A*STAR

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A*STAR (PhD scholars): 10.

Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim asked 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 five years; (b) what are the job options available to these returning PhD scholars;

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and (c) will the returning PhD scholars be given a choice to pursue an academic career at the local universities.

The Second Minister for Trade and Industry (Dr Vivian Balakrishnan) (for the Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Speaker, as of December 2005, A STAR has 122 scholars pursuing their PhDs locally and 66 pursuing them abroad. They are due for deployment to A STAR research institutes within the next five to seven years as the length of PhD training varies between four and five years at the minimum.

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 in order to enhance their competitiveness and to strengthen our economy.

When the returned scholars have firmly established themselves within their 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 subsequent batches of A STAR scholars who are pursuing their PhD studies locally.

Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim: On these returning scholars who will come back to help to man the research institutes, I would like to know how many would be expected to be performing administrative and management type of jobs in these institutes

as compared to performing research jobs in this institute?

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: Mr Speaker, Sir, the objective of the scholarships is to generate a cohort capable of performing high-level cutting-edge research. Having said that, as these outstanding individuals' career progresses, some may need to perform administrative and other leadership roles, but this is something

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which is after the fact and is not the primary objective of this scheme.