An alumnus of the NUS Business School, Mr Hsieh first joined the University’s Council in 2003 and continued to serve on its Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2012. In 2017, he returned to helm the Board as Chairman.

Stewardship across a decade of change

Mr Hsieh, working closely with NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye and his leadership team, has guided the growth of Singapore’s largest university. Under his stewardship, NUS launched many initiatives to develop future-ready graduates, enhance research impact and deepen partnerships with industry and community. These included major educational reforms to promote interdisciplinary and lifelong learning, as well as the creation of new research platforms in areas of strategic importance to Singapore.

During Mr Hsieh’s tenure, NUS significantly expanded interdisciplinary education through the establishment of the College of Humanities and Sciences, College of Design and Engineering, and NUS College. He also placed strong emphasis on student life to support students’ holistic growth beyond academics.

Mr Hsieh’s contributions have helped NUS for the longer term. He encouraged the University leadership to push boundaries and set higher standards in the quest for excellence. Together with the Board and Management, he also saw the University through major challenges and worked to build resilience, grow talent, groom leadership and ensure continued financial and campus climate sustainability.

Above all, Mr Hsieh believes that NUS, as a leading global university, should be anchored in its Asian context and values: one that is deeply connected to its community and nation, and committed to fostering common ground in an increasingly fractured world.

Mr Hsieh said, "It has been most meaningful serving NUS through much of the time it became autonomous since 2006. I was brought in by Dr Cheong Choong Kong, served under Dr Wong Ngit Liong and later took over the baton from him. Having fulfilled my part, it is my privilege now to hand over to Mr Leo Yip who will undoubtedly steward NUS much farther ahead."
 

Sustaining growth and deepening impact

Mr Leo Yip is currently Deputy Chairman of the NUS Board of Trustees, a position he was appointed to in April 2026. He brings to the role more than four decades of distinguished public service and leadership, making significant contributions to, among others, Singapore’s economic development, national security, as well as public-sector transformation and capability-building.

Mr Yip served as Head of Civil Service from 2017 to 2026, where he played a key role in driving transformation across Singapore’s Public Service and leading its collective response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years he had served in various police appointments, as well as Principal Private Secretary to then Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Manpower; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs; and Permanent Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office. He was the founding Chief Executive of the then Singapore Workforce Development Agency in 2003 and also served as Chairman of the Economic Development Board from 2009 to 2014.

Mr Yip said, “I am deeply honoured to be appointed Chairman of the NUS Board of Trustees. Fu Hua has set an exceptional standard of leadership, stewardship and dedicated service, steering the university to become the globally leading institution it is today. I look forward to building on this strong foundation together with the Board, faculty, staff, and students, for NUS to grow in impact and in service of Singapore in its next phase of development.”

NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye shared, "We are deeply grateful to Mr Hsieh Fu Hua for his visionary leadership and dedication to NUS. His emphasis on cultivating our distinctive identity while pursuing excellence has fundamentally shaped who we are today. We warmly welcome Mr Leo Yip as our new Chairman. His wealth of experience in public service, strategic acumen and deep commitment to developing people and institutions will be instrumental in shaping NUS’ next chapter.”

Commenting on the leadership succession, Minister for Education Mr Desmond Lee said, “Mr Hsieh Fu Hua’s deep commitment to advancing education, learning, and research has been instrumental to NUS’ growth as a world-class university, and in enriching our higher education sector. I thank Mr Hsieh for his dedication and service across his decade-long tenure, during which he provided thoughtful stewardship as NUS strengthened its educational offerings, advanced research excellence, and expanded its contributions to Singapore and the world. I look forward to working with Mr Leo Yip as the incoming Chairman and am confident that he will continue to steer NUS towards greater heights.”

Years later, Yoga found himself returning to the same story from a different perspective. He became a researcher on the Child Health and Migrant Parents in Southeast Asia (CHAMPSEA) project in the Migration and Mobilities cluster at NUS’ Asia Research Institute (ARI), the Institute’s longest-running research study, which investigates how long-term parental migration affects children left behind.

Having grown up as a “left-behind child” himself, he now works alongside researchers who study families like his own.

Yoga’s journey captures a distinctiveness about ARI’s work over the past 25 years – that research on Asia can extend beyond academic papers to changing the lives of the people whose stories make that research possible.

Set up in 2001, ARI was founded to bring scholars and researchers from around the world to Singapore to study the Asian region.

