{"id":7807,"date":"2023-07-01T17:11:52","date_gmt":"2023-07-01T09:11:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/?p=7807"},"modified":"2025-07-15T16:07:57","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T08:07:57","slug":"up-up-and-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/2023\/07\/01\/up-up-and-away\/","title":{"rendered":"Up, Up and Away"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Members of this year\u2019s graduating cohort have witnessed some remarkable changes during their time at NUS. Not least of these was the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down the world and brought tech-enhanced learning into the mainstream. The University\u2019s quest for innovation has also yielded exciting discoveries, with students themselves attempting feats like solving climate change problems and how to responsibly harness big data. What\u2019s more, they have had a front-row seat to NUS\u2019 bold push for interdisciplinary education in recent years.\u00a0

As they join the workforce and enter the next stage of their lives, the University is likewise undergoing its own \u201cCommencement\u201d of sorts. A mostly new leadership team was appointed on 1 April 2023, and its members are currently strategising how to accelerate NUS\u2019 vision as \u201ca leading global university shaping the future\u201d. There have also been changes at the Office of Alumni Relations. Now led by Ms Ovidia Lim-Rajaram (Arts and Social Sciences \u201989), who took over as Chief Alumni Officer on 1 July, the team is exploring ideas to better serve NUS graduates and help them stay closely connected to their alma mater.\u00a0<\/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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Professor Liu Bin Deputy President (Research & Technology), Mr Clarence Ti Deputy President (Administration). Professor Tan Eng Chye NUS President, Professor Aaron Thean Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost, Professor Chen Tsuhan Deputy President (Innovation & Enterprise) (Photo: Mark Lee)<\/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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THE FAMOUS FIVE\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

Well before Professor Tan Eng Chye (Science \u201985) became President of NUS in 2018, the institution had been on a \u201cconsistently strong and upward trajectory\u201d, he says. \u201cWe are today a research-intensive university that is consistently top-ranked, with a global reputation for quality and excellence, thanks to our exceptionally talented colleagues and trailblazing students. We have also seeded an organisational culture that embraces change, drives advancement and fosters agility.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

Behind this dynamic culture, however, there must be a rock-solid management team \u2014 even when a renewal occurs. \u201cLeadership succession planning is crucial in preparing the next generation of leaders to deliver on NUS\u2019 vision and mission,\u201d Prof Tan explains. \u201cOur renewed leadership demonstrates NUS\u2019 commitment to have top talent at the helm to propel the University to greater heights.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

The current iteration of NUS\u2019 leadership is made up of two incumbents and three new appointees. Joining Prof Tan and Mr Clarence Ti, Deputy President (Administration) of NUS since 2021, are Professor Aaron Thean, Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost; Professor Chen Tsuhan, Deputy President (Innovation & Enterprise); and Professor Liu Bin (Science (PhD) \u201901), Deputy President (Research & Technology). Notably, all of the new appointees are already familiar with the inner workings of the University, thus helping ensure a smooth leadership transition.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\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 PRESIDENT’S PRIORITIES<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"<\/h4>

Professor Tan Eng Chye unveils his goals for the University in his second term as NUS President:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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  • Infuse\u00a0interdisciplinary learning<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0blended pedagogy<\/strong>\u00a0across the entire curricula.\u00a0<\/li>
  • Expand\u00a0experiential learning\u00a0<\/strong>opportunities both at home and abroad.<\/li>
  • Be a\u00a0global research leader<\/strong>\u00a0in key areas (e.g., health innovation, Smart Nation, materials research, sustainability and urban solutions).\u00a0<\/li>
  • Be a key node in the global\u00a0innovation and enterprise\u00a0<\/strong>ecosystem.\u00a0<\/li>
  • Seamlessly integrate\u00a0lifelong learning<\/strong>\u00a0with undergraduate education.\u00a0<\/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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    KNOCKING DOWN DISCIPLINARY WALLS\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

