ST Education Forum 2025: Singapore’s role in the projected growth of Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is on track to becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030, with a projected GDP of US$4.5 trillion. Given Singapore’s status as a global hub for trade, innovation, and investment, we are well-positioned to serve as a catalyst for this growth as well as to drive the exchange of knowledge, capital, and technology across ASEAN – all of which contribute to our key role in shaping the region’s future.

This context served as the backdrop for the 10th Straits Times Education Forum, which was held in partnership with SMU. Themed “Southeast Asia and Our Shared Future”, the forum saw leading experts convene for an insightful discussion at SMU Hall, Yong Pung How School of Law on Tuesday, 11 March 2025.

The discussion largely centred around the opportunities to be harnessed, as well as ways in which new generations of talent can try to seize these opportunities.

The event saw close to 600 participants, including industry professionals, government representatives, educators, Straits Times (ST) readers, members of the SMU community as well as diplomatic ambassadors and SMU overseas partner university representatives in attendance – the largest turnout for the annual forum to date.

Commenting on the need for graduates to develop both knowledge and soft skills to thrive in a multifaceted operating environment, SMU President Professor Lily Kong, said in an ST curtain raiser article in a lead up to the forum: “Southeast Asia is a region of immense dynamism, presenting both extraordinary opportunities and complex challenges.

“To excel in such a vibrant environment, graduates – whether they choose to become professionals or entrepreneurs – need more than technical proficiency. They require cultural intelligence, resilience, adaptability, and a spirit of innovation.”

Professor Kong went on to reaffirm the university’s commitment to prepare students to lead and to make a lasting impact in an ever-evolving and increasingly complex world.

Preparing talent to meet the challenges of tomorrow

Coinciding with SMU’s 25th anniversary, the Forum spotlighted key insights for graduates, professionals and businesses looking to navigate and succeed in the rapidly growing Southeast Asian region.

Members of the audience gained valuable insights from Guest-of-Honour Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) of Singapore, as well as a distinguished panel of speakers comprising Mr Piyush Gupta, DBS CEO and SMU Chairman; Mr Aldi Haryopratomo, Investor and Entrepreneur; as well as Mr Aaron Tan, CEO and Co-Founder of Carro.

SMU Provost-Designate Professor Alan Chan moderated the discussion, which looked at how universities, industries, and governments might collaborate to equip professionals with the skills needed to thrive in Southeast Asia’s evolving economy.

Mr Piyush Gupta said: “More than institutional arrangements, infrastructure and geolocation, the region has succeeded because of its people and the businesses, as well as a shared culture and history.

“Our future is truly founded on what we can do about empowering our people, creating a large talent pool and continuing to create differentiation on the back of that.”

He also remarked that the region’s strength lies in the younger generation and suggested that a more robust education system be built to give these young people a better opportunity to pursue higher education and develop their ideas.

Carro’s Mr Aaron Tan shared his perspective as a business leader, saying that when companies expand into different countries, it is imperative that they understand how the local people and culture work in order to bring out the best in the local workforce.

Mr Haryopratomo, a healthcare and movie entrepreneur/investor, drew on his experience. He shared an example of how regional collaboration can help to enrich an outcome: the way collaboration across regions in movies is used to create stories about the region – stories which can help others learn about the region’s unique culture.

Following the panel discussion was a question-and-answer segment with the audience asking about topics ranging from geopolitics and economic development to cultural preservation and talent management.

Of particular interest was a question about mitigating the “brain drain” or intra-region talent movement, where skilled workers move from less developed to more developed countries, DPM Heng said: “The talents will go to where they feel is the best place to develop (themselves) to grow.”

He highlighted how Singapore has been putting in effort to hire people in the region, train them and help them level up.

“Looking at the areas where we can make an impact is important,” he said.

“It’s not just about money, but how that money is used, where the needs are the greatest and how we can make our contribution.”

See also: Building a shared future: How education and innovation drive ASEAN’s success | SMU Newsroom