“ARI was one of the first institutions within the University to have a very robust visiting academic scholars’ programme, established since our founding in 2001,” said Associate Professor Maitrii Aung-Thwin, Deputy Director of ARI. “It was a testing ground for the type of international interaction that other units of the University would start to develop as well.”

Over the years, ARI has expanded beyond its strong base of faculty comprising primarily experts from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences to bring together researchers from across NUS, including from fields like law and architecture.

Its network also now extends beyond NUS, connecting researchers from Singapore, Asia and around the world. “By opening our doors to international scholars, we are strengthening the broader research ecosystem of Southeast Asia,” said Professor Vineeta Sinha, Director of ARI.

More than a revolving door for researchers

A longstanding practice of joint appointments between NUS faculties and ARI has provided stability for the Institute. “By nature, people come and people go at ARI. But we’ve also built a critical mass of faculty members from NUS who have a presence at ARI and are connected to it,” said Prof Sinha.

These established scholars mentor the next generation through initiatives such as the Singapore Graduate Forum, where graduate students and recent PhD recipients spend a month acquiring knowledge and skills before presenting their research at a two-week forum.

Many participants have gone on to build successful careers. One of them is Dr Darshana Sreedhar Mini, who attended and presented at the Forum in 2018 while she was a PhD student at the University of Southern California. Today, she is a tenured associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has since returned to ARI while she writes her next book.

Another alumnus, Dr Biao Xiang, joined ARI as a postdoctoral fellow before teaching at the University of Oxford, and later becoming Director of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Germany – one of the world’s leading centres for the discipline. “He’s taken the ARI model, the ARI influence, and gone off to build it in his own institute,” said Assoc Prof Aung-Thwin.

ARI is now extending its support to post-doctoral scholars by equipping them with the professional skills they need when they enter their respective fields, whether as researchers or in non-academic careers in the public or private sectors.

One initiative is the newly launched ARI-Luce Collaboratory, funded by the New York-based Henry Luce Foundation. Piloted this year as a two-week programme, it combines skills training, a writing residency and networking – allowing early-career scholars from North America and Asia to learn from and network with senior researchers. “After one gets one’s PhD, there’s still a lot of room to grow, and what a better place to grow than at ARI with a fantastic committee of scholars,” Assoc Prof Aung-Thwin added.

Creating real-world relevance and impact

With an eye to delivering tangible impact and studying topics with real-world relevance – such as Asian urbanism, religion and food politics – ARI recognises that academic domains should not work in silos.

To facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, ARI structures itself around clusters, bringing experts from different departments together around a common theme. “By combining different lenses and methods from across disciplines and faculties, I think ARI is able to holistically and comprehensively address some of the most compelling crises that we face,” said Prof Sinha.

The Transnational Relations, Ageing and Care Ethics (TRACE) project, for instance, brought together geographers, sociologists and anthropologists to study the challenges of ageing populations. The researchers have also engaged policymakers in Singapore to share their research insights. “It actually produced knowledge that can shape how we develop meaningful, impactful and effective practices of elder care,” said Assoc Prof Aung-Thwin.

The reach of ARI’s research extends beyond the academic field to across the region and closer to home. The Climate Governance of Nature-Based Carbon Sinks (CGSEA) project in the Science, Technology and Society cluster, running since 2022, studies how mangroves and peatlands across Indonesia and Malaysia are managed amid climate change – work that has direct relevance to environmental planning across Southeast Asia’s coastlines. Closer to home, ARI helped digitise more than 72,000 burial records at Bukit Brown Cemetery between 2017 and 2018, creating what Prof Sinha calls “a kind of genealogy for Singapore”.

ARI’s research structure has evolved over time. Beyond its six clusters, it now runs four strategic research programmes – the Muhammad Alagil Distinguished Professorship in Arabia Asia Studies, the Asian Peace Programme, the DIJ-ARI Infrastructures Research Partnership and the Nalanda Professorship in India-China Studies – expanding into new thematic and regional territory, with the work guided by a shift toward “decolonising knowledge production” that moves beyond research on Asia toward research grounded in Asian perspectives, noted Prof Sinha.

One example is the Arabia Asia Archives, launched in August to digitise rare and indigenous-language texts long excluded from colonial archives, connecting communities from Indonesia to Yemen.

Breaking borders around research

For Prof Sinha, more than half her time since taking on the directorship of ARI in January has been spent building international partnerships to strengthen ARI’s role as an incubator and accelerator for research – one that external bodies increasingly approach to seek new areas for research collaborations.