    Among the NUS faculty, Professor Aaron Thean has been one of the most prominent advocates for interdisciplinarity, or the practice of leveraging and integrating knowledge from different fields. Prior to his new appointment, Prof Thean served as founding Dean of the College of Design and Engineering (CDE), which was formed through a merger between the Faculty of Engineering (FoE) and the School of Design and Environment (SDE) in January 2022. It came on the heels of the College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) \u2014 an enhanced undergraduate experience for students of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) and the Faculty of Science (FoS) \u2014 which admitted its inaugural cohort in August 2021.\u00a0<\/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 shift to interdisciplinary learning requires crossing traditional academic boundaries and has radically transformed the way NUS shapes its curricula. But, as Prof Thean explains, \u201cIt addresses a bigger disruption happening around the world. Technologies and disciplines are converging much faster than before, and we need to prepare students for this work environment. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach is one of the most important things we can do to make them future-ready.\u201d\u00a0

    Both CHS and CDE are built on a distinctive Common Curriculum that imparts a broad range of foundational skills, such as design thinking, digital literacy, and community service and engagement. Based on their aptitude and interests, students also have the freedom to mix and match subjects across disciplines \u2014 even outside their home College \u2014 and chart their own pathways, be it specialising in a specific topic within their primary major or taking a variety of major and minor combinations.\u00a0<\/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 jobs of the not-too-distant future will invariably require individuals who can provide working solutions that leverage whatever information is available.\u00a0<\/h4>

    Prof Lionel Wee, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; and Co-Dean, College of Humanities and Sciences<\/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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    Despite being only a couple of years into this flexible curriculum, students at the two Colleges have responded positively and are actively seeking synergy and interplay between disciplines. For example, popular cross-faculty combinations of majors at CHS include Data Science and Economics, and Life Sciences and Psychology. Other students are pursuing more unusual pathways to graduation, such as Physics majors who read minors in languages. Feedback from FASS and FoS alumni has been similarly positive, with many demonstrating their support by contributing to mentorship and career preparation programmes.\u00a0

    \u201cThe jobs of the not-too-distant future will invariably require individuals who can provide working solutions that leverage whatever information is available,\u201d says Professor Lionel Wee (Arts and Social Sciences \u201988), Dean of FASS and Co-Dean of CHS. Take the fast-growing sustainability sector, for instance \u2014 sustainability issues are very complex, and solving these requires the ability to look at the bigger picture and consider not just environmental but also political, economic, social and technological factors. \u201cWe make our students comfortable with looking across different domains for relevant ideas and information, and combining these towards the best possible solutions,\u201d Prof Wee notes.\u00a0<\/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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    \"\"MIXING & MATCHING\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/h4><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    • From the\u00a0CHS<\/strong>\u00a0cohorts of 2021 and 2022,\u00a082.8%<\/strong>\u00a0are pursuing either a double degree, double major or minor.\u00a0<\/li>
    • Around\u00a050%\u00a0<\/strong>of\u00a0CDE<\/strong>\u00a0students are already using the flexible curriculum to attain additional qualifications.\u00a0<\/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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      His fellow Co-Dean, FoS\u2019 Dean Professor Sun Yeneng, adds that interdisciplinary training lends a competitive advantage in an uncertain future of work: \u201cJust as we are now grappling with the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, on our work and livelihoods, I envisage that the job market will continue to be shaped and impacted by disruptive technologies in the future, requiring our graduates to be adaptable to change. CHS offers an education that prepares our students for a wide variety of career opportunities, and even for new occupations that will emerge as the job market evolves.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

      Over at CDE, students have also responded warmly to the revamped curriculum. One of its most popular undergraduate offerings is the Innovation & Design Programme (i<\/em>DP). Available as a second major or a minor, it equips aspiring technopreneurs with the tools and processes to create new products and services, from ideation to prototyping. \u201cThe\u00a0i<\/em>DP gives students across different disciplines the opportunity to work in teams to solve real-world problems through project-based learning in areas such as healthcare, sustainable cities and urban mobility,\u201d says Professor Teo Kie Leong (Engineering (PhD) \u201997), Acting Dean and Deputy Dean (Academic Affairs & Education) of CDE. \u201cEngineering students have learnt much from the perspectives shared by Architecture and Design teammates [and vice versa]. Such collaborative work benefits their learning journey and builds the skills needed to deal with an increasingly interconnected workforce.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

