Short Term Immersion Programme at SEAB

The Short-Term Immersion Programme (STIP) is a Whole-Of-Government initiative for public service officers.  It aims to provide experiential opportunities for officers to gain insights to the work of other public agencies, deepen and broaden competencies and professional networks, as well as inject fresh perspectives into officers’ core work and day-to-day work processes.  

SEAB hosted a series of STIP opportunities in 2024, where participating officers were assigned to the Exam Operations Division. Each run of the STIP was for two weeks, during which the officers were exposed to the examination operations, specifically the management of answer scripts. These officers gained first-hand experience and understood the challenges in the management of National Examination operations. Upon completion of their STIP, we took the opportunity to ask some of them about their experience.  

You can also view their interviews on SEAB’s YouTube channel at Short Term Immersion Programme (STIP) @ SEAB. 

Ms Khairunnisa Abdul Khalid | Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura 

I am a member of the Madrasah Policy and Planning Unit of the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), and the unit oversees the planning and policy for the six Madrasahs in Singapore which adopt the dual curriculum. I believe that this immersion is timely as my unit was also embarking on a similar digitisation project. I was looking forward to share with my unit what I have learnt here to elevate the learning process in my organisation. 

The work culture in SEAB exudes positive culture. It was memorable for me to witness a lot of people supporting each other to ensure that the results processing is on time and accurate. Colleagues here are forward-looking and have embarked on new technologies to ensure that the results processing is more efficient. I have gained insights to the digitisation process using cutting edge technology and I am also amazed by the growth mindset that is adopted by the team. 

I am truly excited to bring back what I have learnt in SEAB to MUIS so that my team can also adopt a similar mindset and embrace technology to its fullest. 

Ms Khairunnisa featured on the left in the photo.

Mr Lan Yingjie | Ministry of Education 

I am currently a Special Assistant with the School Operations Policy Branch in Ministry of Education, Headquarters (MOE HQ) whereby we support the operationalisation of broader education policies. Prior to this, I was a teacher in schools and had performed the role of a Presiding Examiner and invigilator for the National Examinations. I chose to do this STIP because I wanted to know more about the processes involved in the running of the National Examinations, especially behind-the-scenes processes after observing examinations in school during challenging times like the COVID-19 period.   

Being involved in the digitisation and processing of papers was a very memorable experience for me. I have come to realise that it is not an easy task to account for all the papers considering the volume of papers that are received from all the schools in Singapore. I observed the coordination and the hard work displayed by the team and was impressed by how the team pulled it off in a very well-polished and clockwork manner.   

I have gained a better understanding of the challenges that SEAB faces as a partner to MOE HQ and the schools. Through this STIP, I am better able to appreciate how SEAB aimed to design and implement processes with stakeholders in mind. In addition, I have gained a deeper understanding of assessment beyond the perspective of a teacher in school. I think SEAB is very forward-looking and innovative and I look forward to seeing these innovations benefitting the schools and students in the future. 

Mr Lan Yingjie featured on the left in the photo.

Mr Sandeep Shetty | Monetary Authority of Singapore  

I am currently performing the role of a Lead Application Delivery Manager (ADM) who oversees the end-to-end delivery of software applications, managing the entire application lifecycle from requirements definition and tender procurement through to build, test, deployment, and maintenance in the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).  

I chose SEAB for my immersion to gain more insights into the conduct and execution of the National Examinations. With my background, I hope I will also be able to provide suggestions to the SEAB team to further improve on their current processes.

I was particularly impressed by the seamless coordination among the members of the SEAB team during the PSLE period. I remembered how officers from various SEAB departments came together, demonstrating exceptional teamwork and dedication. I have learnt the importance of cross-departmental collaboration in handling high-stakes situations. 

The STIP experience provided me with invaluable insights to the intricacies of education administration, particularly in the context of National Examinations. I gained a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of organising such large-scale events. Specifically, I enhanced my skills in: 

• Crisis management: Observing how the team managed unexpected situations had taught me the importance of quick decision-making and adaptability. 

• Stakeholder management: The experience improved my ability to balance the needs of various stakeholders. 

• Project management: The strategies I observed for coordinating large-scale operations can be applied to enhance the efficiency of projects in my department. For example, I plan to implement a similar system of regular, brief check-ins during critical phases in my next project.  

Mr Sandeep Shetty

Ms Lee Huixian | Building and Construction Authority 

I work in the Procurement Policies Department in the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), and my team is responsible for implementing procurement policies for the construction and Facility Management sector. 

The advertisement for this STIP caught my eye because as a Singaporean student who had gone through a few rounds of the National Examinations, I was intrigued and interested to go behind-the-scenes of what happens before and after the National Examinations. 

During this STIP, I had the opportunity to see the end-to-end processes of script management and saw how efficiently and securely the scripts were managed. I was also impressed by the exhibitions in the Heritage Gallery, where I learnt about the evolution of our National Examinations over the past few decades in Singapore. During my short two-week stint in SEAB, I have gained a new-found appreciation for SEAB's efforts in safeguarding the integrity of our National Examinations and accounting for each script. SEAB's devotion in continuously innovating and exploring new ways to enhance the quality of our National Examinations and assessment standards is inspiring. 

Seeing the crucial role that SEAB plays in our education system has reminded me of the broader impact of our work in the public service. This motivates me to continue improving our procurement policies for the benefit of all government agencies. 

Ms Lee Huixian

Suggested Reads

Click on any card below.

Short Term Immersion Programme @ SEAB