{"id":4348,"date":"2020-01-01T15:19:23","date_gmt":"2020-01-01T15:19:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev-alumn-nus.pantheonsite.io\/alumnus\/?p=4348"},"modified":"2025-07-15T16:08:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T08:08:11","slug":"you-me-and-our-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/2020\/01\/01\/you-me-and-our-university\/","title":{"rendered":"You, Me and our University"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The late Dr Chee Phui Hung (Medicine \u201950) was instrumental in successfully lobbying for the return of the historic Bukit Timah Campus \u2014 where he had attended classes as a student \u2014 to NUS. This spirit of giving back to the University is being kept alive today, even thousands of miles away, by the likes of individuals such as Mr Anuj Jagannathan (Business \u201916), Chairperson of NUS Alumni San Francisco Chapter since July 2019. \u201cMy goal is to revive this dormant chapter and bring together alumni from all schools and faculties who are living in the San Francisco Bay Area,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s a challenge, but one that I enjoy. I\u2019m glad to help in whatever way I can to maintain the connection between alumni and our alma mater.\u201d<\/p>\n

NUS\u2019 main conduit for forging ties with its 312,000-strong global alumni community is its Office of Alumni Relations (OAR). However, Alumni Relations Director Mr Bernard Toh (Architecture \u201984) remarks that it is \u201cinsufficient\u201d for OAR alone to look after the entire alumni base. Paraphrasing the proverb that \u2018it takes a village to raise a child\u2019, Mr Toh says, \u201cIt takes a University to engage alumni. Alumni engagement should not be a functional discharge but a holistic endeavour. There has to be an integrated University-wide effort, where everyone contributes in his\/her own way to furthering alumni relations.\u201d And he has a plan to make it happen.<\/p>\n

BUILDING SOCIAL CAPITAL<\/strong><\/p>\n

Promoting alumni engagement has been a priority for each of the last three NUS Presidents. At the 2007 Commencement Dinner, then-President Professor Shih Choon Fong said, \u201cI asked three things of our alumni: to believe in the aspirations of alma mater, to speak well of alma mater, and to give to alma mater.\u201d His successor, Professor Tan Chorh Chuan (Medicine \u201983), likewise said in his 2008 State of the University Address: \u201cToday, our alumni form the third pillar which holds our University proudly up, joining the other two pillars formed by our faculty and staff, and our students.\u201d<\/p>\n

Under NUS\u2019 current President Professor Tan Eng Chye (Science \u201985), attention is being paid to the enduring relationship alumni can enjoy with the University, with lifelong learning now a cornerstone of NUS\u2019 Vision, Mission and Values. \u201cThe relationship between an alma mater and her alumni is transitioning rapidly, from \u2018once upon a time\u2019 to lifetime learning partners, and we hope to have an opportunity to renew and strengthen our bonds before too long,\u201d said Prof Tan during his 2019 Commencement Dinner speech.<\/p>\n

