As the University Town opens its door to welcome its first batch of students, an important milestone is reached in NUS' continuous journey of excellence, a journey that began more than 100 years ago when it welcomed its first batch of 23 medical students.
First of its kind in Singapore and adapted from leading residential colleges in the world, the University Town will combine the vibrancy of campus living with an exciting learning experience in a global setting – one that fosters a spirit of adventure, inquiry and enterprise.
While the fast changing global higher education landscape poses unprecedented challenges for the University, it also opens up boundless opportunities. NUS has to be bold to navigate uncharted waters and break new ground to stay competitive. Remaining stagnant is not an option. As the saying goes – A young man who graduated yesterday and stops learning today will be uneducated tomorrow.
The Yale-NUS College, Singapore's first liberal arts college, marks yet another landmark development for the University in this direction. NUS and Yale
University, two leading universities with distinctive strengths, bring together a new and unique model of residential liberal arts education by combining Asian and Western traditions that is unparalleled and exciting for the future.
To move to where the action is and to transform opportunities into ground-breaking realities, the Board, through the various sub-committees and working in close partnership with Management, continues to provide guidance and direction on key strategic issues. This include recruitment of top-notch
faculty members, development of an excellent campus infrastructure, continuous enhancements of good governance practices and procedures, prudent and sound management of the endowment fund, and cultivating a vibrant entrepreneurial community. Recognising the importance of building sustainable resources, the Board launched the "NUS University Town Founding Benefactors" programme last year to raise funds for students and academic support at University Town.
As we embark on new opportunities, it is essential that the Board constantly renews itself to ensure that NUS has the best and most capable team to shape its vision and chart its direction. I welcome on board three new members: Ms Chong Siak Ching, Mr Peter Ho and Dr Teh Kok Peng. They bring to NUS diverse experience and perspective that will undoubtedly serve us well.
I also wish to record my sincere appreciation to three Board members who have stepped down: Mr Chandra Mohan provided a decade of dedicated service and established an important link to the alumni community; Ms Olivia Lum, a world-class entrepreneur, helped to nurture and develop a vibrant community to support aspiring entrepreneurs; and Mdm Halimah Yacob, a vocal champion on issues relating to the lower income group, has always reminded us that university education should remain affordable to all so that no NUS student would be deprived of a university education on the grounds of financial hardship.
Finally, to my fellow Board Members and the NUS community, I would like to register my heartfelt thanks for your unwavering support and commitment in NUS' continuing transformation and pursuit of excellence.
