The Singapore-Industry Scholarship (SgIS) presents a very attractive proposition for aspiring scholars. It allows you to choose the industry you want to make a mark in and get direct employment from an extensive list of sponsoring organisations.

Apart from the financial support, SgIS scholars will benefit from personal and professional development opportunities via the SgIS Scholars’ Development and Engagement Programme, and network with fellow scholars to widen contacts and exchange ideas.

Cheong Qi Yun and Wu Hao Hsuan are recipients of the SgIS and are in different phases of their scholarship journey.

Qi Yun is currently lending her expertise in the healthcare industry with her sponsoring organisation, National Healthcare Group (NHG). She makes sure that the F&B operational processes are seamless in Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID).

Hao Hsuan, on the other hand, is still studying and after earning his Accountancy and Engineering degree at NUS, he will be working in the electronics industry at Systems on Silicon Manufacturing Co. Pte. Ltd (SSMC).

We caught up with Qi Yun and Hao Hsuan, who shared with us their experience as SgIS scholars and their ambitions with their respective sponsoring organisations.

Qi Yun, you have an interesting background. You are in the healthcare sector, but taking care of F&B operations. How did that come about?

Qi Yun: I was attracted to the healthcare sector as I’ve always wanted to make a positive difference to people and the industry through my skills and aptitude.

And, I have always possessed an inclination towards support services operations, as I feel that support services are like important cogs in the machine that are essential to keep the hospital system running. As a Management Associate (MA) with NHG, I have been assigned to several critical functioning departments, where I had the opportunity to learn and be coached by the respective department leaders. F&B Services stood out to me due to my personal interest in food and its origins.

As for Hao Hsuan, why did you choose to pursue a career in the semiconductor industry?

Hao Hsuan: I feel that the semiconductor industry is booming and filled with exciting opportunities. SSMC is a joint venture between NXP Semiconductors and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which is the world’s largest semiconductor foundry. Therefore, I believe that there would be plenty of opportunities to learn and pick up valuable skills in SSMC.

What made you take up the SgIS over the others that you may have been considering?

Qi Yun: Out of the many other scholarships which were offered, SgIS is the only multi-industry scholarship in partnership with the Singapore Government. The multi-industry scholarship attracted me as I was certain that I will be groomed by leaders with diverse backgrounds who are all contributing to Singapore’s strategic sectors.

Hao Hsuan: I was amazed by the wide range of industries covered by SgIS such as Arts, Aviation, Electronics, Biomedical and Pharmaceuticals, Energy, Natural Resources and so on. There is something for everyone, and for me, I chose Electronics.

In addition, SgIS also provides ample opportunities for scholars to explore and enrich themselves through the SgIS Scholars’ Development and Engagement Programme that comprises internships, dialogue sessions and the Leaders’ Forum.

Speaking of which, did you benefit from the programmes and sponsorship while you were in NUS, Hao Hsuan?

Hao Hsuan: Yes. SgIS provided me with a lump sum overseas exchange allowance to cover some of my expenses during my overseas exchange to South Korea. In addition, there is also a very active SgIS scholars’ network which shares information such as development opportunities and workshops organised by the SgIS team.

How about you, Qi Yun?

Qi Yun: As a scholar with SgIS, I was well-supported by SgIS and used part of the award to fund my overseas student exchange programme. I went to the prestigious Kyoto University in Japan for a six-month exchange. The experience was priceless. It widened my horizons and worldview, and exposed me to intercultural fluency skills. It was a rewarding life experience that has shaped me as a person.

I am also glad that SgIS provided me with a platform to give back to society through the SgIS community involvement programme (CIP) sessions. There was once I was involved in a CIP session to bring special needs adults for an outing. Seeing the joy and laughter from the participants through our interactions, it reaffirmed my beliefs in doing good for society. This was also another reason why I decided to join the healthcare industry.

Evidently, SgIS provides a very holistic experience for its scholars. Qi Yun, you’re now with TTSH and NCID. Tell us more about your role.

Qi Yun: As an Executive, my role covers the administrative and operational areas of the patient meal operations. The patient recovery journey is not purely about direct medical care. Indirect patient care, such as environment and nutrition, is arguably as critical. I support the F&B Services management team in the operational, contractual, and administrative aspects.

I am honoured and proud to be working in an essential section, that is healthcare. I feel immense satisfaction in seeing people come together in a symphony of processes to produce a meaningful outcome, which seeks to improve and heal.

Hao Hsuan, you interned with SSMC. Share with us your experience with your sponsoring organisation.

Hao Hsuan: Being a SgIS scholar with SSMC, I was granted various internship opportunities with the company before graduating from university. Due to my contrasting field of studies in university, I was also given the opportunity to embark on internships with different departments in SSMC, ranging from Finance to Operations. These internships gave me the opportunity to apply what I have learnt in the classroom and helped to prepare me for my future work at SSMC, providing me with valuable experience that gives me a head start over my peers after graduating from university.

Lastly, what would you say to convince someone to consider the SgIS?

Qi Yun: Go for it if you have a keen interest in contributing to strategic sectors in the nation!

Hao Hsuan: There is something for everyone given the large number of industries covered by SgIS. The scholarship also offers plenty of financial benefits and development opportunities to support your university journey, enabling you to get the most out of your university experience. I am glad that I have taken up the scholarship as it provided me with various support through my university journey.