Composition and Expertise of Steering Committee for Singapore College of Islamic Studies

Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim asked the Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs (a) what is the technical, professional and operational expertise contributed by non-Muslim members serving on the committee of the Singapore College of Islamic Studies; and (b) how do their roles support the College's governance, institutional development and administrative effectiveness, while complementing the Islamic studies mission of the College.

Sir, the Board of Governors and the Steering Committee of the Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS) play important roles in developing and guiding SCIS to nurture future generations of asatizah who are not only strong in Islamic knowledge and values, but also able to support the community in addressing contemporary challenges, including in areas such as marriage, family and employment. Therefore, we must ensure that our asatizah are equipped with a range of relevant skills and knowledge, such as the social sciences, in addition to knowledge in Islamic studies, to enable them to carry out their role effectively in our multiracial and multi-religious Singapore.

The shared commitment to the mission of SCIS and the diversity present in these committees are therefore valuable. The non-Muslim members make up less than half of the Board of Governors and Steering Committee, and are appointed for their diverse expertise and experience in working with the Muslim community. They include professionals and experts in areas such as leading Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs), the social sciences and professional development, which contribute to SCIS' interdisciplinary approach. Other members with legal, financial and governance expertise also support SCIS' corporate development and long-term sustainability.

This wide range of expertise supports and complements the SCIS' mission of providing high quality Islamic studies, which remains guided by qualified Muslim scholars and religious experts. Matters of faith and religious scholarship continue to be led by the Mufti and are supported by renowned Islamic scholars in the SCIS Advisory Panel as well as through partnerships with foreign Islamic institutions.

All Board members undergo a structured induction programme, which includes briefings on the mission, vision and values, and objectives of the College. They also engage regularly with Muslim religious and community leaders as well as madrasah leaders and students to understand how the SCIS can best serve the community. For example, at the recent SCIS symposium on 27 January, Board members had the opportunity to interact with madrasah students to understand their hopes and aspirations.

Speaker, I thank the Acting Minister for his response and assurance that a structured induction programme will be designed and has already begun at the recent symposium. I have two supplementary questions – one on pipeline talent development for the leaders as well as on partnership opportunities. And Speaker, with your permission, I will ask the questions in Malay.

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I thank the Acting Minister for providing an overview on the induction arrangements for the Board of Governors and the Steering Committee that will lead this college.

I believe that for every newly established institution, it is important that succession planning begins as early as possible or be even prioritised.

My first question is, what are the methods or pathways that will be outlined to ensure that there will be more capable people who can continue serving, whether on the Board of Governors, the Panel of Advisors or the Steering Committee? While the right skills are essential for leading an institution, it is also important to understand the context in which the institution exists and the objectives that we want to fulfil.

Secondly, for those interested in joining this national effort, what are some ways in which the public, or those who are keen, can participate in shaping the future of this college together?

Finally, will the Panel of Advisors be further expanded to also ensure that we benefit from regional perspectives, whether from Southeast Asia or even Asia?

Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. If you do not mind, may I answer in Malay?

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Sir, our Islamic College is a welcome development and it also demonstrates our progress as a multiracial nation.

I have been fortunate to meet with many organisations, including those from academic institutions in Islamic countries, such as Jordan, Morocco and Egypt, and I have had the chance to also speak with my colleagues from the Religious Council of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore (MABIMS), as well as the asatizah in Singapore. They view this College as having tremendous potential, not only for the development of an institution, but as a new institution with a fresh approach, which is multidisciplinary. It also has a focus where Islamic learning and teaching serve as a subject, and it generally serves as a platform for us to further understand Singapore's context for our asatizah and also our students.

There is also the social science aspect, which provides us with the opportunity to see how learning and teaching can be designed to benefit students and also future asatizah, and to think of Islamic learning as an education that provides benefits, not only in terms of approaching Islam as a subject, but in our lives as well, especially in the context of a plural and multiracial society.

So they see this as an opportunity for them to participate, to learn in this process. And I am pleased because when I see that they are not only enthusiastic, but also see this as a good foundation and a journey that is relevant to the current times.

Therefore, we will continue this effort so that everyone participates – and as I mentioned in my response, we still have experts, especially in aspects of Islam led by our Mufti, where we have established asatizah, such as Ustaz Pasuni Maulan, Ustazah Dr Rohana and others, as well as capable experts in university development, curriculum development, and so forth. So, this is an opportunity for us to continue this effort.