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      I envisage that the job market will continue to be shaped and impacted by disruptive technologies in the future, requiring our graduates to be adaptable to change.<\/h4>

      Prof Sun Yeneng, Dean, Faculty of Science; and Co-Dean, College of Humanities and Sciences<\/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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      More new courses are being developed by CDE and CHS \u2014 particularly in growth industries, such as sustainability, computing, data science, health sciences, food science and technology, and the care economy \u2014 with some set to debut in the coming academic year. Looking beyond the two Colleges, NUS eventually plans to make interdisciplinarity a central feature across all faculties and schools by implementing the Common Curriculum at scale. Tech-enhanced learning will go a long way towards achieving this. For instance, the CHS Common Curriculum has innovative modules that use a blend of pre-recorded lectures and \u201clive\u201d Zoom conversations with instructors, or combine small-group field trips to various sites in Singapore with virtual reality (VR) field trips. As Prof Thean says, it is about \u201cfinessing, fine-tuning and amplifying\u201d the good work that has already been done.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\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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      Collaborative work benefits [the students\u2019] learning journey and builds the skills needed to deal with an increasingly interconnected workforce.\u00a0<\/h4>

      Prof Teo Kie Leong, Acting Dean and Deputy Dean (Academic Affairs & Education), College of Design and Engineering<\/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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      Minister for Education Mr Chan Chun Sing (centre) graced the official launch of NUS College with Prof Simon Chesterman (far right) and other NUS officials on 20 February 2023.<\/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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      ACADEMICS AND BEYOND\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

      A full educational experience does not stop at attending lectures, completing assignments and sitting for exams. Other aspects \u2014 including friendships and connections, student life, and work immersion and overseas opportunities \u2014 are just as, if not more, memorable. \u201cI believe there is a strong relationship between what students experience at university and how they ultimately turn out as graduates and successful adults,\u201d says Prof Thean about the role of student life in education. \u201cWe need to better understand this correlation and pursue avenues for innovation in student engagement.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

      Irrespective of faculty or school, all NUS students are offered experiential learning in the form of internships, overseas study programmes and co-curricular activities. Following the greater emphasis on building and supporting mental wellness and resilience, the University set up a Health & Wellbeing team that focuses on providing counselling services as well as wellness consultancy and resources for staff and students. Different housing options have also created a vibrant student community who live on campus.\u00a0<\/p>

      Many of those living on campus are based in UTown\u2019s residential colleges, where students from diverse disciplines and backgrounds live and learn together through a specially curated academic curriculum. Taking this concept one step further is the new NUS College (NUSC) \u2014 the University\u2019s first honours college with a rigorous, broad-based curriculum and a strong residential component. NUSC welcomed its first batch of close to 400 students from all over the world in August 2022, taking up six to seven per cent of the entire undergraduate cohort.\u00a0<\/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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      \"\"\u00a0 NUS COLLEGE LIFE\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/h4><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      • Starting this August, NUSC will guarantee residency on campus for the\u00a0first 3 years of a local student\u2019s candidature<\/strong>, up from the current two-year stay.\u00a0<\/li>
      • International students<\/strong>\u00a0without a home address in Singapore will be guaranteed residence at NUSC throughout all\u00a04 years<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/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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        NUSC combines the best features of the former University Scholars Programme and Yale-NUS College (which will close its doors in 2025, after its current students have graduated). Students can choose from more than 50 majors offered by other colleges, faculties and schools within NUS, while setting aside about a third of their degree requirements for the NUSC curriculum. What really sets this curriculum apart is its array of special experiential programmes that reflect NUSC\u2019s mission to \u201cbreak open the classroom\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>

        For example, the\u00a0Global Experience<\/em>\u00a0(GEx) course enables students to go on themed visits to major cities around the world and interact with local academics, researchers, entrepreneurs, start-ups and community organisations. It takes place over one month during the summer vacation. This year, NUSC students are travelling to cities like Stockholm (under the \u201cEnvironment and Sustainability\u201d theme) and Tokyo (\u201cCity, Culture and Technology\u201d).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