A recent success is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) inked with Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation, making ARI part of a consortium of universities and research institutions in Asia, including Korea University’s own Asiatic Research Institute, to focus on developing talent, internships, and conferences to build Korea-ASEAN relations. “These partnerships are valuable because they allow us to scale up the research,” she said.

As ARI celebrates its 25th anniversary, Assoc Prof Aung-Thwin emphasises the need to deepen integration with ASEAN and Central Asia, continue innovating its research on how societies cope with a constantly evolving world, and make sense of diverse social infrastructures in Asian societies.

None of these, the pair agrees, would have been possible without the people behind the scenes. “These people are the ones who make ARI work,” noted Prof Sinha of ARI’s administrative staff, who she says have worked with passion and professionalism since ARI’s earliest days. Assoc Prof Aung-Thwin agreed. “Some have been here since the beginning, and they are the tissue that connects the different generations of ARI scholars.”

Twenty-five years on, it is that same spirit of connection between people, disciplines and countries that ARI hopes to carry into its future.

The first such agreement between NUS and an Indian state government, the MOU was signed during a two-day series of engagements in Chennai from 28 to 29 August 2026. Spanning industry, government, academia and prospective students, the programme also included an Industry Networking Session and the inaugural NUS Postgraduate Fair.

Organised by NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education, the Chennai engagements are part of NUS’ broader efforts to build sustained international partnerships and create more opportunities for students, researchers, industry and institutions to exchange knowledge, develop capabilities and collaborate across borders.

Bridging academia and industry

The Industry Networking Session on 28 August brought together senior representatives from NUS, the Tamil Nadu Government and industry to exchange perspectives on emerging industry and talent needs; and explore opportunities for closer collaboration in areas such as talent development, knowledge exchange and innovation.

“India presents opportunities and challenges that are often very different from those we encounter in Singapore. Its scale and diversity expose us to a rich range of perspectives, possibilities, and complex realities. A great university should not only export its ideas but also learn from different contexts that broaden the questions we ask and challenge how we think. I would therefore welcome deeper intellectual connections between NUS and Tamil Nadu - not only to contribute, but also to learn,” said Professor Wong Lim Soon, Acting Dean of the NUS Graduate School.

Expanding knowledge exchange

NUS and Guidance Tamil Nadu signed a first-of-its-kind three-year MOU on 29 August to deepen cooperation in postgraduate education, talent development and knowledge exchange.

The agreement creates opportunities for government agencies, industry and universities in Tamil Nadu to explore collaborations with NUS in areas including student exchanges, industry-linked projects, immersion programmes, masterclasses and seminars. It also provides a framework to explore scholarship and co-funding arrangements that could support postgraduate and doctoral education and exchange between NUS and Tamil Nadu.

“Our partnership with Guidance Tamil Nadu gives us a platform to build deeper and more sustained connections in postgraduate education and knowledge exchange. By creating more opportunities for students, educators and institutions to learn from and work with one another, we hope to develop talent with the knowledge, networks and perspectives to contribute across India, Singapore and the wider region,” said Professor Ang Wee Han, Acting Vice Provost (Masters’ Programmes and Lifelong Education) at NUS.

Showcasing postgraduate opportunities

The engagements culminated in the inaugural NUS Postgraduate Fair 2026 in Chennai, which brought together 14 NUS Colleges, Schools and Faculties to showcase postgraduate education opportunities across the University.

More than 3,500 prospective students and accompanying guests turned up on the day, reflecting strong interest in NUS’ postgraduate programmes and opportunities for advanced study in Singapore.
 

By NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education

• The Straits Times, 21 September 2026, Opinion, pB4

• The Straits Times, 21 September 2026, Opinion, pB3

Nearby, his 80-year-old friend would similarly sell tissues for a few hours a day to support his wife with dementia and his daughter, despite his poor health — up until his recent passing. Their stories are a reminder of the harsh realities faced by those on the margins of Singapore’s bustling metropolis.

Dr Kevin Tan, a cultural anthropologist and lecturer at the NUS Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre (CTPCLC), describes individuals like Tommy and his friend as members of the "precariat".

“The precariat — a blend of ‘precarious’ and ‘proletariat’ — describes someone who copes with life day by day, but is just one crisis away from falling through the cracks,” explained Dr Tan. “If Tommy falls and gets hurt, he cannot turn up at the temple entrance for weeks. That means income lost. It is a constant struggle.”

