M M Chua said ISD seems to only handle radicalisation. He was among the first batch of students to receive the ISD Junior College and Polytechnic Scholarship. Another student, Chan Y, also received the award.

The students received a bond-free scholarship that was launched in August last year.

The 10 successful applicants underwent a two-day immersion programme in June.

IB student Chan Y gained clarity about the agency’s work and the threats facing Singapore.

Chan Y had a misconception that ISD only handled extremists and terrorism.

Both students’ full identities are not revealed for data and privacy reasons.

Their experiences reflect one of the scholarship's key objectives: giving students a rare opportunity to understand the work of an agency.

Experts said the scholarship could help raise awareness among youths about radicalisation.

Observers added that the initiative can help the ISD compete with the private sector for talent.

The scholarship caters to those in their first year of junior college or polytechnic.

The scholarship aims to raise awareness of the threats facing Singapore and to inspire students to consider a future career with ISD.

To qualify, students are assessed on their knowledge and interest in security issues.

Observers said the scholarship draws youths to the agency’s work without constraining their future career options.

Dr Teo Kay Key said many people think about careers in terms of stability and progression.

At that age, they are likely still exploring options and may apply to gain exposure to a field.

It would also help ISD compete for talent with other sectors by appealing to what matters to a younger workforce.

Mr Edmund Lin said there is indeed competition from various sectors for talented graduates.

The bond-free nature of the scholarship is a decision to attract the right talents.

Two recent cases had planned attacks on schools, with a 14-year-old boy creating a manifesto.

In the past decade, more than half of the youths dealt with under the ISA had intended to mount attacks.

With youth radicalisation in the spotlight, the scholarship would help boost awareness among youths.

Dr Teo said those participating in the scheme would likely gain more knowledge about youth radicalisation.

However, the immersion programme may not fully equip the youths to spot all warning signs.

What it can do is create more awareness amongst participants and hopefully they spread these knowledge points.

Ms Shahrany Hassan agreed that the peer-to-peer effect may not be a primary purpose of the scholarship.

If scholarship recipients develop a better understanding of radicalisation, they may become more confident having conversations.

In a recent case, someone noticed signs of radicalisation and alerted the authorities.

Ms Shahrany said prevention is not just the responsibility of security agencies.

Young people are often the first to notice changes in their peers.

Increasing awareness and reducing misconceptions can contribute to a broader culture.

Today's generation is looking for purpose and impact in their jobs.

National security work offers a strong sense of public service.

The younger generation has grown up sharing more of their lives online.

However, that can be overcome if agencies like ISD communicate the purpose of their work.

Contributing to something bigger than themselves remains a powerful motivator.

Observers said the initiative is less about recruitment than to let students understand more about the agency’s work.

Dr Teo noted that the scholarship amount is insufficient to fully fund a diploma or degree course.

Instead, this bond-free scholarship can make it much easier to attract initial interest.

This can allow the agency to get a foot in the door and expose more people to the nature of work.

While not every scholarship recipient will end up applying for a job in the ISD, it means those who do are more committed.

Ms Shahrany said many people know very little about what the ISD does beyond high-profile arrests.

There will always be limits to how much ISD can open up its operational work.

Meeting the officers and understanding the purpose behind the work can make these institutions feel more accessible.