case management to help realise Singapore’s healthcare vision of ‘One Patient, One Health Record’.

Technology is intertwined with healthcare. With the aid of technologies, healthcare would be able to reach greater heights and blaze new frontiers in Singapore. A recent example of another technology advancement within the healthcare system can be seen at Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s (TTSH) pharmacy. Before, pharmacy staff would manually prepare the medication to be dispensed. This conscientious effort takes time and could result in human error. However, with the Outpatient Pharmacy Automation System (OPAS) at the hospital’s outpatient pharmacy, this error is kept to a minimum.

The system, according to Channel NewsAsia, reads e-prescriptions while simultaneously picking and packing the medication. The S$5.4 million OPAS utilises robotic armatures to pack medication at a faster pace with added accuracy. These arms “pick and store medication” at an accuracy rate of 99.9%. This has significantly reduced the number of times medication has to be repacked, from 30% in 2011, to 5% at present.

Minister Gan Kim Yong reinforced that technology has provided opportunities for “healthcare institutions to give better care and create a more personalised, accurate and efficient healthcare system”.

https://vulcanpost.com/18682/book-medical-appointments-app/

The Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and National Cancer Centre have rolled out an app for their specialist outpatient clinics. The process would require less time because bookings can be made by the polyclinic staff immediately without having to filter to the call centre. 9 polyclinics are currently involved in the new app with this appointment-making system which lets polyclinic staff access and book the appointments directly. In the past, polyclinic staff had to call up hospitals to book a slot on the patient’s behalf- a process which could take up to 30 minutes. The patient’s waiting time has now been reduced to 5 mins with the new system in place.

3. General

http://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/industry-40-and-singapore-manufacturing

In the not-too-distant future, different car models will be manufactured on a single,

flexible production line "manned" by smarter, nimbler, autonomous robots that

collaborate with humans and each other. Car parts will be able to recognise each

other.

Car components, meanwhile, make their own way down the assembly line and are

re-ordered when needed, maximising just-in-time logistics. Once on the road, the car

itself communicates performance data to systems at the plant, which analyse it with

data from other sources to optimise the design of future models. Individual

components, too, communicate with relevant systems - to signal impending failure,

for example, and request a replacement to be sent straight to the repair facility.

This is Industry 4.0 at work, where integrated computing, networking and physical

processes are revolutionising manufacturing. This Fourth Industrial Revolution

headlined many discussions at the World Economic Forum's annual conference in

Davos last month for both the threats and opportunities it presents.

Speaking on the opening day, Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg

said: "While we have major issues that we need to address in terms of jobs that are

being destroyed, we also have the possibility of job creation that is even larger… The

answer needs to be the triumph of hope over fear."

Done well, the impact of Industry 4.0 can be tremendous. For example, the Boston

Consulting Group's research shows that, in the next five to 10 years, Industry 4.0

could boost productivity in Germany's manufacturing sector by €90 billion (S$141

billion) to €150 billion, contribute 1 per cent per year to gross domestic product and

create up to 390,000 jobs.

As Singapore's manufacturing sector continues to face unprecedented challenges

amid global economic headwinds, the time is ripe for a holistic revamp of its

manufacturing sector to reap the full benefits of Industry 4.0, while proactively

managing the challenges and dislocations created by this historic transition.

THE NEED FOR CHANGE

Manufacturing accounts for about a fifth of Singapore's GDP and more than 400,000

jobs. But even as it is expected to remain a significant component of the economy,

regional competition and domestic restructuring have put the sector under

considerable pressure. Manufacturing activity contracted for the sixth straight month

in December amid a decline in new orders and production output, exacerbating an

ongoing decline of manufacturing here.

Constraints, especially on the labour front, are biting. Singapore faces high costs,

stagnant productivity and an ageing workforce in a slowing global economy. And it's

likely to get tougher for manufacturers to survive in a "business as usual" mode.

