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Speech by Minister Masagos Zulkifli at the 7th International Conference on Practice Research on 7 July 2026

Type: Official Speeches (All), Official Speeches: Masagos Zulkifli,

Topic(s): Social Service Agencies & Partners,

Published on 07 July 2026

Professor Tan Tai Yong, President, SUSS

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

      Introduction and Welcome

  1. Good morning. I am delighted to be here at the 7th International Conference on Practice Research. It is the first time being held in Singapore. 

     

  2. To all our local and overseas speakers and delegates, welcome! It is heartening to witness such a distinguished gathering of academic researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from around the world.

     

  3. The theme of this conference, “Practice Research Without Borders: Inclusion and Change Across Sectors and Contexts”, is a timely one. In an interconnected yet increasingly complex world, the need for collaborative, evidence-based approaches to social challenges transcends geographical boundaries, disciplines, sectors and contexts.

     

  4. I am glad to see the different disciplines gathered here. Nearly half are from social services, while the others are from education, healthcare, justice and corrections. All of you share a common commitment to evidence-based practice, and ultimately, to transform lives, strengthen systems, and build more resilient societies.

     

  5. I commend the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) for organising this conference. As hosts, we are honoured to share Singapore’s experience as over one-third of our abstracts have been accepted in this conference. We also want to learn from the rest of world and value the exchanges to have better societies.

     

  6. The Singapore Ministry of Social and Family Development (or MSF) has a long-standing partnership with SUSS. In 2023, we deepened this partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with SUSS, with a shared goal to deepen collaborations in research, education and training among practitioners and researchers alike.

     

  7. It is our belief that research should inform the work of both policy makers and practitioners, which would in turn, shape the topics of study. This symbiotic relationship strengthens the nexus between research, policy and practice. 

     

  8. I am glad to note that since 2024, SUSS has strengthened practice research locally through the Local Coalition of Practice Research – bringing together academics and practitioners from across the sector. Today, more than 35 organisations, and 176 academics and practitioners, are part of this community.

     

    Singapore’s progress through borderless collaboration

  9. The conference’s theme of “Practice Research Without Borders” resonates deeply with me. Indeed, the most pressing challenges facing families and communities cannot be addressed by any single sector, discipline, or country working in isolation.

     

  10. Instead, they require us to work through what I call the 3Cs – Co-operation, Collaboration, and Co-creation.

     

    1. First, it requires cooperation across geographical borders. When countries come together to share their knowledge and best practices, we can better inform policy and practice. In 2025, with SUSS as our Institute of Higher Learning partner, MSF began a multi-country research to understand the State of ASEAN families – pooling our experiences to build a more comprehensive understanding of family dynamics across ASEAN.

       

    2. Second, it requires a strong collaboration between Government and research institutions. By embedding our researchers closely within policy and practice, their findings have the capacity to bring about real and significant impact. For example, from 2017 to 2022, my Ministry partnered the Centre for Evidence and Implementation, Monash University, and Research for Impact to evaluate our pilot KidSTART programme, a targeted and intensive programme for low-income families to give their children a good start. The evaluation found that home visitation improved parent-child interactions, caregiver confidence, and children’s developmental outcomes. These findings shaped the decision to scale KidSTART nationwide and led to programme refinements.

       

    3. Third, it requires focus on innovative co-creation within the sector. Our social service agencies are often closest to the people they serve. They see, on a daily basis, what works and what does not. What is needed is support in translating this knowledge into systematic evidence. To support SSAs in better evaluating the impact of their programmes, the Sector Evaluation Framework, developed by NCSS in 2022, standardises how programmes measure and report outcomes. To date, more than 110 social programmes have been onboarded onto the Sector Evaluation Framework.  

     

    Technology, AI, and innovation in research
  11. One area that has tremendous potential for social good, is in harnessing technology and AI.

     

  12. In a world being reshaped by technology, we have both a responsibility and opportunity to harness AI in ways to strengthen our work. But doing so thoughtfully requires a strong foundation, and that foundation begins with research.

     

  13. During my recent visits to China, Germany, and Switzerland, I had the privilege of witnessing how institutions deliberately weave AI into research processes.
    1. For example, at the Shanghai Academy of AI for Science, AI experts are embedded alongside specialists from other disciplines, ensuring that AI is a natural part of any research endeavour.
    2. At ETH Zurich and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, research is being carried out specifically on how AI can be used for social good. 
  14. The insights gained through research can then be translated into evidence-based solutions for the social service sector.
    1. At the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany, researchers are exploring how neurotechnologies can be merged with AI to build an ecosystem of support for persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – an example of bridging research and real-world application. 
  15. But the more important question is not whether to use AI, but how we can use it in a way that is people-centred and principled? I would like to offer a framework which I believe could guide us.
    1. During my visit to ETH Zurich, I came across a schematic that I believe translates well to our context. It centres on three interconnected parties: first, the Focus, or the individual at the centre of everything we do, and support should be tailored accordingly for; second, the Facilitator, or professional who provides guidance and empowerment; third, the Family who offers care, encouragement, and a strong support network.
    2. Through personalised support from the Facilitator, strengthened relationships within the Family, and close collaboration between the parties, people-centric solutions can be developed that truly meet the needs of the individual. 
  16. This framework can shape how we should think about AI’s role.
    1. AI is not here to replace the facilitator – whether that is a social worker, psychologist, counsellor, or therapist. It must be designed to enhance what they do, making them more effective in their work with both individuals and families.
    2. Think of how AI imaging has transformed radiology: doctors can now detect what the naked eye might miss, catching what could otherwise have been a missed diagnosis or a lost life.
    3. AI in social services holds the same promise – sharpening the facilitator’s insight and deepening their impact. The human remains at the centre. Technology simply makes them better at what they do. 
  17. My visit to China was a vivid illustration of this three-way partnership framework in action, and how AI can meaningfully enhance client outcomes.
    1. At certain early intervention centres, AI is used to track the developmental milestones of each child. Therapists receive regular updates on the child’s progress, with the system surfacing suggestions for further intervention where needed.
    2. At the same time, parents are given visibility into how their child is progressing, along with tailored activities they can carry out at home – extending and reinforcing the work being done at the centre.
    3. It is a compelling example of the Focus, the Facilitator, and the Family working in concert, with AI strengthening each of those connections, thereby enhancing the intervention for the child.


    Closing

  18. At its heart, practice research is about understanding people more deeply and finding evidence-informed ways to support them.

     

  19. The work of connecting research to practice and practice back to research is important. It allows us to test theories that work, raise research gaps on the ground, and adapt our approaches over time. And crucially, it is an ongoing commitment that strengthens our collective ability to support those we serve in ways that are more compassionate, effective and dignified.

     

  20. I hope the conversations over the next few days will spark new ideas and partnerships that extend well beyond this conference.

     

  21. I wish you all a fruitful conference ahead. Thank you.