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THE NUS DIFFERENCE
2007 celebrates NUS' first successful year as a corporatised institution. In light of the highly competitive and fast-changing higher educational landscape, the decision to corporatise has proven to be timely. In the year under review, the University was able to respond with flexibility to challenges that came its way and took on opportunities that presented themselves with deft agility. The achievements of the past year demonstrated the responsibility and ownership with which the community took upon themselves to better realise the University's vision and mission. In so doing, we have stamped an emerging distinctiveness, that is increasingly being recognised as the NUS difference.
COMPELLED TO BE DIFFERENT
The burning question that faced the University in the year was: What is the NUS difference? Can NUS differentiate itself against a line-up of universities that is better and longer established? We found the answer right here on home ground. The prosperous nation we call home was the best precedent we could have. Like Singapore, we will set out to prove that size is certainly no obstacle to achieving greatness. Following Singapore's example of capitalising on meritocracy for strength, we have identified three guiding principles that will determine the outcome of all our undertakings –purpose, passion and perseverance. A clear sense of purpose to set us on the right track of becoming a global knowledge enterprise, passion to keep us focused in achieving our overarching objective and perseverance to sustain us in our quest for excellence.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Our relentless pursuit of excellence has been acknowledged. In 2006, QS World University Rankings declared NUS as one of the World's Top 20 universities, an accolade awarded to only three Asian universities. By the same token, NUS appeared as one of Asia's top three universities in the same ranking which was conducted by the Times Higher Education Supplement. NUS' international reputation and standing are due, in no small measure, to the many strategic partnerships forged with leading universities and industry players. Engaging and working with them have enabled us to further our research efforts as well as fine-tune our educational programmes. Such partnerships have also increased our visibility in the global and international academia arena. A fact not lost on internationally-distributed Newsweek when it ranked NUS amongst the top three universities in Asia and Australasia. In looking forward to mark us out more distinctively, we are setting our sights on G-10-10 – a master plan to achieve ten great programmes or departments in the next 10 years. Besides committing substantial resources to reinforce our efforts in this direction, our strategic approach is to become more than a good university.
DARING TO BE DIFFERENT
The term “university” stems from the Latin phrase universitas magistrorum et scholarium, which means a “community of teachers and scholars”. A good university is one that is dedicated to facilitating knowledge exchange within its community. A great university, however, is one that transcends teaching. It transforms lives through the imparting of knowledge. A great university develops the individual; it moves society forward with its contributions. In making a difference, the university finds it own completeness. But the cycle never ends. This is the NUS difference we strive for.
APPRECIATION
For seeing NUS through the first leg of its journey in a new chapter, I am indebted to members of the Board of Trustees, management, faculty members, staff, students, alumni and benefactors. Together, we can realise the NUS Difference.
WONG NGIT LIONG
Chairman, Board of Trustees
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