The world has traversed a very rough patch and we
are now facing rising global issues which are complex,
multifaceted and interconnected such as climate
change, financial meltdown, depleting resources and
the ever growing population of people. Education
serves to enlighten, engage, and inspire. Through
education, people will gain a better understanding
of the world around them, and develop and harness
the skills, knowledge and understanding to live in,
work in, and shape a better global society.
To better equip our students, the University has
launched several bold initiatives where our students
could enjoy a multidimensional education experience
which will serve them well in today's changing
world. Ideas and subjects are no longer isolated,
but transformative and provide infinite pathways
for success and solution to the future.
The past year was marked by outstanding
achievements. The establishment of the Saw Swee
Hock School of Public Health is a major milestone
in public health education as it strives to develop
research capabilities towards improving the health of
Singaporeans and communities in Asia and beyond. With
four major domains and various interdisciplinary research
centres, the School's research programmes are able to
take advantage of their position within the National
University Health System, and draw upon resources from
both NUS and the National University Hospital. Yale-NUS
College continues to map out its plans to be a unique
liberal arts college, offering the best of East and West
perspectives as it recruits top talents and puts together
innovative pedagogies and a rigorous and global
curriculum for its inaugural batch of students in 2013.
NUS, together with the Agency for Science, Technology
and Research (A*STAR), launched two new research
programmes aimed at training skilled professionals in
Green Electronics which will equip NUS graduates with
the knowledge and skills to plan and design green data
centres and pioneer next-generation power devices for
green automotive and energy harvesting.
As part of our self-renewal exercise to ensure
that NUS has the best and most capable team to
helm its leadership, we welcome on board four new
prominent and respected industry leaders: Prof Chan
Heng Chee, Mr Andrew Lim, Mr Davinder Singh and
Mr Abdullah Tarmugi. Their diverse experiences and
enriching perspectives will certainly help to steer the
University as it continues to break new grounds and
create a positive impact on the society. I also wish to
record my sincere appreciation to Mr Hsieh Fu Hua,
LG (NS) Ng Yat Chung, Mr Lucien Wong and Dr Edison
Liu who have stepped down from the Board this year.
They were truly remarkable in shaping the direction
and thrust of the University following corporatisation
in 2006, and have demonstrated a great passion for
education and students.
Lastly, I would like to thank my fellow Board
Members for their valuable support, commitment
and dedication, the management and staff for their
cooperation and diligence, the alumni and benefactors
for their support and contributions in making the
past year a highly successful one. No doubt that the
University is poised for even greater things. As a saying
from Socrates goes, "Let him that would move the
world first move himself." Let us unite and take a
step forward in making the world a better place. |
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| Launch of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health |
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Lunch hosted for HRH Princess
Astrid of Belgium at the NUS Greater
Good Series forum |
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| Visit by Prof Ma Dexiu, Party Secretary
and University Council Chairperson
of Shanghai Jiao Tong University |
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| Conferment of Honorary Doctor
of Letters on Mr S R Nathan,
former Singapore President
and NUS Chancellor, at NUS
Commencement 2012 |
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