Formed in 2003, OAR arose out of a restructuring exercise that also led to the creation of a separate NUS Development Office (DVO). DVO is tasked with securing philanthropic support from donors including alumni, with the gifts being used to set up endowed chairs or professorships, support financially-strapped students and build cutting-edge research facilities, for example. This allows OAR to focus on the \u2018people\u2019 side of things. To be sure, OAR is still involved in some fundraising initiatives, and both Offices collaborate on giving campaigns from time to time. Nonetheless, the separated model sends a signal that there is more to alumni outreach than simply seeking donations. \u201cWe\u2019re here to build mutually beneficial and lifelong relationships with alumni,\u201d says Mr Toh of OAR\u2019s mission. Raising funds for the University, though important, is not OAR\u2019s chief concern. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Being such a large, diverse community, NUS alumni naturally have myriad reasons and preferences for reconnecting with one another and with the University. \u201cAny touchpoint is a good start. In anything we do, we try to instil a sense of belonging and pride in our alma mater,\u201d says Ms Florence Neo (Arts and Social Sciences \u201993), Director and Head, Alumni Communications and Engagement, OAR.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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  • NUS alumni span different phases in life.
    • 49 per cent are young alumni (aged 40 and below)<\/li>
    • 39 per cent are prime alumni(aged 41 to 60)<\/li>
    • 12 per cent are senior alumni (aged 61 and above)<\/li><\/ul><\/li>
    • OAR organises about 80 events a year across a variety of categories, attracting 17,000 attendees globally.
      • Thought leadership \u2014 e.g. NUS Alumni Leaders Forum, U@live<\/li>
      • Lifelong learning \u2014 e.g. Future-ready Workshops<\/li>
      • Arts and culture \u2014 e.g. Film Festivals<\/li>
      • Networking \u2014 e.g. Thirsty Thursdays, Breakfast\/Lunch Dialogues, Alumni Dialogues, NUS President\u2019s Dialogue Lunch<\/li>
      • Sports and wellness \u2014 e.g. NUS Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament, UM-NUS Inter-University Tunku Chancellor Golf Tournament and Health and Wellness talks<\/li>
      • Homecomings \u2014 e.g. Bukit Timah Homecoming, Kent Ridge Alumni Family Day<\/li>
      • Appreciation \u2014 e.g. NUS Alumni Awards<\/li>
      • Community Service \u2014 e.g. NUS Day of Service<\/li><\/ul><\/li>
      • OAR offers physical and digital perks to alumni.<\/li>
      • NUS Shaw Foundation Alumni House (SFAH) has several dining options, and venues and meeting rooms open to booking
        AlumNUS Card holders enjoy exclusive privileges from more than 100 merchants<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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        \"Prof
        Prof Tan and Mr Toh rolled up their sleeves and joined the NUS community during the NUS Day of Service.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
        \"The
        The annual Bukit Timah Homecoming.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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        DID YOU KNOW?<\/strong><\/p>\n

        NUS Office of Alumni Relations was established in 2003, but the University\u2019s alumni engagement efforts go as far back as 1923 \u2014 the year the Medical Alumni Association (originally called the Singapore Medical College Graduates\u2019 Association) was founded. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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        The OAR leadership team (from left): Mr Bernard Toh, Ms Hamidah Salleh and Ms Florence Neo.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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        Ms Florence Neo (Arts and Social Sciences \u201993), Director and Head, Alumni Communcations and Engagement, OAR, also stresses this point. Referring to the \u201c3Ts\u201d model of Time, Talent and Treasure \u2014 which is widely adopted by advancement professionals, or people involved in fundraising for the advancement of education \u2014 Ms Neo clarifies: \u201cAlumni Treasure-giving is handled by DVO, while our efforts at OAR are directed towards creating opportunities for alumni to give their Time and Talent, whether by joining committees, serving as mentors or speakers, or giving constructive feedback about our programmes.\u201d<\/p>\n

        While OAR has done a good job of serving NUS alumni and meeting their varied interests, Mr Toh believes there is still more that can be done to sustain alumni interest and engage them even more fully in University activities. \u201cWe\u2019ve grown beyond organising parties or social events, and have reached a stage where we want deeper levels of engagement. Our aim is to promote intellectual discourse and cultivate more alumni volunteers,\u201d he says, calling for \u201ctwo-way participation\u201d between OAR and alumni. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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        We\u2019ve grown beyond organising parties or social events, and have reached a stage where we want deeper levels of engagement. Our aim is to promote intellectual discourse and cultivate more alumni volunteers. <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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        Mr Bernard Toh<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
        Director, NUS Alumni Relations<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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        PAVING A TWO-WAY STREET<\/strong><\/p>\n

        Some of the most passionate alumni volunteers \u2014 which totalled 1,426 in 2018 \u2014 are those sitting on the NUS Alumni Advisory Board (AAB), chaired by the NUS President. Its Co-Chair, Mr Johnny Tan (Science \u201982), is a former President of the NUS Society (NUSS) and has served on the Board since 2009. \u201cAAB members have become increasingly proactive in the last decade, and the University is also more open to their ideas. Instead of just attending or supporting OAR-organised events, we are seeing more alumni-led activities,\u201d says Mr Tan.<\/p>\n

