The Straits Times

It was reported that Emeritus Senior Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong launched the Social Service Research Centre (SSR), which is under the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences on 24 April 2015. ESM Goh, who is also the Advisor of SSR, identified three key drivers of social climate change – shifts in demography, technology and social expectations – and noted that research can help Singapore anticipate and meet these challenges. SSR will work with policymakers and social service agencies to pilot social programmes, which ESM Goh added, should produce more effective services and social innovations in the community.

NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost Professor Tan Eng Chye said that the centre was timely as it comes amid growing public scrutiny of social issues here. The new research centre will be led by Professor Paul Cheung and Associate Professor Irene Ng, who are both from the Department of Social Work at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. It will focus for now on low-wage workers, children, youth and seniors from low-income families.