        Another flagship programme at NUSC is the\u00a0Impact Experience<\/em>\u00a0(IEx) course, where students form interdisciplinary teams and work with community partners to co\u2011develop solutions to pressing community problems, either in Singapore or regionally. Each team tackles a cause it is passionate about, such as environmental and cultural conservation, digital social good, food security, or healthcare and housing accessibility. The capstone course spans one to two years so that student teams have ample time to design, plan, pitch and execute their projects, hopefully culminating in sustained social impact.\u00a0\u201cThe complex problems of today, like AI, climate change and inequality, require people from diverse disciplines to work together to solve them. Success in the world \u2014 as well as solving its problems \u2014 depends on more than just one smart person acting alone. NUSC embraces that challenge by bringing together \u2018un-likeminded\u2019 students to address real-world problems,\u201d says Professor Simon Chesterman, Dean of NUSC and Vice Provost (Educational Innovation) of NUS.\u00a0<\/p>

        He adds, \u201cThe only constant these days is change. There are many \u2018unknown unknowns\u2019, and we don\u2019t know what new jobs will emerge in the next five years. But what we can do is give students the skills, perspectives, values and friends to help them confront whatever lies ahead \u2014 the ability to see a problem from diverse viewpoints, to engage with diverse actors, and to be flexible and resilient.\u201d\u00a0<\/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 don\u2019t know what new jobs will emerge in the next five years. But what we can do is give students the skills, perspectives, values and friends to help them confront whatever lies ahead.\u00a0<\/h4>

        Prof Simon Chesterman, Dean, NUS College; and Vice Provost (Educational Innovation) Education), College of Design and Engineering<\/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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        Dr Fatima babysitting for a local villager in Battambang.<\/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
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        FRIENDS NEAR AND FAR<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>

        Close to 15,000 students make up the Class of 2023. Meet one of them \u2014 Dr Fatima Siddiqui, 24, a newly-minted doctor from NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine).<\/strong><\/p>

        Congratulations on completing your medical degree! How is work going so far?\u00a0
        Dr Fatima:\u00a0<\/strong>It\u2019s exciting but a little terrifying. The hours are long, and having patients put their trust in me is a big responsibility, but that\u2019s what makes it so rewarding. Knowing that I have the support of my colleagues also energises me. After I finish my housemanship, I plan to pursue postgraduate training under the specialist track, although I\u2019m still exploring which area to specialise in.\u00a0<\/p>

        Community service is strongly encouraged at NUS Medicine. Did you take part in any volunteer initiatives?<\/strong>
        Dr Fatima:\u00a0<\/strong>Yes! The one closest to my heart is Project Sothea, an overseas community service project run by NUS medical students. We collaborate with Cambodian counterparts and non-governmental organisations to provide health screening and education to rural villages in Battambang, Cambodia. I\u2019m proud of the effort we put in to make every small interaction special, including those with Cambodian students who became our friends. It was a transformative experience, and I\u2019m excited to continue contributing in a different capacity, as a volunteer doctor.\u00a0

        How do you see yourself staying connected to the University?\u00a0<\/strong>
        Dr Fatima:\u00a0<\/strong>The student community at NUS Medicine is very supportive, especially around exam time. Seniors \u2014 including alumni \u2014 guide juniors on what and how to study, and run mock exams; while juniors volunteer as simulated patients or create a snack corner in the library for their seniors. As an alumna, I hope to continue mentoring juniors, academically or otherwise. It\u2019s important to pass on the kindness we\u2019ve benefited from and to keep this culture of support intact.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\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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        FUELLING THE INNOVATION PIPELINE\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

