Civil Engineer Shaping Singapore’s Future: A URA Scholar’s Story

What started as a childhood fascination with street directories led Chong Yong Xing to apply for the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) scholarship in 2017. As a civil engineer who has been working in URA for over five years, Yong Xing is getting the chance to shape the city he once studied about in books.

Read on to find out how the URA scholarship has engineered Yong Xing’s professional and personal life – and why it could be your pathway too.

Choosing the URA scholarship pathway: Why becoming a Civil Engineer at URA was the obvious choice 

When he was young, Yong Xing would spend his days browsing street directories and bus guides at Popular bookstore. This childhood passion for urban planning, buildings and transport systems naturally led him to study Civil Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He also enrolled in NUS’s University Scholars Programme (USP) (now known as NUS College), allowing him to pursue an interdisciplinary education. This way, he could get the best of both worlds – the depth of an engineering degree and the breadth of a multidisciplinary programme.

By his second year, Yong Xing faced a dilemma: he was fascinated by everything from urban systems and infrastructure design to buildings and more. How could he choose just one to focus on? Realising that URA would allow him to explore the bigger picture instead of simply specialising in a single area, his path forward was clear. URA’s multidisciplinary approach to the built environment was exactly what he wanted.

“Now, I do what I love, and I love what I do – that alone keeps me motivated at work.”

The perks of the URA scholarship: financial support and work attachments  

Other than allowing him to pursue his passion, the URA scholarship also offers financial support like full tuition coverage at global well-accredited universities, airfare for overseas scholarship recipients, pre-studies allowances and other monetary benefits.

According to Yong Xing, however, the real value of the scholarship lies in the holistic experiences it provides, citing the work attachments at URA as a standout feature of the scholarship.

During his internships across multiple departments in the Development Services Group and Physical Planning Group, Yong Xing gained hands-on experience in conducting data analysis, carrying out research, performing design calculations, and making site visits alongside experienced professionals. One project particularly stood out: the opportunity to creatively design cycling path alignments based on existing site constraints. This was a golden opportunity to translate his civil engineering knowledge into tangible impact, a rare privilege for undergraduate students.

URA scholarship perk: fully funded global learning

As the scholarship encourages its recipients to go for exchange programmes, Yong Xing chose to spend a semester at Technical University of Munich in Germany. There, he was not just attending specialised courses on transportation planning and engineering or learning German; he was also exploring new cities and pushing his limits in endurance sports.  

His biggest takeaway? Observing how different cultures approach similar urban challenges broadened his perspective on problem-solving and ideation.

“I approach my work today with creativity and an open mind,” he reflected.

Shaping Singapore’s future through civil engineering: Building Jurong Lake District

Today, Yong Xing designs and plans infrastructure that most people would not usually think about – unless it’s not working. In Singapore’s limited underground space, he orchestrates a complex puzzle: laying key utilities like sewers, water pipes and power cables efficiently while ensuring that there is enough underground space for future needs. When you walk down a flood-free street after heavy rain or cycle comfortably through new neighbourhoods, that’s his work in action.

Take the upcoming Jurong Lake District, where he’s planning and implementing infrastructure including future-ready and sustainable district-level systems for cooling and waste disposal. Set to be Singapore’s next largest mixed-used business district, his job is to work on the behind-the-scenes stuff so that a place doesn’t just look good, but functions smoothly as well. 

He explained, “When people look at Jurong Lake District, they see offices, homes and malls - a vibrant district. What they don’t see is the infrastructure beneath their feet.”

“From roads, drains and sewers to water, electricity and telecom networks, my job is to make sure everything works when one flicks a switch, turns on a tap or connects to the internet.”

What makes the work especially meaningful for him is having a team that shares a common goal of shaping Singapore together. He finds it fascinating to watch an empty plot of land transform into a liveable community. “It gives people something to look forward to,” he explained, “Of course, the endless food options around The URA Centre are an added bonus!”

 
His role has a deeper, personal meaning. Every day, he helps shape the Singapore his children will grow up in. 

“She thinks I’m a construction worker,” he quipped, when his daughter sees him coming home in boots and a safety helmet. “Somewhat true, and I’m proud that I get to shape Singapore’s future.” 

URA’s supportive work environment allows Yong Xing to pursue both professional growth and personal fulfilment. Right now, that means staying healthy and cherishing moments with his family – the balance that reinforces his belief that joining URA was the right choice.  

Ready to start your scholarship journey?

When asked about advice he has for aspiring URA scholars, Yong Xing said, “URA is a diverse and dynamic organisation which needs diverse and dynamic people and skill sets.”

“Regardless of your background or interests, come join us if you have a keen desire to shape Singapore’s future!” 

Interested in shaping Singapore’s urban landscape?
Explore careers at URA, or learn more about the URA scholarship.