IPS Update Issue December 2021

The Institute of Policy Studies is pleased to announce that The Ngee Ann Kongsi will donate close to S$3 million to The Ngee Ann Kongsi-IPS Research Fund.

The research fund will support six projects, which includes the new IPS Policy Lab, that will conduct small-scale social experiments such as the IPS Interest-Free Community Lending Experiment. Interest-free loans will be made available to a group of low-income families, who will then be tasked to hold each other accountable to repay the money. The goal is to find out how best to help needy families manage debt and income disparity.

Minister for Home Affairs and Law Mr K Shanmugam witnessed the signing and cheque presentation ceremony held on 7 December 2021. Video recordings of the ceremony can be found here.

Event Summary — IPS-RSIS Conference on Identity
By Jeanne Tan
• 10-min read

Jointly organised by IPS and the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), the IPS-RSIS Conference on Identity aimed to discuss debates on the multiplexity of identity in Singapore and its impact on nation-building, Singaporean identity and solidarity. 

The conference, held on 23 November 2021, featured an opening speech and dialogue with Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong, followed by two panels featuring academics and practitioners on the topics “Identities and Diversity” and “Innovating Engagement”. Video recordings of the conference can be found here.

Event Summary — 10th IPS-Nathan Lecture Series: Lecture II "Great Disruptions: The Struggle for Our Normative Future"
By IPS Public Affairs
• 10-min read

10th S R Nathan Fellow Dr Noeleen Heyzer delivered her second of three IPS-Nathan lectures on 30 November, titled “Great Disruptions: The Struggle for Our Normative Future”. The lecture discussed four great disruptions facing the world — health pandemics, the climate crisis, the cyber world, and unfinished conflicts. She stressed the importance of investing in the nexus of sustainable development, global health and human security as global public goods. 

The Q&A session was moderated by Professor Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and IPS’ Special Adviser. This lecture is part of Dr Heyzer’s three-part lecture series, titled Singapore and Multilateral Governance: Securing Our Future.

Event Summary — 10th IPS-Nathan Lecture Series: Lecture I "Grand Transitions: Our Multilateral Journey"
By IPS Public Affairs
• 12-min read

10th S R Nathan Fellow Dr Noeleen Heyzer delivered her first IPS-Nathan lecture on 16 November, titled “Grand Transitions: Our Multilateral Journey”. The lecture zeroed in on pivotal moments of transition, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. 

The Q&A session was moderated by Mr Ho Kwon Ping, Executive Chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings Limited and IPS’ 1st S R Nathan Fellow. 

Commentary — Understanding Singaporean youths’ parenthood goals
(TODAY)
By Mathew Mathews and Fiona Phoa 
• 5-min read

"In a culture where giving the best for your child is valorised, the young are concerned about whether they have enough money to afford to have children." What are Singaporean youths' goals and concerns with regard to parenthood? IPS' Mathew Mathews and Fiona Phoa write for TODAY.

Commentary — Financing pandemic and climate readiness
(The Business Times)
By Woo Jun Jie 
• 5-min read

At the recent 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), climate finance emerged as a key area of focus. In this piece for The Business Times, IPS' Woo Jun Jie suggests that multilateral organisations and governments across the world should take a leaf out of the G20's book, to close the climate finance gap.

Commentary — Almost one year on, what has livestreaming of Parliament achieved?
(CNA)
By Gillian Koh
• 5-min read

The success of the livestreaming of Parliament is not about how many people tune in but how it strengthens our democracy. Almost one year on, what has it achieved? IPS' Gillian Koh writes for CNA.

Commentary — From liveability to lovability: Can Singapore be endearing?
(The Straits Times)
By Woo Jun Jie and Debbie Loo 
• 4-min read

"Singapore has consistently ranked among the most competitive economies and most liveable cities in the world. However, a city that is liveable may not necessarily be one that is endearing or distinctive as well." How can Singapore make itself more endearing? IPS' Woo Jun Jie and SAA Architects' Debbie Loo write for The Straits Times.

Commentary — Understanding how Singapore’s youth feel about race and religion
(TODAY)
By Teo Kay Key and Shane Pereira 
• 6-min read

"While the results of the TODAY Youth survey show that there are issues to be worked out when it comes to race and religion in Singapore, there is also evidence that youth hold more open views compared to older generations." Perhaps the sensitivity of the younger generation can allow for more nuanced conversations about hotly-debated issues and chart the way forward for our society? IPS' Teo Kay Key and Shane Pereira write more about it on TODAY. 

