Speech by President Halimah Yacob at the Third Edition of TCS Sustainathon Singapore Finale

Mr. Girish Ramachandran, President of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Asia Pacific,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A very good morning to everyone. I am happy to join you once again this morning at the third edition of TCS Sustainathon Singapore Finals.

Since its inception in 2020, the TCS Sustainathon has not only thrived but also exemplified the values of collaboration, innovation, and sustainable progress. This platform empowers our youth, our future leaders, to envision and actively contribute to a brighter, more sustainable world.

Today, we convene around a theme that resonates deeply with our shared aspirations and global goals – "Empowering Women in STEM." This theme is more than a catchphrase; it embodies a profound commitment to equity and progress. It resonates with the core of Sustainable Development Goal 5, which calls for Gender Equality. The theme underscores our collective dedication to dismantling barriers and creating opportunities for women to not only engage but to flourish in fields that are critical for societal advancement – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

As we envision a sustainable future, we must recognise the pivotal role that STEM education plays in shaping that future. Just as historic technological breakthroughs have shaped our present, the foundation of STEM learning is what will drive the innovations of tomorrow. This foundation is laid in our classrooms, where young minds are nurtured to think critically, creatively, and analytically. These skills aren't confined to textbooks; they empower our youth to find ingenious solutions to the real-world challenges that lie ahead.

It's in the spirit of STEM that Singapore's journey of development has thrived. Our engineers have consistently transformed limitations into opportunities, turning scarcity into abundance. This innovative spirit, rooted in STEM principles, has propelled our small island nation onto the global stage of recognition and respect.

The journey begins with nurturing potential from a tender age. We have purposefully embedded hands-on activities within our curriculum to kindle the flames of curiosity. Our schools are now dynamic hubs of STEM exploration, urging students to tackle real-world problems through innovative thinking. Since 2014, STEM applied learning programs have been instrumental in igniting passions, with partnerships with esteemed institutions like the Science Centre and the NUS Advanced Robotics Centre. Today, it's heartening to note that nearly half of our secondary schools and over one-third of primary schools offer these transformative STEM programs.

Furthermore, the essence of early engagement cannot be understated. Students, brimming with curiosity about the world around them, have avenues like the Science Club and the Code for Fun programme to channel their interests. Our conviction remains strong – through early involvement, we can nurture the spirit of inquiry, creativity, and a drive for positive change.

Ladies and gentlemen, while we celebrate the strides we've made, we must also confront our challenges. Both teams today have effectively pinpointed the persistent challenges, which encompass societal norms, the educational approach towards girls, and the narratives surrounding STEM education and their role within that realm.  Singapore, a beacon of global leadership in education and innovation, is not immune to the gender gap in STEM leadership. Despite comprising 47% of our workforce, women's representation at the management level stands at 42%. Both teams have correctly identified that at the highest levels of STEM leadership, there exists a significant gender disparity. This imbalance is not ideal for Singapore or the world, as talents, creativity and innovation are not gender-specific traits. Therefore, fostering women’s leadership in STEM fields is essential. Despite more women entering STEM, reaching top leadership positions remains a challenging endeavour. This gender disparity is a clarion call for collective action to empower and elevate the role of women in STEM.

Peering into the horizon, we acknowledge our achievements and the road that lies ahead. The impending launch of the Engineering and Tech Programme Scholarship in 2023 signifies a leap forward.

This scholarship, thoughtfully crafted to nurture pre-university students, is not merely an avenue for knowledge transmission; it's a gateway to real-world experiences in engineering and technology. It stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering a resilient and thriving STEM talent pool.

Yet, let us not forget that our individual efforts culminate into collective progress. TCS Sustainathon, characterised by its spirit of innovation, has seamlessly united diverse stakeholders under a singular banner – co-creating solutions for sustainable progress. The theme of "Narrowing the Gender Gap in STEM" for this year holds profound significance, as it underscores our dedication to equal opportunities and empowerment.

On that note, I would also like to acknowledge and commend Tata Consultancy Services for walking the talk and hiring one of the largest pool of women in STEM fields. Over 200,000 women employees globally, more than one third of its global workforce. I think that’s truly commendable.

In closing, let us commemorate the power of STEM education, which empowers young minds to shape a world marked by equity, innovation, and sustainability. Let us harness the dynamic energy of TCS Sustainathon to forge lasting partnerships, architect ingenious solutions, and pave the road to a brighter future. My heartfelt gratitude extends to all those gathered here, united by our shared vision for a more promising tomorrow. Let me congratulate the winners. I heard that the judges had a hard time and the margins between the winning teams were very narrow. To me, everyone here has shown their worth. I want to express my thanks to all the participants for their excellent work. I hope they will continue to translate their ideas into practical solutions for society, creating successful applications that will benefit and empower women in STEM.

Thank you.