        In particular, three initiatives by AAB members have really taken off:<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. U@live<\/strong> The brainchild of Mr Viswa Sadasivan (Arts and Social Sciences \u201983), this series promotes intellectual discourse through discussions of topical issues.<\/li>\n
        2. NUS Alumni Bursary Fund Campaign<\/strong> Launched in 2013, the Campaign aims to cultivate the spirit of giving among alumni and provide financial support for deserving NUS students. It is spearheaded by the Alumni Student Advancement Committee (ASAC), which in April 2019 saw the chairmanship change hands from Mr Tan to fellow AAB member Mr Seah Cheng San (Engineering \u201982, MBA \u201992).<\/li>\n
        3. NUS Day of Service<\/strong> Launched in 2016 and led by Mr Jeremy Ee (Engineering \u201905), this event encourages the whole NUS family to come together to give back to society.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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          AAB members have become increasingly proactive in the last decade, and the University is also more open to their ideas. Instead of just attending or supporting OAR-organised events, we are seeing more alumni-led activities. <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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          Mr Johnny Tan<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
          Co-Chair, NUS Alumni Advisory Board<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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          \u201cU@live<\/em> was initiated in 2011 in response to a lament that despite having moved up the global university rankings, NUS did not have enough of an intellectual climate,\u201d explains Mr Viswa. By this, he is not referring to academic pursuits or domain-specific forums, but rather \u201ca culture where we are interested in what\u2019s going on \u2014 in what ought to matter \u2014 and raise tough existential questions and debate on them\u201d.<\/p>\n

          To further crystallise this objective, the series was rebooted in 2019 as U@live: Lifting Thought Leadership<\/em>. Instead of featuring an accomplished personality, U@live sessions now feature a panel of subject matter experts from within and outside the University. At the latest session in October 2019, panellists had a robust, no-holds-barred discussion on the hot-button topic of Islamophobia. \u201cA great University is one that doesn\u2019t shy away from discussing pressing issues candidly and openly, yet in a responsible and not disagreeable manner. We need to demonstrate that we have the courage and wherewithal to push frontiers, if we are to claim a seat at the table with top global universities,\u201d argues Mr Viswa.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          Spearheaded by Alumni Advisory Board member Mr Viswa Sadasivan, the U@live panel discussion series has proven a popular draw for the NUS community, which includes staff, students and alumni.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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          As part of ASAC, Mr Yeo Keng Joon (MBA \u201985) helps raise funds for the NUS Alumni Bursary Fund Campaign. In 2015, Mr Yeo and his wife, Mdm Kong Yuet Peng (MBA \u201986), set up the NUS Campus Couples Bursary Fund and in conjunction, the NUS Campus Couples Alumni group was launched. \u201cWe want to appeal to people who, like us, met their spouses on campus and have had good careers and family lives. Because NUS was where it all started, many of them are grateful to the University and happy to contribute,\u201d he reasons.

          However, raising funds for bursary needs is not the sole intent of NUS Campus Couples Alumni. \u201cThe majority of alumni couples are youths, like me and my husband,\u201d says its current Chairperson, Ms Sarah Ong (Nursing \u201912). \u201cBecause we\u2019re still establishing our careers and starting a family, most of us are not in a position to give back financially. Instead, we organise activities to help strengthen bonds between young couples, and for them to meet other NUS couples. Our focus is on people and relationships.\u201d The group\u2019s annual NUS Campus Couples event, which takes place around Valentine\u2019s Day, is billed as a Celebration of Love and Giving \u2014 an appreciation dinner for those who donated to the Fund, while doubling as an opportunity to fit in some \u2018couple time\u2019.<\/p>\n

          NUS Day of Service (DOS) has grown progressively in scale and scope since it was launched in 2016. With each passing year, more and more alumni, students, staff and family members \u2014 both in Singapore and abroad \u2014 are signing up to either champion or participate in community service projects. Among them are Ms Joanna Loo (Science \u201971), Chairperson of NUS Alumni Sing-Along; and Mr Sonny Yuen (Business \u201985), former President of the NUS Business School Alumni Association (NUSBSA) from 2014 to 2018. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          LEARNING NEVER ENDS<\/b><\/p>\n