For months, Dr Tan and Ms Kuah Ting Ting, an instructor at CTPCLC, conducted field research on Waterloo Street. They found that, beyond being a religious urban enclave, the area served as a sanctuary for a vulnerable community: older, lower-income individuals who often navigate physical disabilities and constrained circumstances.

“As prosperous as we have become as a nation, we must remember that many are still struggling,” noted Dr Tan. “While policymakers and social services are doing what they can, our contribution as educators and academics is to go to the ground, gather these personal narratives and share the realities of people’s lives. Hopefully, this reaches those who can drive meaningful change in decision-making.”

Furthermore, such research is crucial for education. By bringing real-world context to class, educators can humanise the curriculum, helping students understand the visceral realities of poverty and marginalisation. This cannot be taught from textbooks alone.

15 years of nurturing community leaders

The intersection of academic research and on-the-ground community engagement is at the heart of the work at CTPCLC. Established with a generous donation from Dr Chua Thian Poh, Founder and Executive Chairman of Ho Bee Land, the Centre nurtures Singapore’s next generation of community leaders.

Now in its 15^th year, the Centre's work spans education, research and community partnerships, giving students opportunities to apply what they learn to real-world social issues. Many graduates of the programme join the social sector or initiate ground-up community projects, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

Giving youths a voice through applied research

The strong alumni ecosystem at CTPCLC has been instrumental in driving community development research and collaboration. A connection made by a CTPCLC alumna led to a year-long research practicum with =DREAMS Singapore, a first-of-its-kind weekday boarding programme for children from under-resourced backgrounds.

Working closely with =DREAMS Singapore’s Executive Director Ms Juliet Tanuwira and her team, four NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences graduates who are also CTPCLC fellows — Ang Wei Cai, Christine Devina Wibisono, Edice Koh Ying En and Megan Wang May-En — were tasked with evaluating the programme's holistic impact from the perspective of its scholars.

Conducting focus groups with teenagers after a long school day called for empathy and creativity. To keep the youths engaged, the NUS team used interactive tools like laminated cards and worksheets, allowing the scholars to physically rank programmes and comfortably share their thoughts.

The experience was profoundly transformative. For Edice, a Social Work major, the project underscored that research is a "precious mode of communication" meant to be shared. “Sharing our findings with the scholars and staff brought honest conversations and validation. It emphasised the importance of involving the community in our research,” she said.

Wei Cai, a Chinese Studies major, learnt the value of adaptability. “It is always important to either have a contingency plan or be able to improvise on the ground to achieve your objectives,” he said.

Translating their findings into action, the team provided =DREAMS Singapore with practical recommendations, including structuring family bonding sessions to better bridge residential and home life, and tailoring mandatory tuition at the boarding to student performance to better balance academic rigour with students’ individual strengths and learning needs. They also designed an annual survey that can help =DREAMS Singapore track the programme's long-term impact.

“The CTPCLC students offered a valuable opportunity to gain an independent snapshot of our scholars' well-being and experience,” said Ms Tanuwira.

Beyond the research, she noted the partnership's broader impact: “Supporting under-resourced youths is one part of our work; another is to galvanise young people with greater access to opportunities to support their less-resourced peers.”

Ultimately, she hopes this inspires a culture where youths actively use their voices to uplift one another.

Multiplying impact

Noting how the project encapsulates the core educational goals of CTPCLC, CTPCLC instructor Ms Kuah, who supervised the practicum, said she hoped the students had gained the ability to apply classroom theories to diverse, real-world contexts.

"Impact is not just about the time or money invested in the community space, though both are important resources. Impact is also about action driven by critical thought, backed by research and rooted in learning to build trust with stakeholders. This is a skill that will serve these future leaders well," she said.

As a culmination of their efforts, students will present their work and share their experiences at the annual CTPCLC Symposium on 19 September, alongside their peers and alumni who continue to co-create a more inclusive, compassionate and resilient Singapore.

This story is part one of a two-part series celebrating the 15^th anniversary of the Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre at NUS. Stay tuned for part two.

• The Straits Times, 16 September 2026, Opinion, pB3

“If the rule of law is judged by what it delivers, it cannot ever be regarded as a finished achievement,” said Chief Justice Menon, addressing an audience of about 160 practitioners, policymakers, academics and researchers, students and members of the public at NUS Law on 2 September 2026.

