IPS becomes a University-level research institute within the @NUSingapore (NUS), effective from 1 April 2026. IPS will no longer sit within the @lkyspp (LKYSPP), where it has been a research centre since 2008. It will operate as an autonomous research institute within NUS, while maintaining its longstanding mission to analyse public policy, bridge thought leaders, and communicate research to a wide audience. – at Singapore

Introducing the 19th S R Nathan Fellow: Mr Ng Chee Khern, Director and CEO of ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. Mr Ng has worn many hats: flying with the Air Force, directing policies in defence, health, digital government and manpower, and now, examining the geopolitical climate and forces that surround Singapore today. In his upcoming lecture series, “The Power to Choose: Sovereignty and Statecraft in an Age of Great Power Rivalry,” Mr Ng explores how Singapore can preserve its choices amid great power competition. Pressures on Singapore may appear manageable, but together they can narrow Singapore’s room for manoeuvre. Drawing from his experience, Mr Ng approaches the subject as a practitioner, asking what Singapore must be able to do to remain sovereign in practice. 🎟️ Sign up for the lectures on 16, 23, 30 November 2026 here: tinyurl.com/IPSNCKLectures 📺 Watch the lecture series live on IPS’ Facebook page: facebook.com/IPSLKYSPP/live 💡 Learn more about Mr Ng’s lectures: tinyurl.com/19SRNFNCK

A void deck library can be more than a place to borrow books: it can help neighbours build friendships and a shared sense of ownership. In this op-ed for The Straits Times, IPS’ Robyn Tan draws on a resident-led library in Yishun to explain why ground-up initiatives should be judged on their own terms. Formal organisations rely on service agreements, KPIs, and top-down structures, while ground-up initiatives are embedded in local lived experience, built on trust and solidarity, with more decentralised decision-making. She argues that pressure to formalise, meet short-term KPIs, or replicate elsewhere can erode the local relationships that sustain them. Accountability still matters for ground-up initiatives, but should recognise community capacity, participation, and learning. She proposes trust-based giving through multi-year, flexible funding, lighter-touch reporting, and two-way feedback between funders and communities. She also emphasises that ground-up initiatives should not be held to the same expectations of longevity and succession planning as formal organisations. They should be allowed to evolve or end in their own time, with closure met with gratitude for what was built rather than treated as failure. Read the full op-ed at tinyurl.com/36t5u4bx

Just 4 days to go! 🗓️ How do we know if inclusion efforts actually work? Join us this Friday, 30 October, for the IPS Forum on Inclusion That Works, where academics and practitioners share evidence from programmes across Asia-Pacific, from schools to digital media to dialogue. 💻 Online via Zoom | 9.00am to 4.00pm 👉 Sign up: tinyurl.com/IPSITWreg 💡Learn more: tinyurl.com/IPSITW #ipssg #singapore #social #apac

With only one new name among the top 12 elected, the PAP’s latest leadership vote favoured experience and continuity amid challenging times. In this commentary for CNA, IPS’ Gillian Koh explains that cadres chose leaders they trusted to navigate overlapping global disruptions. Yet the result also highlights constraints on diversity of thought and experience within the party’s leadership. Younger office holders will need more time and exposure to gain cadres’ confidence. She emphasises that Singaporeans need confidence that the party understands their daily struggles in a volatile and uncertain environment. Meaningful political dialogue can build that confidence and help younger leaders earn the right to be heard by their constituents. Read the full commentary at tinyurl.com/mpmn8jrw

What does it take for an idea shared by a few people to change the future of a neighbourhood, or a city? What does this mean for a “We-First” society? Jon Alexander, co-founder of New Citizen Project and author of "Citizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us", has spent a decade gathering stories of people making change happen together. From residents in Melbourne building a shared vision for their city, to institutions rallying behind it, his work shows how people’s knowledge, relationships and initiative can shape communities and public decisions. Join us for his public lecture titled “How Citizens Are Building the Future: What This Means for a ‘We-First’ Society”, where he explores what this could mean for Singapore: supporting an ageing population, connecting across different backgrounds, and caring for our environment together. 📅 Thursday, 5 November 2026 🕔 5:15pm – 6:30pm 📍 Auditorium, Level 3, Block B, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy 🎤 This lecture is chaired by Prof Aaron Maniam, Deputy Director at IPS and Professor in Practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Register here: tinyurl.com/IPSJonAlexanderP…