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Swiss Evening @ NUS

The Benefactor’s Foyer at the NUS Shaw Foundation Alumni House was abuzz on 4th September with the tantalizing aroma of Swiss cheeses, Swiss beer and an assortment of food. ‘Swiss Evening @ NUS’ was organised by Swissnex Singapore in collaboration with University of St Gallen and the NUS International Relations Office.

In its 8th year, this traditional welcome event by Swissnex Singapore and University of St. Gallen saw the coming together for the first time of not only Swiss students in Singapore but also NUS students and tertiary students from the other Singapore universities. Swiss students who participated in the event were from the University of St. Gallen, attending the Asia Term at the Singapore Management University as well as students participating in a variety of programmes at the other Singapore universities.

Mr Peter Zimmerli, Deputy Head of Mission and Counsellor from the Embassy of Switzerland, Mr Matthias Schaub, Executive Director of the St. Gallen Institute, Dr Suzanne Hraba-Renevey, Executive Director of Swissnex Singapore as well as Associate Professor Anne Pakir, Director of the NUS International Relations Office graced the event.

Cheng Mun Yi from the NUS School of Design & Environment shared about her interesting exchange experience to ETH Zurich while Koh Ming Zhen an alumni of St. Gallen University shared her experiences as a full time Masters student in Switzerland.

Both sharing sessions attracted much attention from the students present at the networking session. The students commented on the perfect opportunity that the event provided for them to mingle, share experiences as well as contacts within both the local and Swiss academia and business communities. Mun Yi said that Swiss Night allowed her to network with other NUS students as well as Swiss students who have shared similar experiences with her in Switzerland.

IRO Director Associate Professor Anne Pakir spoke of the growing connections between Switzerland and Singapore on the education and research fronts and hoped for the networking platform to pave the way towards new bonds, ties and friendships

Dr Suzanne Hraba-Renevey said that the event will continue to feature on the Swissnex Singapore calendar on an annual basis and that Swissnex Singapore will work with the Singapore tertiary institutions to continue to bring even greater awareness to the event.

 

The eager crowd of students and guests awaiting the start of the programme

A/Prof Anne Pakir, NUS International Relations Office giving her welcome remarks to the guests and students