“When changing conditions threaten the legal system’s capacity to deliver justice, certainty, equality and trust, our understanding of what the rule of law requires must evolve in response.”

Hosted by NUS Law’s Centre for Asian Legal Studies (CALS), the hour-long lecture, titled “Evolving Conceptions of the Rule of Law: The Singapore Experience”, was held as part of NUS Law’s commemoration of 200 years of Singapore’s modern legal system, a milestone that dates to the Second Charter of Justice in 1826.

Evolving with the times

Chief Justice Menon traced how Singapore’s legal institutions developed in response to practical needs, from establishing a common and ascertainable body of law and building an independent, effective judiciary, to strengthening accountability and equality before the law.

The legal order has never been static. “Enduring principles may require new expression as the community and the circumstances they serve change,” he said.

He cited the repeal of Section 377A as an example of how law may need to respond as societal values and norms change, while enduring principles remain. He also highlighted four contemporary challenges that could threaten the rule of law’s ability to deliver justice: growing complexity and escalating legal costs; borderless problems such as climate change; pressures on the sustainability of legal practice; and generative AI.

On AI, Chief Justice Menon said it could make the work of lawyers and judges more efficient, but it might also erode trust if used without care.

“The critical distinction is between assistance and responsibility,” he said. AI may assist with identifying, organising and testing material and research. However, “the judge must remain responsible for the decision, the lawyer for the submission, and the institution for the system it chooses to deploy”.

The role of universities and future lawyers

The final part of the lecture was devoted to the people who will help sustain and shape the legal system — lawyers, academics and students — highlighting the responsibilities that each carries in renewing the rule of law.

He said academics contribute by bringing theoretical and doctrinal discipline, analytical rigour and comparative perspectives to the work of judges and advocates, pointing to the work of the Asian Business Law Institute where academics have collaborated with judges and practitioners to develop principles and frameworks for level convergence.

To the students in the audience, Chief Justice Menon said, “You are the future custodians of Singapore’s legal institutions.” He encouraged them to begin taking on that responsibility before entering legal practice, including through legal clinics and pro bono service, where they can see the gap that can sometimes exist between rights on paper and justice in practice.

Students should also resist the instinct to regard any legal system, including Singapore’s, as complete in itself, and instead learn from other traditions, test assumptions and remain willing to ask how institutions might better serve those who depend on them.

Above all, Chief Justice Menon called on students to cultivate integrity and judgement from the outset of their education.

He said, “Professional character is not acquired only upon admission to the Bar; it is formed through your appreciation of and devotion to the mission of the law, and by the choices you will make in your approach to your education, from the honesty of your work, to the care with which you use new technologies, the respect you show to others and your willingness to take responsibility for mistakes.”

Decoding the Second Charter of Justice

The lecture was followed by the launch of Professor Kevin YL Tan’s book, The Second Charter of Justice: A Documentary History. It traces the development, implementation and influence of the Charter, with a clause-by-clause annotation to make the foundational document more accessible to modern readers.

Prof Tan, an Adjunct Professor at NUS Law, said, “The Second Charter of Justice is Singapore’s historically most significant legal instrument. But like so many other celebrated founding texts, it suffers from a familiar fate: it is more frequently cited and referred to than read”, drawing laughter from the crowd.

The document is revered as Singapore’s constitutional “Big Bang” that introduced English common law to its shores. But he noted: “I don’t think anybody alive has ever seen what the (original) Second Charter of Justice looks like.”

Chief Justice Menon, who was Prof Tan’s classmate at NUS Law, said the Charter remains foundational, but it was never the final word — and that is an enduring lesson of its history.

“No legal system arrives fully formed,” he said, nor does it remain unchanged.

For lawyers, academics and students who will shape Singapore’s legal system in the years ahead, the responsibility is to build on that inheritance, strengthening and renewing the rule of law as society’s needs evolve.

• CNA Online, 15 September 2025

• Berita Minggu, 13 September 2026, p14 and p15

• Berita Minggu, 13 September 2026, p10 and p11

• CNA Online, 10 September 2026

• The Straits Times, 10 September 2026, Opinion, pB2

Name: Zachary Kang
Faculty: NUS School of Computing
Host Country/University: Denmark, Technical University of Denmark

What was your first week like in Denmark?

My first week in Denmark was both terrifying and exciting. Everything felt daunting at first — figuring out how to get around, where to buy groceries, how to settle in, how to navigate life in a completely unfamiliar environment — and there were moments when I wondered whether I had made the right decision.

