HN5010 SINGAPORE: IMAGINING THE NEXT 50 YEARS

This course aims to encourage undergraduates, who are the future leaders and citizens, to reflect on Singapore's post-independence history, imagine the kind of Singapore you would like to create. As a student, you will gain an understanding of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that can help or hinder Singapore to achieve its vision. This course also you to deliberate the kinds of socioeconomic strategies and policies that benefi ts Singaporeans. Singapore is both a city and a country contained in a small geographical space located in Southeast Asia. It houses a diverse population in terms of race, language, religion, class and nationality. It possesses no natural resources, but has a highly educated labour force. Its economy has experienced signifi cant growth rates, particularly in the late 70s and early 80s, coupled with low unemployment. Like most other more developed economies, it now confronts a range of socioeconomic issues (rapidly ageing population, declining fertility rates, widening income inequality, rising costs of living) amidst increasing global competition, technological advancements, and security threats. At the same time, Singaporeans have become more of a people with a stronger national identity, a greater propensity to participate in the decisions that affect the destiny of the country, and a wider range of views and voices on the future direction of Singapore, the challenges it confronts, and the strategies and means by which to achieve their preferred goal(s) for themselves, their children, and the country. This course invites you to: 1. Reflect on Singapore's post-independence history. 2. Contemplate the kind of Singapore they envision for the future. 3. Understand the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that can help or hinder Singapore achieving their vision(s) for the country. 4. Deliberate the kind of strategies and policies that would enable Singapore to achieve their vision(s) for the country.