The Singapore Environment Institute Yearbook FY2009

18 February 2003 marked the inception of Singapore Environment Institute (SEI). Well into its 7th year, SEI is now ready to adopt a forward-thinking stance, combined with a strategic recapitulation of its past work.

The original mandate of SEI was to identify and bring into fruition new training areas, thus establishing itself as the Trendsetter for the environmental community. Taking up the role of Incubator, SEI was to nurture this community through facilitating the creation and transfer of new knowledge and best practices in the environment. To carry out these roles effectively, SEI was to play Integrator, pulling together like-minded players and entering into business and training collaborations with them.

SEI has done well thus far. Its range of training programmes continues to expand and serve a broader spectrum of environmental professionals, clocking in
more training man-hours. New friends and partners from the realms of business, marketing and training are made every year, thus widening SEI’s network and enhancing its functions.

It would be apt to say that the Institute’s growth has stabilised after 7 years of concerted hard work involving its staff, partners and the rest of the
National Environment Agency (NEA). SEI has evolved into a knowledge and solutions provider for its 3 audience segments, namely in-house officers, industry
practitioners and international stakeholders. The mediums through which SEI reaches out to these audiences are training programmes delivered through a variety of platforms including workshops, seminars and offshore learning.

The Programme for Environmental Experiential Learning (PEEL). PEEL, launched 3 years ago, has had its latest addition — the Recycling Trail. Invariably, the learning messages from this Trail echo in the hearts of many. It is an effective means of reaching out to the masses and increasing their environmental mindshare. Of course, the main learning features of PEEL —exploration, experience and education — are always appreciated by its participants.

Offshore learning modes are popular, as evidenced by the Japan study visit on New and Renewable Energy that went into its second run in December 2009. The
Singapore delegation was a diverse group comprising energy professionals from the industry, academia and public sector. Together with the expertise of its Japanese counterparts, the delegation created an excellent setting for the sharing of technological know-how. Back in Singapore, some of these professionals can look forward to SEI seminars that will be held in conjunction with the programme on Energy Efficiency National Partnership (EENP) instituted by NEA.

Indeed, energy mitigation measures are critical for the world to combat climate change — a trans-boundary environmental problem confronting humankind. In
light of this, SEI brought climate change knowledge offshore for the first time. Under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) sponsorship framework of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), a series of 4 or 5-day climate change workshops were held in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. The government officials of these countries were able to learn directly from Singapore experts without flying over. Instead, SEI flew in the experts to the IAI training centre located in their capital city.

In partnership, SEI has forged ties with government and international organisations like the Norwegian Embassy, French Embassy, British High Commission,
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) and the Hanns
Seidel Foundation of Germany. On the local front, SEI has also collaborated with a wide variety of organisations like the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), Singapore Compact, Civil Service College (CSC), Singapore Polytechnic (SP), Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and the Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC).

These are but some of the exciting highlights in 2009. While SEI is all ready to embark on its new journey, it will continue to cultivate the partnerships that have made the Institute what it is today.

With the guidance and support of the CEO of NEA, SEI looks forward to higher levels of achievement in 2010.

Last updated on 4 Oct 10