Speech by IPS Director Mr Janadas Devan at the Singapore Perspectives 2025 “Community”
Governance of a City-State|Inequality and Social Mobility|Managing Diversities
Speech by IPS Director Mr Janadas Devan at the Singapore Perspectives 2025 “Community”

The theme of Singapore Perspectives 2020, exactly five years ago today (January 20), was “Politics”. We landed on that theme because 2020 was bound to be an election year – like 2025 now. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat gave the opening address and Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing did the concluding […]

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15th IPS-Nathan Lecture Series: Lecture III “Beyond the Ivory Tower: Research and the Dilemmas of Quality and Relevance” by Professor Lily Kong
Governance of a City-State
15th IPS-Nathan Lecture Series: Lecture III “Beyond the Ivory Tower: Research and the Dilemmas of Quality and Relevance” by Professor Lily Kong

Introduction In the final lecture of the 15th IPS-Nathan Lecture Series, Professor Lily Kong, President of Singapore Management University (SMU), began by reminding the audience of key themes from her previous two lectures: the historical evolution of universities in her first lecture and proposed transformative approaches to university education to support learning for a “100-year […]

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The right outcome for Income? Not a merger with Allianz
Governance of a City-State
The right outcome for Income? Not a merger with Allianz

The story of NTUC Income began more than 50 years ago and we do not believe it should end as a merger with German insurer Allianz. NTUC Income is a social enterprise and should continue to perform that role. This is an opportunity to draw upon Income’s enduring mission to tackle the evolving social challenges […]

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15th IPS-Nathan Lecture Series: Lecture II “At the Crossroads: Universities for the 100-Year Life” by Professor Lily Kong
Governance of a City-State
15th IPS-Nathan Lecture Series: Lecture II “At the Crossroads: Universities for the 100-Year Life” by Professor Lily Kong

In her second IPS-Nathan Lecture, Professor Lily Kong revisited the transformative role of universities, challenging the current beliefs and practices in  higher education. She highlighted four critical areas for re-evaluation: the prevailing emphasis on cognitive skills, universities’ response to rapid technological advancement, the importance of  interdisciplinary depth, and the need for  universities to position themselves […]

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Trump’s comeback: Outlook for Singapore and Asean
Governance of a City-State
Trump’s comeback: Outlook for Singapore and Asean

Once every four years, the world holds its breath when the American people go to the polls to elect their president, vice-president, senators, congressmen, governors and other officials. It does so because what happens in America will affect it in one way or another. The 2024 elections were full of drama and unexpected twists and […]

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Commentary: Homeless shelters that feel like home can help keep people off the streets in Singapore
Inequality and Social Mobility
Commentary: Homeless shelters that feel like home can help keep people off the streets in Singapore

SINGAPORE: An older woman preparing to rest for the night at a brightly lit study area of a local university. An elderly man hunched over a hawker centre table, fast asleep in the middle of the night. The idea of homelessness and rough sleeping seems at odds with Singapore’s image as a prosperous, orderly society. […]

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15th IPS-Nathan Lecture Series: Lecture I “Through the Looking Glass: Insights into the Origin and Evolution of Universities” by Professor Lily Kong
Governance of a City-State
15th IPS-Nathan Lecture Series: Lecture I “Through the Looking Glass: Insights into the Origin and Evolution of Universities” by Professor Lily Kong

In her first lecture, Professor Lily Kong, President of Singapore Management University and IPS’ 15th S R Nathan Fellow, reflected on the role and challenges facing modern universities. Titled “Through the Looking Glass: Insights into the Origin and Evolution of Universities”, her lecture explored the historical development of universities and how their evolution illuminates contemporary […]

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Political and governance impact of the case of S Iswaran pending the possibility of an appeal against his sentence
Governance of a City-State
Political and governance impact of the case of S Iswaran pending the possibility of an appeal against his sentence

Three factors that will determine this are citizens’ faith in the legal process, the PAP credibility in upholding its standards of probity, and the continued efficacy of the national integrity system Singapore and its people are defined by . . . . . Former Transport Minister S. Iswaran was sentenced to a year’s jail on […]

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What to make of Asean’s ties with Russia
Governance of a City-State
What to make of Asean’s ties with Russia

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 brought about a paradigm change in Russia’s relations with the United States and with Europe. Today, both the US and Europe view Russia as an aggressor and a threat to peace. Their policy is to isolate and confront Russia. The West finds it hard to understand why Asean […]

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Journalism in the age of AI: Balancing Innovation and Integrity
Governance of a City-State
Journalism in the age of AI: Balancing Innovation and Integrity

We live in a world of high risk and rapid changes, so it’s vital to be well-informed. Will Artificial Intelligence (AI) help or hinder you in your life? Especially in your search for reliable information and explanations that analyse such information and situations that you may encounter? Would it bother you if you found out […]

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Commentary: If we don’t shape the internet, others will

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IPS Commons was launched in 2012. It is a platform to promote and showcase rational discussion of public policy ideas in Singapore, so as to expand the intellectual space and increase the quality of public engagement on national issues. IPS Commons is managed by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), an autonomous think-tank at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore.

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