But with each small step, things became a little easier. By around the fourth or fifth day, I could finally take a step back and think, "Okay, I’m going to be fine."

Looking back, it may seem like a small achievement, but that moment was deeply meaningful to me. It reminded me that stepping into the unknown can be uncomfortable, but it is often where we grow the most.

Why did you choose Denmark and Technical University of Denmark for your exchange?

I wanted to experience life in a Scandinavian country known for its progressive values, work-life balance, design and sustainability. I was curious about why Scandinavian countries consistently rank among the happiest in the world, and whether there was something about their way of life that I could learn from.

The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) was my first choice because its courses aligned well with my study plan and interests. I was also drawn to its proximity to Copenhagen, a city I had always wanted to experience.

More than anything, however, I wanted to challenge myself by stepping outside what was familiar and seeing the world from a different perspective.

What are some of your key learning experiences during your exchange?

One of my most meaningful learning experiences was working on a cybersecurity research project as part of a course at DTU, which eventually led to a published paper. Through the project, I collaborated with other students and a professor and gained a deeper understanding of their approach to studying and research.

The experience also taught me that learning does not always happen in a classroom. Some of the most valuable lessons came from working with people who thought differently from me, asking questions, making mistakes and learning how to solve problems together.

More broadly, the NUS Student Exchange Programme (SEP) gave me the opportunity to focus on learning with less pressure. Since my mapped courses at NUS were graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis, I could engage more deeply with the material without being overly focused on grades. It allowed me to rediscover the joy of learning for its own sake and to appreciate the process rather than just the outcome.

What are some of your fondest memories?

Some of my fondest memories are tied to the people I met through sports, travel, studying or simply everyday conversations.

I made many close friends during my exchange and tried to make the most of the time I had with them, knowing that I would eventually have to leave after a few months. Those new bonds and shared experiences were what made the exchange especially meaningful to me.

What did you learn from interacting with students from different cultures?

Interacting with students from different cultures taught me that people can have very different perspectives on work, social life, success and what matters to them.

At the same time, I realised that shared interests could bring people together regardless of cultural differences. Whether we were playing sports or discussing ideas for a research project, the shared excitement of working towards something together made it much easier to connect and form meaningful relationships.

Perhaps, most importantly, I realised that we often have much more in common than we think.

Any tips for NUS students interested in going on exchange?

I would encourage students to see the SEP as more than an opportunity to travel or complete courses overseas. It is an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone, experience a different way of life and discover more about yourself.

For many of us, university is one of the few times in life when we can immerse ourselves in another country with relatively little external pressure or long-term responsibility. Take advantage of that opportunity. Explore. Be curious. Say yes to new experiences that might initially feel unfamiliar or uncomfortable. Go on adventures and spend time with people who see the world differently from you. Exchange is a rare opportunity to experience new places, perspectives, friendships and ways of living.

Make the most of it! You never know how much one journey can change the way you see the world — and yourself.

• CNA Online, 9 September 2026

• The Straits Times, 10 September 2026, Opinion, p17
• Lianhe Zaobao, 9 September 2026, Opinion, p12

• Lianhe Zaobao, 8 September 2026, Fukan, p3

For the first time in its 11-year history, the exclusive annual event organised by the NUS Development Office introduced donors to two NUS faculties in a single day: the NUS Faculty of Law (NUS Law) and NUS College (NUSC).

“Today, I hope you get the chance to experience some of what we create for our students, to see not simply where your support goes, but where it could go in the future,” shared NUSC Dean Professor Simon Chesterman in his welcome address on 29 August.

Indeed, donors began the day with a guided campus tour of the faculty of their choice, led by their respective students who offered them a glimpse of university life through their eyes. The occasion also gave many the opportunity to explore NUS Law’s new home in University Town, while gaining a closer look at the distinctive learning experiences offered across both faculties.

The tours concluded with showcases of NUSC students’ Impact Experience Projects and activities by NUS Law student clubs, highlighting the many ways students put their learning into practice both inside and beyond the classroom.

Warmly welcoming donors to the BCE, NUSC Dean Professor Simon Chesterman and NUS Law Dean Professor Andrew Simester emphasised the impact that donors are co-creating when they give through the University.

