What does the Covid-19 response look like around the world? Keeping local groceries stocked or working at the World Health Organization (WHO) are just some of the roles played by Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) alumni. Seven alumni shared their personal experiences of managing the pandemic on 2 May 2020, during a unique virtual get-together organised by the School’s Alumni Relations Team.
Connecting online during a time of social distancing has its pluses. Alumni across the world could sign into Zoom at 8pm SGT, whether they were in Peru, Switzerland, the USA or Singapore, to join this Physically Distant, Socially Connected – LKYSPP Alumni Virtual Get-Together. Seven speakers shared their insights over video while the chat room function allowed small-group conversations to flourish between the 40-odd participants.
Many of the speakers faced the challenge of working from home, and some said this is almost impossible to do while managing home-based learning for children. In addition, there is the need for a broadband internet connection and computers for every individual, which can be expensive, noted alumnus Johannes Loh (MPP 2010 Exchange), who chaired the panel. He is based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, as Senior Manager (government and public sector advisory) at Ernst & Young and originally suggested the idea of an online alumni meet-up to the Alumni Relations Team.
Speakers included alumna Louise Beehag (MPA 2018), who is Chief Engagement and Operations Officer at the Sydney Policy Lab in Australia. Her role is to build relationships between policymakers and civil society, which is important during an ongoing crisis. She shared that there was “a real sense of community” in her neighbourhood as people felt solidarity with each other and interacted more – though from a safe distance.
While Louise is able to work from home, alumna Zainab Kyari (MPA 2017), heads to work every day at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency in Lagos, crossing five to six police checkpoints which are in place due to the lockdown regulations in Lagos State. Her new role as Chief Officer (personnel and records) includes ensuring that staff identified for enforcement activities have the appropriate passes for movement, which are essential to the continued working of the ports, and handling issues of the Agency’s staff who are stuck abroad due to the border closures.
Alumna Naila Maya Shofia (MPP 2011) said restrictions on gatherings in Italy had more than doubled the workload for educators like her at the Bocconi University in Milan. As a PhD candidate at the Department of Social and Political Sciences, she found the shift of all academic activities into online platform an interesting experiment for the higher education system.
Virtual interactions also form a major part of the day for alumnus Cui Fuqiang (MPM 2015), currently in Geneva, Switzerland, as Technical Officer with the WHO. He is also a professor in the School of Public Health at Peking University. In his personal capacity, he spoke on the importance of research-driven policymaking. Policies must be backed by evidence, as all LKYSPP alumni learn in their time at the school. Information on the virus and its spread has been made available to all countries at the same time but many things are yet unknown in this evolving situation, leading to uncertainty.
Singapore-based alumnus Allen Lai (MPA 2008 & PhD 2013), Regional Director for Medical Affairs and Market Access at Ferring Pharmaceuticals, agreed on the need for constant and clear communication as part of crisis management. Such communication must factor in how different parts of the community get their information, for example, through newspapers or other sources.
[ALUMNI-QUOTES TEXT="The need for clear and reliable messaging from the leadership was underscored by alumni like Minnesota-based Corey Christianson (MPA 2010), who is the owner of KC’s Country Market. His grocery stores serve communities that would otherwise be in a food desert and are coping with disruptions in food supply as workers in meat-processing plants have tested positive. His stores have implemented regular disinfection, mask-wearing and also curbside deliveries for the elderly. He noted that social media makes it easy to spread inaccurate information, enabling rule-breakers.
Alumni on the chat also discussed the long-term implications of the pandemic. There are concerns about economic recovery and the likelihood of migrant work becoming more limited. Alumnus Jaya Jung Mahat (MPP 2016) is based in Kathmandu and the co-founder of the Nepal Institute for Policy Research. He noted that apart from the possibility of fewer overseas jobs for migrant workers, workers might also be reluctant to return to countries where they had negative experiences during pandemic management. Governments would need to focus on capacity training and reskilling for such workers.
Had it not been almost midnight for some alumni and the start of the day for others, the lively online conversation could have continued beyond the scheduled hour. After all, one of the best things about studying at the LKYSPP is getting to meet and learn from change-makers around the world.
The virtual get-together holds out promise for the near future. Travelling seems unlikely, but connections can still be forged and strengthened over distances."][/ALUMNI-QUOTES]