The STEM (Science, Technology & Mathematics) education in Singapore is consistently ranked among the top in the world.Chemistry is a compulsory subject in the science curriculum in the schools in Singapore. In the universities, chemistry is among the most popular majors among students. A typical Level One class for chemistry major in the National University of Singapore (NUS) would have at least 300 students. This is similar in the other university (Nanyang Technological University (NTU)) that offers chemistry major. Upon graduation, these students filter into the job market, notably the manufacturing industries, higher education, and R&D. They are the pillars in supporting the knowledge-based economy (KBE) that thrives on open innovation. They also make up the major research workforce in a country that is highly intensive in R&D.Singapore is at the heart of Asia. In many ways, its education is similar to those in other Asian economies that put a heavy emphasis on S&T education, such as S Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand. and the rest. How does the chemistry education evolve with time? What is special about chemistry education in Singapore and other parts of Asia? What is keeping students in chemistry when there are so many seemingly attractive options they have in subjects such as business, finance, medicine, etc.?In this presentation, the author will answer the questions above and present some notable trends that are shaping the present and future of chemistry in Asia, notably Singapore.

Chemistry education in a knowledge-based economy driven by open innovation

248th National Meeting (2014)

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