“What we would really like to thank you for is not just your generosity towards our programmes and students, but for encouraging us to push the boundaries of education. You are very much co-creators in our development,” shared Prof Chesterman, who also holds the David Marshall Professorship in Law at the University.

“Singapore’s legal system is at the heart of the future and the foundation of the country’s success. Many of those who shaped that system were trained right here at NUS Law,” added Prof Simester, who is also the Amaladass Professor of Criminal Justice. “We are deeply grateful for the generous support for NUS Law and the University as a whole.”

The morning then opened into four Insight Sessions, each offering donors the opportunity to engage with critical ideas around the future of society.

The University Disrupted – Rethinking Higher Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Led by Prof Chesterman, the session explored the value and legitimacy of universities in a world reshaped by AI.

He argued that while AI is bringing pressures to a head that have been building in universities for decades, NUS’ response should not be to go “AI first” but “X plus AI”. This refers to an approach that leverages technology to enhance every discipline while doubling down on cultivating the human qualities that AI cannot replicate: judgement, curiosity, empathy and the ability to focus deeply. A lively discussion followed, with donors actively contributing their own experiences and perspectives.

How Old Are You, Really?

At the CJ Koh Law Library, Distinguished Professor Brian Kennedy led a session on what biological age reveals about our health. Prof Kennedy is the Programme Chair of the Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Director of the Centre for Healthy Longevity at the National University Health System.

He introduced donors to LinAge2, developed by NUS researchers to measure an individual’s biological age, identify what is accelerating it and recommend changes. Designed to catch decline early while it is still highly modifiable, the research informs rejuvenation strategies including lifestyle interventions, supplements and repurposing drugs to delay frailty.

The session also featured a fireside chat with Dr Sue-Anne Toh, co-founder, CEO and Medical Director of NOVI Health, and a patient who had benefitted from LinAge2 in his own journey towards healthy longevity.

NUS Law Students’ Moot Simulation

Over at the Wee Chong Jin Moot Court, donors enjoyed front-row seats to a world championship-level courtroom experience as NUS Law students recreated the intensity of an arbitration over a cross-border commercial dispute.

The case in question: whether Sellers Inc could declare non-performance under a Force Majeure clause, complicated by internal correspondence suggesting ulterior motives and the question of whether illegally obtained evidence should be admitted.

When the Tribunal, led by Professor Steven Elliott KC, deliberated on the verdict, donors voted in a live poll and were split evenly on the outcome of the arbitration. Ultimately, Prof Elliott KC ruled against Sellers Inc, finding the opposing counsel’s arguments more compelling.

He then commended the four mooters for the calibre of their arguments and noted their bright futures as leading advocates, concluding with a reference to the new Centre for International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution at NUS Law, which will reinforce Singapore’s established reputation as a leading dispute resolution hub.

AI and the Law: What Lies Ahead?

Finally, at the Yale-NUS Hall, Professor David Tan and Professor Ernest Lim, Co-Directors of the Centre for Technology, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and the Law under NUS Law; joined Mr Jeth Lee, Vice President of Legal, APAC at Nscale, for a wide-ranging panel discussion on the implications of AI for copyright, online harms and personal data protection.

Mr Lee flagged three commonly overlooked risks when lawyers outsource their minds to AI: the erosion of critical thinking, the issue of confidentiality, and AI interaction histories as evidence in legal proceedings. Prof Lim offered a framework for AI liability that is anchored in accountability and determining who is legally responsible for any actions or harm caused by an AI system.

Rounding off the panel, Prof Tan explored AI-generated content and what level of human involvement is required for the output to be attributed to human authorship. He noted that the answer remains unsettled across jurisdictions worldwide but offered practical advice: demonstrate meaningful control over the AI, and document the entire creation process.

Forging lasting connections

Following a full morning of exploration and discussion, donors gathered at the Saga Dining Hall for a sumptuous buffet lunch. Conversations continued over the meal as donors deepened their connections with faculty, students and fellow benefactors.

NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye (Science ’85) and NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost Professor Aaron Thean also joined donors for lunch, taking the opportunity to connect personally with the University’s benefactors and thank them for their continued support.

All in all, the experience was a reminder that giving through NUS does not simply support the University’s various causes. More importantly, it creates lasting impact for society, shaping a better world for future generations.

• zbSunday, 6 September 2026, Opinion, p25

• zbSunday, 6 September 2026, Fukan, p2

• The Business Times, 5 September 2026, p29

• The Straits Time, 5 September 2026, Opinion, pB7