DPM Gan Kim Yong at the Singapore Institute of Technology Convocation 2025

Mr Teo Chee Hean, Senior Advisor in the Prime Minister's Office and Chairman of Temasek Holdings
Mr Bill Chang, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at SIT
Professor Chua Kee Chaing, President of SIT
SIT Class of 2025

Good morning to all of you. Thank you for inviting me to celebrate this milestone with you. Today, we honour your hard work, perseverance, and the support of your families and friends who have walked this journey with you. My warmest congratulations to all the graduates!

This is the first of 14 convocation sessions this year. Today's occasion is especially meaningful because we are celebrating the graduation of several pioneer cohorts - namely, Robotics Systems Engineering, Applied Artificial Intelligence, Digital Supply Chain, and Applied Computing. Graduates of these programmes were the first to take a step, and a leap of faith when these new programmes were introduced. You trusted the SIT, you had the courage to take the challenge, and charted your own path. That pioneering spirit has brought you here today, and I hope that it will continue to guide you throughout your lives and your careers.

The road ahead may not be easy - geopolitical contestation, technological disruptions, and shifting supply chains are reshaping industries, businesses and jobs.

But even as the future may be unpredictable, volatile and uncertain, there are new opportunities too. You should take heart that the SIT model - with its focus on real-world projects, industry attachments and problem-solving - will ensure that you are both industry-ready and future-ready.

Take for example, Mohd Syafiq Bin Idros, who is graduating from the Robotics Systems programme today. During his Integrated Work Study Programme at the Sengkang General Hospital, Syafiq was part of the team that introduced Autonomous Mobile Robots into hospital operations. These innovations have not only improved efficiency, but also raised the quality of patient care at the hospital. Syafiq's contributions during his work attachment have enabled him to secure a full-time offer at Sengkang General Hospital, even before graduation. Today, Syafiq is a Senior Executive at the hospital's Strategic Projects Division, and is part of a team managing projects that spearhead initiatives in robotics and automation.

Another example is Chermaine Chan, who is graduating today with a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Computer Engineering. Four years ago, while in her first year in the Electronic and Data Engineering programme, Chermaine discovered she was expecting her first child. After taking a Leave of Absence to focus on her pregnancy, Chermaine returned to SIT and enrolled in Computer Engineering instead, which she felt aligned more closely to where she wanted to take her career. During her Integrated Work Study Programme at JTC Corporation, she worked on digitalisation and predictive maintenance projects. That hands-on experience in applying technology to real-world systems gave her a strong footing to secure her current role with the Ministry of Defence, where she now serves as a Senior Digital and Intelligence Systems Engineer in the Digital and Intelligence Service, contributing to Singapore's national defence capabilities.

Both Syafiq and Chermaine demonstrate how SIT's close partnership with industry empowers its students to gain real-world experience and secure meaningful careers.

While your time in SIT has prepared you well for today's challenges, learning does not stop here. Your graduation today does not mark an end, but the beginning of the next step along a lifelong journey of learning and growing.

David Tan, one of this year's Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering graduates, is a good example. After more than 20 years in the workforce, David decided at the age of 43 to pursue a Bachelor of Engineering in Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering, and graduated with Honours with Distinction back in 2021. Last year, David enrolled in SIT's Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering as a part-time student, making good use of his SkillsFuture credits under the Level-Up Programme. He is now a Senior Project Engineer at the LTA overseeing rail infrastructure projects, and hopes to become a Chartered Engineer one day. David's journey reminds us that lifelong learning is not just about upgrading skills, but also about having a curious mind, a humble heart, and the courage to start a new career. As technology evolves and industries transform, the ability to learn, unlearn and relearn will define how far each one of us will go.

Amidst the headwinds in the global economy, many fresh graduates are understandably anxious about their employment prospects. I hope that you will take heart in the results of the latest SIT 2024 Graduate Employment Survey released earlier this month. About 87% of graduates secured employment within 6 months, and almost 8 in 10 in full-time roles. Overall, more than 92% of SIT graduates found jobs directly relevant to their studies, a testament to the strong industry relevance of SIT's curriculum and its applied learning model.

As chair of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce (SERT), let me also reassure you that the Government, together with our tripartite partners, will work together with educational institutions and employers to strengthen career pathways for all Singaporeans, including our young. To help jobseekers navigate the current uncertainties, we have stepped up our career advisory and guidance services. Last week, we started applications for the Graduate Industry Traineeships (GRIT) and GRIT@Gov programmes. Both these programmes allow fresh graduates to gain industry experience and exposure that will open up new doors for future careers. As Prof Chua mentioned earlier, SIT has also launched the Design Your Futures initiative to help you explore various career opportunities and plan your vocations ahead with agility and with confidence.

As you take your next step, I hope that you continue to keep your minds open and your hearts steady. Your first job may not be your dream job, but every step will help you build experience, sharpen your skills and better prepare for what comes next. Remember Syafiq, Chermaine and David - what made the difference for them was not just their technical skills and training, but their resilience, adaptability and willingness to pioneer. These qualities will matter just as much as the skills that they have. Hold on to that pioneering spirit that led you to SIT in the first place - stay curious, keep learning, and remain open to opportunities that may not look familiar at first. With discipline and drive, I am confident that you will not only secure meaningful careers, but also discover ways to make a difference in your respective workplaces and community, and contribute to Singapore's continued growth and resilience.

Class of 2025, this convocation marks both an achievement and a beginning. You are not only graduates of SIT, you are SITizens - part of a community that believes in learning by doing, and learning for life.

Step forward with confidence; know that you are well-prepared; and that you will never walk alone - your families, your peers, SIT and the Government will always stand behind you.

Congratulations once again, and I wish you every success in the journey ahead.

Thank you.