Alumnus issue 96 Jan Mar 2014 by NUS Alumni Office

The

ALUM

NUS alumni magazine of The national university of singapore JANâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;MAR 2014 / Issue 96

GOING

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NUS Alumni around th world are making th e eir mark. How does NUS connect with them?

Contents

First Word

Jan-Mar 2014 Issue 96

2 In The News 8 Cover Story A Global Family 16 Alumni Scene ”Almost Singaporean” 18 Once upon a Memory Growing Up 20 My Word Leap Of Faith 22 Changemaker Swimming With Sharks 24 Pursuit of Excellence Game Changer 26 U@Live Mr Lawrence Lien, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Mdm Halimah Yacob 30 Alumni Happenings 42 Culture 48 Last Word

there is a need to cultivate even greater participation from more alumni, and to inspire more self-motivated involvement and initiative among local and overseas alumni.

20 26

8 The

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NUS alumni magazine of The national university of singapore

Editor Karin Yeo (Arts and Social Sciences ’97) Publishing Consultant MediaCorp Pte Ltd

The AlumNUS is published quarterly by the NUS Office of Alumni Relations. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the NUS Office of Alumni Relations or the National University of Singapore. For more information or to read The AlumNUS online, please visit www.nus.edu.sg/alumnet.

In this Year of 2014 and the Horse, See your world in your alumni friends and your heaven in the beauty of nature, Hold your infinity in the dreams you aspire And experience eternity in every happy moment.

The

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NUS ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF THE RE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE JAN–MAR 2014 / ISSUE 96

GOING

Global

NUS ALUMNI AROUND THE WORLD ARE MAKING THEIR MARK. HOW DOES NUS CONNECT WITH THEM?

Contact us Office of Alumni Relations – National University of Singapore 11 Kent Ridge Drive, Singapore 119244 Tel: (65) 6516-5775 Fax: (65) 6777-2065 Email: oarconnect@nus.edu.sg Website: www.nus.edu.sg/alumnet Facebook: www.facebook.com/nusoar

ere is wishing you all the very best in 2014 – may you continue to enjoy peace, joy and good health. For those, especially our Chinese alumni celebrating the Lunar New Year, may you have a happy and prosperous Year of the Horse!

The end of 2013 provides us time to take stock of the year’s alumni activities. In the few months leading up to 2014, we had two successful alumni events. One was the NUS Alumni Leaders Forum which brought together both local and overseas alumni leaders for one day in September to discuss, deliberate and dialogue the challenges and issues of organising and managing alumni activities. The other, the NUS Alumni Awards (read more on pages 2-4) on 8 November, ended the NUS Office of Alumni Relations’ (OAR) formal slate of alumni activities for 2013. Held once every two years, the NUS Alumni Awards recognise outstanding alumni who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields or through rendering sustained service to NUS or society. This year’s award ceremony saw the University conferring Distinguished Alumni Service awards on five alumni and Outstanding Young Alumni awards on 10 young alumni. Our young alumni certainly demonstrate excellence in a wide spectrum of activities at the national, regional and international levels. Our distinguished alumni have also demonstrated their passion in serving their alma mater and society. In this issue, we showcase the globality of our alumni through our 18 Overseas Chapters – the Toronto and Xiamen Overseas Chapters being launched this year – and through our diverse overseas alumni who are spread over 100 countries. We feature several of our overseas alumni – from one of the most senior and celebrated Canadian academics, Professor Rodolphe de Koninck (University of Montreal) to our enthusiastic medical doctor and London Chapter Chairperson, Dr Tan Peng Guan. Prof de Koninck is one of the earliest ‘expatriates’ to obtain a PhD from NUS – from the then-University of Singapore in 1971, in Geography. He remains a passionate academic voice in Southeast Asian affairs in both the English- and French-speaking worlds. Finally, I would like to close with a wish for all of you. To paraphrase William Blake’s famous verse:

Assoc prof victor R savage, director, NUS Office of Alumni Relations

Advisor Assoc Prof Victor R Savage (Arts and Social Sciences ’72)

Dear Fellow Alumni and friends,

Cover 3 Final.indd 1

Cover concept: Augustine Tan Photo: Shutterstock

12/21/13 10:14 AM

Assoc Prof Victor R Savage Director, NUS Office of Alumni Relations Arts and Social Sciences ’72

Jan–Mar 2014

Outstanding Young Alumni Award Recipients

in the news

Mr Huynh Quang Hai

Grad Dip ’99, MSc (MOT) ’00

NUS Alumni Awards 2013

Mr Choo Hon Min, Kelly Computing ’08

15 of the University’s crème de la crème came home to be honoured.

Distinguished Alumni Service Award Recipients

ALUMNUS

Pharmacy ’66

he mark of a good university is often

measured by its alumni. Every two years the University honours a handful of its alumni who advance the good name of NUS and exemplify its spirit of Excellence, through the significant contributions they have made to their alma mater and society-at-large. This year, 15 exceptional alumni came home for the prestigious award ceremony held on 8 November. The awards were presented in two categories – the Distinguished Alumni Service Award and the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Five alumni received the Distinguished Alumni Service Awards for having rendered excellent and sustained service to NUS and the alumni community, while 10 alumni received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award for having excelled in their chosen professional fields and illustrating the best attributes of today’s youth. The 2013 NUS Alumni Awards was held at the National University of Singapore Society (NUSS) Kent Ridge Guild House and saw a turnout of nearly 160 guests comprising award recipients, their families, distinguished guests, and the NUS community of alumni, staff and students. NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan said, “This year’s award winners are outstanding 2

Mr Koe Khoon Poh Ms Deborah Chew Sui Ping

Arts and Social Sciences ’97

mr Ho Weiren, Travis

Computing ’11

Mr Edward Lee Kwong Foo

Arts ’70

Dr Yeo Sze Ling

Science ’01, ’06

Dr Valerie Teo Hui Ying

Medicine ’09

Professor Leo Tan Wee Hin

Science ’69, ’74

Dr Kumaran Rasappan

Mr Lai Han Seng

Medicine ’10

Computer Science ’01, ’03

Mr Ho Peng Cheong, David

Arts and Social Sciences ’72

individuals who stand out through their achievements, leadership and dedicated service to the community, excelling in their own fields but also contributing in various ways. NUS is proud to count them among our distinguished alumni. They inspire us to pursue excellence with passion and unwavering commitment and to do our part for our community.”

Mr Wong Yuen Kuai, Lucien Law ’78

Mr Koe Khoon Poh Pharmacy ’66 Mr Mohamed Faizal Mohamed Abdul Kadir Law ’05

Mr Lionel Lim Kay Hian

Arts and Social Sciences ’01

Jan–Mar 2014

in the news

Prof Tan Tai Yong (Arts and Social Sciences '85) (centre), NUS ViceProvost (Student Life), and wife (right), chatting with Ms Jocelyn Chng (Arts and Social Sciences '89), AAB member.

22nd NUS Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament NUS Business School emerged champion.

Dr Euan Murugasu (Medicine '86) (left), Immediate Past President of the Alumni Association (Southern Branch), congratulating Distinguished Alumni Service Award recipient Mr David Ho (Arts and Social Sciences '72), NUS Alumni Advisory Board (AAB) member and current President of NUSS.

“They serve as worthy role models for the entire NUS community. They also inspire us to think even more deeply about how we can further drive the spirit and culture of excellence in NUS – how we can create the conditions that bring out the best from every member of our community; how we will constantly push the boundaries of achievement, how we will continue to create distinctive new values for Singapore and beyond.”

The ever-popular NUS Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament saw alumni and friends gather on the fairways for a day of friendly competition.

For over two decades, the NUS Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament has been a firm favourite on the University calendar of events. The event provides like-minded friends the opportunity to reconnect on the fairways and reaffirm years of friendship through a day of spirited yet friendly competition. This year saw the event entering its 22nd year, with over 160 players teeing-off at the Lake Course of Raffles Country Club. Held on 24 October

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan

NUS President, on 2013's NUS Alumni awards recipients

2013, Bhutan K5 Whisky, one of the sponsors of the event, offered whisky tasting at the golf course. After five hours of intense play, NUS Business School emerged champion of the NUS InterFaculty Vice Chancellor Challenge, while the Faculty of Engineering was runner-up. After a long day on the fairways, alumni golfers then proceeded to the National University of Singapore Society Kent Ridge Guild

House for a celebratory dinner. Guest-of-Honour, NUS Pro-Chancellor Mr Po'ad Mattar (Accountancy ’71) graced the event with his presence. Over the prize presentation dinner, a charity bidding of two bottles of limited edition Bhutan K5 Whisky was held, in aid of the children in Bhutan. Topping off the celebratory spirit was the University’s very own alumni band Tigerlilies, who provided entertainment for guests that evening.

Prof Wang Gungwu (Arts ‘52) (centre), congratulating Distinguished Alumni Service Award recipient Prof Leo Tan (right), as Prof Tan Eng Chye (Science ‘84), NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost looks on.

China Film Festival

NUS Alumni Awards 2013 Recipients

Second such event saw a turnout of 1,400 at its screenings.

Distinguished Alumni Service Award Recipients Mr Ho Peng Cheong, David Mr Koe Khoon Poh Mr Edward Lee Kwong Foo Professor Leo Tan Wee Hin Mr Wong Yuen Kuai, Lucien

Outstanding Young Alumni Award Recipients Ms Deborah Chew Sui Ping Mr Choo Hon Min, Kelly Mr Huynh Quang Hai Mr Ho Weiren, Travis Dr Kumaran Rasappan Mr Lai Han Seng Mr Lionel Lim Kay Hian Mr Mohamed Faizal Mohamed Abdul Kadir Dr Valerie Teo Hui Ying Dr Yeo Sze Ling

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Mr Johnny Tan (Science '82) (centre), 2009 Distinguished Alumni Service Award recipient, AAB member and ex-President of NUSS (2008-2012), sharing a joke with former NUS Vice-Chancellor Prof Lim Pin (left), and NUS Pro-Chancellor Mr Po'ad Mattar (Accountancy '71).

Distinguished Alumni Service Award recipient Mr Koe Khoon Poh (Pharmacy ‘66) (centre), being congratulated by Mrs Tan Suan Imm (Arts ‘61) (right), 2009 Distinguished Alumni Service Award recipient and AAB member, and Prof Tan Eng Chye.

The NUS Office of Alumni Relations (OAR) believes in reaching out to alumni through enriching and meaningful events all year round. One such event is the China Film Festival which offers alumni the opportunity to return to their ‘Home on Campus’ for an enjoyable cultural evening with friends and family. For the second year running, OAR, together with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the Singapore China Friendship Association (SCFA), brought to the NUS community a series of films

from China. Beginning on 19 October 2013, the 2nd China Film Festival led audience into the heart of China for five days, with a selection of some of the country’s most interesting films. Over 200 people attended its opening night. Among these were distinguished guests including Minister Counsellor Li Bao Guang of the China Embassy; Mr Xiao Jianghua, Cultural Counsellor of the China Embassy; Mr Ung Gim Sei, Vice President of SCFA; Mr Ameerali Jumabhoy, Vice President of SCFA;

Mr Edward D’Silva, NUS Board of Trustees member and Mr Joseph Mullinix, NUS Deputy President (Administration). Close to 1,400 people turned up for the five-day movie screenings.

Students from the NUS Chinese Society entertained guests with fine music before the movie screening on opening night.

More than 200 people turned up for the opening night of the China Film Festival 2013 held at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House.

Jan–Mar 2014

in the news

Talking it out at breakfast

Alumni Leaders Forum 2013

Chairman of Shell companies, Mr Lee Tzu Yang, engaged alumni and students at breakfast dialogue.

Hot on the heels of the inaugural ‘NUS Alumni Breakfast Dialogue’ session was the second breakfast dialogue session held on 25 September 2013. Titled the ‘NUS AlumniGreat Eastern Life Breakfast Dialogue’, the session is the first of four to be sponsored by Great Eastern Life. Held at the Fullerton Singapore, close to 150 alumni and students turned up for the session featuring Chairman of Shell Companies, Mr Lee Tzu Yang. Mr Lee spoke on the topic of Singapore and the world at large, touching on new lands scenario, the work being done in Shell and how the company strives to find new and creative

176 students and alumni leaders and volunteers attended.

About NUS Alumni Breakfast Dialogue

Close to 180 participants comprising alumni and student leaders, volunteers and industry speakers attended the 2013 Alumni Leaders Forum.

Indonesian Movie Night

Screening of ’Habibie and Ainun’ held at one-night-only event. More than 300 guests turned up at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House on 4 October 2013, for a special one-nightonly event. It was the screening of the film ‘Habibie and Ainun’, featuring a love story based on the book with the same title, written by former Indonesian President, Professor Dr Ing B J Habibie about his 48-year marriage to his late wife Ainun. The protagonist of the story Prof Dr Ing B J Habibie was present at the movie screening, together with Dato’ Sri Professor Dr Tahir, NUS’ donor and alumnus of Nanyang University. The event and dinner reception was the result of a generous sponsorship

by Dato’ Sri Prof Dr Tahir. The movie screening is also an example of the NUS Office of Alumni Relations’ keen collaboration with external and internal parties (in this case the NUS Department of Malay Studies, Southeast Asian Studies and the NUS Development Office) to bring about meaningful programmes to the NUS community of alumni, students and faculty.

NUS students, alumni and faculty turned up for the screening of ‘Habibie and Ainun‘. 6

ALUMNUS

in alumni groups and explored issues of alumni renewal, commitment and relationship with the alma mater. The forum programme included a sharing session by two guest speakers — Ms Joanne Shoveller, the Associate Dean of Advancement and Alumni Relations at INSEAD, and Ms Mamie Cheong, the Chief Executive Officer of Enactus Singapore. The former spoke about creating a platform for effective alumni engagement and the latter took the audience through a case study session on the Enactus programme of harnessing entrepreneurial talents of students and corporate partners towards meaningful social causes. Students and alumni leaders actively participated in lively discussions during panel discussions on topics such as Alumni Groups’ priorities, best practices and challenges, Digital Technology and Social Media. Discussions took place during breakout sessions and networking teas too. The forum concluded with an appreciation dinner at the National University of Singapore Society Kent Ridge Guild House.

Chairman of Shell companies, Mr Lee Tzu Yang, drew a crowd of 150 alumni and students to the year’s second Breakfast Dialogue sesson.

A new initiative to engage NUS alumni in middle and senior management, the ‘NUS Alumni Breakfast Dialogue’ seeks to create a platform for critical thinking and exchange of ideas by experts in their respective fields of profession. Through this dialogue, OAR hopes for its speakers to inspire NUS alumni to be leaders of the future. For more information about the initiative, contact Shushan at 6516 6428 or Shushan@nus.edu.sg

The Ben Franklin Club Talk

What’s In A Name? Inaugural talk gave insights into Singapore street names.

Illustration: Shutterstock

This year‘s forum focussed on issues of leadership in alumni groups, alumni renewal, commitment, and relationship with alma mater.

An initiative of the NUS Alumni Advisory Board, this year’s Alumni Leaders Forum was held on 21 September 2013 at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House. Organised by the NUS Office of Alumni Relations, the forum brought together a total of 176 student and alumni leaders and volunteers from the NUS Faculties, Halls, Local and Overseas Alumni Groups to share and learn from one another. Leveraging on last year’s theme of ‘Making Sure U Matter’, this year’s theme ‘Alumni Matters: The Next Step’ focussed on the importance of leadership

solutions to tackle the energy challenges the world faces. Organised by the NUS Office of Alumni Relations (OAR), the session was moderated by Mr Chandra Mohan K Nair, former member of the NUS Board of Trustees (BOT) and Past President of the National University of Singapore Society, and attended by distinguished guests — including Mr Edward D’Silva, member of the NUS BOT; Her Excellency Heather Grant, High Commissioner of Canada; and Mr Colin Chan, Chief Marketing Officer, Great Eastern Life — and the NUS community of alumni, staff and students.

About 50 participants gathered at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House Seminar Room on 10 September 2013 for the inaugural ‘Ben Franklin Club Talk’ featuring Southeast Asian and Singapore’s place names. Partly based on the co-authored book by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Professor Brenda Yeoh and the Director of the NUS Office of Alumni Relations, Associate Professor Victor R Savage, titled Singapore Street Names, the talk aims to provide some insights into the shaping of Southeast Asia’s Aurea khersonese and Singapore’s Lion City or Singapura in the identity of the region and city-state.

