9 July 2007

Global minds, NUS hearts

UNVEILING MEMORIES & FUTURE: Prof S Jayakumar, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Law (left) and NUS President Prof Shih Choon Fong (right) unveiling the plaque. They are flanked by Assoc Prof Teo Choo Soo, Director, Office of Alumni Relations (extreme left) and Prof Tan Chorh Chuan, Senior Deputy President (extreme right).

July 8 marked a very important date in the diaries of many alumni. It was a true homecoming for those whose "home" was Bukit Timah Campus (BTC) where NUS has its roots. Besides Homecoming, it was also the official opening of the campus -- 772 days after Dr Tony Tan, then Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Security and Defence announced the good news of BTC being returned to NUS on 28 May 2005.

The campus certainly holds fond memories for many, including Prof S Jayakumar, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Law who officially opened BTC. Law Dean from 1974 to 1980, he went round shaking hands with the many familiar faces gathered at the event.

CAKE & TOAST: Prof Shih leading a toast to NUS and BTC, with Prof Jayakumar, senior administrators and deans, after the cake-cutting.

For Ms Chow Yoong Ching, Class of '62, it was the camaraderie. A resident at the hostel, Eusoff College at BTC, she recalled: "It was a wonderful thing. The relationship between all of us was truly regardless of race, language and religion." An Arts student, one lecturer stood out most for her -- Prof Wang Gungwu. "He was lecturing History but even those who did not take the subject, made it a point to sit in his lectures!" she said.

Mr Ernest Devadason who is practising law in Australia, flew back specially for the Homecoming. A student leader from 1960 to 1961, his most memorable experience was when students rallied to support "academic freedom". "We were commended by Mr Lee Kuan Yew, then the Prime Minister for efficiently dealing with the situation," he recalled. Another fond memory for him was the day he was "chaired" -- carried from the Upper Quadrangle all the way to the Dunearn Hostel.

NUS President Prof Shih Choon Fong, addressing the alumni at BTC opening, also highlighted memories that bonded -- visits to the nearby Farrer Road hawker centre for mutton soup and forging lifelong friendships over "teh tarik" and "kopi susu" at Pantai Valley.

Moving forward, Prof Shih urged alumni to think and act globally "while keeping a warm spot in their hearts for alma mater". He also called for NUS to move from "good" to a "great" university.

"As we pursue global excellence, our hearts are set on growing 10 great programmes or departments in 10 years, or G-10-10 for short," he said. He told reporters at the event that NUS would likely choose and leverage on programmes which had already been identified as emerging fields, for example, environment and water, as well as interactive digital media. Other areas include nanotechnology, quantum information science, and the life sciences.

GRAND TURNOUT: Returning to their alma mater.