The Qualities That Will Outlast Technology
As the NTU College of Computing and Data Science celebrated the Class of 2026 across four Convocation ceremonies, one message surfaced again and again. While technology continues to evolve at extraordinary speed, the qualities that matter most have changed remarkably little.
That message came from leaders whose careers span artificial intelligence, national defence, global business and social media. Despite their different backgrounds, they returned to the same enduring ideas: build strong foundations, stay curious, honour your word and embrace the unknown. Looking across the stories of this year's graduates, it was clear those lessons had already taken root.
AI Singapore's Laurence Liew challenged graduates not to fear artificial intelligence, but to become "the human who judges". While AI can predict, he reminded them, only people can exercise judgment – a quality built on strong foundations rather than the latest tools.
That philosophy echoed throughout the graduating class. Dual gold medallist Chung Zhi Xuan spoke about mastering the fundamentals in an age of rapidly evolving AI. Tata Consultancy Services Gold Medallist Mani Senthilnathan Vignesh discovered that the hardest part of engineering was not writing software, but navigating complexity, uncertainty and people. For DSTA Gold Medallist Dion Lim Sin Le, excellence came through patience, precision and craftsmanship rather than shortcuts. Different journeys, but the same belief that while technology evolves, sound judgment endures.
At the afternoon ceremony, DSO National Laboratories Deputy Chief Executive (Operations) Chua Kuan Seah offered a different perspective. "AI should help us think better, not become an excuse for us to stop thinking," he said, encouraging graduates to cultivate deep understanding in a world increasingly driven by speed.
Curiosity has always been one of the defining characteristics of this graduating class. Ganesh Rudra Prasadh followed his interests from molecular biology to robotics simply because he enjoyed learning. Caleb Yung found that meaningful computing begins with understanding people, while Joanka Devi Kalynda chose to apply her technical skills through community service, mentorship and responsible AI. Their stories demonstrated that lifelong learning is not just about acquiring knowledge, but using it with purpose.
Returning to Convocation as President of the CCDS Alumni Association, Chief Executive Officer of Morris Group and a member of the pioneer Class of 1993, David Ho reminded graduates that one quality remains timeless in an uncertain world: honour your word. Trust, he said, is earned through actions that stand the test of time.
That message was reflected in graduates who measured success not simply by personal achievement, but by the impact they leave behind. Valedictorian Ernest Yong invested deeply in the people around him throughout his university journey. Bryan Atista Kiely built systems that will continue serving future students long after his graduation, while Bettina Tee's journey showed that meaningful careers are shaped by thoughtful decisions made with integrity and purpose.
The final message came from TikTok Chief Executive Officer Shou Zi Chew during the PhD Conferment Ceremony. Looking back on his own career, he encouraged graduands to "actively seek out the unknown" because meaningful innovation is often found beyond familiar territory. Reflecting on technology's role in society, he reminded graduates that "technology is not just about hardware and code. It is also about unlocking human potential."
For the College's doctoral graduates, that challenge felt especially familiar. Chen Zhaoxi, Tang Xiaoli, Dong Junhao and Xu Shifeng each spent years pursuing questions without guaranteed answers, advancing knowledge while embracing the uncertainty that defines research itself. Their work may push the boundaries of computing, but their journeys also demonstrate that discovery begins with the courage to venture into the unknown.
Taken together, the stories of the Class of 2026 reveal something greater than individual achievements or academic accolades. They reflect a generation of computing graduates who understand that technical excellence is only part of the equation. Equally important are the judgment to make difficult decisions, the curiosity to keep learning, the integrity to earn trust and the courage to explore what comes next.
As the newest members of the CCDS alumni community begin the next chapter of their journeys, they carry with them qualities that no technological breakthrough can replace.
Those are the qualities that will outlast technology.
👉 Discover the CCDS Class of 2026.
Scroll through for highlights from the Convocation ceremonies.