About Great Eastern

Great Eastern is the oldest and most established life insurance group in Singapore and Malaysia, with operations also in Indonesia, Vietnam, Brunei and China. Named Life Insurance Company of the Year by Asia Insurance Review in 2011 and 2013, it has been rated “AA-” by Standard and Poor’s since 2010, one of the highest among Asian life insurance companies. Great Eastern is committed to delivering a unique customer experience, supported by innovative products, and high service standards and professionalism.

Book Corner Transform Empower yourself to Fitness and Health In this new book, two NUS alumni — fitness enthusiast Matthew Lou (Business ’07) and physician Dr Frederick Ee (Medicine ’06) — come together to share simple steps that you can take to attain your weight-related goals, improve your fitness level and ultimately enjoy better health. Transform emphasises long-term weight management and improvement in overall fitness and health through a positive mindset shift, showing how nutrition and exercise really work, and sustainable lifestyle changes. Available at Kinokuniya, Times, and Popular bookstores at S$26.75 each. Also available for purchase online at S$25 each including local postage, at www.transform.sg

The Ben Franklin Club Talks –

a collaboration between the US Embassy and the NUS Office of Alumni Relations – aim to bring together young, professional adults who are NUS alumni and/or Singaporean alumni of American universities for intellectual discussions and engagement with guest speakers. The next Ben Franklin Club Talk will be held on 5 March 2014, with guest speaker Mr Ho Kwon Ping, Executive Chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings. For more information on the talk, contact Nichole at 6516 5523 or nicholeyeo@nus.edu.sg

Prof Dr Ing B J Habibie (left), former Indonesian President and protagonist of the film, seen here with Dato‘ Sri Prof Dr Tahir. Jan–Mar 2014

Forging Ties

global fAmily The art of cultivating and keeping alumni connected to their alma mater, for any University, is far from simple. For the National University of Singapore, this is made more challenging by the fact that over 10 per cent of its alumni are resident overseas. by Theresa Tan

Photo getty images

he national university of singapore (NUS)’s

18th overseas – and newest – alumni chapter was launched in Xiamen, China in September 2013, with a grand celebration that was graced by NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan; Singapore’s Consul-General in Xiamen Mr Loh Tuck Keat; the President of Xiamen University Professor Zhu Chongshi; Director of the NUS Office of Alumni Relations (OAR), Associate Professor Victor R Savage as well as Chinese officials of Xiamen, Fujian Province and more than 80 NUS alumni in Xiamen. Xiamen is the fifth NUS Overseas Chapter in China, the others being Beijing, Chengdu, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Down South, the oldest NUS Overseas Chapter, Sydney, Australia will celebrate its 21st year of existence in 2014. And Chinese New Year is when traditionally, alumni belonging to the London Overseas Chapter gather – a practice that has been carried out for more than 14 years. NUS overseas alumni are characterised by there being two distinct groups, and this in turn makes engaging them challenging. As Director of OAR Assoc Prof Savage explains, “One Jan–Mar 2014

Forging Ties

ALUMNUS

Assoc prof victor R savage, director of oar

A History

NUS boasts about 229,000 alumni today, more than 100 years since it began life in 1905 as the King Edward VII College of Medicine which then merged with the Raffles College of the Arts and Social Sciences (founded 1928) to become the University of Malaya in 1949. Naturally, not all alumni are actively involved in an NUS alumni group, but the University faces the same challenge as many global universities: that of reaching out to and engaging its alumni, active or otherwise. Why is such cultivation important? According to Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), in this day and age, alumni relations is key to the advancement of an institution. CASE is an American professional association with a branch in Singapore serving educational institutions and their employees or service providers who handle alumni relations, communications, development and marketing. CASE cites the following

reasons: alumni are usually an institution’s most loyal supporters. They are fundraising prospects. Alumni also generate valuable wordof-mouth marketing among their social and professional networks. Alumni’s skills and expertise can benefit the institution. They also serve as great models for current students and can offer practical support to fresh graduates who are starting in their careers. Alumni are, above all, an institution’s ambassadors. They take

Photo getty images

group consists of Singaporeans who have moved overseas. This is an ageing group – many of them migrated in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, and many are retirees. There is a sense among them of wanting to touch base with other Singaporeans. This group also tends to be found in developed countries like Australia, Canada, the United States, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.” The second group are younger and comprise nationals of a particular country who came to Singapore to study at NUS and who have now gone home. These, said Assoc Prof Savage, tend to be from developing countries like India, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan and China. Many of them graduated from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), established in 2003, and the NUS Business School which offers top-ranking BBA and MBA programmes in the region. Assoc Prof Savage says that the strength of these overseas alumni in developing countries is based on “a tremendous connection among three sectors: the government of that country, the private sector and the academics”. This is certainly the case for the New Delhi Chapter. Mr Prashant Pundrik (Business ’08), the Chairperson for the Chapter says, “Our alumni are a mix from different faculties, but the majority of them come from Business, Law and the LKYSPP. The Business school alumni work in industries like management consulting, IT and real estate. “The Law alumni are practising lawyers who either work for established law firms or have started their own law firms. And the alumni from the LKYSPP primarily work for the state or federal government.” Indeed, as Assoc Prof Savage says, one may extrapolate then that future heads of government, business and academia in these countries may be NUS alumni. In contrast, in developed countries, there may be alumni who are business heads, but not government leaders. As the University sees a more diverse demographic among its student population and NUS’ alumni base continues to grow, it appears that there is a trend for Overseas Alumni Chapters to sprout in more far-flung places.

“there is a need to cultivate even greater participation from more alumni, and to inspire more self-motivated involvement and initiative among local and overseas alumni.” their knowledge of the institutions to their cities and countries, and into their professional and social spheres. The relationship between institution and alumni is a cycle: the more reputable an institution, the more likely alumni are to be proud of their alma mater, the more likely that they would become involved in alumni activities, and the greater the intrinsic and extrinsic value of the institution. Case in point would be Harvard University which boasts some of the world’s most famous alumni – President Barack Obama and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook among them – and is the world’s richest tertiary institution with an endowment of US$32.7 billion. Cultivation of alumni in NUS came to the fore during the term of former NUS President Professor Shih Choon Fong, a Harvard alumnus who had spent 30 years as an academic in the US. Prof Shih, who was President and Vice-Chancellor from 2000 to 2008 – until he moved to Saudi Arabia to be the Founding President of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology – was active and passionate in raising the global profile of NUS. He was a key driver in the formation of the International Alliance of Research Universities, an alliance of 10 leading research universities across four continents. It was during Prof Shih’s tenure that OAR was set up in 2003. He also oversaw the planning of the Alumni Complex – comprising the Shaw Foundation Alumni House and the National University of Singapore Society (NUSS) Kent Ridge Guild House – which opened in 2009. In the seven years leading up to the launch, the alumni office was active in reaching out to alumni, local and global, and inviting contributions – it was possibly the largest alumniengagement effort thus far in the

history of the University. During his 2007 Commencement Dinner speech, Prof Shih said, “I ask three things of our community: to advance the aspirations of NUS, to uphold the good name of NUS and to give back to NUS.” Current NUS President Prof Tan has brought alumni engagement a level up by actively participating in key alumni events, visiting some Overseas Chapters and appearing as a speaker at U@live. Today, the Alumni Complex stands as a tangible symbol of the University’s commitment to its alumni, near and far.

Engaging Alumni

There is no lack of activity among local NUS alumni. OAR reports 57 alumni groups including faculty and school groups, hallsof-residence groups and shared interest groups from the likes of the NUS Business School Alumni Association and the Kent Ridge Hall Alumni to the NUS Alumni Dragonboat Team. However, Assoc Prof Savage recognises that there is a need to cultivate even greater participation from more alumni, and to inspire more self-motivated involvement and initiative among local and overseas alumni. “There are two things that are important for OAR,” he says. “One is to try and win back as many alumni as possible and to get them to participate. The challenge is to involve the many alumni who are not actively engaged. The second is to try and deepen the element of relationship. How do you get alumni to be actively involved? It has to be something that compels them.” Currently, OAR holds alumni events that have a broad appeal, as many of the special-interest groups already have their own activities.

OAR’s engagement platforms include ‘U@live’, a monthly talkcum-Q&A session featuring the University’s notable alumni in a wide range of fields; the biennial ‘NUS Alumni Awards’, begun in 2005, which recognises alumni who make significant contributions to the University and to society as well as the ‘Alumni-Students Networking’ Programme which allows undergraduates to mix and mingle with alumni to gain exposure and valuable connections. OAR also targets Class Ambassadors – students who have been selected by their own cohorts to keep alumni connected to their alma mater. All undergraduates are, after all, alumni in the making, and the preparation for strong alumni ties begins when they are still in University. NUS faces challenges that many other university alumni bodies face, and one such challenge is the demographic. “The senior alumni are very active,” notes Assoc Prof Savage. “They have more time and so they meet regularly. They find great interest in being together. ” He cites the Medical School alumni, the oldest alumni group in NUS, as “very cohesive”, meeting many times annually. Then there are the young alumni, the ones Assoc Prof Savage calls “the family-builders or the career-builders” who are focussed on work and family, and who are much harder to engage. But OAR actively tries anyway: in 2013, it launched two new projects: ‘Thirsty Thursdays” which attracts alumni to network over drinks after work, and breakfast dialogues with notable speakers, which engages alumni before work. OAR even offers a ‘Leaders’ Toolkit’ for anyone keen on starting an alumni group, which streamlines the process of creating online groups, integrating with Facebook Jan–Mar 2014

Forging Ties

flying the flag MR YEO SING LIM VANCOUVER, CANADA

A graduate of Nanyang University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science in Physics, Mr Yeo Sing Lim moved to Vancouver in 1986. He is the Senior Vice President of the Royal Pacific Realty Group in British Columbia. “I am the founding President of the Nantah Alumni in British Columbia, founded in 1996, which I served for two terms,” he says. “I was also the the Chair of Y2K Nantah Global Reunion Vancouver in 2000.”

Mr SILVA KANDIAH FLORIDA, USA

Mr Silva Kandiah (Arts and Social Sciences ’73), moved to Orlando, Florida in 2004 to seek special medical care for his daughter who has a rare blood disorder, sickle cell anemia, a condition that is more prevalent in the United States. “My wife is American so that made

DR HIRA SINGH PERTH, AUSTRALIA

Dr Hira Singh (Medicine ’74) lives in Perth, Western Australia and works as a family physician in the suburb of Nedlands. “I practise Integrative Medicine as a family physician,” the 64-year-year-old explains. “I combine my basic training in Western medicine with Traditional Chinese

ALUMNUS

continued from page 11

The AlumNUS talks to three alumni abroad.

Nanyang University, fondly called Nantah by its alumni, was Singapore’s Chinese university before it merged with the University of Singapore in 1980 to become NUS. Considered an NUS alumnus now, Mr Yeo’s first love is still Nantah. Today, Mr Yeo keeps the Nantah Alumni Chapter going, “to keep the Nantah Spirit alive – “南大精神. 取之 everyone can meet and stay in touch. “More importantly if there is a new alumnus moving to the area, we want to ensure he feels welcome and give him a sense of community.” Most of the alumni in his Chapter are professionals, businessmen or teachers. “As Vancouver is a large metropolis located on the gateway to the Pacific, we have a unique demographic

– there are many ethnic groups in our city, in particular a large Asian community. I believe it is important to carry on the Nantah spirit and keep our Chinese culture and heritage alive. I also believe it is an opportunity to show our children and their grandchildren how proud we are of our heritage and past,” says the father of four and grandfather to one. The Nantah Alumni Chapter has 30 families in its ‘membership’, along with 45 “second-generationers” (mostly children of Nantah alumni who study in Vancouver). Activities include an annual Chinese New Year celebration, Christmas party, New Year celebration and other social gatherings. From time to time, the Chapter also sees overseas Nantah alumni, whether to help their children study in Vancouver or to build

connections with other alumni in Canada and globally. Mr Yeo migrated to Vancouver in 1986 “mainly for my children’s education and because I was looking for better opportunities,” he explains. It was not an easy transition. “There were cultural differences as I moved here in the ‘80s when there was not yet a strong Asian community. Although I came to Vancouver as a successful businessman with strong financial backing, there was an adjustment process as we had to essentially start over in a new country with new business practices and a new way of life.” But soon his business instincts kicked in and he ended up co-owning two realty companies: Royal Pacific Realty and New World Realty. He built Royal Pacific into what is the largest independent real estate firm in Western Canada today.

the move easy,” he explains. Today, Mr Kandiah is a part-time writing consultant with Valencia College in Orlando, recently rated the best community college in the United States. “It is a very satisfying job as I am not only able to help students with their writing but also share my four decades of experience in NUS, the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Airlines, and on the Boards of a number of global organisations such as the World Airlines Clubs Association, the International Association of Airport and Seaport Police and the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners,” he says.

Mr Kandiah finds his background also helps him in his other “job” as a volunteer counsellor with SCORE (Society of Retired Executives), an organisation that provides free or lowcost help for those who want to set up or expand a business or non-profit. Although his home now is very much the US, Mr Kandiah holds NUS dear. His favourite memories of his campus days “are the intellectual stimulation of a very global community, some international experiences and the friendships across all faculties that remain strong to this day. I played hockey, was active in the departmental clubs such as the Literary and Geography societies, and

in some international clubs such as the UN Students Association. I was fortunate to be selected to represent Singapore at a UN students conference in Australia, a life-transforming experience.” Mr Kandiah believes in being an alumnus who gives back. “It is important to support our alma mater so that future generations can get the same benefits we enjoyed. Before I moved to the US, I was involved in NUS and NUSS committees; I donated to their various causes and contributed some humour to their functions! I hope to contribute in other ways from my base in Orlando. One day I might start a chapter here!”

Acupuncture, Osteopathic Spinal Manipulation, Nutritional Medicine, Stress Management and Counselling in a complementary way. I also ran a Cancer Support Group for my cancer patients for many years.” Dr Singh has presented at many national and international conferences, and he has been actively promoting Integrative Medicine in Australia among doctors. As an undergraduate, Dr Singh was active in student affairs, both in the Medical Faculty and in the Students’ Union. “As Chairman of the Community Welfare Committee I was involved in raising funds for The Singapore Association For

Retarded Children (known today as the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore, or MINDS), and we initiated Uniwalkathon, a student and community activity,” he recalls. “Later I became President of the Students’ Union and served in that position for a year. Those days of student activism form some of my most cherished memories. Strong friendships formed [then]continue to the present day.” Dr Singh keeps in constant contact with his cohort – there are annual reunions in Singapore and overseas, and “my class has a very active email loop linking us all”. A large number of

his class recently went on a European cruise for their 40th year reunion. Dr Singh migrated to Australia in 1977 – where his wife comes from, and they have two children and one grand-daughter. Australia offers him “the wide open spaces, the mild climate, and the opportunity to practice medicine” the way he does. But the training that NUS gave him benefitted him in many ways. “My developmental years in University taught me discipline, and my student union activism grounded in me social consciousness and a sense of service, which has been my guiding ethos in later years.” Dr Singh believes in giving back to his alma mater, adding that his family has supported a bursary for NUS students.

社会, 回馈社会, 饮水思源, 继往开来” – and organises events at which

and connecting the created group to OAR’s official website, The AlumNET. Despite these efforts, the burden is the sustenance of such groups, says Assoc Prof Savage. The role of OAR is not to organise events per se, as “the impetus must come from the group”. Groups that grow organically are likely to have dedicated alumni in it. Assoc Prof Savage points out that his own Class of ’72 is not a formal alumni group, but a leaderless, loosely formed, yet tight-knit community of people from different faculties who were all in University at the same time. “We had a great time as student leaders, and our friendships have endured. We meet every first Saturday of the year; we travel together in small groups.”