          Greater emphasis has been placed on lifelong learning at NUS following the establishment of NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education (SCALE) in 2016, and especially after Prof Tan\u2019s appointment as NUS President in 2018. That year, SCALE rolled out a novel NUS Lifelong Learners (L3) initiative for alumni, which offers a wide array of skills-based, industry-relevant courses necessary to stay competitive in today\u2019s digital age. Each alumnus is given a virtual voucher that can be used to take one course for free, and the modular courses are stackable towards a certificate or qualification.<\/p>\n

          NUS alumni and the general public can also apply for SCALE\u2019s other continuing education offerings.<\/p>\n

          These alumni see the value of NUS\u2019 move into lifelong learning:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          \u201cData analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning applications are fast being utilised across various industries. Having skillsets and knowledge of these technologies will assist businesses to achieve sustainable growth.\u201d <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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          Mr Tan Khai Chyeh (Engineering \u201904)<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
          Supply Chain Singapore Lead for an MNC, currently in SCALE\u2019s MSc in Industry 4.0 programme<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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          \u201cAs I am back at my alma mater, I\u2019m already comfortable with the University\u2019s environment and culture. I don\u2019t need to adapt to new surroundings, which might hinder my focus and studies.\u201d \n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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          Mr Kong Kok Fung (Engineering \u201917)<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
          an Automation Manager, currently also pursuing an MSc in Industry 4.0<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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          \u201cI was pleasantly surprised to learn that alumni are entitled to take one free module. It has been years since I studied and I stopped working to be a full-time mum, so this was an opportunity for me to get back in touch with industry and academics.\u201d<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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          Ms Bernadette Kueh (Engineering \u201992)<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
          a homemaker who took the NUS L3 \u2018Enterprise Development\u2019 course from August to November 2019<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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          Made up of senior alumni with a shared interest in music, NUS Alumni Sing-Along holds monthly sing-along sessions at SFAH, in addition to related activities like ukulele-playing and line dancing. Its members have taken part in DOS for two years running, where they entertained nursing home residents with sing-along performances. \u201cOur members feel a sense of pride when they serve the community as part of the NUS family. Furthermore, being connected to our alma mater and contributing to the community gives members \u2014 most of whom are retirees \u2014 a sense of self-worth,\u201d says Ms Loo.<\/p>\n

          NUSBSA has been involved in DOS since 2017, with members volunteering to pack and distribute food to needy families in Singapore. This is on top of regular activities such as business networking sessions, CEO talks, and mentorship and internship programmes. \u201cVolunteering allows us to add value or make a difference in someone else\u2019s life. We also gain a morale boost in knowing that our effort was meaningful, which increases our own happiness,\u201d says Mr Yuen.<\/p>\n

          In a bid to further encourage alumni volunteerism and enhance Board diversity, Mr Tan reveals that the selection process for the next term of the AAB \u2014 typically only appointed by the NUS President \u2014 has been changed: starting January 2020, NUS staff and alumni can also nominate worthy candidates to be AAB members. \u201cThis will open up the selection process and help us to achieve a better mix of members with different professional backgrounds, and who cover the spectrum in terms of age and gender,\u201d says Mr Tan. Up to three candidates will be chosen through this process. Their term will begin in July 2020 and last two years.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          THROUGH THICK AND THIN<\/strong><\/p>\n

          Apart from his continued involvement with NUSBSA, Mr Sonny Yuen (Business \u201985) is also the founding President of Raffles Hall Association and current Chairperson of NUS Alumni Leaders Forum. These experiences have enabled him to witness the multifaceted benefits of staying connected to one\u2019s alma mater \u2014 not just career-wise through the network of professional contacts, but on the most deeply personal level, too.<\/p>\n

