It is pointless to artificially increase the local students if the underlying employment and research climate are not correspondingly improved in the industry. The local SMEs are often not willing or not encouraged to move up the value chain due to the influx of cheap engineers and technicians from overseas.

For phD graduates striving for academic paths whether in the university or in the research institute, there is an unspoken rule whereby it is known that foreign phD graduates with experiences from overseas are favored compared to local graduates except if the graduate is under some kind of Astar or EDB scholarships. This leads to many local phD graduates striving to go overseas for their postdoc training. The issue is whether these people that have gone overseas are willing or can find an equal footing in singapore to pull them back after their 2-4 yrs of postdoc training? Unless the perception of favoring westerners over local are changed, many practical Singaporeans are not willing to take up a phD. Moreover, compared to only using scholarships to bond people, the government or university should instead focus on helping most of their postgraduates through tie-up, MOUs with partner universities overseas or non-bonded grants and facilitate the opportunities for postdoc work overseas.

(P.S. i am one of those local phD graduates that are trying to go overseas for postdoc)

I think it is in your domain to write something in relation to Temasek II.

This is a personal opinion:

While it is true that it is important to diversify our investment overseas, it is also true and important to look at what happen inside singapore.

From an outsider perspective, Singapore is so rich that it can afford to lose so much at a short span of time. To certain extent, coupled with certain attitude from several high post person, it shows an element of arrogant behaviour in investment.

Now, you and I know what is the story internally. In most biz, at SME and local level, with the exception of vice related biz, things are quite dried up. Yet, those great brain in charge still choose not to acknowledge it.

I think this is a totally wrong approach. It is in my best interest to see more things done properly.