The Overseas Alumni

NUS has 18 Overseas Alumni Chapters. Apart from Xiamen, the latest addition is Toronto, Canada. Chapters are usually formed when there is a sizeable number of alumni in one city. While some overseas NUS alumni have, over the years, naturally gravitated towards one another and formed non-formal groups, the first formal Overseas Alumni Chapter was registered in Sydney, Australia, in 1993 mostly because Australian law dictated it. It was only in 2003 that Prof Shih formalised the registration of Overseas Alumni Chapters, and OAR was set up and tasked with engaging alumni. With a coordinating body providing support to alumni who sought to set up a chapter in their city, the number of chapters grew and continues to grow. OAR actively reaches out to overseas alumni by emailing updates and keeping in contact. “[Then] if there are ‘ringleaders’, they will take the opportunity to expand the alumni base in their city,” says Assoc Prof Savage. Certainly the existing Overseas Alumni Chapter Chairpersons are such ringleaders. Some began their chapters, while others have taken over as Chairpersons. The largest Chapter is London, with about 400 alumni. Dr Tan Peng Guan (Dentistry ’70) is retired and devotes much of his time to running the Chapter. The Chapter holds annual events big and small, and serves Singaporean alumni as something of a “comfort zone”, particularly for children of alumni who are in England for their studies. (See pg 14). Mr Paul Kho (Science ’91) is the Chairperson of the Overseas Alumni Chapter in Kuching, East Malaysia. A Malaysian who Jan–Mar 2014

Forging Ties

“No Fear When You Are In London, Contact Us!”

When Dr Tan Peng Guan graduated from the then-University of Singapore in 1970, there were scarce jobs for dentists locally. “My wife and I went to London on our honeymoon,” he recalls. “Back then I was enlisted as a National Serviceman – we were the first batch of university graduates to do National Service (NS). After NS and after I had finished one year of housemanship, we decided to move to London. Back then [in Singapore] there were few jobs unless you wanted to start your own dental practice, but the financial outlay for that was very high.” The move to London was painless. Singapore, being a Commonwealth country, was seen as “practically a part of England,” says Dr Tan, 69. “My degree was reciprocal back then. We went there as economic immigrants, and we were very well-regarded. We got our permanent residency right away.” It was the British that started the Medical School in Singapore, and graduates were accorded the same respect as a graduate from a British university. The Singapore graduates were trained by respected academics including “dental surgeon Jock Oehlers, whose brother George was the first Speaker of the Legislative 14

ALUMNUS

during Christmas, everything comes to a standstill.” The best example of this “family in need” philosophy at work was in 2003 when SARS broke out and students in Britain were “stranded” during the school holidays when dorms and hostels were closed, and they could not fly home to Singapore because of the outbreak. “We helped to find housing for these students with other NUS alumni living in London.” “It is probably very comforting for parents to know that there is someone from the Chapter to fall back on when something happens,” he says. “There is always a higher probability of something happening during weekends, and that is when the Embassy is closed. But you can always reach the Chapter office – we have a committee of five and if you cannot get me, you will get my secretary.” He also tells the story of Singaporean holidaymakers – NUS alumni – who got “stuck” in London and who tried calling the Singapore Embassy, only to be told to call the NUS London Chapter. Dr Tan jokes that the Chapter is almost like an extension of the Embassy in that it extends help to Singaporeans. “No fear when you are in London,” he declares. “Contact us through OAR!” Dr Tan, who retired from dentistry in 1988, now spends about two to three months in Singapore, serving the Medical Alumni as well as promoting alumni in London to Singapore. He still holds a Singapore passport. He and his wife have three children and four grandchildren. His youngest son, who works for Price Waterhouse Coopers in the UK has been seconded to Singapore for two years. He acknowledges that being a retiree, he has the luxury of time to spend on his Chapter activities and being a helpline to Singaporean alumni. “It is a privileged position,” he says, “not one to be abused.” Young alumni today do not appear to have the same fire, he notes. “I was so eager to be part of the Medical Alumni. But these days I have difficulty trying to get young alumni to join! “I am an alumnus at heart. I owe a lot to NUS,” he says, adding that he hopes young alumni today will take their role seriously.

MR Prashant pundrik, chairperson, new delhi chapter continued from page 13

Photo by Ealbert Ho

Dr Tan Peng Guan (Dentistry ’70)

Assembly of Singapore”. Back in the day, Medicine and Dentistry graduates fell under the Medical Alumni group – the University’s oldest alumni group – and many of those still keep in close contact today. Such is the camaraderie shared that Dr Tan returns to Singapore to catch up with the School of Medicine alumni nearly every year. The London Overseas Alumni Chapter was only formally created in 2000, but Dr Tan emphasises that Singaporean graduates who had moved to London were a close-knit group, and that alumni had naturally gravitated together for many decades since the ’60s and ’70s. Dr Tan is the current Chapter Chairperson. “Every year [the dinner in 2013 was the 14th] we hold a dinner and invite alumni living in the UK. Most of them are in London, we have two or three in Europe, and two in Scotland,” he says. “The age group ranges from post-graduate students to retirees like me. We are also seeing a lot of NUS graduate lawyers now.” The Chapter started with informal get-togethers among a few alumni, but these days it holds two big events a year. There is the annual dinner, which is restricted to about 120 people (alumni and their spouses). The second yearly event is the Chinese New Year gathering, usually at a Chinese restaurant. There are also monthly talks and discussions and other low-key activities that might involve just a few alumni getting together. There is also the occasional book launch when a Singapore alumnus turns author. The London Chapter also has a unique role, serving as a sort of “safety zone” for children of NUS alumni who enter British universities. “We help our alumni settle their children when they arrive,” says Dr Tan. “We also help to keep an eye on those kids who cannot afford to go back to Singapore during the Christmas holidays. In London,

“my responsibility is to build and keep active a platform for alumni to engage and interact.”

earned his degree in NUS, Mr Kho, who runs his own trading business dealing in technology products, started organising events for alumni in Sarawak before he took the step to start the Chapter in 2000. “ There are about 500 NUS alumni living in Kuching,” he says, “but only around 20 are active with the Chapter. Most of them are engineers.” The Kuching Chapter gathers NUS alumni for events and receives visiting alumni and Singapore dignitaries. “Ninety-five per cent of alumni in the Chapter are Sarawakian, and we recently had one Vietnamese and one West Malaysian alumnus working here join us,” says the 47 year-old who is married with one daughter. While he jokes that non-Sarawakians would not want to move to Kuching, he hopes to grow the Chapter numbers by about five per cent a year. “We exist to connect alumni back to NUS, and to provide social support to alumni,” Mr Kho says. “I do this to contribute back for what NUS has given me.” The New Delhi Chapter was founded in 2003 and is today chaired by Mr Prashant, who owns his own business commercialising “engineering innovations in the sustainability domain”. He is a father of twin girls, and his family lives in Singapore, where his wife works for IBM. He returned to New Delhi to care for his ailing father and wound up staying behind to look after his business. He says that most of the New Delhi alumni are Indian nationals who pursued their studies at NUS and returned home, although there are a few Singaporeans, some of whom work for the Singapore High Commission in New Delhi. Officially, there are about 300 NUS alumni in New Delhi, and the Chapter is in touch with about

100 of them, with 70 to 80 of them active. For Mr Prashant, gathering 100 alumni under one roof for an event is a feat: alumni are located far and wide, and traffic into the city area can be off-putting. Still, he persists. “We organise two networking events every year which are either funded or subsidised by OAR,” he explains. “Our first event this year was graced by NUS President Prof Tan.” At press time, he was expecting about 50 alumni to attend the year’s second networking event which was scheduled for 21 December 2013. “I see it as my responsibility to build and keep active a platform for the alumni to engage and interact. The Chapter is also the interface between alumni and NUS: we update them on the latest happenings at NUS. We also want to imbibe a feeling of pride in alumni about their alma mater and encourage prospective students to apply to NUS,” says Mr Prashant of the Chapter’s purpose. He has a vision to bring this platform to every NUS alumnus in not just Delhi but India within the next five years – and he is certain the number of alumni in the continent will continue to grow.

The PurposeDriven Group

The sentiment shared by Mr Kho and Mr Prashant is one that Assoc Prof Savage applauds: an attitude of gratitude for what the University has given to the alumnus, and the impetus to give back in a meaningful way. “After several years of building relationships, the Class of ’72 started contributing back to the University, through bursaries for undergraduates,” says Assoc Prof Savage. Hopefully, alumni contributions to the University will increase as a consequence of NUS’ visibility as a global university. “As the status of NUS rises, alumni feel a sense of pride at being alumni, like the way many alumni of Western universities feel. Singapore being successful as a country has added a lot to NUS’ branding, and we are seeing growing numbers of active alumni,” he says. But the days are early yet for NUS’ Overseas Alumni Chapters. For Assoc Prof Savage, one measure of success would be when overseas alumni start fundraising for scholarships. “I am looking forward to the day when our overseas alumni sponsor scholarships for promising young students from their own country to come to NUS.”

NUS Overseas Alumni Chapters And Current Chairpersons Sydney, Australia (1993) Mr Jack Tan

San Francisco, USA (2002) Mr Chong Fu Chiung

Shanghai, China (2004) Dr Cheah Kim Fee

Chengdu, China (2010) Mr William Gan

Tokyo, Japan (1996) Mr Tetsuya Fujimoto

Hong Kong, China (2002) Mr Tang Kin Ching

Vancouver, Canada (2004) Mr Arthur Yap

Jakarta, Indonesia (2012) Mr Pery Irawan

New Delhi, India (2003) Mr Prashant Pundrik

Auckland, New Zealand (2005) Mr Ee Chiong Boon

Xiamen, China (2013) Assoc Prof Wang Hui-Qiong

Perth, Australia (2004) Mr Thomas Goh

Melbourne, Australia (2006) Dr Soh Leng Lu

Toronto, Canada (2013) Dr Toh See Kiat

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia (2000) Mr Paul Kho London, England (2000) Dr Tan Peng Guan Boston, USA (2002) Mr Robin Low

Beijing, China (2006) Mr Lyon Sun Liyong

Jan–Mar 2014

Alumni Scene

was conveniently located and reasonably comfortable, but the food was lousy, giving a wrong impression of the great gastronomic adventures available in Singapore! So I quickly stopped taking my meals there, venturing out to eat at various street hawker stalls, making numerous discoveries, including that of durians, to which I eventually became addicted, as should be!” he recalls. Among his favourite memories of 1960s Singapore is scuba diving in the “then still relatively clean waters off the coast of Pasir Panjang and the Southern Islands”. He also joined the Hash House Harriers for “their weekly joyful evening jogs” when he was writing his thesis. Prof de Koninck made many

hen Rodolphe de Koninck did

his Master of Arts studies at the Université Laval in Québec in the mid-60s, he became interested in Southeast Asian issues, in particular those pertaining to agriculture. Prompted by his professors, he decided to pursue his studies in this area, but in a manner that was not the norm at the time. “I did not look kindly on the fundamentally colonial relationship which characterised the system, whereby Western PhD students did fieldwork in developing countries but completed their degrees in their home countries,” the 70-yearold Canadian tells AlumNUS. “So I enquired about universities in Southeast Asia and was told that the best in the region was the University of Singapore. So I wrote up a research project about plantations in the state of Johor and applied both to the University and to the Canada Council for a scholarship.

“Almost

Singaporean” 16

ALUMNUS

FOR Professor Rodolphe de Koninck, the then-University of Singapore’s first PhD student in 1967, Singapore is a family affair. by Theresa Tan

I should perhaps remind you that by the late 1960s, more than 20 per cent of Singapore’s territory were still devoted to farming, mostly market gardening, pig and poultry rearing. The so-called City State was then nearly self-sufficient in vegetables, its rural belt also supplying some 50 per cent of the local demand for pork and chicken.” His thesis was subsequently

published under the title of Farmers of a City-State. The Chinese Smallholders of Singapore. Prof de Koninck completed his thesis and returned to Québec in 1970, but his fondness for Singapore saw him return with his family, as a Visiting Professor to the Asian Research Institute in 1997. To date, he has written four books on Singapore. He traces his love affair with

Photo by Wilson Pang

I was lucky with both applications and, as soon as I had publicly defended my MA thesis, I headed for Singapore. I made several stopovers in Europe, the Middle East and India, taking six weeks to reach Singapore on 26 May 1967. I was to remain for three years, almost to the day.” Although he had proposed a thesis on the state of Johor, Prof de Koninck found difficulty in getting a Malaysian research permit while being based in a Singaporean university. “So, I followed the advice to focus on what I still think was a wise choice: Singapore’s own farming areas and populations.

Singapore back to his days as an undergraduate in the University of Bordeaux, France, a top university in the 1960s. “I had followed some solid courses in what was then called Tropical Geography, including an excellent one focussed on Indonesia and the newly-minted Malaysia, which, let us not forget, then included Singapore (1963-65). That got me hooked,” he explains. Also as a teenager, he was already reading novels about Africa and Asia, and its Southeastern component in particular. The geographer, who has been the Canada Chair of Asia Research at the University of Montreal since 2002, arrived in Singapore two years after its independence. He was just 24. “Singapore struck me as a wonderful place, full of life and possibilities. Problems of poverty, housing, urban and land management, etc were prevalent, but things were being done about them. I also struck it off with Singaporeans, local residents as well as committed expats, making several friends, many having to this day remained so!” An adventurer at heart, Prof de Koninck explored his tropical surrounds – and cuisine – with gusto. “Life on the Bukit Timah campus itself was rather quiet, but pleasant nevertheless. I first stayed for a couple of months in Dunearn Hostels, just across from the campus. The place

now “not that hard”. “I did face some difficulties, for example, showing a lot of patience – not my specialty – with a number of Chinese farmers definitely not interested in revealing much about their farming operations, but I did learn to cope!” he says. He enlisted the help of his new friends for his thesis. “Some graduate and undergraduate student friends, predominantly from the Geography and Political Science departments, helped as interviewers for the surveys I carried among Chinese farmers in all of the peripheral and rural areas of the island: Jurong, Chua Chu Kang, Lim Chu Kang, Mandai, Punggol, etc,” he remembers. “One of the best was Patrick Low, still a good friend. I drove to these areas on a regular basis, either on my vintage BSA 500 motorbike, acquired for a reasonable price at the Sungei Road Thieves Market, or when I needed to be accompanied by interpreters, in cars borrowed from one or the other of my friends on campus.” Prof de Koninck has returned to Singapore almost every year since he completed his PhD thesis in 1970. The island is a passion he shares with his wife and his only daughter. “In June 1968, I made a quick trip back to Québec, to marry Hélène Legendre,” he says. “We returned together to Singapore, where she completed her MA in Urban Geography, subsequently obtaining her own PhD in Paris, at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales. Our daughter also studied at NUS! In 1997, she accompanied us to Singapore – Hélène was then a Visiting Researcher at ISEAS – and enrolled at the NUS Chinese Language Proficiency Centre. She enjoyed it so much and did so well that she stayed for an additional year, coming out with a solid grasp of Mandarin, which she eventually perfected in Beijing. So, as you see, Singapore is very much a family affair.”

I also struck it off with Singaporeans, local residents as well as committed expats, making several friends, many having to this day remained so! friends during his stay, many of them teaching staff at the University: former ambassador Chan Heng Chee and David Gibbons (now based in Malaysia), from the Political Science department, and Peter Weldon (now based in Thailand) from Sociology. His fellow graduate students included Professor Wong Poh Poh in the Geography Department who only retired recently. Beyond the University, Prof de Koninck names Willy Lim, Lena Lim and Tay Kheng Soon as “three enduring friends” from the Singapore Urban and Planning Research Group (SPUR). Completing his PhD thesis came with its fair share of challenges, though Prof de Koninck considers it

Jan–Mar 2014

once upon a memory

GRowing up

the ‘most unified’ hostel block. “I played lots of social netball with my Block C kakis,” she says. “I also met my future husband there.” Her husband F A Mok was an Engineering undergraduate when they met, but the couple did not start dating seriously until 1984 when Ms Zakiah graduated. Today, they have four children aged 14 through 20. Certainly her children have witnessed the kind of strong friendships that their parents have

Fresh from NUS, Zakiah Halim (Arts and social sciences ’84) was recruited for her first and thus far, only job. She recalls how campus life shaped her. by Theresa Tan

saw myself progress

ALUMNUS

LEFT: Shanghai Night at the Sheares Ball 1983. Ms Zakiah (front, second from right) with her future husband, F A Mok, behind her (back, second from right). BOTTOM LEFT: Ms Zakiah with her to-be husband, in 1984.

