NUS Council Deputy Chairman Mr Wong Ah Long presenting the award to DPM Dr Tan

Visionary Architect of Singapore's University Sector

Several days ago, NUS ushered in its Centennial Celebrations. The year-long series of events celebrates the University's transformation from a medical school that began with 23 students in 1905 to a respected global university, just one hundred years on.

In commemorating this significant milestone for tertiary education in Singapore, we want to recognize those who have made exceptional contributions to the development and standing of NUS as well as to society, Singapore and beyond. In this respect, one individual stands out. He is our Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Security and Defence, and Minister in charge of Singapore's universities, Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam.

DPM Tan has been both a visionary and the architect in the transformation of Singapore's university sector. He articulated a compelling vision of Singapore's universities as world-class institutions and cornerstones of excellence in education, research and entrepreneurship. Dr Tan's vision has inspired and energized NUS.

The Alumnus Who Returned To Serve Alma Mater

NUS is proud to count DPM Tan as truly one of our own. His close association with our University stretches back more than four decades. The young Tony Tan was among the pioneer batch of students from our predecessor institution, the University of Singapore. He distinguished himself in scholarship, graduating with a First Class Honours degree and the top student in Physics in 1962. After obtaining his Masters degree on an Asia Foundation Scholarship from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he returned to his alma mater as a Physics lecturer. He went on to pursue doctoral study at the University of Adelaide, completing it within two years and returning to serve his alma mater again, this time in the Department of Mathematics.

It was the University's loss when Dr Tan left academia for world of banking, although it was to be only for a decade.

The Alumnus Who Served Singapore

In February 1979, Dr Tan heeded the call to serve the country when he stood for elections and became a Member for Parliament. With his experience and insight into the education sector, Dr Tan was appointed Senior Minister of State for Education. In June 1980, in addition to his portfolio as Minister for Education, Dr Tan took on the role as the first Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Singapore formed by the merger of Nanyang University and the University of Singapore. Dr Tan is the youngest Vice-Chancellor in the history of our University.

Having seen NUS through its first critical year, Dr Tan relinquished his position as Vice-Chancellor in May 1981. His role did not end there. Dr Tan continued to exercise oversight and champion the development of higher education in Singapore as Minister-in-charge of the university sector for more than two decades, with a break from December 1991 to August 1995 when he stepped down from his Cabinet appointments. His deep understanding of the culture and workings of the university as well as his commitment to the universities' cause have made him a friend and supporter of the universities.

Dr Tan's passion for universities and their role in society runs deep in the family tree. Let me share an interesting piece of information that I just discovered. NUS is 100 years old today because of the efforts of a small group of local citizens who raised $87,000 to establish Singapore's first medical school in 1905. This group of exemplary individuals was led by Mr Tan Jiak Kim – Dr Tan's great grandfather.

Beyond his pivotal role in the educational sector, Dr Tan has served Singapore as a Cabinet Minister in several other portfolios such as Finance, Trade and Industry, Health, and Defence over two decades. His achievements in these portfolios have been well-documented and time does not permit me to cite them all.

A Visionary Leader for Singapore's Education Sector

In serving Singapore, Dr Tan exercised bold leadership, living out his words that "It is better for us to grasp the nettle by the thorns and change the system so that we can keep our education system abreast and up to date, and prepare our students to face the future with confidence".

As Minister for Education, Dr Tan reformed Singapore's education system. He set up independent schools, and introduced pastoral care and career guidance in our schools. He made university education accessible to more Singaporeans regardless of financial situation or family background. To this end, Dr Tan ensured that public and private sector support for promoting academic excellence and supporting research at NUS would be encouraged through tax incentives and government matching grants when he inaugurated the Universities Endowment Fund in 1991.

Dr Tan has been a consistent advocate of the crucial role of education and research for wealth creation in a knowledge-based economy, particularly as Singapore underwent economic restructuring in the 1980s and 90s.

Dr Tan has been the force behind the globalization of Singapore's university sector. To enable the universities to contribute to the country's long-term sustainable growth and competitiveness in the world economy, DPM Tan has charted the broad direction for a fundamental reform of the university sector. This reform will lead to greater autonomy for the universities, to better position them to be more responsive, to carve out their own niches and to attract talent in a dynamic and globalizing university landscape.

Honoring an Exceptional Alumnus

Throughout his academic, professional and political life, Dr Tan has made great impact on the universities, Singapore and beyond. He has used his keen intellect, deep insights and bold vision to make a difference in all that he was entrusted with.

This evening, NUS is proud and privileged to present to DPM Tan two awards. Firstly, the Centennial Torch – a symbol of his inspiring leadership of higher education and research in Singapore and for his abiding support for NUS. To this eminent alumnus who has been an inspiration to us, NUS owes a special debt of gratitude.

The second award is one that is a little closer to home. Over the years, Dr Tan has been with us at many University events and given steadfast support as an alumnus. For his achievements and contributions to his alma mater, to education, and to Singapore and beyond, NUS is honored to confer an inaugural NUS Eminent Alumni Award on Dr Tony Tan.