Parliament Sitting on 14 Feb 06: Question for Oral Answer: Assoc Prof Ong Soh Khim: A*STAR PhD Scholars

Question No 366 for Oral Answer

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Associate Prof Ong Soh Khim, Nominated Member of Parliament

Question:
To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what are the respective numbers of A*STAR PhD scholars who will be returning to Singapore in the next 5 years; (b) what are the job options available to these returning PhD scholars; and (c) will the returning PhD scholars be given a choice to pursue an academic career at the local universities.

Answer:
As of December 2005, A*STAR has 122 scholars pursing their PhD studies at NUS and NTU and 66 abroad. They are due for deployment to A*STAR research institutes within the next 5 to 7 years as the length of PhD training varies from 4 to 5 years at least.

PhD scholars will return home to man the research institutes as research scientists and will be working to help upgrade the industrial R&D capability of our manufacturing industries to enhance their competitiveness and strengthen our economy.

When the returned scholars have firmly established themselves at the research institutes, A*STAR may permit outstanding scholars with the passion and aptitude for teaching to take on joint appointments in the local universities to help in the supervision of A*STAR scholars pursing their PhD studies at NUS and NTU.