Detail

66-year-old engineer Lai Jun Cheng speaks in a gentle tone but holds firm convictions. Born before Singapore’s independence, he personally experienced the nation’s education reforms and development. His “Singapore Dream” began with a simple belief as a Chinese-stream student and village boy — to change his destiny through education, bring pride to his family, and contribute to society. Born in 1959 to a farming family that raised chickens and pigs, Lai spent his childhood playing among chicken coops, grassy fields, and drains. In 1996, he reached a new milestone by completing his Master’s Degree. Since then, he has pursued further studies every year, making full use of training subsidies such as the SkillsFuture Credit. Currently, he is studying Data Analytics at SP, teaching himself AI, and hoping to integrate it with his engineering expertise — applying data analytics and AI to water modelling, technology, and project analysis. Now working at a power company, where he has been for 36 years, Lai is responsible not only for operations management but also for training younger colleagues. “AI and big data are the future,” he says. “I hope to pass my experience on to the next generation.”

[Lianhe Zaobao]