Group photo of SUSS Public Safety and Security students at the end of the learning journey.
On 13 October 2022, 30 students from the Bachelor of Public Safety and Security (PSS) degree programme visited Marina Bay Sands (MBS) on a learning journey to study how security is managed and integrated as part of their business. The MBS Integrated Resort (IR) hosts a variety of functions, characterised by a heavy flow of human traffic. As MBS is an iconic publicly accessible facility, security of the IR contributes to the system of public safety and security.
At the start of the visit, PSS students were given a guided tour around the facility by staff from the Security Service Department (SSD), explaining security at play across different locations and facilities. The tour included access to back-of-house areas such as the security operations centre and the IR’s famed “underground city”.
Students also had the opportunity to hear from Mr Tan Puay Kern, Vice President of the SSD. In his sharing about the IR, Mr Tan spoke about the four concepts of integration of business and security, namely Security as a Service, Security as Strategic Investment, Cyber Security and Business Continuity. All in all, the learning journey generated fresh perspectives and added to students’ knowledge of public safety and security.
Benn Lai, Year 3 PSS Student shared, “This visit was an eye-opener to the complexity of security in an IR, with a myriad of facilities such as the hotel, casino, shops, museum, nightclub and more. On top of allowing us to see security from the angle of a private sector organisation, the sharing of “Security as a Service” is something that I would bring along with me. Changing how security is typically viewed as a cost centre, to one that valueadds to and is an integral part of the organisation.”
Muhammad Waqiuddin, Year 3 PSS Student remarked, “The learning journey to MBS provided opportunities for students to observe ongoing security operations that covered a variety of aspects, from hospitality services to casino regulation compliance and security coverage. Given the diverse operational environment in MBS, the use of digital technologies was shown to maximise productivity. Such exposure to security services helps reinforce classroom understanding of public safety and security fundamentals.”
Mr Tan Puay Kern, Vice President of SSD ended the session with a key takeaway for the students, “Security should be viewed as a strategic investment and fundamental pillar for the business to succeed. It is also a critical factor in organisational resilience.”