Normal (Tech) student turned computer engineering professor among 167 MOE scholarship recipients

SINGAPORE – Computer games like MapleStory and Counter-Strike first sparked 16-year-old Ernest Tan’s curiosity about how computers communicate with each other.

This fascination drove him to persevere through a longer education path as a Normal (Technical) student.

“Academically, I was quite weak. Ironically, my weakest subject was mathematics,” the now 37-year-old assistant professor at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) said.

But he enjoyed what he was studying, he said. “I just wanted to do the best that I could.”

Nearly two decades later, he is now a lecturer in SIT’s infocomm technology cluster, working on research and teaching undergraduates.

Prof Tan, who completed his doctorate in computer engineering at NTU in 2020, said he was not discouraged by the longer journey.

“It’s purely passion,” he said. “If I have to go a longer route to have my education, I’ll just have to take it as part of the journey.”

After completing his N levels at Ang Mo Kio Secondary School in 2004, he pursued a Nitec Communications Technology course at the Institute of Technical Education. He then studied engineering at Singapore Polytechnic and later at NTU.

“Even when I first started university as an undergraduate, I had no idea if I could graduate,” he said.

Prof Tan was one of 21 recipients of the Singapore Teaching and Academic Research Talent Scheme Awards, which support Singaporeans pursuing academic careers at local universities.

The awards, given by the Ministry of Education, will fund recipients’ undergraduate or postgraduate studies at local or overseas institutions before they return to pursue their academic or research careers in Singapore.

Another 146 students received on Aug 1 the MOE Teaching Scholarships and MOE Teaching Award, given to those who have passion for education and teaching.

Recipients of these scholarships and awards will be sponsored for their undergraduate tuition fees and receive a monthly allowance. They will also be given opportunities to develop themselves and hone their leadership skills.

All 167 recipients were recognised at MOE’s scholarship ceremony held at Sands Expo & Convention Centre on Aug 1 – the first time all awardees were brought together under one event. Previously, the ceremonies were held separately.

In a speech at the event, Education Minister Desmond Lee encouraged recipients to explore different experiences, keep learning, and work with others who have fresh perspectives.

Singapore must “innovate from within” to meet learners’ needs, he said, citing initiatives like full subject-based banding to allow students to learn at their own pace and aptitude-based admissions to the universities.

“Seek out paths less explored, talk to people very different from yourselves, and try things you may not naturally be inclined to,” Mr Lee said. “This will let you better understand our learners’ diverse life experiences and starting points, and help realise their potential.”

Educators need to develop their professional capabilities, too, so that Singapore’s education system can respond to changes like artificial intelligence, said Mr Lee.

“MOE will actively support and invest in you throughout your career,” he said, adding that teachers will receive training in foundational skills and mentorship. University academics will get to engage with the public sector and other academic figures on public policy issues, to better understand Singapore’s challenges and opportunities.

Mr Lee said there is also value in working with partners and other professionals.

“They can present novel perspectives to our learners, expose them to the world outside the classroom, and even guide them to think about their future aspirations,” he said.

On being granted his award, Prof Tan credited his mentors and time at A*Star, where he met brilliant minds from academia, industry and government.

Now at SIT, his research focuses on developing smaller, faster AI models that run closer to users rather than relying on slower cloud systems.

He plans to build smart, efficient algorithms for use in industries like manufacturing, transport and healthcare.

“I hope to also use this opportunity to marry my research with teaching because this area is rapidly evolving,” he said.

To encourage students on a similar path, Prof Tan said they should start by identifying what they do not want to do, before they can discover their real interests.

“Everybody’s journey is different,” he said, adding that his focus throughout was simply to do the best he could.

“I really had no idea how far I could push myself.”