Commentary — Helping the homeless beyond putting a roof over their heads
(The Straits Times)
By Harry Tan, Francesca Lee and Jenin Teo
• 5-min read

"Housing, whether temporary or permanent, does not always keep people off the streets. Fostering a community where homeless people can feel at home, included and supported does." What more is needed to tackle the homeless problem? IPS' Harry Tan, Francesca Lee and Jenin Teo write for The Straits Times.

Launch of Gender Equality: The Time Has Come

On 16 December 2021, IPS will be launching our 8th S R Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore Ms Corinna Lim’s book, Gender Equality: The Time Has Come. The Guest of Honour is Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law. 

The book, published by World Scientific Publishing, collects Ms Lim’s three IPS-Nathan Lectures from April to May 2021 and includes highlights of her dialogue with the online audience. 

The book launch will be livestreamed on IPS Facebook. You may register for reminders here.

SM Tharman Shanmugaratnam's Visit to IPS

On 2 December 2021, SM Tharman Shanmugaratnam visited us at IPS. The visit began with a presentation by IPS Director Janadas Devan on IPS' progress and activities over the past year. This was followed by an open discussion with IPS' senior researchers, who shared more about their current projects. The event closed with a discussion with Research Associates and Research Assistants on research gaps encountered on the ground, on topics such as precarious work conditions, ethnography and homelessness. 

Good Enough Evidence for Social Good: A Report on the IPS-Tote Board Transforming the Non-Profit Sector Conference

In collaboration with Tote Board, IPS held the inaugural Transforming the Non-Profit Sector Conference in October 2021. Across three panel discussions, non-profit leaders, academics and policymakers considered the question of what counts as “Good Enough Evidence for Social Good”. 

Topics discussed include how to navigate the academic (and often inaccessible) evidence base to inform programme development; choosing the appropriate evaluation approach and right-size programme evaluations; and appreciating how less mainstream approaches to research — arts-based, participatory and design research — can unearth alternative and valuable forms of evidence that conventional approaches are not equipped to.

Full Report on the IPS-NGS-SAM Roundtable on A Year of Living Precariously: Artists on Surviving the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many artists and arts groups to relook at some of their existing practices and adapt to the disruptions that they faced over the year. Although it has created various challenges, the pandemic has also provided many learning lessons for the arts community to help manage similar events in the future as well. In this 12th Roundtable of the IPS-NGS-SAM Spotlight on Cultural Policy Series, jointly organised by IPS, National Gallery Singapore and the Singapore Art Museum, policymakers and artists from various disciplines discussed their experiences working under a pandemic and shared their hopes and aspirations for the future.

IPS Working Paper No. 43 — Living with COVID-19 in Singapore: Attitudes, Challenges and the Way Ahead

This report by IPS’ Mathew Mathews, Syafiq Suhaini, Mike Hou and Fiona Phoa presents findings on Singaporeans’ attitudes on living with COVID-19 as an endemic disease in Singapore. The paper also discusses Singaporeans’ level of satisfaction with the government during the exponential increase in infections in Singapore during that period, as well as how various groups in society have been adjusting to living with COVID-19.

IPS Exchange Series No. 20 — Survey of the Social Service Sector

From October 2017 to December 2018, IPS researchers Justin Lee, Mathew Mathews and Andrew Lim surveyed 107 Social Service Agencies (SSAs) in Singapore to understand their perception of social needs and the organisational support they required. SSAs surveyed identified the greatest needs to be in the areas of the elderly, family and mental health; and indicated fundraising and IT as areas that they needed the most support. The findings also uncovered the SSAs’ perspectives on topics such as research, inter-agency collaboration, data sharing and public consultation for policy decisions. 

Report on the MENDAKI-IPS Policy Dialogue 2021: Gearing the Malay/Muslim Workforce for the Future

On 30 October 2021, the annual MENDAKI-IPS Policy Dialogue was held at the Lifelong Learning Institute, marking the third year of MENDAKI’s collaboration with IPS in hosting the dialogue. This year’s theme was “Gearing the Workforce for the Future”. The speakers and panellists provided their insights on growth sectors and lifelong learning, and discussed reskilling opportunities for the Malay/Muslim workforce to maintain a competitive advantage in the future.