Growing up with almost 20 cousins, Associate Professor Mohamed Elmie Bin Nekmat was determined to be the first in his extended family to make it to university. But when he failed his A-levels, his dream was dashed.
While serving National Service, however, he found a source of support in his reporting officer, who encouraged and allowed him to take time off to study. He then retook the A-level exams, got into NUS, and is today an Associate Professor at the NUS Department of Communications and New Media.
Assoc Prof Elmie’s story is one among many personal journeys shared by Singaporean faculty members at NUS’s Singapore Academic Network (SAN) National Day Celebration Lunch on 20 August 2026.
Professor Koh Ming Joo, Associate Professor Cynthia Chen and Associate Professor Elmie Bin Nekmat shared about their academic journeys during the Fireside Stories segment.
By academics, for academics
Launched in April 2025, SAN brings together Singaporean scholars across NUS to foster meaningful connections within a supportive academic community. In his opening address, NUS President Tan Eng Chye shared that SAN plays a crucial role in supporting NUS’ Singaporean faculty at every stage of their careers, highlighting how SAN offers structured membership for younger academics, collaboration opportunities for mid-career colleagues and a platform for senior faculty to share their experiences and insights.
“You are doing more than advancing knowledge and discoveries,” he told over 180 faculty members in attendance. “You are writing the next chapter of Singapore and NUS’ story.”
Meanwhile, Professor Aaron Thean, Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and NUS Provost, urged members to grow SAN by bringing in new members and reaching out to Singaporean scholars based overseas.
Already, SAN is building a robust community through five pillars: Collaboration, the Singapore Women in Academia Network (SWAN), Community Building, Global Engagement, and Mentorship.
A community taking shape
At the National Day lunch, SAN members presented several upcoming initiatives. Under the Collaboration pillar, the SANergy Collaboration Grant was unveiled — a Singaporean-led, cross-faculty research grant of up to $800,000 aimed at fostering interdisciplinary partnerships.
To help researchers connect and identify potential collaborators, three networking sessions will be held via Zoom in September. Shortlisted teams will then pitch their proposals to a panel of judges in a Dragon’s Den-style session, with results announced on the same day.
“It is not the typical grant where the message is, ‘Here’s a little money, go write a paper, good luck’,” said Professor Koh Woon Puay of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. “It is about building genuine collaboration.”
Grant submissions will open from October to mid-December 2026, with shortlisted applicants announced in mid-January 2027. The Dragon’s Den pitch session will take place in January and February 2027.
Meanwhile, SWAN, the second pillar, is advocating for policy changes that reflect the realities of Singaporean women’s lives, including expanding dependent insurance coverage beyond spouses and children to include elderly parents.
“Singapore is an ageing population. The expectations of care often land on women, regardless of whether they are married or unmarried,” said Jernal Singh Khosa Professor Lynette Janice Chua Kher Shing of NUS Law and the NUS Graduate School.
SWAN’s first event, which will feature a fireside chat, is slated for the last quarter of 2026.
The remaining three pillars — Community Building, Global Engagement, and Mentorship — aim to strengthen connections among academics, engage Singaporean scholars locally and overseas, inspire the next generation, and provide support throughout their academic careers.
The next chapter
SAN’s vision is clear: to build a thriving academic community that inspires, leads and serves future generations of scholars.
“SAN’s success will not just be defined by its committees or programmes but by the collective participation, ideas and commitment of the community,” said Professor Ho Ghim Wei, NUS Vice Provost (Academic Affairs).
“Together, we invest in people, strengthen our community and shape the future of academia in Singapore.”
As the lyrics of “NUS Forever”, NUS’ official student life theme song composed by Associate Professor Ho Chee Kong from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, put it: “In the years to come, we will draw new strength from past golden days recalled.” For the academics gathered in the room, it was a fitting reminder of where they had come from, and the future they would look forward to.