        The fact that NUS has gained renown as a research-intensive university owes much to Professor Chen Tsuhan, who has been instrumental in carrying out its well-thought-out research strategy over the past five years. As the former Deputy President (Research & Technology), he oversaw all research activities across the University\u2019s colleges, faculties and schools, research institutes and centres, as well as corporate laboratories and technology consortia. These broad-based research efforts and resources have been pooled into key research clusters that meet the national agenda, most notably the Smart Nation cluster. With Prof Liu Bin taking on the role of Deputy President (Research & Technology), she will work in concert with Prof Chen, who is now Deputy President (Innovation & Enterprise), to ensure NUS remains at the forefront of research and innovation.\u00a0<\/p>

        Prof Liu singles out three research areas that have the potential to grow and join the Smart Nation cluster as \u201cmega clusters\u201d in the coming years:\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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        1. Sustainability: <\/strong>Programmes focus on areas like agri-food technology, coastal protection, nature-based climate solutions, water management, urban heat resilience and green energy. <\/li>\n
        2. Materials: <\/strong>NUS is designing, developing and synthesising advanced and intelligent functional materials for a wide range of smart applications.<\/li>\n
        3. Health innovation: <\/strong>Pioneering research in health science and medicine to transform scientific insights into tangible health benefits.  <\/li><\/ol><\/div>\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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          Within each integrated cluster, researchers work in project teams that cut across disciplines \u2014 and collaborate with external partners in government, industry and international institutions \u2014 to innovate and develop applicable and scalable solutions.\u00a0<\/p>

          \u201cNUS has visible peaks of excellence. But we need more groundbreaking and new field-opening research to lead future \u2018hot\u2019 areas,\u201d says Prof Liu, who most recently served as Senior Vice Provost (Faculty & Institutional Development) of NUS. She also believes there is room for improvement when translating fundamental research into practical applications. Hosting more \u201cliving labs\u201d on campus \u2014 open innovation ecosystems where NUS researchers and students work with multiple stakeholders to co-create, testbed and scale up solutions in a realistic operational environment, refining these as they go \u2014 may hold the answer.\u00a0<\/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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          ADMIN EXCELLENCE\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong> \u00a0 \"\"\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/h4>

          Besides President Prof Tan, the other incumbent on NUS\u2019 senior leadership team is Deputy President (Administration), Mr Clarence Ti. He highlights three major administrative undertakings between now and 2027 to support the University\u2019s transformation: \u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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          1. Investing heavily in IT<\/strong>\u00a0to introduce new and better services for students and staff, and build faster supercomputers to support research.\u00a0<\/li>
          2. Building numerous practice leadership areas<\/strong>, such as sustainability, health and well-being, cybersecurity, and digital enablement.\u00a0<\/li>
          3. Developing talent more systematically<\/strong>\u00a0with leadership programmes, skills development plans, staff experience maps, and flourishing communities of practice.\u00a0<\/li><\/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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            On the entrepreneurial side, Prof Chen says, \u201cInnovation and entrepreneurship provide a platform to take ideas out of the lab and into the marketplace, where they can make a real impact on society. This is particularly exciting in a higher education setting because universities are often hotbeds of cutting-edge research. By connecting the dots between research and innovation, I hope to drive NUS forward in this exciting space.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

            Prof Chen points to the proliferation of start-ups coming out of NUS, as well as the significant external funding these have received, as a testament to the University\u2019s achievements in research commercialisation. Many companies had their beginnings in the undergraduate-level NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programme, with NOC alumni subsequently founding successful start-ups like Carousell, Patsnap, ShopBack and Zopim. Another game-changer is the NUS Graduate Research Innovation Programme (GRIP), which supports postgraduate students and research staff in launching deep\u2011tech spin\u2011offs.\u00a0<\/p>

            \u201cI\u2019m working closely with my NUS Enterprise colleagues to identify areas for enhancement and streamline initiatives along three key pillars: NUS Enterprise Academy, Ecosystem Builder, and Technology Transfer and Innovation. This will bring greater clarity to help our start-ups and stakeholders better navigate and participate in our ecosystem,\u201d Prof Chen explains. \u201cSingapore\u2019s Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 (RIE2025) plan gives impetus for us to rethink how we can bridge the gap between academia and industry to ensure that our research is translated into practical solutions that benefit society.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

