Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy celebrates 20 years of excellence in leading governance and public policy
The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) marked its 20th anniversary with a grand gala dinner held at Shangri-la Hotel in Singapore at the end of August 2024. The event brought together over 500 distinguished guests comprising staff, alumni and students, as well as donors and partners from around the world to celebrate the School’s two decades of excellence in public policy education and its growing influence on the global stage.
A milestone in public policy education
Founded in 2004, LKYSPP was established with the vision of advancing knowledge and leadership in public policy through education, research, and outreach. It is the first institution named after Singapore's founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
Over the past 20 years, it has grown to become a leading institution in the field, attracting students, scholars, and policymakers from around the world.
At the time of its founding, LKYSPP offered only the Master in Public Policy (MPP) programme. Today, it offers four distinct Master's programmes – MPP, Master in Public Administration, Master in Public Administration and Management, and Master in International Affairs – alongside a PhD programme.
Since its inception, the School has grown from fewer than 50 students to welcoming more than 200 new students each year. More than 4,000 students from nearly 100 economies around the world have walked through its doors, benefitting from its Master's and PhD programmes, moving on to make significant contributions and impact in politics, economics and societies.
Beyond its postgraduate programmes, LKYSPP’s executive education arm has developed more than 1,000 programs and delivered them to over 32,000 more participants from the public, corporate and non-profit sectors.
A night of celebration and reflection
The gala dinner was attended by notable figures in academia, government, and the private sector. They include LKYSPP Governing Board Chairman, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, as well as other luminaries such as NUS University Professor Wang Gungwu, LKYSPP Visiting Scholar and former Foreign Minister George Yeo, and former diplomat and LKYSPP founding Dean, Mr Kishore Mahbubani.
The evening began with a heart-warming tribute video documenting staff and alumni sharing their experiences at LKYSPP and how the School’s rigorous training and global perspective equipped them to tackle the challenges in their careers.
Associate Professor Suzaina Kadir, who has been with the School since its founding and is currently Vice Dean (Academic Affairs), recalled the School's initial days when her classroom would have less than 10 students. She added, “We've seen changes in the curriculum over the last 20 years, and we continue to strive to develop our students’ potential to the fullest, because we care very much about the students reaching their potential.”
Reflecting on LKYSPP’s journey in his opening address, Professor Danny Quah, Dean of LKYSPP, expressed his heartfelt thanks to all who contributed towards building a solid foundation for the School, including Mr Mahbubani, its founding Dean, the School’s faculty, staff and governing board, partners and generous donors, as well as the National University of Singapore.
“It is on this foundation that we have continued to strive - to push the School to ever greater heights,” said Prof Quah.
“Schools of public policy don't have to be always exactly in sync with society outside. We can be a little bit disrupted, but that's good, because if we weren't a little bit disrupted, we wouldn't be able to change the society around us for the better.”
Looking forward: The next 20 years
The highlight of the evening was a fireside chat with Guest-of-Honour, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who emphasised the importance of strong international relations in addressing the complex challenges of the 21st century, and encouraged the School to continue its research work and impact in communities.
In a Facebook post, DPM Heng said that the School is one of the few institutions that carry Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s name, a testament to his strong belief that good governance was crucial to uplift the destinies of countries and the lives of people.
“Today, LKYSPP plays an important role in providing a platform for scholars, students and practitioners to explore good governance, and applying this to different country contexts amidst a rapidly changing world,” he added.
The 20th-anniversary gala was not only a celebration of the School’s achievements but also a reminder of its ongoing mission to contribute to the betterment of society through thoughtful, impactful public policy.
LKYSPP will be publishing a commemorative book later this year. The book, titled “Public Policy Schools of the Future”, explores the future of public policy schools through a collection of essays from over 50 experts with present or former involvements with the School over the years.
Introducing the book at the dinner, Associate Professor Francesco Mancini, Vice Dean (Executive Education), thanked the contributors who hail from a wide range of sectors including government, corporate, education, philanthropy, finance and technology.
Assoc Prof Mancini said, “Our desire is to contribute to the discussions of the future of higher education more broadly and on the future of policy and governance schools more specifically. Policy schools are not just about education - they are also about research, policy, ideas, recommendation, consultancy, executive training, outreach and thought leadership.”
Looking to the future, LKYSPP will continue to strengthen its position as a leading global public policy institution and further establish Singapore as a global point of reference for the study of public policy. This will be achieved by prioritising innovation in academic programmes, enriching the student experience, and expanding professional and lifelong learning initiatives.
In parallel, the School’s research will drive thought leadership in important areas such as sustainability, geopolitics, and social mobility. LKYSPP will also broaden its global reach through partnerships and deeper engagement with policymakers and academic institutions around the world.
With two decades of accomplishments behind it, LKYSPP is well-positioned to continue its legacy of excellence and shape the future of public policy.