          When a friend from Mr Yuen\u2019s Raffles Hall days was recently diagnosed with a terminal illness, the entire cohort rallied to lend moral and financial support. Other cohorts also pitched in to help cover the family\u2019s expenses, and one younger alum even offered the friend a full-paying job while he was in the hospital ward. \u201cThe two of them were more than 10 years apart in age and didn\u2019t know each other, but they had one thing in common \u2014 being a Rafflesian,\u201d says Mr Yuen. \u201cSuch is the power of bonds among alumni.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          TO ENGAGE AND EXPAND<\/strong><\/p>\n

          Acting as a sort of liaison between OAR and alumni are the Associate Directors for Alumni Relations, each attached to a specific faculty, school, department, hall or residential college. All 28 Associate Directors are responsible for engaging their respective alumni sub-communities, and they meet with OAR staff on a quarterly basis to share updates.<\/p>\n

          Within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), this role is filled by its Vice Dean (External Relations and Student Life), Associate Professor Loy Hui Chieh (Arts and Social Sciences \u201998). FASS runs a number of alumni engagement initiatives that are complementary to those organised by OAR. These include the FASS Mentorship Programme, which pairs successful FASS alumni with undergraduates; the \u2018My FASS Family\u2019 Host Programme, where FASS alumni host and befriend international students staying in Singapore; and the FASS STARS Awards, which recognises the achievements of distinguished staff and alumni.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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          NUS alumni can benefit from the vast networks that they can tap on. As nurturing alumni, they can provide guidance or impart knowledge and skills to juniors. \n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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          Dr Kuan Yee Han<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
          Associate Director for Alumni Relations, Tembusu College<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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          Ad hoc engagement opportunities are also available. \u201cWhen creating our Philosophy, Politics and Economics major in 2017, I interviewed 14 senior HR managers from public and private organisations to get their feedback, and at least half of them were alumni. More recently, when fleshing out the details for our new FASS 2.0 Industry Tracks programme, we spoke to alumni working in each of the identified industries. Their feedback helped us shape our programme,\u201d says Prof Loy. Close to 300 alumni also attended the FASS90 Gala Dinner in November 2019 to celebrate the Faculty\u2019s 90th anniversary.<\/p>\n

          Prof Loy\u2019s counterpart at NUS Business School, Head of Alumni Relations Mr George Heng (Computing \u201993), notes that Business alumni are very active in the professional networking scene. \u201cBesides the usual networking drinks, we will be organising talks with an intellectual element so that our alumni get more value out of the interactions,\u201d says Mr Heng. The School also offers lifelong learning programmes through its Executive Education unit, as well as in partnership with SCALE.<\/p>\n

          For those who want to get more involved, Business alumni can contribute in multiple ways, such as speaking at recruitment fairs, hosting company visits, and assisting in the interview-screening process of postgraduate candidates. This leads to a win-win scenario, as Mr Heng explains: \u201cBy contributing their time and resources, alumni can raise their profiles and visibility and widen their networks, while the University also benefits.\u201d
          Over at NUS UTown, Tembusu College\u2019s Director of Student Affairs Dr Kuan Yee Han (Engineering \u201910) serves as its Associate Director for Alumni Relations. Several events have been initiated to draw Tembusu alumni back to the residential college, such as \u2018Past vs Present\u2019 exhibition matches organised by the College\u2019s ultimate frisbee and tchoukball interest groups; \u2018AlumChats\u2019, or sharing sessions by alumni on their industry experiences; workshops featuring alumni coaches; as well as Tembusu Forums and festive reunions. \u201cNUS alumni can benefit from the vast networks that they can tap on,\u201d says Dr Kuan. \u201cAs nurturing alumni, they can provide guidance or impart knowledge and skills to juniors. Nostalgic alumni can relive their years at the College through participation in College-related activities. For professionally-driven alumni, they can leverage on networking opportunities with students and other working alumni.\u201d<\/p>\n

          Although the Associate Directors are mostly preoccupied with their own alumni sub-communities, many are starting to look beyond their respective loci and take part in University-wide events such as DOS. Alumni from FASS, NUS Business and Tembusu College have come on board as DOS champions in recent years to helm community service projects. OAR\u2019s Ms Neo is heartened by this trend, as it indicates a concerted effort to strengthen and deepen alumni relations across the University. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          THE BIG FIVE-O<\/strong><\/p>\n