My university education was a major milestone in my life. It was kind of my ‘rite of passage’ “In the academic year 1983/84, our faculty won the hockey championship in the Inter-Faculty Games,” she recalls. “It was a breeze winning, simply because the famous national player Melanie Martens and her sister, Jill were on the same team. “Another of the highlights of my final year was playing against a hostel from Malaysia. I fondly

remember the Sheares-Astar Games. I took part in handball, softball and hockey matches all in the space of two days!” For many undergraduates, no university experience is complete without a stay in a hall of residence. Ms Zakiah stayed in Sheares Hall in her last year at University, in Block C, which had a long tradition for being

Main Photo by STAN ngo; other photos courtesy of Zakiah Halim

from a girl to a mature adult in my three years at University,” says Zakiah Halim, 51, the Senior Vice President of the Malay Broadcast Division at MediaCorp. Coming to the National University of Singapore in 1981 from Temasek Junior College, Ms Zakiah entered campus life with a determination to maximise her time there. She read Sociology, History and Malay Studies at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS). “I remember my first Soci assignment. The question read something like, ‘Why are baby girls dressed in pink and baby boys in blue?’ I thought, ‘What kind of a question is that? What to write?’ It was then I realised that learning was going to be very different at university,” she says, adding that she “did okay” for that first paper. She made many friends at University, some of whom are now public figures. Among them is Zuraidah Binte Abdullah, the former CEO of Mendaki, who was, in 2013, the first woman to be promoted to the rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police. There is also Grace Fu Hai Yien, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office. “She was in the softball team with me at Sheares Hall,” says Ms Zakiah. Sports was a big part of Ms Zakiah’s university experience. A hockey player in her junior college days, she continued to play for FASS, and also joined the handball, softball and hockey teams for Sheares Hall.

Ms Zakiah and her husband took a return trip to Block C when Sheares Hall was relocated to Heng Mui Keng Terrace in 2002. “We went to see the new Sheares Hall when they organised a Sheares Reunion a few years ago. We also caught up with Betty, our Block housekeeper!” she recalls. Being at University fed her love for sports while allowing her to develop intellectually. Ms Zakiah joined NUS’ Malay Language and Cultural Society in her first year, and served in its executive committee in her second and third years. The Society members were active in literary events, talks, seminars, and they also participated in inter-tertiary activities. “There were many intellectual discussions,” she recalls. “You know how everybody loved to talk when they were at university. “I found myself growing up. While I had done GP (general paper) in junior college, during varsity I looked at issues more closely.

built since university. Every year, her old bunch of Sheares Hall mates would invite themselves over to their place. “My husband is more in touch with them than me, but every year they will come during Hari Raya, even when we say sometimes, ‘This year no open house’,” she says laughingly. “These are our very good friends.”

I became more sensitive to issues; community issues became more important. I paid more attention to the challenges facing our community.” Taking Malay Studies, she says, made entering Malay media a natural progression for her. But broadcasting was not her first choice.

“I loved teaching. During my varsity breaks I would do relief teaching.” Then the fateful day came when the then-Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (now MediaCorp) conducted a career talk in NUS. “The speakers left some application forms, so I filled one up. I was called up for an audition and I went through a series of tests – voice audition, aptitude, interview. They offered me a position and I never looked back,” she recalls with a smile. In 1984, Ms Zakiah started out as a producer-presenter for the then-Radio 2 (now Warna 94.2FM). In 1991, she became programme manager of the station. In all, she spent 28 years overseeing four radio staions: Warna 94.2FM, Ria 89.7FM, Oli 96.8FM and Expat Radio XFM 96.3FM. Today, in her current capacity, she looks after both Malay radio and television. “For me, having Suria [the Malay channel] in my portfolio is quite a big expansion,” she says. Television, however, was not totally alien to her. Ms Zakiah had been doing TV work intermittently since the 1990s, hosting and anchoring various programmes. “I did the National Day Parade five years in a row with Channel 5 newscasters Diana Koh and Norman Lim. I did the Malay commentary while they did the English commentary”. She has crafted a successful career in mass media, a feat Ms Zakiah credits the critical thinking she honed during her University years. “You carry that with you your whole life and you apply [what you learn], not just to your career but your family life too,” she says. She had such a good time at University that she constantly encourages her children to aim for entry. Her eldest, a daughter, is studying at the Singapore Management University. “I matured in the course of study. I made friends who are still in touch with me. I tell my children, you just have to make the effort to get a tertiary education! Experience campus life, experience strong camaraderie! My university education was a major milestone in my life. It was kind of my ‘rite of passage’ – I felt I really grew up. Clichéd as it may sound but I really enjoyed my varsity life – it was extremely enriching.” Jan–Mar 2014

My Word

unfamiliar to [our intended] market. I managed to convince my group members to use hashima as the product to promote. At that time, my father was only selling dried hashima at the farm. So my group mates and I came up with a recipe for a hashima dessert – cooked with red dates and gingko nuts – that could be consumed straight from the fridge. That was what got me involved in the operations of the farm and got me thinking that I could actually help my parents in the business. Today, we are still working to expand the product range by perhaps including a low-sugar version. After University, I wanted to materialise what was just a prototype for a school project to an actual product that could be put on the shelves for the public to purchase. We worked with a food factory to determine the exact recipe, testing multiple permutations of it for taste as well as the look. It is important to me that at a glance, a consumer can tell that the product is pristine and of good quality. The final design of the product took many rounds to get to. Initially, I wanted to modernise the appearance but it really does not make sense to take away the identity of an essentially Chinese traditional treat. I have had to learn the ropes as I went along. If we want to sell a product, it has to be of top-notch quality and the branding has to be strong. It took a year and a half of research and experimentation before the final product was ready in October 2012.

Leap of Faith ow many of us can

claim to wake up to the anthem of 15,000 or so frogs croaking at dawn? Chances are none as Chelsea Wan’s family frog farm is the only one of its kind in Singapore. At Jurong Frog Farm, the amphibians are bred as well as imported from Taiwan and Malaysia for sale to local restaurants and markets. Set up by Ms Wan’s father Wan Bock Thiaw in 1981, the farm moved in 1997 from Jurong to its current plot of land at Lim Chu Kang, where

ALUMNUS

Ms Wan – the middle child of a family of two daughters and a son – lives with her parents and siblings, two pet dogs and a pet duck in a modest but spacious bungalow. A Sociology major, Ms Wan stepped in to co-manage the farm with her father after she graduated in 2006. In mid-2013, the farm launched its ready-to-eat hashima, a Chinese dessert made from the fallopian tubes of frogs, packaged elegantly in glass bottles. It is marketed under the brand

name ‘JFF Premium Hashima with American Ginseng’.

So the University helped to pave the way to where you are now?

Purported health benefits aside, the hashima seems rather integral to your career on the farm.

The hashima started it all! I might not be managing the farm alongside my father today if not for it. The dessert was spawned from an Entrepreneurial Marketing module I took from the NUS Business School as an elective in Year 2. We were tasked to market an existing or new product that might be

Photos by Kelvin Chia

a University project to market a ‘Health’ dessert kickstarted Chelsea Wan’s (Arts and social Sciences ’06) interest in her family business. By Fairoza Mansor

Definitely. I got in touch with the lecturer of the course Adjunct Associate Professor Andrew Ng in early 2013. I wanted to let him know that something tangible did take off from the course. I majored in Sociology, which might not seem very relevant to running a business, but what I learnt in the course of my study is certainly applicable to what I do every day. Understanding the dynamics of society

I always advise the students I meet not to let uncertainty restrain them from moving forward.

and the various patterns of human behavior helps me to communicate and connect better with the different groups of people I deal with at work – from manufacturers and contractors, to breeders and customers. It is important when running a family business to be able to network effectively, especially when our profit margin does not allow for advertising and publicity. What is a typical day like for a frog farm owner?

I am up by 7.30am and will be in our very small office by 8.15am, going through and replying to emails. I will usually be done by 9am. After that, there will be tours around the farm for students from child and student care centres as well as schools. I conduct these tours myself. Then I will grab lunch and continue with more administrative tasks. I am also constantly in talks with potential collaborators, in Singapore and overseas, for possibilities to either lower production costs or expand the business. Work normally ends by 6.30pm. I used to work on weekends but these days, I take on a more supervisory role and try to leave by 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Did you have an inkling that you will someday take over the family business?

Not at all! I did not think I had a flair for business. [But I have

realised] that life is not so much about finding who you are, it is about creating yourself, becoming what you want to represent. Not all of us are lucky enough to be able to identify our forte from the get-go. That is why I always advise the students I meet not to let uncertainty restrain them from moving forward. They should just put themselves out there and try, and from there they will know if it is what they want or not want to do in life. Has the way the farm operates changed since you came on board?

Production costs have escalated quite significantly so wherever possible, I try to cut those. I have focussed more on selling our products directly instead of going through distributors, for instance. I recently also hired a professional finance person to take care of the accounts and to offer her expertise on things like pricing. My dad has also improved the infrastructure of the farm by ensuring a more steady supply of water. We have also started pumping underground water. What are some of your plans to ensure the business soars?

Our hashima is entirely homegrown, which is great because we can control the quality of the product, but that also means our production and manufacturing costs are very high. I recently returned from a trip to Taiwan where I spoke to various possible collaborators. Taking the manufacturing outside Singapore can help lower the cost. I am also toying with the idea of introducing our ready-to-eat hashima to the Taiwanese market. Most of them have heard of hashima but surprisingly, a ready-to-eat version is not easily available. So yes, there is a lot for me to explore and do now – it is all very exciting! Jan–Mar 2014

changemaker

hen she was 10 years old, Ms Kathy Xu wrote a letter to the Ministry of the Environment, requesting for more designated wildlife conservation sites in Singapore. “Imagine my shock when my vice-principal called me out during a school assembly to tell the school about the letter I had written and she read the reply from the Ministry out loud. I was shaking like a leaf in front of everyone!” she remembers. “I guess I have always believed in the need for conservation – I dreamt of being an environmentalist when I was a little girl.” Little wonder then, that when seven years ago, Ms Xu came across a documentary entitled Sharkwater, which uncovers the plight of sharks and the atrocities of the shark finning trade and industry, the conservationist in her resurfaced. “That is when I researched more about organisations that try to protect sharks and I stumbled upon Shark Savers,” she says. “I signed up to be a volunteer.” Shark Savers is a United Statesbased organisation with branches worldwide. In 2013, its Asian branches launched a successful campaign

Kathy Xu (arts and social sciences ’04) gave up her career as a teacher to start a social enterprise, an ecotourism outfit aimed at stopping shark harvesting. by Theresa Tan

ALUMNUS

IT was pure magic the moment we put on our snorkelling gear and jumped into the ocean to behold a six-metre long whale shark. I was so captivated I forgot to breathe!

Photo by lionel LIN shark photo from shutterstock

Swimming with sharks

roping in celebrities in Singapore and Hong Kong to pledge not to eat shark’s fin. The active campaigning has seen demand for shark’s fin drop in Singapore by a third since 2011. It was during her undergraduate days at the National University of Singapore that Ms Xu picked up scubadiving. “They offered special rates for undergrads who wanted to learn diving back then,” she recalls. “I had always been reading books or watching documentaries about the plight of sharks and unsustainable fishing practices in the world, but the magical moment I fell in love was when I went whale shark watching at Exmouth off Ningaloo Reef [in Western Australia] about three years ago,” she says. “Plane spotters in the sky would radio down to the boats when they saw whale sharks. It was about a three-hour

the problem through converting the fishermen’s source of livelihood.” The 31 year-old came up with the idea of a social enterprise: an ecotourism company in Lombok that would convert shark-finning boats into tourism boats, manned by the fishermen. The rationale: the fishermen toiled to harvest sharks – up to 400 a day – but are paid a pittance, while the shark’s fin traders earn large sums for selling the fins to high-end restaurants. The Dorsal Effect discourages the harvesting of sharks and offers an

road and boat ride out to the Indian Ocean and it was pure magic the moment we put on our snorkelling gear and jumped into the ocean to behold a six-metre-long juvenile whale shark. I was so captivated I forgot to breathe! This was just a juvenile one, not even full-sized! It was truly amazing for me. “From that point on, I knew there was no turning back if I wanted my children and my children’s children to be able to see sharks alive and to swim freely with them in the ocean,” Ms Xu says. Her ecotourism outfit The Dorsal Effect (www.thedorsaleffect.com) became an idea that took root in 2012, one that complemented current efforts. “Volunteering with Shark Savers saw me doing a lot of advocacy and public awareness talks through educational outreach and presentations,” she explains. “They were doing a lot on the demand side, and I wanted to do something to address the supply side of

alternative source of income for the fishermen, thus cutting off supply even as demand dwindles. Conservationists say that sharks do not deliberately hunt humans – often they mistake people for seals. The name The Dorsal Effect addresses this misconception, says Ms Xu. “No thanks to Jaws the movie, dorsal fins are commonly associated with sharks and danger. In reality, sharks rarely ever stick their dorsal fins out of the ocean surface!” Ms Xu’s idea won her the third prize at the Singapore International Foundation’s Young Social Entrepreneur’s Programme 2013, which came with a grant of S$10,000 as seed funding for her business. It was a big boost to the former teacher who had been plagued up till then with many rejections. These came from potential venture capitalists she

had approached, as well as startup grants. There were also the competitions she had taken part in, but failed to reach subsequent rounds. Then there were the “naysayers who admired my courage but said the idea was never going to work,” she recalls. The Dorsal Effect ran its maiden expedition in September this year. “The fishermen made about 85 per cent of the money they would have from a good month at shark fishing,” she says. “But they are still skeptical and wary about what I am trying to do since I cannot prove it will be sustainable yet.” Ms Xu made another trip to Lombok in November, this time conducting two boat trips. “This trip was important as I had friends who had booked for the trips already. I am really hoping to get the shark fishermen to see what I am trying to do and understand it in a better economic sense,” she says. She stayed there for a month to drive the business, establish relationships with the fishermen and legitimise The Dorsal Effect as an ecotourism partner with the Indonesian Tourism Board. The road is a long, hard one for this crusader, who admits the obstacles are “way too many; parental objections and lack of finances are the biggest constant ones.” “The whole thought of trying to convert a fishing village’s routine practice is daunting enough, especially when I do not even speak Sasak or Bahasa Indonesia,” she says candidly. “Not many people have heard of Lombok, so I need to try and generate tourist demand for the boat trips as well.” It is a far cry from her days as a teacher at Orchid Park Secondary School, where she taught English and History for seven years before quitting last year to run The Dorsal Effect. “I always told my students to fight for what they believe in or for those who cannot stand up for themselves, so I guess I have to walk the talk now. Staying grounded and sincere with the people I meet – just as I have always been with my students – also helps them to stay open to the cause I am trying to advocate.” Jan–Mar 2014

Pursuit Of Excellence

Game Changer Travis Ho (Computing ‘11) began designing computer games in primary school — and he has nOt stopped since. by Theresa Tan

ravis Ho really has his parents to thank. “When I was a kid I really wanted to play computer games, but my parents did not want to get me any distractions, so I had to make my own,” says Mr Ho, 29, with a laugh. Today, he is co-director of Touch Dimensions Interactive Pte Ltd, a game development studio best known for the hit iPad strategy war game Autumn Dynasty, in which players command armies using brushstrokes and simple gestures, all on a battle map rendered as a Chinese painting. Lauded for its intuitive controls and unique art style, Autumn Dynasty has won both critical and commercial acclaim, ranking on the App Store as the Number One paid strategy game in more than 25 countries, and being featured in Apple’s Best of 2012 pick, besides winning other game development awards around the world. Certainly, it is a long way from Mr Ho’s humble beginnings in game development, which involved simple shapes on plain black screens. “What I did not have in graphics, I made up for with my own imagination: circles became spaceships and lines became lasers, and I was quite happy about that, only because I really had not seen how good real

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games were!” he recalls. He first approached programming with a great deal of mysticism, starting off with text-based adventure games where players could choose what action they could take. “Unfortunately, all of them had a maximum of 26 choices – one for every letter of the alphabet – because I did not know I could reuse variables!” By the time Mr Ho was in Secondary One in Raffles Institution (where he came to chair the Computer Science Club), he knew he “needed trigonometry to aim virtual projectiles, but had to figure it out from first principles”. As he puts it, “All I knew at that time were angles and bearings, so I set out my own conventions: 0 degrees were north and all angles were clockwise from that.” He later learnt that ‘0’ in trigonometry is east and all angles run anticlockwise, but by then “Travonometry” (his eponymous method) had taken root. “My original convention was so ingrained in me I worked all my math out using Travonometry and converted it back later, much to the chagrin of my teachers, and every other programmer who has ever had to read my code,” he admits. Today, at Touch Dimensions, which he co-runs with his business partner Jeffrey Jiang, Travonometry is still

used. “There are all these conversion functions that other folks use to work around it. It even has its own quadrant rules: anything above the origin is positive, anything below is negated.” It probably comes as no surprise that someone like Mr Ho, who reinvents rules to solve problems, would become the game-changing gamemaker that he is today. But he is slow to take full credit for the topselling app, revealing that Autumn Dynasty began in seed form as a university class project. After matriculating at the National University of Singapore (NUS) School of Computing, Mr Ho found making games a great opportunity to put into practice the algorithms and programming knowledge that he had learnt in class. He and his team set out to create a game that was easy for people to pick up and play, but the programming behind it was anything but simple. “It is a combination of math and art,” he says, enthusiastically describing how a set of waypoints is transformed into a collection of vertices, before being rendered as a beautifully textured watercolour brush stroke on screen. “When we first started out [doing this project], it was really guerilla: we were a ragtag team of students from different schools and institutions. We met in empty computer labs and tutorial rooms, shifting next door

development, and later, support from NUS. “We were really amazed and touched by the efforts of the staff to help us – professors would chime in with suggestions, classmates would contribute code, or help us test the game, and the school administration did their best to advise us on how to get academic credit for the work we were doing.” The game almost never progressed beyond NUS. In 2009, the team had a fantastic idea but no platform to distribute it as a game. Then, it could only be played on a giant ‘touch screen’ table that

always do stuff you find fun and interesting, rather than think of what benefit it will bring. experiences and opportunities connect in the most unexpected ways.