            Of course, all this hinges on securing the right talent and infrastructure. Both professors aim to bring faculty and researchers closer into NUS\u2019 innovation and enterprise ecosystem. Being acclaimed researchers themselves \u2014 Prof Chen in AI and Prof Liu in functional materials \u2014 will certainly help, as they are intimately acquainted with the challenges involved and know exactly what is needed to bring ideas to fruition. Adds Prof Liu, \u201cSocial scientists have an important role to play in addressing complex challenges, such as climate change and sustainability. I hope to create sparks between STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and non-STEM researchers by facilitating extensive research collaborations.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/div><\/div>\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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            STRENGTHENING THE ALUMNI NETWORK\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

            Taking over the reins at the NUS Office of Alumni Relations (OAR) is Ms Ovidia Lim-Rajaram (Arts and Social Sciences \u201989), who left her post as NUS Chief Communications Officer to take on this new challenge. Not only does that make her the first-ever Chief Alumni Officer of NUS, she is also the first female alumni leader in the University\u2019s history.

            Ms Lim-Rajaram heads a refreshed team at OAR. Together, they coordinate myriad outreach and engagement programmes for the close to 350,000-strong global alumni community. Ongoing initiatives \u2014 including the support given to Alumni Groups and Overseas Chapters, the always-popular thought leadership talks by NUS professors, and other events and activities \u2014 will carry on under the new leadership. This is in addition to the efforts taken elsewhere at NUS, such as inviting NOC and GRIP alumni back to mentor younger batches, or having alumni provide internship opportunities to students from the same faculty.\u00a0

            \u201cAt the same time, we\u2019re exploring more meaningful ways of engaging with our alumni, both in Singapore and overseas. We hope to get to know them better and adopt a data-informed approach to alumni engagement, so that we can do things that will resonate with them,\u201d says Ms Lim-Rajaram. While grateful for the steadfast support shown by senior alumni towards OAR\u2019s events and activities, she notes, \u201cThe profile of our alumni has been changing with every NUS Commencement. Today, more than 45 per cent of our alumni are under 40, so we\u2019re looking into how we can help them better navigate the different stages of career and life.\u201d\u00a0

            In today\u2019s workplace, where upskilling and interdisciplinary knowledge are essential to stay industry-relevant, the alumni-only NUS Lifelong Learners (L3<\/sup>) programme becomes even more important. L3<\/sup>\u00a0makes student enrolment valid for 20 years and beyond from the point of undergraduate or postgraduate admission. Alumni can thus enjoy discounted access to hundreds of Continuing Education and Training (CET) courses provided by NUS colleges, faculties and schools. These vary in duration and delivery mode, and cover in-demand skills required by Industry 4.0 as well as the green, digital and care economies. \u201cLooking ahead, we could pilot new ideas to incorporate campus life into CET programmes,\u201d Prof Thean suggests.\u00a0

            This forward-thinking mindset, and such willingness to experiment and innovate, is the very reason behind the University\u2019s leadership renewal. \u201cIn the midst of a global environment that is constantly changing, it is crucial to be nimble,\u201d says NUS President Prof Tan. \u201cI am confident my senior leadership colleagues can bring fresh and excellent ideas to the table to keep NUS energised and at the top of its game.\u201d\u00a0<\/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 hope to get to know [alumni] better and adopt a data-informed approach to alumni engagement, so that we can do things that will resonate with them.\u00a0<\/h4>

            Ms Ovidia Lim-Rajaram, Chief Alumni Officer.\u00a0<\/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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            \"\"<\/strong><\/h5>
            NUS aims to eventually have around\u00a03,500\u00a0NUS alumni enrol in a course each year, encouraging graduates to return at least every 5 years.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/h5><\/div>\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":"

            July marks the start of a new era for NUS in more ways than one \u2014 for its graduands, who are about to enter the \u201creal world\u201d; for students and faculty, who can expect innovative developments on the academic and research front under new leadership; and for its alumni, who have a new leader to rethink the way they engage with their alma mater.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7808,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7807","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\/7807","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=7807"}],"version-history":[{"count":108,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7807\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7964,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7807\/revisions\/7964"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}