Remarks at LASALLE College of the Arts 39th Convocation Ceremony 2025

Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng , Singapore Expo Convention & Exhibition Centre

Mr Peter Seah, Chairman of LASALLE,
Professor Steve Dixon, President of LASALLE,
LASALLE’s Board Members
Parents and family members, graduands,
Ladies and gentlemen,


1. Good afternoon!  Thank you for having me. It is a real privilege to be here with all of you at LASALLE College of the Arts 39th Convocation Ceremony.  To the Class of 2025 - congratulations! You have made it through critiques, rehearsals, late nights, and tight deadlines. You have stretched your minds, your craft, and your courage. You should be proud of how far you have come. And excited for what comes next.

2. No matter where you go next, I know you are more than ready to make your own way in a rapidly changing world. And that brings me to the heart of what we are really celebrating today. 

Celebrating the infinite potential of the arts

3. I believe that to support the arts is to believe in the infinite potential of people. I am not an artist by training. But I have had moments where a piece of art – be a song, a painting, or a poem - has caught me off guard and moved me deeply. These moments stay with you. And they speak in ways that logic cannot.

4. That’s the power of the arts. It goes beyond explanation. It reminds us of what it means to feel and to be unique human. And it’s something that will never be replicated. Not by AI. Not by machines. This is what you have been training for. Not just mastery of your and techniques but to create meaning and connections with other. And to be able to articulate, create, and bring something into the world that only you can.

Graduating into a rapidly changing world

5. The world you are entering is changing fast.  Generative AI has burst onto the scene. Jobs are evolving. Entire industries are shifting. And the world feels more uncertain than ever.

6. It is very easy to feel overwhelmed. But this is also a time full of possibility. Because the more powerful our machines become, the more we need the things that make us uniquely human. Empathy. Creativity. Imagination. That sense of curiosity and wonder. These are super-human skills that I know LASALLE graduates have in abundance. 

7. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2025 report, analytical thinking tops the list of most sought-after skills by employers. 
This is followed by resilience, flexibility and agility. So, make no mistake - you are not standing on the margins of the economy. You are right in the middle of what’s next.

8. Arts and design are relevant to every area of our lives and have a part to play in every industry. The latest edition of SkillsFuture Singapore’s Skills Demand for the Future Economy Report found that seven out of 10 non-creative job roles need creative skills. To quote from the report: “Creative Industries are at the forefront of developing and adapting to emerging business trends.”So, my dear graduates, keep an open mind! Don’t be afraid to try out different career options and fields. And I want to assure you that our Government and our tripartite partners will stand with you and support you every step of the way. 

9. There are many opportunities for you to make use of your unique skillsets and make that impactful difference. And it doesn’t matter where you started. What matters is what you are able to bring to the table. Some of you came straight from school. Others came after working in completely different fields.

10. Among you today is Mr Aqil Fitri. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was a nurse on the frontlines. Today, he graduates with a degree in Musical Theatre.

11. We also have Ms Eng Hwee San who spent seven years designing bridal wear. She returned as a mid-career student - and mother of one - in Fashion Design and Textiles - and now graduates with a fresh new voice and perspective.

12. Thank you Aqil and Hwee San for showing us that it is never too late to learn, grow, and create. This year, the Ministry of Manpowers marks our 70th anniversary. Over the decades, we have evolved from managing jobs to championing Singapore’s human potential. And stories like yours show just how much potential we have all around us. 

Growth of Singapore’s arts and design scene

13. Singapore celebrates SG60 this year and we are proud that Singaporean art and artists have grown together with the country. Art builds our sense of belonging and tell our Singapore stories. This year, three made-with-Singapore films were selected for the Cannes Film Festival. One of them, Renoir, was shortlisted for the Palme d’Or. And the cinematographer was LASALLE’s very own faculty member Mr Hideho Urata.

14. We are also making new investments in our arts and design sectors. Plans for the first ever Singapore Design Museum are under way, with feasibility studies currently being undertaken to house the museum at the old SJI building on Queen Street. Next month, we can look forward to the SG Culture Pass. It will encourage more Singaporeans to discover and enjoy a wide range of local cultural experiences. We hope to grow audiences while deepening our collective appreciation of the arts and heritage in Singapore. By broadening access and bringing more people into the cultural ecosystem, the SG Culture Pass will create greater support and more opportunities for local artists and creative practitioners like you! I am looking forward as well to the Singapore Biennale and the upcoming exhibition at the National Gallery Singapore that showcases Singapore’s history. 

15. And I have no doubt that in the years to come, I will get to see the works of some of you here today. 


Celebrating LASALLE’s Legacy

16. 2025 is also a big year for LASALLE. The college celebrates its 40th anniversary with an impressive haul of awards in both local and international art and design competitions. It also reached its highest-ever QS World University ranking by subject. And this graduating cohort has already made your mark. Trisha Bhardwaj, who graduates today with a BA Honours Design Communication, won Award of Excellence for Photography from Communication Arts, one of the most influential journals in visual communication. BA Honours Film graduand Zhakyra Binte Zulkiflee won Best Cinematography in the Student category at the last Singapore Youth Film Festival. From BA Honours Product Design, Isabel Bautista, Jovan Tong and Choong Yu Haun’s winning ideas for the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) Play@Punggol design competition were turned into reality earlier this year. Well done. You can now enjoy their playful installations along the Punggol Waterway. From Design and Animation programmes - we also have several winners of Crowbar Awards, widely regarded as one of the most prestigious competitions for young creatives across Asia‐Pacific. Heartiest congratulations to all of you. Well done to all of you and keep up the great work!

Conclusion 

17. As we celebrate this exciting milestone, I hope you will take a moment to thank those who helped you get here. Your lecturers, who have guided and challenged you. Your families and friends, who have cheered you on, both in this hall and watching online.

18. And from today, as you step into the next chapter, I hope you will always remember this: What you do matters. You bring light, beauty, and perspective to the world. Keep learning. Keep creating. And above all - keep believing in people, including yourself.

19. At the start of this speech, I said that to support the arts is to believe in the infinite potential of people. And looking at all of you today, I have complete faith you will be able to achieve and do great things. 

20. Congratulations once again, Class of 2025. And all the very best ahead. Thank you.