          Like FASS, NUS School of Design and Environment (SDE) hit a big milestone in 2019 as the School celebrated its 50th anniversary. A number of events were held to mark the occasion, beginning with the official opening of SDE4 \u2014 Singapore\u2019s first new-build net-zero energy building \u2014 in January 2019. Designed by Dr Christopher Lee (Architecture \u201995), SDE4 is the first university building in the world, and the first building in Singapore, to attain WELL CertifiedTM Gold. SDE Dean Professor Lam Khee Poh calls SDE4 a \u201cpotent and visible outreach mechanism, as our alumni feel proud whenever they see it\u201d.<\/p>\n

          Subsequently, the Building and Estate Management Alumni (BEMA) group organised a charity golf game and raised more than $600,000 for the newly-launched SDE Development Fund. The Fund will be used to support the future development of SDE\u2019s facilities and curriculum. About 1,200 alumni also attended the SDE50 Gala Dinner in October 2019. \u201cWe\u2019ve made a conscious effort to expand alumni outreach by updating our websites and social media platforms, resulting in greater web traffic,\u201d adds Prof Lam.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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          Prof Lam (left) with President of BEMA Dr Teo Ho Pin (Building \u201985) at the SDE50 Fundraising Golf and Appreciation Dinner.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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          NEAR AND FAR<\/b><\/p>\n

          Out of the 312,000 people making up NUS\u2019 alumni community, roughly 87 per cent live in Singapore. The rest are spread out all over the world and some have formed Overseas Chapters, stretching from Vancouver in the west to Auckland in the east.<\/p>\n

          The NUS Alumni London Chapter organises a mix of social and professional events throughout the year, with the latter proving especially popular. \u201cOur Professional Forum Series \u2014 which deals with hot topics like gender equality, Brexit and fintech \u2014 is now into its fifth series this year and is well-attended by alumni, Singaporean officials, Singaporeans and international professionals who want to know NUS and Singapore,\u201d says Chairperson Dr Sharon Heng (Medicine \u201908). \u201cAs we grow as a University, our alumni network and activities become not just a social avenue to have fun together, but a support structure for careers and professional livelihoods.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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          As we grow as a University, our alumni network and activities become not just a social avenue to have fun together, but a support structure for careers and professional livelihoods.\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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          Dr Sharon Heng<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
          Chairperson, NUS Alumni London Chapter<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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          Dr James Geng (Public Policy \u201911), an AAB member, has chaired the NUS Alumni Shanghai Chapter since 2015. \u201cIn a \u2018non-governmental ambassador\u2019 capacity, our Chapter carries out a large number of high-quality and influential non-governmental diplomatic activities, often in cooperation with the Consulate-General of Singapore in Shanghai,\u201d says Dr Geng. Many alumni have benefited from the improved bilateral relations as a result, with Singapore alumni\u2013owned enterprises doing well in China and vice versa. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          Prof Tan (left) and Dr Geng (middle) at the \u2018Blockchain Trends and Prospects Forum\u2019 in Shanghai, organised by NUS Alumni Shanghai Chapter.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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          Currently, only three of the 19 Overseas Chapters are located in ASEAN countries \u2014 Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. In light of NUS President Prof Tan\u2019s publicly-stated desire to focus on Southeast Asia, Ms Neo discloses that OAR aims to build up its regional presence over the next few years and reach out to alumni in those ASEAN cities which lack representation. Even if the alumni are unable to set up Overseas Chapters, they can form smaller Alumni Circles or be appointed as Global Ambassadors. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          NUS HAS<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          FROM DAY ONE<\/strong><\/p>\n

          Mr Toh makes one final point about alumni engagement: \u201cThe alumni journey begins at the point of matriculation, not at the point of graduation. We have to think about engaging them from their first day as undergraduate students.\u201d Some small steps that have been taken in this direction include the roll-out in 2014 of a lifelong email account for undergraduates, as well as a new student essay competition under the revamped U@live<\/em>.<\/p>\n

