NUS confers honorary degree on Speaker of Parliament Madam Halimah Yacob
The National University of Singapore (NUS) today conferred the Honorary Doctor of Laws on Madam Halimah Yacob, Speaker of the Singapore Parliament, for her outstanding contributions to Singapore and the community. The conferment was made by His Excellency Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, President of the Republic of Singapore and NUS Chancellor, during the Main Ceremony of NUS Commencement 2016. About 180 graduates from the NUS School of Computing also received their degrees at the ceremony held today.
The NUS Commencement marks the beginning of a new journey for NUS graduates. This year’s graduating class comprises 10,395 students - 6,491 students will receive bachelor degrees while another 3,904 students will receive graduate degrees. A total of 23 ceremonies will be held at the NUS University Cultural Centre over eight days, from 7 to 14 July 2016.
NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan said, “We are proud of the Class of 2016 for their wide-ranging achievements. NUS’ education stresses academic rigour, experiential and global learning, and real-world relevance. Our new graduates are therefore equipped to adapt well to the fast-changing economic landscape, and well placed to excel and make a strong positive impact to Singapore and the global community. Indeed, NUS graduates are among the most sought-after globally by employers.
We are also deeply honoured to confer the Honorary Doctor of Laws on Madam Halimah in recognition of her distinguished contributions to Singapore. An NUS Law alumna, Madam Halimah has made her mark through her commitment and dedication to the labour movement, and her strong advocacy for women’s rights and the Malay community. In her many leadership positions, and as Speaker of Parliament, Madam Halimah Yacob is an inspiring role model for us all.”
2016 Honorary Doctor of Laws Recipient – Madam Halimah Yacob
Madam Halimah Yacob was conferred the Honorary Doctor of Laws in recognition of her distinguished career and service, particularly in the government and public sectors. The honorary degree is the University's highest form of recognition for outstanding individuals, including those who have rendered distinguished service and had a great impact on the community and beyond, as well as made significant contributions to the University.
An alumna of NUS who read Law on a MUIS scholarship, Madam Halimah graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) in 1978, and a Masters of Laws in 2001. She is Singapore's ninth Speaker of Parliament and the first woman to hold that role since 2013. Madam Halimah was also the first Malay woman to be elected into Parliament in 2001, and widely respected for her deep involvement in Malay community issues. Prior to her current appointment as the Speaker of Parliament, she had served as the Minister of State at the Ministry of Social and Family Development and Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports from 2011 to 2013. She had also served as a member of the NUS Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2011.
With more than 30 years of experience in the labour movement, Madam Halimah is a constant and prominent champion of low-wage workers. She has voiced support for flexible working arrangements and family care leave to improve work-life balance. In 1999, she became the first Singaporean to be elected to the governing body of the International Labour Organisation.
For her many contributions to the community, she was awarded the Berita Harian "Achiever of the Year" in 2001, Her World Magazine's "Woman of the Year" in 2003, the AWARE Heroine Award in 2011, and was also inducted into the Singapore Women's Hall of Fame in 2014.
Madam Halimah said, “I am deeply honoured and grateful to NUS for conferring on me this Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws. This award is completely unexpected but it is really lovely to receive it from my own alma mater. The university had played a significant role in my life and had opened many doors for me. In all humility, too, I must acknowledge the help of my family and so many others along the way. I could not have made it without them.”
For more information on Madam Halimah Yacob’s achievements and contributions, please refer to Annex A for the citation.
Pioneer Graduates
This year’s Commencement ceremonies will also present the pioneer batch of graduates from the Master of Science (Nursing) and the Master of Music degree programmes. Please refer to Annex B for more information on these new degrees.
NUS Commencement 2016 will culminate in the NUS Commencement Dinner on Friday, 15 July 2016, which will be attended by graduates, faculty, staff and alumni of the University.
