NUS CEE’s 70th Anniversary Dinner on 28 November 2025 was a grand celebration of our alumni and donors. Held at the Fairmont Ballroom, Raffles City Convention Centre, the event welcomed about 980 guests spanning seven decades of alumni, donors, industry partners, and past and present staff – a joyful homecoming that capped a year of commemorations. Our community’s dedication especially moved us: retired Professor Paramasivam flew in from India, and several guests came straight from the airport with luggage in hand, a testament to the enduring bonds forged at CEE.
The evening opened with a rousing drum performance by representatives from the department management team, staff, alumni, and our postgraduate and undergraduate students. In his welcome, Head of Department Professor Richard Liew (Engineering ’86, MEng ’89) reminded us that there would be no CEE without our alumni, and he thanked generations of professors and support staff for shaping who we are today.
A key highlight was the presentation of the CEE 70th Anniversary Special Recognition Awards. The Special Recognition Awards (Staff) honoured Emeritus Professor Cheong Hin Fatt (Engineering ’68), Honorary Fellow Professor Tam Chat Tim, and Emeritus Professor Yong Kwet Yew – senior colleagues whose more than four decades of service helped define the department. The Special Recognition Award (Alumni) recognised 26 alumni whose achievements and service have strengthened our community and society, while the Special Recognition Award (Donors) acknowledged benefactors whose support is nurturing the next generation of engineers.
Guests then stepped into a “Time Tunnel” – a curated visual journey from 1955 to 2025. A photowall of more than 400 images and a photobooth with nostalgic backdrops, including the old canteen and the Prince Edward campus, invited alumni to reminisce and make new memories. Throughout the evening, performances added warmth and delight: Dr Weiyi Pan and his wife, Ms Xu Chencheng, shared a video of their English rendition of Tomorrow Will Be Better; alumni Er Dr Victor Ong Chee Wee (Engineering MSc ’04, PhD ’10), Er Dr David Ng (Engineering ’98, MEng ’00) and Er Yoong Heng Tan (Engineering ’97, MEng ’01) performed 朋友 (Cantonese version) with research staff; Dr Yuzhu Pearl Li offered piano and vocals for 如愿 (As Wished); and Head of Department Professor Richard Liew (Engineering ’86, MEng ’89) delivered a surprise finale, 上海滩. Guests also received a signature perfume curated by the organising committee together with alumnus Mr Kian Hwee Ong (Engineering ’94) of Givaudan – a sensory keepsake of the night.
Video montages traced the department’s journey from 1955 to 2025 and paid tribute to Emeritus Professor Lee Seng Lip, an inspirational educator whose impact shaped our department and the nation. We also spotlighted students supported by bursaries, expressing our gratitude to donors for their generosity. Representatives from across the decades (1955–1974, 1975–1984, 1985–1994, 1995–2004, 2005–2014, and 2015–2025), together with past and current Heads of Department, gathered for a cake-cutting ceremony as the ballroom sang “Happy Birthday” – One CEE, united.
To our alumni, donors, and friends, thank you for your steadfast support. To our former and current staff, your dedication enriches every student’s journey. We look forward to your continued partnership in the years ahead.