Photo by Lionel Lin

whenever a class came in. Our schedule was completely determined by exam seasons: during term holidays we would try to get as much done as possible, and whenever midterms or finals rolled around, work would grind to a complete standstill,” Mr Ho remembers. The progress eventually attracted more friends to help out with

they had constructed at the School of Computing. Mr Ho was ready to throw in the towel as a potential game designer. Then that year, in 2009, Apple announced the iPad, and suddenly Autumn Dynasty had an audience. The team adapted the game for the iPad and iPod, and the app went on sale in 2012. The rest is history. When Touch Dimensions was founded as a company out of the initial hobbyist team, the group turned to NUS Enterprise to help secure a first round of funding from SPRING Singapore, under the Young Entrepreneurs Startup Scheme. Reflecting on his path through University, Mr Ho counts computer games as just one of the random, unconventional pursuits that have enriched his life. “Besides computer games, I also like balloons and paper aeroplanes – things that might be considered a little bit frivolous. In an age where everyone is obsessed about optimising their resumes, my juniors sometimes ask me whether an activity might be useful for a career in game development. My suggestion is always to do stuff that you find fun and interesting, rather than think of what benefit it will bring, because experiences and opportunities connect in the most unexpected ways,” he says. True to his unorthodox nature, he graduated only in 2011, having spent a few years in between terms supplementing his learning with things like AI research at the University of California and a summer internship at the Singapore MIT GAMBIT game lab in Massachusetts. One of Mr Ho’s proudest moments at NUS was representing Singapore in an international paper aeroplane contest – the Red Bull Paper Wings event in Salzburg, Austria. While his classmates gave tuition as a sideline, Mr Ho chose to work as a clown and a balloon sculptor. “I figured it was a lot more fun to entertain little kids, rather than force them to study,” he points out, adding that “few people know that the very first paycheck for the Autumn Dynasty project was actually funded by balloons!” Jan–Mar 2014

U@Live

One speaker. 10 minutes. Boundless inspiration. U@live is our monthly guest speaker series that showcase NUS alumni who have a passion for making a difference. Hosted by Alumni Advisory Board member and veteran TV presenter Mr Viswa Sadasivan (Arts and Social Sciences ‘83) at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House, the one-hour session is also streamed live on the U@live website. To register for future U@live events, visit www.nus.edu.sg/ualive.

out that the government is fast realising this as well. Envisioning this revolution to be people-centred, he explained that it will be one where citizens reclaim responsibility for social issues. To illustrate the point, Mr Lien gave this analogy, “If someone buys a mug from a store and subsequently found Singaporeans have the power to it to be chipped, he would probably transform the society that they live in. return it to the store for a refund. However, if this person were to ociety is stuck. We have been attend a pottery class, make the mug “ stuck for too long with a spe- and subsequently discovers a chip in it, even if others were to criticise, the cific style of leadership. That mug would still be his pride and joy is why we need a revolution. as he had put much effort into it. Not to overthrow the government, He noted that this is the dilembut to transform and to change how ma Singaporeans now face. Having this society functions and how it is had things done for them for so organised.” These were the opening remarks of long, they are now too reliant on the government to solve their problems. Mr Laurence Lien, the Chief Executive This is an unsustainable practice as Officer of the National Volunteer and it puts too much burden on too few Philanthropy Centre (NVPC). For a shoulders. If Singaporeans were to very long time, he said, bright, select solve their problems themselves, individuals have led the country with the rest of the people following behind. they would then be able to develop a However, the problems Singapore faces sense of ownership. But Mr Lien notes that many today are a lot more complex, with the people, especially the young, are types of people involved being much now socially conscious. Everyone, more diverse. This creates a need for a change, said Mr Lien, who also pointed “even the poor and those with Mr Laurence Lien (Business School ’00)

Leading a revolution S

we need a revolution to transform and to change how this society functions and how it is organised.

low-income” can contribute to society. Being able to give back to society was also the reason why Mr Lien came to be a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP). His first thoughts when he found out that Mr Stanley Tan, NVPC’s chairman, had nominated him were “Is there not enough work that I have to do?” But Mr Tan persuaded him by pointing out that the political landscape had changed. The ruling party and people were now ready to listen to diverse views, so Mr Lien had to agree. Social issues were coming to the fore and he was determined to represent the social sector. Well aware that being an NMP might not result in immediate changes in regulations, Mr Lien nonetheless believes that it is a good platform on which to raise long-term issues that the ruling party might otherwise overlook. Agreeing with moderator Mr Viswa Sadasivan that volunteerism in Singapore could be cause-based instead of activity-focused, Mr Lien pointed out that volunteerism would be much broader. Advocacy would be an area that should be included as there is a “supply side surplus” that he often sees at NVPC – there are a lot of people who want to give of their time and money but do not know what needs there might be out there. Mr Lien noted that the young are told to do what their parents want them to do, not what they are interested in. They should instead be doing something they truly believe in and enjoy, and this is the reason why he gives talks. His hope that night was that the audience walk away knowing that they have the power to lead a revolution to transform the society that they live in. By Rachel Tan Shiying Mr Lien spoke on 25 September 2013.

I believe Singapore can be the cleanest, greenest, safest and most beautiful city in the world.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan (Medicine ‘85 and M.Med (Opthamology) ’91)

Making a dream come true The country has enough assets to invest in itself.

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o Dr Vivian Balakrishnan,

“the greatest threat to public health is the quality of the environment”. To the Minister for Environment and Water Resources, SARS was “just a prelude”. The Minister started the evening on a sobering note, speaking about his “nightmares”– the three environmental challenges that lie ahead for Singapore. These are pandemics such as SARS, transboundary effects such as the haze, and the “existential challenge” of a warming climate and its adverse effects on food and water supplies, as well as energy. Recounting the worst haze that this city-state had encountered, in June 2013, Dr Balakrishnan said that “we cannot put a dome around Singapore” and neither can citizens think that Singapore will always exist against a calamity-free backdrop. The School of Medicine alumnus also remarked that the increased frequency of intense storms in Singapore is “simply a warning sign of much worse to come”, describing the current environment situation as “a point of no return”. His remarks were greeted with nods from the audience, which consisted of about 200 students, staff and alumni of the University. Explaining the complexity of the situation, Dr Balakrishnan said that people are often not bothered about environmental issues which typically only have long-term repercussions because “the human mind is often focused on the here and now”. Another typical human trait is the need to find someone to blame when things go wrong. Likening the environment to “complicated machinery”, Dr Balakrishnan explained that problems result from a series of errors rather than from a single source. The challenge therefore lies in the hands of the government to view the matter with long-term considerations, and to effectively communicate issues to the public. “There has to be a balance between commanding a sense of urgency, and yet, not have people panic,” he emphasised. Responding to moderator Mr Viswa Sadasivan’s query on how the government can forge ties of trust with the populace, the Minister, who was at the forefront of the haze crisis, said that being “totally open and transparent”, as well as demonstrating competence are key to gaining peoples’ confidence. When it comes to dealing with Jan–Mar 2014

U@Live environmental challenges, Dr Balakrishnan pointed out that both government and citizens are stuck in the same boat – for it is “the same air that we breathe [and] the same water that we drink”. When Singaporeans understand this and start demonstrating civic consciousness towards each other, the country can take small steps towards becoming a greener city. Dr Balakrishnan, who was President of the NUS Students’ Union from 1981 to 1983, shared – with a chuckle – that he got into the office presidency as no one else was interested enough to stand for election then. However, the days of unopposed elections are over, both at the students’ union level as well as at the national level. He noted that the Singapore landscape today is vastly different from the 1980s and the country is not short of passionate individuals who will champion green causes. From the audience, Professor Michael Chee of the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore, remarked that being green may be more challenging for current and future generations as people are faced with increasingly more choices with the advent of technology. Citing the example of how commuting by car provides much more time savings than public transport, Prof Chee lamented that it may be tough for people to forsake convenience in order to make a green choice. Dr Balakrishnan said that contrary to popular thinking, the greenest way of life is actually in the

city where the unit cost of production is much lower. For instance, it is cheaper to purify water in large quantities in the cities than in rural areas. He saw this as “an opportunity for [Singapore] to show the world a working model”. In terms of transport, the government will double the rail network by 2030 to make commuting even more convenient. In addition, a parallel cycling network will also provide another mode of transport. When asked how the government is gearing up for environmental challenges, Dr Balakrishnan shared that the PUB has planned for hundreds of projects to upgrade the islandwide drainage system. He lauded Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew as the original environmentalist of Singapore who launched the Tree Planting campaign in 1963 to transform Singapore to a garden city, and who also opted for trains to be powered by electricity instead of coal in the 1960s. The government continues this green movement today. Dr Balakrishnan might have started the forum addressing his “nightmares”, but the minister ended the evening by sharing his dream. “I believe Singapore can be the cleanest, greenest, safest and most beautiful city in the world. It can be done because the people want it and demand it. We have enough assets to invest in ourselves,” he said. By YEO ZHI QI Dr Balakrishnan spoke on 30 October 2013.

Dr Balakrishnan started his talk on a sobering note, but ended with his dream.

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“progressive wage”, which matches skills-upgrading with salary increases. This model is superior to a minimum wage approach as better skills would not only ensure higher wages but also increase the country’s overall productivity. On what can be done to help unmarried mothers, Mdm Halimah hopes for changes in the housing policy so that young single mothers will be able to purchase their own HDB flats. Allowing single mothers to buy direct from the government and therefore benefit from subsidies will benefit their children so that they are not stuck in a vicious cycle of poverty. Yet, she also acknowledged that the government can only move at a pace that society is comfortable with. “It really depends on how far society is prepared to move on with such issues and whether, if the government moves, that will be something that society is prepared to accept or not. But maybe we should then shift the conversation to say, look at the child; it is the child’s interest that one must look at now,” she noted. As the ninth Speaker of Parliament and the first woman to hold this post in the history of Singapore, Mdm Halimah hopes to see Singapore become a truly compassionate and inclusive society, one in which people feel a strong attachment to the country. To those who feel that they may not have enough time to contribute to society or lend a helping hand to others, the active MP who is also a trade unionist and a mother of five said, “it is not an issue of time, it is an issue of choices.” Suggesting that people can spend less time on social media or on their mobile phones and computers, Mdm Halimah said, “Some of the busiest people I know are the most committed and passionate people.” She left the audience to ponder, “Are your choices making a difference in someone’s life?”

Are your choices making a difference in someone’s life?

nown as “someone who does not mince her words” and a “Member of Parliament (MP) who asks the most inconvenient questions”, Speaker of Parliament Mdm Halimah Yacob opened her U@live session by sharing her strong belief in advocacy. It is a belief that has driven her to champion migrant workers, the mentally ill, elderly and women. Mdm Halimah said she entered politics because it is one way of making heard the voices of marginalised groups, and that she wanted to be a “loudspeaker” for their problems and challenges. Mdm Halimah noted that from the 1950s up to 2001, the year she entered politics, there was not any Malay woman in Parliament. By being in government, she wants to let the Malay community see the possibilities of achievement, and to encourage them to pursue their dreams. As someone who “grew up very poor” (she sometimes went to school without textbooks), Mdm Halimah disclosed that her mother was left to bring up five children after her father passed away when she was eight. The MP said that she understands that poverty can be very disempowering

Mdm Halimah Yacob (Law (Hons), ’78)

A ‘Loudspeaker’ For The Voiceless The Speaker of Parliament champions those who cannot fight for themselves. as people “feel they do not have the right to speak”. To help the bottom rung of society, the government has put in place multiple lines of assistance so that nobody will be left behind. “What we have now is that different schemes have different cut-offs when it comes to family income levels,” she explained. “There is tremendous flexibility this way, rather than saying, there is one line and it cuts across all schemes.” However, the former Minister of State at the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports acknowledged that not everyone is aware of the different schemes. She noted that “it is a question of whether people know, [and whether] people are making use of the schemes. So,

outreach is very important.” Madam Halimah said that knowing where to go to for help would suffice – the individual does not need to navigate the large number of schemes available. Group outreach is also crucial, which is why MPs do house visits to reach out to those who do not proactively seek help. To a participant’s query on why there is a resistance to setting a minimum wage in Singapore, Mdm Halimah explained that setting a benchmark carries rigidity, as employers will simply hand out the recommended wage, instead of assessing people based on their values and contributions. She said that the government’s equivalent of minimum wage is

By Yeo Zhi Qi Mdm Halimah spoke on 27 November 2013.

Jan–Mar 2014

Alumni Happenings GIVING

From campus couple to campus campaigners

Mr Tay Wei Lien

Gratitude for their time at the University leads Mr Yeo Keng Joon and Ms Kong Yuet Peng to spearhead a Bursary Fund.

alumni-led initiative that appeals to couples who met on the NUS campus to help financially-disadvantaged students by supporting bursaries. Ms Kong explains, “We have a good family and marriage and have to be thankful. We would not have the situation we have now if we had not met on campus. We believe there are many more couples like us who also met on campus. With this Fund, we hope that we can raise money to help needy students.” Both Mr Yeo and Ms Kong have fond memories of their time at university in Malaysia and in Singapore. The couple were very involved in Hall activities, and as keen sports people, they often dined late after their daily games practices and stayed up socialising with friends. They also share a sense of fun. There were ‘panty raids’, intense inter-Hall rivalries, and very often overzealous ‘ragging’ during freshman orientation. “We feel privileged. We Fun aside, Mr Yeo and all know we are what Ms Kong feel a university experience is an important we are today because rite of passage. As Ms Kong of our alma mater. says, “University is about We are giving back.” people and networking. It Ms Kong Yuet Peng (’86) is about knowing people and building relationships.” A university education is also an important factor in social mobility. “I was the first in my extended family to go to university. At the time, it was a passport out of poverty. There is no shame to being poor. You can stand up and compete intellectually. And, with the right help, you know you can excel,” Mr Yeo says. Mr Yeo and Ms Kong’s passion for helping financially-disadvantaged 30

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students is partly shaped by the fact that they both Are you a campus couple? received financial help with Would you like to support their education. Ms Kong the NUS Campus Couples Bursary Fund? For more would probably not have information about the gone to university if it were NUS Campus Couples not for the assistance of her Bursary Fund, or to make a gift, please contact brother. And Mr Yeo was kjyeo@alumni.nus.edu.sg fortunate to receive financial support from school, a clan association and the federal government university bursary. “The financial support I received changed the course of my life. Without it, I would have struggled,” he shares. And what do they hope the NUS Campus Couples Bursary Fund will achieve? “We hope it will help whoever needs financial help. Or make a difference so a student does not have to struggle or take on extra work,” says Ms Kong. “We all know we are what we are today because of our alma mater. Our primary objective is to raise money for needy students. We hope this giving will encourage past, present and future recipients to pay it forward,” says Mr Yeo.

Bursary gift that keeps growing NUS donor ropes in friends and family each time his birthday rolls around.