Enter Industry 4.0, with technology that is ready to go the distance in addressing

these constraints and opening up new opportunities for innovation. In fact, some

companies are already drawing on the nine technological advances that power the

Industry 4.0 approach: autonomous robots, big data and analytics, augmented

reality, additive manufacturing, the Industrial Internet of Things, horizontal and

vertical system integration, simulation, the Cloud, and cyber security.

GlaxoSmithKline's manufacturing plant in Tuas uses "continuous manufacturing",

gathering and analysing data, and making corrections through the production cycle,

allowing for drugs to be produced more cheaply and with less impact on the

environment.

Additive manufacturing, used to produce small batches of customised products, is at

work at South-east Asia's largest commercial 3D printing facility in Singapore,

recently opened by Ultra Clean Asia Pacific. It targets the aerospace, dental and

medical sectors with its ability to create product prototypes and 3D engineering

services.

What Industry 4.0 does is take these developments to the next level by connecting

multiple devices and machines at every step of the process, from raw material to

end-user. This would allow for an unprecedented level of integration between

information, communication and manufacturing systems, as demonstrated by the car

industry.

The technology and tools that enable Industry 4.0 are already becoming more

sophisticated. European manufacturer Kuka offers robots that automatically adjust

their actions to fit the next unfinished product. Siemens, meanwhile, has developed a

machine that can simulate the machining of parts, reducing time taken for the actual

process by as much as 80 per cent.

PERFORMANCE, NOT PRODUCTS

Singapore has much to gain from embracing this revolution.

First and foremost, it can leverage on the technologies to create premium products

and services that would fit in with its desire to become an innovation- driven

economy. In this new model, Singapore would sell engine capacity, not engines; tyre

performance, not just tyres.

Combining the most cutting-edge Industry 4.0 technologies and a sophisticated

consumer base of diverse races and nationalities would also put Singapore in an

ideal position to become a test bed for Asia. This would drive its competitiveness as

a research and development hub, and favourably impact inbound investments to

bolster the economy.

Industry 4.0 also addresses Singapore's worsening workforce crunch as automation

reduces the need for low-skilled labourers doing routine tasks.

For manufacturers, especially SMEs, this enhances cost predictability and reduces

operational variability. In tandem, new higher-skilled jobs in machine programming,

data analysis and network maintenance will be created, reinforcing Singapore's

SkillsFuture initiatives to drive lifelong education and learning.

TAKE DECISIVE ACTION NOW

In Singapore, Industry 4.0 would build on the strides the nation has already taken as

part of its Smart Nation initiative to incorporate smart technology into the everyday

lives of Singaporeans.

The next step would be for the Government to scale up the information and

communications technology infrastructure dramatically to ensure that it is fast, secure

and reliable enough to support the hundreds of billions of industrial devices that will

connect to the global Industrial Internet of Things, consistent with the objectives of

Infocomm Media 2025.

Companies need to deeply understand Industry 4.0, its implications for their

businesses, and be ready to adopt and leverage on the technologies to their

advantage. To have meaningful impact, companies have to develop new applications

that are relevant to their customers and profitable to bring to market, as well as invest

to build up the necessary capabilities in the longer term to apply these technologies

in their businesses.

At the industry level, workers must acquire the skills for new, value-creating roles.

The education system will also have to shape perceptions about rewarding careers in

manufacturing among the young, and start planning now for a future-ready

workforce.

Singapore needs to intensify systematic private- and public-sector partnerships to

support innovation and bring technological breakthroughs to fruition. It would help

connect the dots, forming collaborative networks between companies and innovators,

and transform legacy industries while cultivating new ones.

Ultimately, Industry 4.0 will allow Singapore to draw on the endless possibilities

offered by advances in information and communication technology.

While the shift towards Industry 4.0 may take 20 years to reach fruition, key

advances are expected to be established in the next five to 10 years; the time to

leapfrog to the forefront is now.