          Another platform for alumni\u2013student interaction is the NUS Alumni Leaders Forum (ALF)<\/em>, where alumni and student leaders exchange ideas and best practices on taking NUS to the next level. For ALF committee member Mr Ouyang Xiuzhang (Business \u201999), this means helping the University produce graduates who are prepared to handle emerging workplace trends in today\u2019s VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world. \u201cNUS has given me the education and qualifications to advance in my career,\u201d says Mr Ouyang, CEO of a leading global commodities merchant. \u201cHelping future graduates by giving back a bit of time and effort is the least I can do.\u201d <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          Mr Yuen leading the discussion at one of the break-out groups at ALF.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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          A new entrant into the alumni community, Mr Benjamin Loo (Computing \u201919) had, as the former President of NUS Students\u2019 Union (NUSSU), engaged with alumni at the Kent Ridge Alumni Family Day, and also at the NUSSU and NUSSU Alumni Bursary Dinner. With those positive experiences still fresh in his mind, he decided to become a Class Ambassador for his graduating class. \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to provide opportunities for my batch mates to meet and catch up with each other,\u201d says Mr Loo. \u201cThe importance of alumni relations cannot be underestimated, especially in a small country like Singapore where we need to depend on one another for help.\u201d<\/p>\n

          No matter what or when you studied at NUS, or which student groups you may have joined, the time you spent at the University is sure to have left a mark in your life, professionally or personally. With so many activities open to alumni, there is bound to be some way you can get involved and give back to your alma mater. \u201cNUS helped shape who and what many of us are today. It\u2019s a special feeling when we can contribute in our own modest way to advancing the University\u2019s interests,\u201d AAB Co-Chair Mr Tan sums up. \u201cAs the Chinese saying goes, \u2018When you drink water, think of the source.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          WHICH METRICS MATTER?<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \u201cRelationship work is hard to measure. Unlike money, relationships are not quantifiable. It\u2019s more of a palpable feeling,\u201d says Mr Toh. Through his involvement with the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) \u2014 NUS is a member institution of CASE, and Mr Toh is a Board member and also serves on the global CASE Commission on Alumni Relations \u2014 Mr Toh was introduced to a simple and effective measurement framework by a colleague on the Commission.<\/p>\n

          Implemented in 2019, and based on a simple headcount, NUS\u2019 new alumni engagement metrics framework consists of five categories:<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Philanthropy > How many alumni have made a contribution (regardless of amount) to the University in the past year?<\/li>\n
          2. Volunteerism > How many alumni have come back to volunteer (in any capacity) for NUS in the past year?<\/li>\n
          3. Communications > How many alumni have we reached using the various communication platforms (email, snail mail, social media etc.) in the past year?<\/li>\n
          4. Experiential > How many alumni have come back for at least one activity organised by NUS in the past year?<\/li>\n
          5. Lifelong Learning > How many alumni have come back to NUS to pursue lifelong learning in the past year?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            \u00a0<\/p>\n

            Once this framework is well laid out and more data has been collected, possibly in two years\u2019 time, a weightage component can then be included to assign levels of alumni participation (low, medium or high).<\/p>\n

            However, the success of the framework rests on the quality of data \u2014 a challenge that vexes all universities. \u201cThe problem with building a good database is that it\u2019s hard to maintain the integrity of data. People can change jobs, get married, move house etc. at any time, and they may not think to inform us about it,\u201d admits Ms Hamidah Salleh, Senior Associate Director and Head, Administration, OAR.<\/p>\n

            The challenge is even harder for a university as large and old as NUS, with its legacy infrastructure. \u201cFor a long time, each faculty managed its own alumni database system. We\u2019re now trying to combine all of the disparate systems into one integrated database, but this will take time,\u201d says Ms Hamidah. OAR has launched a new, user-friendly IT system that makes it easier for alumni to update their particulars online themselves, which will hopefully bring about greater two-way participation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            NUS\u2019 alumni engagement has been on an upward trajectory in recent years. Whether it continues to rise depends in large part on the alumni themselves, and everyone else affiliated with the University.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4357,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leadership"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4348"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4348\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5040,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4348\/revisions\/5040"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4357"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}