Illustration: Shutterstock

motorbike ride set Mr Yeo Keng Joon (Business ’85) and Ms Kong Yuet Peng (Business ’86) on the road to marriage, a family and two successful careers. The couple was studying at the University of Malaya in the 1970s when Ms Kong snapped the cartilage in her knee in an athletics competition. Her knight in shining armour appeared in the form of Mr Yeo who rushed Ms Kong to hospital on his trusty steed: his motorbike. Today, the couple, who subsequently moved their family to Singapore in the 1980s to study for their MBAs at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School, is spearheading the NUS Campus Couples Bursary Fund. Part of the NUS Alumni Bursary Fund Campaign, the Fund is an

Dentistry at the University Of Malaya. He was also a stalwart supporter of charities such as the Society for the Physically Disabled, the Singapore Cancer Society as well as Rotary and Rotaract Club community service activities. Mr Tay hopes that recipients of the Tay Teck Eng Dental Bursary will emulate his father’s “spirit of community service and willingness to return blessings to the needy, in gratitude of blessings received”. His advice for recipients of the Bursary? “Work hard as God only helps those who help themselves, and be mindful of needs around you. Be content and grateful for the little blessings that come your way and remember Health is better than Wealth!” he says.

“Be content and grateful for the little blessings that come your way.”

he pool of funds in the Tay Teck Eng Dental Bursary, set up to remember and celebrate the life and values of the late dental surgeon Tan Sri Dr Tay Teck Eng, never seems to deplete despite two bursaries being awarded every year since it was set up in 2007. To date, the Bursary, which supports promising dental students at the

National University of Singapore (NUS), has benefitted eight students. There is no magical formula to this though. Mr Tay Wei Lien, the son of the late philanthropist, dentist and academic, has been adding to the pool each time a ‘milestone’ birthday comes around. “Instead of receiving gifts that I might not need, I thought I would ask my family and friends to give to NUS This year, in tribute to the 90th birthday instead on a ‘no obligation’ basis,” says Mr Tay, of Singapore’s Founding Prime who raised S$12,000 Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew, NUS will for the Bursary at his dedicate gifts and pledges recorded by recent 65th birthday celthe University from 1 January to 31 December 2013, with the consent of ebrations. He had raised our donors, to honour Mr Lee Kuan S$14,000 on his 60th birthday in the Yew. In addition, same manner. NUS has set up Mr Tay, whose father the Lee Kuan Yew was an alumnus of the Endowed Fund King Edward VII College For information on making a which will go of Medicine, a predecessor gift to NUS, please contact 1800-DEVELOP towards bursaries institution of NUS, is a strong (1800-338-3567) or email: for financially-needy believer in philanthropy and askdvo@nus.edu.sg undergraduate giving back, particularly to If you have a story to students. education. “The University share, please contact was responsible for Dad’s edu- whatsyourstory@nus.edu.sg cation and set him on the path to break out of the poverty cycle and to make a success of his life,” he says. Dr Tay had come from a humble background and would have dropped out of college if not for the generosity of a stranger who paid his dental course fees in full. After he graduated, he actively supported the advancement of dental and medical education in Singapore and Malaysia and played a part in Mr Tay Wei Lien celebrating his the setting up 65th birthday of the School of with family. Jan–Mar 2014

Alumni Happenings Events

Thirsty Thursdays Get Together

The ‘Lucky General’ Opens Up

NUSS members were treated to an evening of thought-provoking dialogue at ‘Conversations with Tommy Koh’ on 4 December 2013.

Professor Tommy Koh (Law ’61), Singapore’s pre-eminent diplomat for close to 50 years and Ambassador-atLarge at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), engaged around 200 National University of Singapore Society (NUSS) members and guests on topics of law, diplomacy, environment, arts and culture on 4 December 2013. The evening saw Prof Koh humbly deflecting accolades from himself and instead, honouring the “invisible” people

Visit www.nus.edu.sg/alumnet for more information.

other distinguished panelists who each posed questions on a topic in their respective area of expertise. They were: Ms Chong Siak Ching (Design and Environment ’81), CEO of The National Art Gallery, Singapore; Dr Shawn Lum, President of the Nature Society (Singapore); Mr Gopinath Pillai (Arts and Social Sciences ’61), Ambassador-at-Large, MFA; and Associate Professor Simon Tay (Law ‘86), Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs. The session was moderated by Associate Professor Victor R Savage (Arts and Social Sciences ’72), Director of the NUS Office of Alumni Relations. Prof Koh related to the audience his “traumatic experience” of his first appointment as Singapore’s Ambassador to the United Nations, where he first experienced the reality

“We live in a very imperfect world. However, we also live in a world where there are rules and laws which govern almost every aspect of relations between states.” Prof Tommy Koh (Law ’61)

whom he had worked with over the years. “Most of my so-called successes were due to the collective work of my colleagues,” he said. “I am what Napoleon called the ‘Lucky General’ and I bask in the glory of my colleagues’ good work.” Prof Koh was joined on stage by four 32

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Following a successful inaugural reach-out session to engage younger alumni, the NUS Office of Alumni Relations held a second ‘Thirsty Thursdays’ session at Switch by Timbre on 10 October 2013. More than 100 alumni turned up to meet new friends and expand their network. The next ‘Thirsty Thursdays’ session will be held on 16 January 2014.

of states balancing the different poles of power, diplomacy and international law. “We live in a very imperfect world,” Prof Koh commented. “However, we also live in a world

where there are rules and laws which govern almost every aspect of relations between states.” In reply to Ambassador Gopinath’s question on why he continued to be a diplomat after returning from his first diplomatic stint and taking up the position as Dean of the National University of Singapore (NUS) Law Faculty, Prof Koh said that he belonged to a time where they “wanted to build a better, more equal and more just world”. Prof Koh peppered his dialogue with many anecdotes from his time as a diplomat and his roles in various prominent positions such as President of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. “Most of the things that happened in my life were by accident,” remarked Prof Koh who went on to relate the circumstances that led to his various appointments over the years, eliciting much laughter and applause. When the session was opened to the floor for questions, the audience sought Prof Koh’s opinions on topics ranging from China’s declaration of its Air Defence Identification Zone, the current political situation in Thailand to the existing common threats to humanity such as nuclear weapons. After the session ended, a meandering line of members formed at the lobby in anticipation of a booksigning session for Prof Koh’s new book — The Tommy Koh Reader – Favourite Essays and Lectures.

Economics Alumni Speed Mentoring The NUS Economics Society organised an alumni mentorship event in collaboration with the NUS Economics Alumni on 14 October 2013. The event saw a turnout of 83 undergraduates and 16 alumni. With the diverse backgrounds of the alumni mentors, students took home many points on how they could break into their desired industries upon graduation. Choo Yuen Han, a first year undergraduate said, “This event was definitely an eye opener as I found out more about what the working world expects of me.” The alumni mentors were encouraging and helpful, with many offering to come back for future events. Mr Wong Boon Keng (Economics ’12) said, “We felt the enthusiasm of the students and good questions were asked. This makes the mentors feel that [the session] was time well-spent.” Pius Tan (First year Economics undergraduate)

Economics Alumni Ride Trishaws To Raise Funds The NUS Economics Alumni held its second trishaw fund-raising event on 1 November 2013. Guest-of-honour, Associate Professor Zeng Jinli, rode off the first trishaw, accompanied by Mr Daniel Lo, President of the Alumni Group and staff from the Economics department. Sponsors paid for the 30 rented trishaws, with each trishaw raising S$500 for the NUS Economics Alumni Bursary Fund, bringing the total amount raised to over S$15,000. The Fund awards three bursaries worth S$2000 each to needy students, for three years of undergraduate studies. Over 60 participants turned up for the event which rounded off nicely with a buffet dinner. Dr Lee Soo Ann (Arts & Social Sciences ‘59) Jan–Mar 2014

Alumni Happenings Events

Oktoberfest for NUS Business School Alumni The NUS Business School ‘Oktoberfest 2013’ was held at Paulaner, Clarke Quay on 3 October. Kicking off the popular beer-fest was President of the MBA Student Council 2013, Geemyung Moon, who attributed the success of the event to the organisers and the strong support of the MBA alumni. As early as 7pm, the venue was packed with alumni catching up with old friends, and current students networking to make fresh connections. For some participants such as first-year student Tomoo Takeuchi, it was their first experience of Oktoberfest. “It is an exciting atmosphere and having free-flow beer is never a bad thing!” For others, the experience was familiar and an event on their calendar that they always made room for. Class of MBA 2012 graduates Shailesh Sinha and Anukish Garg make it a point to come back each year. “It is a good opportunity to meet new people and network,” said Anukish.

FASS Alumni Dinner @ UTown

Gala Awards For Sterling Contributions By NUS Engineering Alumni A night of fun and laughter at the annual Engineering Alumni Gala Dinner.

Engineering classes from as early as 1974 gathered at the National University of Singapore Society Kent Ridge Guild House on 1 November 2013, to attend the Engineering Alumni Gala Dinner. This year, the Faculty recognised two illustrious engineering alumni for their outstanding contributions to nation and society. The Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award (DEAA) went to Mr Lee Yi Shyan (Chemical Engineering ’86), Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of National Development, who started his career as a systems engineer with MINDEF. Mr Tan Sim Chuan (Civil Engineering ’09), the Faculty’s young Class Ambassador received the Engineering Alumni Service Honours (EASH). Mr Tan has carried his fervour of volunteerism into working life. Despite holding demanding responsibilities with the Land Transport Authority, he still finds time to advance alumni welfare and build alumni ties. The two alumni are notable examples of the Faculty’s Engineer-Leaders. Today, the Faculty has leapt forward — rising from ninth to seventh place according to the QS World University Rankings. A number of the Faculty’s programmes have made it to the Top 10. The Faculty’s alumni strength has grown from fewer than 50 alumni to more than 47,000. 34

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Over 50 alumni and staff from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) gathered for the FASS Alumni Dinner on 24 October 2013. Hosted by Vice Dean Associate Professor T C Chang at Sapore Italiano at NUS University Town (UTown), the biannual dinner allows alumni to keep in touch

with the Faculty and also to get to know one another. Prior to dinner, alumni were taken on a walking tour of UTown including its residential and teaching spaces. Over dinner, guests were entertained by a magician, alumnus Alexander Yuen (Arts and Social Sciences ’12).

Engineering Alumni Leaders-Student Networking 2013

second From left DEAA recipient, Senior Minister of State, Mr Lee Yi Shyan (Chemical Engineering ’86) (second from left), shaking hands with NUS President, Prof Tan Chorh Chuan (Medicine ’83), and EASH recipient, Mr Tan Sim Chuan (Civil Engineering ’09) (second from right), being congratulated by Prof Victor Shim, Engineering Vice Dean (External Relations).

For the third year running, the highly successful ‘Engineering Alumni LeadersStudent Networking’ was held on 6 September 2013 at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House. Six alumni in senior management positions provided a lively panel discussion and shared insights that evening. The 150 students who attended the networking session benefitted from the alumni’s wealth of professional and personal experiences. Alumnus Ms Soo Hui Wah (middle, seated) with Vice Dean Assoc Prof T C Chang (right) and colleagues from the Singapore Discovery Centre. Jan–Mar 2014

NUS OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

Enjoy 25% discount off venue rates for event bookings at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House Venue booking: T 6516 7700 E sfahvenues@nus.edu.sg

Privileges in NUS The University Club

25% discount off à la carte items for dine-in only. T: 6779 8919 W: www.theuniversityclub.sg

Late Plate

15% discount off on à la carte food items and drinks. W: www.lateplate.sg

Subway Singapore

20% discount off total bill. Valid at Subway Cart @ E4 Engineering, Subway Cart @ LT25 Science, Subway @ YIH and Subway @ UTown only.

Sakae Sushi

10% discount off total bill. Valid for outlet at UTown Stephen Riady Centre only. Enjoy NUS rates at canteens, food courts and major Food & Beverage outlets on Kent Ridge and Bukit Timah campus. Participating outlets include Food Junction @ YIH, Koufu @ UTown, Foodgle @ Engineering & UTown, Food Clique @ UTown, Sarpino’s Express @ YIH and others.

Copthorne King’s Hotel -Copthorne 15% discount offHotel buffet only at Princess Terrace, King’s bookhaven

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Liang Seng Sports Equipment

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NUS Multi-Purpose Co-operative

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FOOD & BEVERAGE

Singapore Lyric Opera

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10% discount off all concert tickets. T: 6345 9908 W: www.dingyimusic.com

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The A Cappella Society

Enjoy S$5 discount off ticket prices to all TAS productions. W: www.a-cappella.org.sg

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20% discount off the first 10 hours of tuition. W: www.apollo-learning.com

KYDZ International

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15% discount on full-day childcare services only at the selected centres. W: www.modern-montessori.com

Adam Khoo Learning Technologies Group

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The Wine Company -The 10% discount on all food & wine-by-bottle & Wine Company

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Fortis Wellness Centre Corporate rates for General Health Screening and Fortis Wellness Centre

ARTS SHOWCASE

Ding Yi Music Company

Leveldiscount 1. - 15% off buffet only at Princess Terrace, T: 6318 Level 1. 3168 - T: 15% discount 6318 3168 off food bill at Tien Court, Level 2. T: 6318 3193/198 - 15% discount off food bill at Tien Court, Level 2. - T: 15% discount off food bill at Starscafe, Level 1. 6318 3193/198 T: 6318 3186 off food bill at Starscafe, Level 1. - 15% discount - T: 15% discount 6318 3186 off drinks after Happy Hour at Connections Level 1.Happy Hour at - 15% discountLounge, off drinks after T: 6318 3161 Lounge, Level 1. Connections T: 6318 3161

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

Participating Merchants 20% discount off during early bird promotion period; 15% discount off thereafter for all SLO ticketed events. W: www.singaporelyricopera.com.sg

Your complimentary AlumNUS Card entitles you to a host of benefits and privileges! YourAlumNUS complimentary AlumNUS Card entitles you to aabout host ofthe benefits and privileges! For Card application and to find out more latest privileges and promotions, For on AlumNUS Card application and to find out more about the latest privileges and promotions, log to alumnet.nus.edu.sg/alumnuscard. log on to alumnet.nus.edu.sg/alumnuscard.

20% discount off on Vinturi and all wine accessories. W: www.primedevie.com.sg

Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel

- 15% discount off food bill at Café Brio’s, Level 1. T: 6233 1100 - 15% discount off food bill at Pontini, Level 2. T: 6233 1100 - 15% discount off food bill at The Piano Bar, Level 1. T: 6233 1100 - 15% discount off à la carte orders only at Grand Shanghai, Level 1. T: 6836 6866

Orchard Hotel

- 15% discount off buffet and porridge buffet at Orchard Café, Level 1. T: 6739 6565 - 15% discount off à la carte orders only at Hua Ting, Level 2. T: 6739 6666 - 15% discount off house pours and beers at Intermezzo Bar, Level 1. T: 6739 6668

M Hotel

- 15% discount off food bill for dinner (Mon to Thur) at Café 2000, Level 1. T: 6500 6112 - 15% off food bill for lunch and dinner (Mon to Thur) at The Buffet, Level 2. T: 6500 6116

Specialisedrates Health Packages. Corporate for Screening General Health Screening and By appointments please Packages. call 6933 3730. Specialised Healthonly, Screening W: appointments www.fortiscolorectalhospital.com/ By only, please call 6933 3730. wellness-screening W: www.fortiscolorectalhospital.com/ wellness-screening

Silver Medicare Consortium -Silver 10% Medicare off Basic and Premier Packages. Consortium

10% off off Basic Premier and Presidential Packages. -- 10% and Premier Packages. Alumni Corporate for Dental Packages -- 10% off/ Premier andrates Presidential Packages. screening appointment, pleasePackages call -Health Alumni / Corporate rates for Dental 6472 2816/ 9755 appointment, 0864 Health screening please call W: www.silvermedicareconsortium.com/healthscreening 6472 2816/ 9755 0864 Dental Services: W: www.silvermedicareconsortium.com/healthscreening www.silvermedicareconsortium.com/dental Dental Services: www.silvermedicareconsortium.com/dental

Purer Skin 20% Purerdiscount Skin off all skincare products, including the Purer Skin off Symphony gift products, set with free 20% discount all skincare including delivery Singapore. the PurerinSkin Symphony gift set with free W: www.purerskin.com delivery in Singapore. W: www.purerskin.com

The Kuching Nail Spa

Adventure Gear Post -Adventure 25% discount all brands and items. Gear on Post

Special 30% discount on all and brands and items -- 25% discount on all brands items. for ‘Senior Alumni’ (aged and above). - Special 30% discount on 55 all years brands and items W:forwww.adventuregearpost.com ‘Senior Alumni’ (aged 55 years and above). W: www.adventuregearpost.com

