Speech by Prof Subra Suresh, President and Distinguished University Professor, at the NTU 30th Anniversary Dinner

Speech by Professor Subra Suresh,
President and Distinguished University Professor,
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
NTU 30TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER
Friday, 1 July 2022

 

Dr. Tony Tan, Former President of Singapore,
Minister for Health, Mr Ong Ye Kung,
Distinguished alumnus, Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr Muhammad Tito Karnavian,
Pro-Chancellors,
Chair and members of the NTU Board of Trustees,
President Emeritus,
Excellencies, distinguished guests,
Colleagues, students, alumni and friends of NTU,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening. On behalf of the University, I would like to warmly welcome everyone to this dinner to celebrate NTU’s 30th anniversary.

30 Years of Momentum

Nanyang Technological University was officially inaugurated in 1991, but its story goes back to 1955 when Nanyang University was established through donations from people from all walks of life. Subsequently, Nanyang Technological Institute (NTI) was set up in 1981 on the same campus, with a charter to train three-quarters of Singapore's engineers. A decade later, we saw the birth of NTU in its current form, with the inclusion of the National Institute of Education.

In just 30 years, NTU has gone from a local and predominantly teaching university to a globally recognised research-intensive institution, viewed alongside international universities that are centuries old. Today, NTU is renowned locally and internationally as a young and dynamic institution, which:

− advances the boundaries of human intellect as only a great research-intensive university can do,
− cultivates and nurtures talent, skills and curiosity through state-of-the-art educational, pedagogical and life-long learning programmes and approaches,
− serves as a birthplace of scientific discoveries, technological innovation and creativity; and
− addresses humanity’s most pressing challenges through unique local and global partnerships with academia, industry and government to benefit Singapore, the region, and the world

Just in the past few years, several of NTU’s academic and intellectual offerings have emerged as the best in the world, according to widely-accepted independent international assessments. It is the only university under fifty years of age that is placed among the top fifty universities in the world by three major global metrics.

NTU’s journey in just 30 short years and its remarkable current momentum are palpable. You see it wherever you go: in the academic programmes, in the quality of student life and experience, in the community spirit to support our students during the pandemic through the NTU Priorities Fund, and in the innovations that we test here and send out into the world.

NTU is a pioneer of classroom learning as well as technology-enhanced learning, and we continue to transform the NTU educational experiences with new programmes, learning spaces and models that tap advances in the science, art and technology of learning. This momentum is also reflected in our Interdisciplinary Common Core curriculum introduced starting last year for all undergraduate students, as part of our strategic plan, NTU 2025.

NTU also continues to push the frontiers of knowledge and innovation with discoveries forged from multidisciplinary approaches that address Singapore’s national priorities as well as challenges facing the planet and its inhabitants.

We collaborate with about 650 academic institutions, government agencies, and industry partners worldwide, to turn research into action, to translate education and learning into societal impact, and to bring ideas to reality at scale. Today, we are testbedding a broad range of research solutions and advanced innovations on our 200- hectare Smart Campus in ways that few universities anywhere else on the planet are able to do. An example of this bold ambition is the Sustainability Manifesto developed by the NTU community last year to chart actionable pathways in our commitment to environmental sustainability.

30th anniversary celebrations
We began our 30th anniversary celebrations last September with the launch of a digital time capsule that will be opened 20 years from now when NTU celebrates its Golden Jubilee.

The University also launched its 30th Anniversary commemorative exhibition at the Nanyang Auditorium, and published a book titled Thirty Years of Momentum, 30 Perspectives. The book archives the insights and reflections of individuals who have been a part of NTU’s transformative journey. It highlights the many achievements of the OneNTU community. The OneNTU community’s unity and strength were evident during our first We Belong campaign held earlier this year as part of the 30th Anniversary celebrations. We Belong comprised three major events: NTU Service Week, Best Foot Forward virtual run, and Giving Day. The campaign was a success, as we exceeded our goal and raised more than $1.1 million to support bursaries, the NTU Priorities Fund, School Advancement Funds, and the NTU Sustainability Fund.

Conclusion

It is wonderful this evening to celebrate this milestone in NTU’s journey among friends: with our distinguished guests, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters of NTU.

I would like to pay tribute to everyone who has played a part in the University's rapid progress and growing momentum. NTU’s greatest assets are its people, and our achievements would not exist without the hard work and dedication of faculty and staff, as well as students and alumni.

I salute you and thank every one of you.

Lastly, NTU’s contribution to Singapore’s economic progress would not have been possible without the support and trust of all our partners and stakeholders. On behalf of the University, I thank you for your faith in NTU and its capabilities, and for sharing a vision of what we could achieve together.

We are all here this evening because of our association with NTU, in one way or another. I am sure I echo everyone’s sentiment that we are all proud to be associated with NTU, and proud to be participants in this remarkable journey. I would like to end by quoting a few thoughts I conveyed in my foreword to the 30th Anniversary commemorative book: 30 years of MomeNTUm:

“The history and heritage of NTU tell a most remarkable tale of humanity, philanthropy, and community. It is a university built on the collective power of people. It proves that great, seemingly impossible things can be done when everyone comes together to achieve a common goal.

As we celebrate NTU’s 30th Anniversary, I urge all of you to reflect on the communities around you and what they mean to you. You build a community, and then it builds you. It nourishes you with friendships and purpose. This is how greatness is achieved – not by individual effort, but by the collective strength and cumulative impact of small victories – as demonstrated by the rich heritage and remarkable accomplishments of Nanyang Technological University”.

Thank you for coming together to celebrate this special occasion.