Two Roles, One Argument: Associate Professor Terence Ho on Why Lifelong Learning Is a National Imperative

He took on these roles in close succession and together they give him a broad view of the shifting landscape of learning, work and skills in Singapore.

"As IAL is the national centre of excellence for adult learning, my role at IAL immerses me in work that relates directly to Singapore's jobs and skills agenda," he explains. "Engagement with IAL's partners and stakeholders enables me to bring grounded insights into national discussions on issues such as inclusive development, human-centred work redesign, and practical pathways for reskilling and lifelong learning."

These discussions are increasingly urgent. AI is reshaping industries at a pace that makes continuous reskilling necessary for both workers and organisations. Assoc Prof Ho frames the challenge in terms of ownership: individuals need to take active responsibility for their own learning, while the broader ecosystem, training providers, employers, programmes and grants, must make that learning genuinely accessible.

At the recent Committee of Supply debates in Parliament, he raised several priorities: better recognition for adult educators, whose work shapes the learning journeys of working adults; human-centred job redesign where AI augments rather than displaces expertise; and broader access to AI tools to encourage experimentation across the workforce.

His book, How Singapore Beat the Odds, distils six lessons from interviews with veteran public sector leaders. If he had to name one lesson most relevant today, it would be this: sustain bold policy innovation, and resist becoming ideologically boxed in.

His advice to SUSS students and working adults is to make learning a habit. Stay open to possibilities outside your immediate field and recognise that setbacks are not exceptions to a career but part of it.