The ARK -The Special ARK booking rates for Off-Peak hours at

S$50/ 2 booking hours (9am – 6pm daily). hours at - Special rates for Off-Peak - S$50/ Free membership for– first sign-up 2 hours (9am 6pm50 daily). (worth S$15 per year each). - Free membership for first 50 sign-up - Special booking for weekend rental at (worth S$15 per rates year each). S$85/ 2booking hours (9am – 11pm). - Special rates for weekend rental at - S$85/ Special2 rate for(9am use of ARK venues as Road hours – 11pm). Show / Mini / Seminar / Workshop. - Special rate Bazaar for use of ARK venues as Road W:Show www.theark.sg / Mini Bazaar / Seminar / Workshop. W: www.theark.sg

RETAIL RETAIL

Nanyang Optical -Nanyang 30% discount: OpticalFrames & sunglasses of

Exclusive House Brands. Enjoy additional. - 30% discount: Frames & sunglasses of 5% off house brand promotion Exclusive House Brands. Enjoy packages additional. (if any purchase).packages 5% offduring house point brandofpromotion - (if 20% Frames & sunglasses of Other anydiscount: during point of purchase). Brands (excludeFrames Exclusive House Brands). - 20% discount: & sunglasses of Other - Brands 20% discount: Conventional contact lenses. (excludeAllExclusive House Brands). 10% discount: discount: All BigEyes2 bi-weekly disposable -- 20% Conventional contact lenses. contact lenses (2-piece - 10% discount: BigEyes2pack). bi-weekly disposable Valid at over 12(2-piece stores and 2 franchise stores contact lenses pack). islandwide. Valid at over 12 stores and 2 franchise stores W:islandwide. www.nanyang.com.sg W: www.nanyang.com.sg

Sony Electronics 10% off for selected models (applicable Sony discount Electronics

for Walkman, Earphones and Digital 10% discountHeadphones, off for selected models (applicable Voice Recorders). for Walkman, Headphones, Earphones and Digital W: www.sony.com.sg Voice Recorders). W: www.sony.com.sg

Next Studio S$200 photoshoot package inclusive of 1hr Next Studio

photoshoot and all package high resolution pictures S$200 photoshoot inclusive of 1hrgiven back. photoshoot and all high resolution pictures given W: www.nextstudio.com.sg back. W: www.nextstudio.com.sg

OTHER SERVICES OTHER SERVICES

Prince’s Flower Shop - 15% discount walk-in purchase. Prince’s Flower for Shop

15% discount online discount on Flowers. -- 15% for walk-in purchase. 10% online online discount discount on on Flowers. Flowers + Gift and plants. -- 15% 10% online discount for quotations on Weddings -- 10% discount on Flowers + Gift and plants. and Parties. - 10% discount for quotations on Weddings W:and www.prince.com.sg Parties. W: www.prince.com.sg

15% discountNail off all services. The Kuching Spa W: www.thekuching.com 15% discount off all services. W: www.thekuching.com

heryhuang.com 10% discount off professional photography & heryhuang.com

Millennium & Copthorne International 10% discount off Best Available Rates Millennium & Copthorne International

Hertz 10% discount off self-drive rentals across Hertz

LIFESTYLE & LEISURE LIFESTYLE & LEISURE

(lead discount in category 10% offonly). Best Available Rates W: http://www.millenniumhotels.com.sg/ (lead in category only). campaigns/nus-yearlong-privileges/ W: http://www.millenniumhotels.com.sg/ campaigns/nus-yearlong-privileges/

Sentosa Leisure 10% discount off Family Islander Membership Sentosa Leisure (usualdiscount at S$50).off Family Islander Membership 10% W: http://www.sentosa.com.sg/en/islander/ (usual at S$50). W: http://www.sentosa.com.sg/en/islander/

Lilliputt Indoor Mini Golf 10% discount all regular-priced ticket and Lilliputt IndooroffMini Golf merchandise. 10% discount off all regular-priced ticket and W: www.lilliputt.com merchandise. W: www.lilliputt.com

graphic designoff services. 10% discount professional photography & T: 9151 1440 graphic design services. W:9151 www.heryhuang.com T: 1440 W: www.heryhuang.com participating locationsrentals worldwide. 10% discountHertz off self-drive across (promo code Hertz “CDP#1472221” during reservation) participating locations worldwide. T: 1800 code 370 3388 (promo “CDP#1472221” during reservation) W:1800 www.hertz.com T: 370 3388 W: www.hertz.com

Clean Central

-Clean 5% discount Central off Spring-Cleaning Services. 5% discount discount off off Spring-Cleaning Steam-Cleaning Services. -- 5% Services. 6566 6156 off Steam-Cleaning Services. -T:5% discount W:6566 www.homecentral.com.sg T: 6156 W: www.homecentral.com.sg

Terms & Conditions apply. The NUS Office of Alumni Relations and the AlumNUS Card merchants reserve the right to amend the terms and conditions governing theRelations offers at anytime. All information correct atreserve press time. Terms & Conditions apply. The NUS Office of Alumni and the Alum NUS Card is merchants the right to amend the terms and conditions governing the offers at anytime. All information is correct at press time.

Alumni Happenings Reunions

Alumni Happenings Overseas Alumni Chapters

NUS Perth Overseas Alumni Chapter GetTogether Lunch USP Class of 2003 – 10th Anniversary Reunion

NUS Overseas Colleges Carnival-Styled Reunion 280 NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) alumni reunited at the Swissotel Merchant Court on 8 November 2013 for a carnival like no other. Besides a ballroom decorated with giant lollipops, there were also freshly-made popcorn and candy floss which were greatly appreciated by alumni who came dressed as circus characters. The reunion was an opportunity for alumni to share their entrepreneurial ideas and endeavours with like-minded individuals.

NOC has had a recent addition in New York. The remaining eight colleges are based in Silicon Valley, Bio Valley, Stockholm, Beijing, Shanghai, Israel, India and Singapore. To enable collaborations across colleges, the NOC Alumni Committee invites all NOC Alumni to stay connected at its Facebook group (@ NOC Alumni) and its alumni portal. For enquiries, please email secretary@nocalumni.org.

2013 marks the 10th anniversary of commencement for the first cohort of NUS University Scholars Programme (USP) students. On 20 September 2013, USP brought the Class of ‘03 back together for a reunion. Alumni spent the evening renewing friendships and catching up with one another. They also had fun reminiscing about their undergraduate days more than a decade ago.

Auckland Alumni Chapter Dance the Waltz Information Systems and Computer Science Alumni Gathering Since leaving University, the Information Systems and Computer Science (ISCS) Class of ‘88 has had three reunions. The most recent was held on 28 September 2013. Alumni from the class met at the University’s School of Computing, sharing memories about their younger days on campus. Oliver Tian (ISCS ’88)

Round the world gatherings for Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy alumni In the last few months there have been numerous opportunities for the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) to connect with its alumni. A series of events including faculty lectures, dinner gettogethers and information sessions were held across Asia, including Jakarta, Manila, New Delhi, Beijing, Hanoi, Yangon, Mumbai, Bangalore, Shanghai, Naypyidaw and Phnom Penh. Turnouts were impressive, with alumni from a diverse range of graduating classes coming together to reconnect with fellow alumni, celebrating memories of the time spent at NUS. The LKYSPP alumni are a growing community with over 1,700 alumni spread across 72 countries currently. 38

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For NUS alumni interested in LKYSPP’s upcoming events and public lectures, please visit www.lkyspp.nus.edu.sg

The NUS Perth Overseas Alumni Chapter Get-Together Lunch was held on 13 October 2013, and attended by 47 alumni and spouses. Chairperson of the Chapter Mr Thomas Goh (Science ’69) shared that NUS has emerged as the top university in Asia in the 2013/2014 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings. The University was placed 24th in the rankings, moving up a spot from its 25th placing last year. The update was exceptionally well received by everyone in attendance. The less formal part of the event was a joke-telling competition. Two of the best joke-telling alumni received prizes, generously donated by Mrs Carol Wong (Law ’71). Mr Thomas Goh (Science ’69)

Faculty of Dentistry Alumni Reunion Dinner The fourth Faculty of Dentistry Alumni Reunion dinner was held on 27 September 2013. 85 alumni attended the reunion, of which 13 were from the Class of ’83 and 14 from the Class of ’08. They celebrated their 30th and 5th anniversaries respectively. It was a heartwarming evening as alumni reconnected and recollected fond memories of their days in NUS.

NUS Alumni in Jakarta Dinner Gathering Forty-five NUS alumni turned up at a dinner-cum-gathering organised by the Committee of the NUS Jakarta Overseas Alumni Chapter on 23 November 2013 at the Grand Hyatt Jakarta. It was the first gathering in 2013 after the last halal bihalal in September 2012. Mr Cahyadi Kurniawan, an alumnus of the Stanford-NUS Executive MBA programme, took the opportunity to introduce his book, It’s Easy… Building Up a Business, and shared his six steps to build a business. Mr Pery Irawan, the Chairperson of the NUS Jakarta Overseas Alumni Chapter, was on-the-spot moderator of the session. Alumni enjoyed interacting with one another and look forward to meeting up again in the near future.

Dancing has been an activity many alumni shy away from, however, Dance the Waltz on 7 December 2013 turned out to be one of the most enjoyable events for alumni of the NUS Auckland Overseas Alumni Chapter. Mark Chew (School of Design and Environment ’84) and Alison Lee (Science ’84), the ‘shi fus’ for the evening, led the group of 30 into a night of delightful navigation. Dr Teoh Hoon Heng (Medicine ’73) had paid for waltz classes but never learnt, however, towards the end of the evening, he, as well as many alumni, was confidently waltzing around. Mimi, the spouse of alumnus Dr Lim Joo Siong (Medicine ’70), sprang a surprise by singing old Chinese favourites for alumni. A dinner exclusively prepared by the restaurant’s Indonesian chef completed the special night organised by the NUS Auckland Overseas Alumni Chapter.

Boston Alumni Chapter Christmas Lunch The NUS Boston Alumni Chapter Christmas Lunch was held at Shabu Zen restaurant for the third year running. Alumni relished the opportunity to catch up with one another and make new friends over delicious shabu-shabu on 7 December 2013.

Jan–Mar 2014

Alumni Happenings Announcements

SUPPORT YOUR FACULTY IN THE 85TH ANNIVERSARY RESILIENCE RUN!

New Suntec City Guild House Opens The soft launch of the National University of Singapore Society’s new Suntec City Guild House (SCGH) marked the end of an eventful period when the Society closed its previous Guild House in Suntec City only a year before. On the morning of 7 December 2013, a lion dance performance sealed an auspicious beginning at the new SCGH. The new SCGH houses sophisticated dining outlets, namely The Bar and The Bistro, which will excite diners’ taste buds with enticing Western and Asian cuisines. Function rooms are available for corporate reservations, and one can also take pleasure in leisure facilities such as the karaoke hall and jackpot room.

The new SCGH is located in Tower 5, level 2. If you would like to have a club tour of SCGH, please call 9127 1886 or email marketing@nuss.org.sg

The Philip Yeo Innovation Fellows Programme is calling for applicationS As part of the Philip Yeo Initiative (PYI), the Philip Yeo Innovation Fellows Programme supports the next generation of leaders in making a difference to our world. The Programme is calling for applicants with an audacious mission or project that would make a positive contribution to society in any realm, whether social, education, arts, science, technology, business or government. Each Fellow will be supported with up to S$20,000 funding to cover the expenses for their self-designed project, for a year. They will also have access to mentorship, business incubation services and networking opportunities. NUS alumni and students who are passionate about making a difference are invited to apply. Applicants should have demonstrated energy, drive and unconventional thinking, to make things happen. 40

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For more information and application procedures, please refer to

http://overseas.nus.edu.sg/ programmes/application/ awards-scholarships/pyi/ py-innovation-fellows-programme Application is open till 31 January 2014. To find out more about the award, join us at the Information Sharing session on 10 January 2014. Date 10 January 2014 Time 7.15pm to 8.15pm (Registration opens at 7pm) Venue Auditorium, Shaw Foundation Alumni House, 11 Kent Ridge Drive, Singapore 119244

RSVP by 9 January 2014 via http:// pyifellowshiptalk.eventbrite.com

In commemoration of their 85th anniversary, the faculties of Dentistry, Science, and Arts and Social Sciences jointly present the 85th Anniversary Resilience Run on 29 March 2014. The Run reflects the resilience of the three faculties in overcoming challenges over the years to become the successful institution it is today. Dr William Tan, a Faculty of Science alumnus and a fifth-year survivor from Stage Four leukemia, has pledged to do an 85km-run round the NUS track in his specially-equipped For enquiries on the Resilience paraplegic tricycle. Run and/or 85th AnniversaryAll proceeds will go related projects, please contact: towards the Enablers, Faculty of Arts a non-profit studentinterest group aimed & Social Sciences Ms Lynn Tan (6516 5136; at helping special fastanl@nus.edu.sg) needs students integrate through an Faculty of Dentistry extensive range of Ms Perina Chiang (6772 5341; perina_chiang@nuhs.edu.sg) activities. Support your Faculty and Faculty of Science the Enablers and Mr Perry Hee (6516 1468; participate in the run. sciheep@nus.edu.sg)

ALUMNUS ALUM The

APR–JUN 2013 // ISSUE 93

ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

The

NUS ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF THE RE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE JAN–MAR 2014 / ISSUE 96

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GOING

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MOMENT

NUS PRESIDENT PROF TAN CHORH CHUAN ON NURTURING CRITICAL MINDS

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Global

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HUMANITY ASSOC PROF FATIMAH LATEEF’S DUAL PASSIONS OF MEDICINE AND POLITICS

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HOW HISTORY GRAD NAVTEJ SINGH BECAME A BIZ WHIZ

NUS ALUMNI AROUND THE WORLD ARE MAKING THEIR MARK. HOW DOES NUS CONNECT WITH THEM?

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GREEN CONSCIENCE DEVELOPING AN ENVIRONMENTAL ETHOS ACROSS DISCIPLINES

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12/21/13 10:24 AM

Raffles Hall Association The Raffles Hall Association (RHA) is an affiliation of Raffles Hall, NUS, one of the oldest halls of residences within NUS. Headed by Mr Sonny Yuen (Business ‘85) and established in 2012, one of RHA’s goals is to gather Raffles Hall alumni and reconnect them with their Hall and the University through annual events like bowling tournaments and photography competition. For more information, please contact Dr Rendy Tan (RH Resident Fellow and Ex-Officio, RHA) at rendytan@nus.edu.sg

Jan–Mar 2014

Culture

Mixed bag of delights

Conservatory Chamber Strings

Immerse yourself in these stellar performances.

Albert Tiu

The Classical Elements

ALBERT TIU, piano Earth LISZT Waldesrauschen from 2 Concert Etudes RACHMANINOV Lilacs BERIO Erdenklavier GODOWSKY The Gardens of Buitenzorg from Java Suite DEBUSSY Les collines d’Anacapri from Preludes Book I Water DEBUSSY Reflets dan l’eau from Images I MOMPOU El Lago BERIO Wasserklavier LISZT Les jeux d’eau a la Villa d’Este from Annees de Pelerinage III RAVEL Jeux d’eau Air DEBUSSY Le vent dans la plaine from Preludes Book I GRIFFES The Night Winds from Three TonePictures Op.5 BERIO Luftklavier IBERT Le vent dans les ruines MESSIAEN Un reflet dans le vent from 8 Preludes Fire WAGNER/BRASSIN Magic Fire Music from Die Walküre DEBUSSY Feux d’artifice from Preludes Book II BERIO Feuerklavier SKRYABIN Vers la flamme Op.72 DE FALLA Ritual Fire Dance

7.30pm, 21 January 2014 (Tuesday), Conservatory Concert Hall Born in Cebu, Philippines, pianist and Associate Professor Albert Tiu has been labelled “an artist of uncommon abilities” by American Record Guide. His latest recording on Centaur Records, “Nocturnal Fantasies”, featuring the music of Chopin and Scriabin, has been dubbed by Fanfare as “one of the alltime great piano recordings”. A winner of competitions in Pretoria, Calgary, 42

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Visiting Artist Series

Gavriel Lipkind Cello Recital: Single Voice Polyphony

Santander and Helsinki, he studied at the Juilliard School and has performed extensively around the world as a soloist and chamber musician.

