19 July 2019
Nine of this year’s 93 Public Service Commission (PSC) scholarship recipients are polytechnic graduates. This represents a significant increase in the number of polytechnic graduates being awarded the prestigious PSC scholarship.
In the past two years, only a single scholarship each year went to someone from the polytechnics, while in 2016, only three polytechnic students were awarded the scholarship.
Additionally, the PSC scholarship award recipients this year come from 17 different schools, including three from Singapore’s newest junior college, Eunoia, set up in 2017.
PSC chairman Lee Tzu Yang said that the commission looks beyond “smarts” for qualities like integrity, dedication to service and excellence.
The commission is also looking to use game-based assessment to assess aptitude and personality traits.
Mr Lee said: “By understanding the behaviour of candidates under different circumstances, we will be better able not just to understand individuals but also build teams… And we will continue to look for ways to widen the selection process.”