Source: Government of Singapore
Singapore, 17 May 2025 – The National Environment Agency (NEA) has awarded scholarships to six students under the NEA-Industry Scholarship Programme for the Environmental Services (ES) industry. At a ceremony today, Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, emphasised the industry’s indispensable role in providing essential environmental and public hygiene services to the nation. Introduced in 2020, the NEA-Industry Scholarship programme forms part of ongoing industry transformation efforts to attract talent, create quality jobs, and improve job prospects in the ES Industry.
Fourth cycle of NEA-Industry Scholarship
2 Since 2020, the programme has awarded 26 scholarships. NEA received 60 applications in this fourth cycle and through a rigorous selection process, six[1] deserving individuals received scholarships. They will take on job roles such as Data Analysts, Environmental Services Specialists, Field Application Engineers, IT Solution Coordinators, and Robotics Research Analysts with sponsoring organisations Chye Thiam Maintenance Pte Ltd, Hong Ye Group Pte Ltd, Metabots Pte Ltd, and LS 2 Services Pte Ltd upon graduation.
3 Amongst the recipients is 18-year-old Ms Ng Jing Yi Kellyn, a Year 2 student at ITE College Central who is currently pursuing a Higher Nitec in Mechatronics Engineering. Kellyn recognises that the work in cleaning, pest management and waste management is crucial in ensuring a clean, and safe environment. Matters relating to landfill utilisation are particularly concerning to her, and she understands that every action counts towards reducing the amount of waste that is generated. Kellyn will be joining Hong Ye Group Pte Ltd, a company which offers tailored cleaning and facility management services, as an IT Solutions Coordinator. She looks forward to making an impact on the environment and public health and is excited to learn the ropes to optimise IT infrastructure and ensure smooth operations during her career.
4 Another scholar is 20-year-old Ms Chan Xi Cecilia, a Year 3 student studying Big Data and Analytics at Temasek Polytechnic, who believes in the transformative power of data in enabling better business decisions. Cecilia is looking forward to contributing to the ES industry as a Robotic Research Analyst with Metabots Pte Ltd, where she will analyse large volumes of data generated by the company’s cleaning robots to enhance robot performance. She will also conduct research to improve robotics through data analysis, machine learning, and new algorithm development. She hopes to apply her knowledge in data analytics which will help front line workers perform their jobs with greater ease.
5 The NEA-Industry Scholarship programme continues to receive strong industry support from industry partners. LS 2 Services Pte Ltd, a home-grown company offering integrated environmental services and returning sponsoring organisation, has hired four scholars across three cycles of the programme. LS 2’s scholars are from Temasek Polytechnic, which is home to Singapore’s pioneering Enviro Tech Innovation Hub (ETIH@TP). Ms Tan Wei Ying, COO of LS 2 Services said, “The scholars are environmental champions who apply intelligent, interoperable solutions to enhance productivity and address manpower challenges. It is important that we continue to groom tech-savvy talents to lead industry innovation.” LS 2’s scholars will have the opportunity to gain real-world experience through direct involvement in ETIH projects. This development pathway prepares them to drive the future of ES.
6 The NEA-Industry Scholarship is an initiative under the ES Industry Transformation Map (ITM), and a key programme in attracting young talent to the ES industry to build a skilled and resilient workforce[2]. The ES industry plays a pivotal role in providing essential services that upholds Singapore’s cleanliness and environmental sustainability. The collective effort of all stakeholders is key to upholding high standards of public cleanliness and safeguarding the environment for tomorrow.
[2] More information on the NEA-Industry Scholarship Awards can be found here.
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Annex A
Profiles of scholarship recipients
|
Name (age),
|
School (Course) |
Company sponsor (Sector) |
Background / profile |
| Kaeden Ang Xuan Wen (18) |
ITE College West (Nitec in Mechatronics and Robotics) |
Metabots Pte Ltd
(Cleaning)
|
- Kaeden is a hands-on person and has a natural affinity for practical, applied engineering. He technical interests span PLC programming, pneumatics, and robotics coding.
- His interest in hands-on activities and practical applied engineering led him to participate in a friendly robotics soccer drone competition between the 3 ITE colleges, and his team eventually clinched first place in the competition.
- He is also people-oriented in nature and makes it a point to express care for the unsung workers who work behind the scenes, such as the cleaners who labour tirelessly. He hopes to be a positive influence and to bring an impact to the lives of these cleaners in due time.
- Kaeden also plays his part to recycle right, minimise food waste, and conserve energy usage. He believes that every household has a civic responsibility to keep their residential estates clean.
|
| Ng Jing Yi Kellyn (18) |
ITE College Central (H. Nitec in Mechatronics Engineering) |
Hong Ye Group Pte Ltd
(Cleaning)
|
- Kellyn is a bubbly and dynamic individual who aims to inject fresh ideas to solve existing problems in the Environmental Services Industry.
- She is particularly concerned about landfill management and plastic pollution. She believes that effective waste management is key to solving many of the world’s environmental challenges, and she wants to be a part of the solution.