CASSADÓ Intermezzo e Danza Finale J. S. BACH Cello Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV1009 P. BEN-HAIM Music for Cello J. S. BACH Cello Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV1012 LIGETI Sonata for Solo Cello

For this recital, Assoc Prof Albert Tiu will perform a programme of four elements. Visiting Artist Series / 7th Singapore Chamber Music Festival

Miró Quartet

DANIEL CHING, violin WILLIAM FEDKENHEUER, violin JOHN LARGESS, viola JOSHUA GINDELE, cello HAYDN String Quartet No. 5 in D major, Op. 64, No. 5, "The Lark" GLASS String Quartet No. 5 BEETHOVEN String Quartet No. 9 in C major, Op. 59, No. 3, "Hero"

7.30pm, 24 January 2014 (Friday), Conservatory Concert Hall Tickets at S$20/S$10 from SISTIC The Miró Quartet, one of America's highest-profile chamber groups, enjoys its place at the top of the international chamber music scene – garnering praise from audiences and critics alike. Founded in 1995 at the Oberlin Conservatory, the Miró Quartet met with immediate success. It won first prizes at the Coleman, Fischoff, and Banff competitions as well as the prestigious Naumburg Chamber Music Award. The Miró Quartet was the first ensemble ever to be awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant. The Miró Quartet has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonic’s Kammermusiksaal, and Amersterdam’s Concertgebouw among many other world-reknown concert halls. Deeply committed to music education, the Miró Quartet is currently the Faculty String Quartet-in-Residence at the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin.

Miró Quartet

Jason Lai

regularly and to give masterclasses. In 1999 Szabadi founded the Wiener Belvedere Trio, together with other members of the Wiener Philharmoniker. Szabadi returns to perform a violin recital as well as masterclass with the Conservatory students.

Gavriel Lipkind

Faculty Recital Series

Alan Bennett Voice Recital

Vilmos Szabadi

Visiting Artist Series

Vilmos Szabadi Violin Recital VILMOS SZABADI, violin LIU JIA, piano MOZART Violin Sonata in B-flat major, K454 DOHNÁNYI Violin Sonata in C-sharp minor, Op. 21 BARTÓK Unpublished Sonata (1903) RAVEL Tzigane

7.30pm, 8 February 2014 (Saturday), Conservatory Concert Hall Vilmos Szabadi studied under Professor Ferenc Halász at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest where upon receiving his diploma, he became

All information correct at time of print and is subject to change without prior notice. Please visit www.music.nus.edu.sg for updates.

Faculty Recital Series

Zuo Jun

the youngest ever to join the teaching staff. In 1982, he won First Prize at the Hungarian Radio Competition and the following year, First Prize at the Jenö Hubay Competition in Budapest. In 1985, he won Third Prize at the Jean Sibelius Violin Competition in Finland where he has since been invited to perform

7.30pm, 14 February 2014 (Friday), School of the Arts Concert Hall “The tenor soloist of one’s dream.” – Toronto Star Conservatory’s Head of Vocal Studies Professor Alan Bennett has enjoyed a diverse career, performing extensively throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, in Central and South America and Asia, singing with prominent festivals and orchestras, as well as in recitals and opera. He is a frequent guest at music festivals and has appeared among others, at the Tanglewood Festival, Oregon Bach Festival, Boston Early Music Festival, Bethlehem Bach Festival, BaldwinWallace Bach Festival, Boulder Bach Festival, Carmel Bach Festival, Parry Sound Festival, Mammoth Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Bay Chamber Festival, Plymouth Music Series, and the Caramoor Festival.

7.30pm, 18 February 2014 (Tuesday), Conservatory Concert Hall Gavriel Lipkind, an intriguing and dynamic musician on stage, is also a person of great creativity and thought, intellectual involvement and kindness. Born in 1977 in Israel, he enjoyed a stellar rise to fame and appeared in some of the world’s most prestigious venues with orchestras such as the Israel Philharmonic, the Munich Philharmonic and the Baltimore Symphony, working alongside outstanding musicians such as Zubin Mehta, Philippe Entremont, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Yehudi Menuhin, Pinchas Zukerman, Yuri Bashmet and Gidon Kremer. "Gavriel Lipkind proves that he is certainly the finest cellist playing today." – Bernhard Greenhouse, 2006 7th Singapore Chamber Music Festival

Chamber Strings Concert

7.30pm, 19 February 2014 (Wednesday), Conservatory Concert Hall Join the Conservatory strings ensembles for a delightful evening of chamber music. Faculty Recital Series / 7th Singapore Chamber Music Festival

Zuo Jun & Albert Tiu: Violin & Piano Recital

7.30pm, 8 March 2014 (Saturday), Conservatory Concert Hall Head of Violin Studies Zuo Jun joins hands with Assoc Prof Albert Tiu for an evening of exciting violin repertoires. Jan–Mar 2014

Culture

U@live is a monthly U@live is a monthly speaker series that speaker series that showcase outstanding showcase outstanding members of the NUS members of the NUS community. Apart from community. Apart from having a live audience, having a live audience, U@live will also be U@live will also be webcasted live through webcasted live through a dedicated website a dedicated website where users can send in where users can send in real time comments and real time comments and questions directly to the questions directly to the speakers. speakers.

NUS Arts Festival 2014 14 – 29 March 2014, University Cultural Centre (UCC), NUS

NAF 2014 Opening Show

Overdrive – A Triple Bill

Idan Cohen

NUS Dancers with Idan Cohen (Israel) & T.H.E 2nd Company, Akiko Kitamura (Japan), and HORSE 驫舞劇場 (Taiwan) 8pm, 14 and 15 March 2014 (Friday and Saturday), UCC Theatre, tickets at S$29 & S$23 Witness pure joy from an aesthetic collision of movement and music as two international choreographers from two diametrically different cities take young dancers from NUS to a heightened state of activity in Overdrive. Award-winning young Israeli-born Idan Cohen’s Private Dancer reveals the way we see and think of our most intimate instrument – our body – as a medium through which we try and shape our being into significance within the hierarchy of contemporary social expectation. Akiko Kitamura, acknowledged as a leader of Japan’s contemporary dance world, investigates in Emotional Strata how our perception of objects have changed in our consumerist society, heightened by catastrophes such as Traces the Great Tohoku Earthquake on 11 March. Finally, Taipei-based dance collective Horse will present an you to examine the tensions and excerpt from their critically acclaimed contradictions in human character, piece 2 Men as a counterfoil to the interpersonal relationships and societal values. two pieces.

Traces《走过》 NUS Dance Synergy and Re:Dance Theatre with Albert Tiong (Choreographer) 8pm, 22 March 2014 (Saturday), UCC Hall, tickets at S$29, S$23 & S$19 It seems harder to survive today especially when modern life seems to revolve around the pursuit of success and wealth. Traces compels us to re-think what makes life meaningful. Drawing inspiration from Nobel Prizewinner Gao Xing Jian’s script The Other Shore, dancers from NUS Dance Synergy and Re:Dance Theatre under the direction of well-known choreographer Albert Tiong invite 44

ALUMNUS

CHOPIN: PASSION & DEATH Loke Ho Kit, Jonathan Shin, Song Ziliang & Victor Yeh 8pm, 20 March 2014 (Thursday), Conservatory Concert Hall, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, tickets at S$19 & S$16 Consumed and wrecked by the ravages of tuberculosis, Frédéric Chopin overcame his frail health and fear of mortality with great music of ultimate passion. This special concert brings together, the three great mature sonatas of Frédéric Chopin, featuring four of Singapore’s most exceptional young musical talents.

Akiko Kitamura White Rabbit

White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, A Play by Nassim Soleimanpour (Iran/Singapore) An Aurora Nova Production 8pm, 21 to 23 March 2014 (Friday to Sunday), UCC Dance Studio, tickets at S$16, Matinee performances at 3pm on Saturday and Sunday “I was born on 19 Azar 1360 in Tehran. That’s Tehran, 10 December 1981 in Christian years...” Imagine being 29 and forbidden to leave your country. Nassim Soleimanpour dissects the experience of a whole generation in a wild, utterly original play from Iran. A generation born amidst the hardship of the Iran-Iraq war. A generation of computer-literate, well-informed young people who have never known an Iran other than the Islamic Republic. Forbidden to travel, he turns his isolation to his own advantage with a play that requires no director, no set and a different actor who reads the script cold for each performance. In Singapore, White Rabbit, Red Rabbit will be performed by Nora Samosir, Li Xie (in Mandarin) and NUS alumni.

U@live Speaker Series U@live Speaker Series are moderated by are moderated by Mr Viswa Sadasivan, Mr Viswa Sadasivan, Chairman of the U@live Chairman of the U@live Organising Committee Organising Committee and Member of the NUS and Member of the NUS Alumni Advisory Board. Alumni Advisory Board. Information is correct Information is correct at time of print and is at time of print and is subject to change without subject to change without prior notice. For the latest prior notice. For the latest updates, log on to updates, log on to www.nus.edu.sg/ualive www.nus.edu.sg/ualive

7:30PM 7:30PM 17 JANUARY 2014 17 JANUARY 2014 Dr Ng Eng Hen Dr Ng Eng Hen

(MBBS ’82 and M. Med (Surgery) ’87) (MBBS ’82 and M. Med (Surgery) ’87) Minister for Defence Minister for Defence

7:30PM 7:30PM 26 FEBRUARY 2014 26 FEBRUARY 2014 Mr Bernard Harrison Mr Bernard Harrison

(Masters in Science ’87) (Masters in Science ’87) Principal Partner (Creativity & Design), Principal Partner (Creativity & Design), Bernard Harrison & Friends Ltd Bernard Harrison & Friends Ltd

Reserve your seat now! Reserve your seat now! Attend the show live at Shaw Foundation Alumni House Attend the show live at Shaw Foundation Alumni House Register at www.nus.edu.sg/alumnet Register at www.nus.edu.sg/alumnet

OR OR

Join us Online! Join us Online! www.nus.edu.sg/ualive www.nus.edu.sg/ualive

Like us on Facebook Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nusoar at www.facebook.com/nusoar

Maestro By NUS Piano Ensemble 8pm, 25 March 2014 (Tuesday), UCC Theatre, tickets at S$19 & S$16 Are humans just puppets dancing to the mind’s unconscious tunes? Maestro tells the story of one composer’s journey as he struggles to make a living. As his publisher and patrons lose interest in his works, and an industry rival

increasingly becomes a threat to his livelihood, Maestro grows increasingly bitter and resentful. In his darkest, weakest hour, he is tempted by his alter ego, a musical prodigy and maniac, to exchange his sanity for brilliance. NUS Piano Ensemble brings together the art of four-hand and eight-hand piano performance and theatrical storytelling in this Faustian tale. NAF 2014 Closing Show

Consumed

CONsUMED

Maestro

By NUS Talents with Edith Podesta, Brian Gothong Tan & Adrian Tan 8pm, 28 & 29 March 2014 (Friday & Saturday), UCC Theatre, tickets at S$29 & S$23 “Life for Singaporeans is not complete without shopping” – Goh Chok Tong, Former Prime Minister of Singapore. In a world where everything can be bought or sold, how much are you willing to spend? Buy now, pay later but at what price? At what point does the consumer

become the consumed? Candid, witty, provocative and accessible, Consumed examines the serious, far-reaching issue of consumerism for the wider audience. Award-winning theatre director Edith Podesta, Young Artist Award recipient Brian Gothong Tan and Life! Theatre Award nominee Adrian Tan take you on a fascinating journey into what is possible if consumerism supersedes all moral codes.

All information correct at time of print and is subject to change without prior notice. Please visit www.nus.edu.sg/cfa for updates.

Culture

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Thirsty Thursdays NUS Young Alumni Meetup 16 January 2014 I 6.30pm – 9pm

Venue: Barber Shop by Timbre Register now at: http://alumnet.nus.edu.sg/event/TT1601 First drink is on us

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last word “Being an alumnus to me, is being part of an organisation. It provides one with a sense of belonging and an identity specific to that particular organisation. It also serves as a link to relate to others who have been identified similarly. The effort to ingrain a sense of belonging among NUS alumni should start from the day students start their education journey, not only when they have graduated.”

Being an

alumnus is... As Alumni, you are the fruits of your alma mater. You can give back in terms of financial support, provide service during important events, support and help the University to grow its vision, Or form a strong alumni group to support One another in Your journeys through life.

Mariana Ibrahim (Business ‘05)

“To be an alumnus is to continue to be involved in activities that go on in NUS. NUS has been doing a good job in making its alumni feel like part of the NUS community. It is open to alumni being part of its events and that is what I like most about being an alumnus. I still feel welcomed and at home.”

Lenco Tan (Computing ‘06)

“The alumni community is a space I share with great friends and one I feel connected to. Once that bond and community is created, it acts as the catalyst to keep the connection alive. To keep graduates rooted to the University, the friendships established need to be kept alive through social media and other platforms managed or built by NUS, to be used even after students have left the University.” Harikrishnan Senthil Kumaran (Business ’98) 48

ALUMNUS

The

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NUS alumni magazine of The national university of singapore

Maimunah Bagharib (Arts and social sciences ‘13)

“To me, the alumni community is a group of friends who studied and hung out at University. I believe that an alumnus will feel more connected to his or her university if he or she is able to mentor and contribute in meaningful ways to current undergrads.” Jaffry Jalal (Science ’00)

The new masthead of The AlumNUS, in the shape of a pennant, signifies a sense of belonging and identity, and also the University’s strive towards distinction.

Alumni Events

Dates to REMEMBER jaNuary to march 2014

JANUARY 16 Jan THU Thirsty Thursdays

6.30pm, Barber Shop by Timbre Register at http://alumnet.nus.edu.sg/event/TT1601 Enquiries: Ms Ramy at ramy@nus.edu.sg

17 Jan Fri U@live

featuring Dr Ng Eng Hen

All information is correct at time of print and is subject to change without prior notice.

7.30pm, Shaw Foundation Alumni House Register at www.nus.edu.sg/alumnet Enquiries: Ms Josephine Chow at josephine@nus.edu.sg

23 Jan THU Senior Alumni Tea and Chat 4pm, Shaw Foundation Alumni House Enquiries: Ms Irene See at irenesee@nus.edu.sg

23 Jan THU Feature Flicks 2046 (NC 16) (Chinese with English subtitles) 7.30pm, Shaw Foundation Alumni House Register at www.nus.edu.sg/alumnet Enquiries: Ms Wendy Ng at wendyng@nus.edu.sg

FEBRUARY 26 Feb wed

U@live

featuring Mr Bernard Harrison 7.30pm, Shaw Foundation Alumni House Register at www.nus.edu.sg/alumnet Enquiries: Ms Josephine Chow at josephine@nus.edu.sg

27 Feb THU Senior Alumni Tea and Chat

4pm, Shaw Foundation Alumni House Enquiries: Ms Irene See at irenesee@nus.edu.sg

27 Feb THU Feature Flicks

Valentine’s Day (Pg)

7.30pm, Shaw Foundation Alumni House Register at www.nus.edu.sg/alumnet Enquiries: Ms Wendy Ng at wendyng@nus.edu.sg

MARCH

5 Mar wed Ben Franklin Club

6.30pm, Shaw Foundation Alumni House Register at www.nus.edu.sg/alumnet Enquiries: Ms Nichole Yeo at nicholeyeo@nus.edu.sg

6 Mar THU Thirsty Thursdays

6.30pm, Venue to be advised Register at http://alumnet.nus.edu.sg/event/TT0603 Enquiries: Ms Ramy at ramy@nus.edu.sg

24 – 26 Mar mon - wed The Canadian Film Forum

8pm, Shaw Foundation Alumni House Register at http://alumnet.nus.edu.sg/event/cff2014 Enquiries: Ms Valerie Vincent at valeriev@nus.edu.sg

27 Mar thu Senior Alumni Tea and Chat 4pm, Shaw Foundation Alumni House Enquiries: Ms Irene See at irenesee@nus.edu.sg

K BY ND BAC DEMA TH R ULA OUR POP R THE F TIVE FO NSECU CO YEAR

The High Commission of Canada to Singapore and the NUS Office of Alumni Relations jointly present

Film Forum 2014 24 – 26 March SHAW FOUNDATION ALUMNI HOUSE 11 Kent Ridge Drive, Singapore 119244

SHOWCASING THE VERY BEST OF CANADIAN FILMS

Featuring: ‘Rebelle (War Witch)’ – (in French with English subtitles)

Visit our official website: http://alumnet.nus.edu.sg/events/cff2014 for the latest updates and information on how to register.