{"id":902,"date":"2024-09-30T02:49:15","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T02:49:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webdesigninsg.com\/nif\/alumnus\/?p=902"},"modified":"2025-07-28T15:04:05","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T07:04:05","slug":"nus-homecoming-2024-a-day-of-reconnection-and-fun-for-alumni-and-families","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/2024\/09\/30\/nus-homecoming-2024-a-day-of-reconnection-and-fun-for-alumni-and-families\/","title":{"rendered":"NUS Homecoming 2024: A Day of Reconnection and Fun for Alumni and Families"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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It was a day of celebration for more than 2,100 alumni and friends who gathered for NUS Homecoming on 21 September 2024. Organised by the NUS Office of Alumni Relations, the event held at University Town allowed alumni to rediscover the campus and rekindle old friendships in an atmosphere that balanced fond memories with exciting new experiences. The half-day event was filled with engaging activities, making it a meaningful and joyous occasion for everyone involved.

The morning started with a lively panel discussion, \u201cLegends in the Room: Turning 60 \u2013 Singapore at the Crossroads\u201d, held at the Stephen Riady Centre. Distinguished speakers Professor Wang Gungwu (Arts \u201853, MA \u201856, Hon.Litt.D. \u201822), Mr Kishore Mahbubani (Arts and Social Sciences \u201871), Emeritus Professor Tan Tai Yong (Arts and Social Sciences \u201886, MA \u201889) and moderator Mr Soh Yi Da (Arts and Social Sciences and USP ’14) delved into Singapore\u2019s remarkable journey from a fledgling nation to a global powerhouse. The panel explored key challenges faced by Singapore and the strategic moves it needs to take to ensure future success.<\/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 left): Speakers Mr Kishore Mahbubani, Distinguished Fellow at the NUS Asia Research Institute; University Professsor Wang Gungwu; Emeritus Professor Tan Tai Yong, Chairman of the NUS Institute of South Asian Studies and President of the Singapore University of Social Sciences; and moderator Mr Soh Yi Da, Associate Director, Strategic Government and Institutional Relations, Singtel, participated in the \u201cLegends in the Room: Turning 60 \u2013 Singapore at the Crossroads\u201d panel.<\/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 Anita Suresh (Science \u201800) shared her excitement about attending the session, which featured notable NUS alumni. \u201cIt’s good to know how Singapore has progressed over the years as it turns 60 next year, and how we can continue progressing as a nation,\u201d she said. As an alumni mentor, Ms Suresh was also intrigued by the electric race car on display as part of the\u00a0College of Design and Engineering (CDE)<\/a>\u2019s Technology Showcase, noting that it helped her stay connected to what current NUS students are passionate about.<\/p>

Diverse activities included tours of\u00a0Residential College 4<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Satellite Technology and Research Centre at CDE<\/a>, a lecture on NUS wildlife, and a talk on successful negotiation strategies. The \u201cTaking Your Career to the Next Level\u201d and executive coaching workshops, conducted by the\u00a0Centre for Future-ready Graduates<\/a>, offered attendees practical career advice. Other events, such as the\u00a0NUS College<\/a>\u00a0Annual Reunion and the Manila Alumni Network & Friends Gathering, provided an opportunity for reunion and connection.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>

Mr Richard D. Tan (Public Policy \u201813), Chairperson of the Manila Alumni Network, noted that he \u201cparticularly enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni, not only those from Manila but also fellow Filipinos based in Singapore. It was wonderful to share stories, network, and build a stronger sense of community. The event reinforced how NUS has brought together such a diverse and accomplished group of people.\u201d<\/p>

All-round fun for everyone<\/strong><\/p>

Carnival booths, start-up exhibitions, and interactive activities were a hit with the participants, creating unforgettable memories for alumni and their families. Kids had a blast on the bouncy castle and enjoyed special screenings of\u00a0Kung Fu Panda 4<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0The Garfield Movie<\/em>, while adults participated in a wine appreciation workshop over at Town Plaza, where the atmosphere was electric with performances by talented alumni bands and groups. Alumni musicians from the University\u2019s student arts groups comprising the Chinese Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, and Wind Symphony also took part in Orchestral Readings organised by the\u00a0NUS Centre for the Arts<\/a>, adding a touch of musical delight.<\/p>

Mr Dave Jalpan (Engineering \u201811) was glad to attend Homecoming. A first-time attendee, he especially liked the many family-friendly activities on the programme. \u201cIt’s good to come back to campus once in a while as it brings back fond memories of my student days here,\u201d he shared. The event gave him the chance to reconnect with old friends while creating new memories with his loved ones.<\/p>

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NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye provided the welcome remarks during the NUS Homecoming Lunch.<\/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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At the NUS Homecoming Lunch, several milestones were celebrated: the 95th anniversaries of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the\u00a0Faculty of Dentistry<\/a>, and the\u00a0Faculty of Science<\/a>; the 20th anniversary of\u00a0Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy<\/a>; and the 10th anniversaries of\u00a0Ridge View Residential College<\/a>\u00a0and Residential College 4.<\/p>

Ms Ovidia Lim-Rajaram (Arts & Social Sciences \u201889), NUS Chief Alumni Officer, emphasised the significance of events such as Homecoming in fostering a sense of community. \u201cHomecoming is a wonderful opportunity for our alumni to return to campus and celebrate their shared bond with the University,\u201d she said. Ms Lim-Rajaram also highlighted the success of the NUS Innovation Forum (NIF), launched last year as a global platform to engage alumni, academics and thought leaders on pressing issues. \u201cWe\u2019ve already held the Forum in Manila and San Francisco, and next year, we plan to bring it to Vietnam, Japan and Indonesia,\u201d she shared.<\/p>

During the event, Professor Tan Eng Chye (Science \u201885), NUS President, acknowledged the growing demands of an increasingly interconnected and complex world. He emphasised how these changes also shape the evolving needs of the alumni community. \u201cIn July, we announced that NUS would provide a 40 per cent rebate on over 80 self-funded Master\u2019s programmes for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents,\u201d Prof Tan shared. \u201cAs more of our alumni seek to update their skills and embrace new career opportunities, we hope this initiative encourages you to return to NUS for your lifelong learning.\u201d He also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary learning to equip students to approach complex problems and adapt to changing industries.

From family fun at the carnival booths to thought-provoking talks and engaging performances, NUS Homecoming 2024 wrapped up on a high note as alumni reminisced about their student days and explored new interests. The lively atmosphere made it clear that NUS will always be a place to return to as the attendees look forward to more reunions and memories in the years to come.<\/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<\/h6>
This article first appeared in\u00a0NUS News<\/a>\u00a0on 30 September 2024.\u00a0<\/h6>\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":"

From thought-provoking panel discussions to live music and movie screenings, the event allowed alumni to renew old bonds and forge new connections in a day packed with exciting activities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":905,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-902","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni-happenings","category-news-events"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/902","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=902"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/902\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1061,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/902\/revisions\/1061"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/905"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=902"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=902"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=902"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}