Singapore Experience

The first semester of the MPA program has been an exciting journey for me. Coming from a developing country, Rwanda, I was humbled but at the same time impressed by the level and standard of course delivery by the lecturers of LKY/SPP, and the manner in which the academic programs, administrative procedures and extra-curricular activities are carried out. 

In particular, the core module on Economics Application in Public Sector changed my perception of economic theories. I am thankful to Prof. Ashish Lall, who was able to cover case studies of different business settings, which helped me acquire a clear methodology on how to interpret and analyze economic information of different countries, industries, private and public businesses. Another highlight of the first semester is that I was able to deepen my understanding of how Public Administration Paradigms can be applied to different government context depending on the social and economic situation, as well as the capacity to implement them.

Focusing on my future career, I also took a module related to infrastructure policy ''Urban Development Policies'' that was offered by Ms Yumin Jo. I was impressed by the brilliance with which she delivered the course. I was able to match urban theories and examples with different world cities and policies that are applied.  In particular, the course was very relevant since living and studying in Singapore, gives one an impression of ‘‘a magic country’’ in terms of housing and transport policies implementation. The successful scheme of providing public housing to 87% of Singapore population gave me an opportunity to witness that if best practices and good governance are pursued, the implementation of a policy is made possible. 

It may not be easy summarize the six months experiences in this blog, and I would like to emphasize that LKY teaching standards enable one to achieve personal, academic and professional transformation goals.

Living and studying in Singapore for the past six months have been enriching and I still have an excitement that I am not able to describe. Soon after arriving in Singapore, I realized that LKY/SPP exceeded my expectations. From the beginning of my course, I felt that I had a double obligation of learning both from scheduled classes and Singapore experience. The set-up of the campus and the delivery of courses is of a very high standard, and I had to work hard to adapt to the new lifestyle. I also had to find strategies and develop a personal plan to cope with the workload of the school. 

I believe that academic development is not a stand-alone process but it can be wholly achieved if all aspects of human development are pursued. From a general perceptive, I am very inspired by the way the lifestyle of Singaporeans reflects a hard working nation. I learn from each encounter and experience both on and off campus. I had opportunities to visit different places, meet and network with diverse people, through the events organized by the school. I feel that there is still so much to see and learn and I look forward to the second semester with more enthusiasm.  

 And the turning point?

Thanks to LKY Scholarship support and the MPA program, I have a renewed vision on my future aspirations both in academic and professional areas. The program is paving my way towards a stronger thinker and critical analyst. I can see myself not only as a knowledgeable woman but as someone who can introduce and sustain effective and efficient policies as well as innovation both in formal and informal settings. 

On personal level, I have experienced a radical and personal transformation that would not have been possible without the support of this prestigious scholarship and I am confident that with the MPA program, I will make an excellent contributor to policy change and improvement. Through the course I have learned that to be a creative and realistic thinker, I must take into account various factors that will help me achieve my goal of growing into an avid public administrator and impart positive change to the society. 

I am grateful to Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy scholarship and I can’t be thankful enough for the prestigious opportunity offered to me to pursue the MPA program. I am determined to carry on the legacy of Lee Kuan Yew so as to achieve the high standards that beneficiaries of the LKY scholarship (or the LKY Alumni) all over the world are known to represent, both during and after completion of my program.

 

 

SPAIN- CAN THE HOUSE RESIST THE STORM