Furthermore, if we look at it, we have many other platforms besides the Committee that we mentioned earlier, where we still want to approach various professionals, including those who are Muslim, where they can play a role as resource panels, as well as those who can share their experiences, and most importantly, see this as a journey to fulfil the aspirations of our community.

So, even as I speak in Parliament now, my colleagues continue to approach various segments of our community.

Hence, this is an achievement of our community within a multiracial Singapore, because we have helped build our country for over 60 years and we have developed a successful Muslim community. We will not stop, and we will continue this effort to provide benefits and a better life for them, especially for our asatizah.

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Thank you, Minister, for the reply. Mr Speaker, I have three additional questions. First, how many students does the Singapore College of Islamic Studies expect to admit each year? Second, what are the planned career pathways for the graduates of this college? And third, will this college have a dedicated professional development and career support unit for the students?

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Sir, I thank Mr Fadli.

Firstly, we will provide opportunities to our madrasah students. We are planning perhaps for more than 50 students and we will expand this further.

In terms of careers, as I mentioned, it will be much broader compared to what we can see today. Not just broad, we want to develop an ecosystem that equips our asatizah with competencies, where even though they can work in social organisations or jobs related to social work, we want them to obtain the highest competencies. In Singapore, we have institutions that conduct and pursue fields of study, and provide good career development for our citizens, and we do not want our asatizah, as well as those who are studying in a similar field, to be left behind. This is a good opportunity for us.

Thirdly, careers or the learning process in Singapore, does not end once certificates are obtained. We want them to deepen and develop their experience. Therefore, we will conduct programmes that develop their careers year after year. Most importantly, in my opinion, is how we can establish research platforms so that we can develop a foundation that builds knowledge in Islamic studies, various aspects of Islam, as well as life in a multiracial context.

I have approached many asatizah and representatives or ministers of religious matters. They state that although there is diversity in our lives today, that same diversity may bring about negative aspects. However, when they look at Singapore, our diversity brings goodness and gives us strength to continue with our development. Therefore, this is an opportunity for our community to show how we can live as a multiracial society and continue to progress within Singapore's context.

Hence, this is a good opportunity and I hope everyone, not just from our community, but our country, will develop this institution, because its success will bring benefits and continue to contribute to Singapore's success.

Thank you, Speaker, and I thank the Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs for his leadership in engaging the ground and people that we serve closely and also, the commitment for the leadership committee of the College to do the same.

I have one more supplementary question, which talks on the strength of the diversity, which the Acting Minister has mentioned and also, outreach and engagement plans. What are some of the outreach and engagement plans that the College has in mind, or its leadership, to better engage the wider Singaporean community to understand the potential of its impact, locally and in the region? Especially, as the Acting Minister has highlighted, this is an opportunity that is encouraged by our neighbours so that we find the strength in our diversity and celebrate this new institution.

The second point to that is, what are some of the plans for the College to be working closely with other IHLs, so, varsities or its peers, to ensure a seamless ecosystem of further education?

I thank the Member for the supplementary question. She raised very important questions that relate to how we want to engage not only the Muslim community here and the Muslim world, but I think also, the universities, as well as academics around us.

As I shared in my answer to the supplementary questions in Malay earlier, I am very encouraged by the responses that I have gotten – not only locally, but also from the rest of the Muslim world. When I engage the members of the Advisory Panel, they shared with me that this is something that they have been looking for, but no country has done it and in fact, their countries have different context from ours.

Increasingly, they see diversity may not have been handled well across the world, but Singapore has done it well. When news came out that Singapore was seriously looking at it, they saw how it developed. They saw the potential and they want to be part of it. In fact, it is something that I am encouraged. I also met my colleagues from MABIMS during my recent meeting. They shared the same sentiment – something unique, something that Singapore is in a better place to do, and that is something we want to shape together.

I want to assure Members that we want to shape it together with the Muslim community here as well, including the bigger Singapore society. Because this is for Singapore, for our Muslim community, especially our students – madrasah students – and our future asatizah. Because they also aspire to play a part in the development of Singapore.

I will also look into how we want to engage the various professionals that can play a part. We will be looking at how they can even play advisory roles in some of the efforts that we plan, even some aspects of curriculum development and partnerships.

So, this is a long haul, a journey that we take on together. I want each and everyone, especially those from the Muslim community to help us to develop this and to look at it as a process. For today, is a milestone for us to bring the Muslim community forward and to be part of nation building here in Singapore.