- A true environmental champion, Kellyn regularly encourages her community to recycle right by washing single use plastic cups and bottles before disposing this into the recycling bin. She had previously participated in a school-based plastics recycling drive and in existing initiatives to repurpose plastic bottles, to reduce single-use plastic consumption and promote sustainable alternatives.
- Kellyn has a strong passion to help the elderly workers in the cleaning sector and recognises that their work is physically taxing. She feels that technology would play a key role to streamline their workflows, and to direct their efforts to high human traffic spaces that may require the most attention. She believes that technology would play a key role in making their work easier.
- Kellyn chose a career in the Environmental Services Industry as she recognises that the work in cleaning, pest management and waste management is crucial in ensuring a clean, and safe environment. She looks forward to making an impact on the environment and public health and is excited to learn the ropes to optimise IT infrastructure and ensure smooth operations during her career.
|
| Chan Xi Cecilia (20) |
Temasek Polytechnic (Diploma in Big Data & Analytics) |
Metabots Pte Ltd
(Cleaning)
|
- Cecilia is a passionate Big Data Analytics student at Temasek Polytechnic who sees the transformative potential of data in enabling better business decisions. She aspires to apply her data analytics competencies and improve data driven decision making processes.
- Over the years, Cecilia has gained experience in data analytics through volunteering experiences, where she monitored the web traffic data for a website, examined the data, and generated insights to retain public interest on the webpage.
- Cecilia applied for the NEA-Industry Scholarship programme to fast track her career in an industry that aligns with her passion to care for both the planet as well as the Environmental Services workforce. She recognises that there is more to the Environmental Services Industry than what most people see. She hopes to apply her knowledge in data analytics to help cleaning robots perform optimally, and to consequently help front line workers perform their jobs with greater ease.
- Looking ahead, Cecilia is excited to apply her knowledge in machine learning or predictive modelling in a real-world setting, and to see how data analytics could transform the Environmental Services Industry.
|
| Eugenia Heng Yu See (18) |
Temasek Polytechnic (Diploma in Big Data & Analytics) |
LS 2 Services Pte Ltd
(Cleaning)
|
- Eugenia has a deep appreciation for the work of front-line Environmental Services workforce. She recognises that many cleaners work tirelessly to ensure our living spaces remain clean, and hopes to make their work easier through data analytics and cleaning technology.
- She feels strongly about recycling and hopes to use her data analytics capabilities to find more efficient ways to monitor, manage and reduce the amount of waste that goes to the landfill, to contribute to attaining Singapore’s Zero Waste goals.
- Her commitment to environmental stewardship is demonstrated through her active participation in beach clean-ups, where she witnessed firsthand the impact of improper waste disposal on marine ecosystems. This experience strengthened her resolve to contribute to the Environmental Services industry.
- Looking ahead, she aims to work with large datasets, identifying trends and extracting actionable insights from cleaning data to ensure better data-driven decision making. Her goal is to optimise operations while supporting the workforce, demonstrating her unique combination of technical expertise and social consciousness.
|
| Tan Yi Kai, Jonathan (18) |
Ngee Ann Polytechnic (Diploma in Environmental and Water Technology) |
Chye Thiam Maintenance Pte Ltd
(Cleaning)
|
- Jonathan is a hands-on Environmental and Water Technology student who combines a strong mathematical aptitude with practical problem solving skills. His natural interests lean towards working with his hands and learning experientially.
- Jonathan has a strong interest in environmental protection and in safeguarding public health. He considers himself to be an advocate for the environment and encourages others to do their part in maintaining a clean and green Singapore.
- Through various clean-up initiatives at Bishan Park and Kallang River, he has gained firsthand experience of local environmental challenges, and a deeper appreciation about the dangers of improper waste disposal. These experiences have reinforced his commitment to environmental protection and his belief about the growing importance of environmental sustainability.
- This appreciation led him to pursue a career in the Environmental Services Industry. He hopes to use both his engineering and environment-related training to address challenges in cleaning and waste management to safeguard public health.
|
| Song Hao Yan (20) |
Temasek Polytechnic (Diploma in Integrated Facility Management) |
Chye Thiam Maintenance Pte Ltd
(Cleaning)
|
- Hao Yan represents a new generation of Environmental Services professionals who understand that the Industry is far more sophisticated than common perceptions suggest.
- He recognises that the work of the industry goes beyond basic operations, and instead, recognises that there is an increasing integration of advanced technology and innovative solutions.
- He is drawn to the Environmental Services Industry as the work involved affects everyday life and looks forward to seeing how he can contribute to making the world cleaner and more sustainable.
- Hao Yan is keen on reducing corporate carbon footprint and hopes to inject new ideas into his company to achieve a better waste management system.
- His passion for sustainability also extends to his personal life where he avoids using single use plastics, using reusable items, and conserving electricity. While these habits are small, he believes that every effort counts when it comes to reducing our collective environmental footprint.
|