Attracting Top Talents

The DSTA Scholarship Tea Session is one of the most important events in the scholarship's calendar of activities. Organised annually by DSTA and DSO, the Tea Session seeks to engage potential scholars on their passion and aspirations, so that they are able to make an informed decision on the scholarship.

Held at Raffles City Convention Centre on 7 March, the event was graced by Dr Tan Kim Siew, Permanent Secretary (Defence Development), and Chairman of DSO and DSTA. In his speech, he outlined the importance of the DSTA Scholarship to the Defence Technology Community (DTC) and its contribution to Singapore's future.

Noteworthy Quotes from the Speeches

Sharing their Scholarship Journey

One of the main highlights of the tea session was the presentations by scholars who are currently pursuing their dreams in both DSO and DSTA. Sharing her journey in DSO was Ms Ng Hui Khoon, Senior Member of Technical Staff, from the Emerging Systems Division.

Hui Khoon shares about her experience as a DSTA Scholar and her work at DSO

The theme of her presentation, "What lies ahead of you?" related Hui Khoon's passionate pursuit in Quantum Physics, and how the DSTA Scholarship gave her a unique opportunity to do so in prestigious universities. She provided a preview into her work at DSO and the meaningful application of her knowledge to enhance Singapore's defence capabilities.

The DSTA Scholarship Video

The Q&A Session

Chaired by Mr Quek Gim Pew, DSO's CEO, Mr Soh Kong Pheng, CE, DSTA, and Ms Rosemary Yeo, DSTA's HR director, the Q&A session was abuzz with a wide range of queries from both eager students and parents.

(From left) Mr Quek Gim Pew, Mr Soh Kong Pheng and Ms Rosemary Yeo, fielding questions from parents and students during the Q&A session

More than 20 questions were posed to the panel, ranging from the scholarship's selection criteria to career progression opportunities. Here are some of the interesting questions posed and the witty responses from the panel.

Student: Are the technologies innovated in DSO for offensive or defensive purpose?

Mr Quek: Well, all defence systems serve both purposes, but to clarify further, our ministry is named the Ministry of Defence!

Student: If I prefer to pursue a non-science or engineering degree, are my chances for the DSTA Scholarship reduced?

Mr Soh: No, it is not reduced. Your chances are zero. The DSTA Scholarship is for passionate individuals dedicated to the learning and application of science and technology in defence systems.

Parent: What is the penalty for breaking the scholarship bond?

Mr Soh: If your child's passion is in this field, this is an issue that will not come into mind.

Up Close and Personal

During the tea break, the audience was invited to mingle with scientists and engineers from the DTC. This provided an up close and personal opportunity to better understand the diverse spectrum of work that our scientists and engineers are engaged in, as well as their challenging and rewarding moments. Senior management from both DSO and DSTA were also present to share broader organisational perspectives.

Mr Quek (top left), senior management and staff interacting with parents and students during the tea break

Interesting Facts and Figures

The DSTA Scholarship was previously known as the Defence Technology Training Award (DTTA) since the mid 80s. It was renamed when DSTA was established in 2000. The first DSTA Tea Session was held that very same year.

1. Since 2000, around 500 DSTA Scholarships have been given out. Competition is stiff, with around 800 applications each year. Less than 10 percent of the applicants are awarded.

2. Potential scholars go through three rounds of interviews, depending on their performance during each interview. The last round is personally chaired by either Mr Quek or Mr Soh.

3. It is not just about academic excellence. The panel looks for candidates who display a strong passion for science and engineering. They must also have a keen interest in applying their knowledge to defence applications.

4. About 300 people turn up for the tea session annually. These are the top 30% of students from the junior colleges and increasingly, polytechnics.

5. One of the most popular questions asked during the Q&A session is whether sciences degrees, such as chemistry and biology, are applicable to the DTC.

6. Another popular question asked frequently during the scholarship interviews is on career progression.

7. In DSO, more than 20% of our staff are scholars. DSO runs a merit based system and scholars are not provided with preferential career progression.