NUS celebrates the milestone accomplishments of more than 15,900 graduates through 31 ceremonies from 11 to 21 July

This year’s Commencement season began with graduates from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and the NUS Faculty of Science receiving their degrees in the presence of family and friends.

The flash of colourful hoods in the University Cultural Centre auditorium and the stirring fanfare ushering in the ceremonial procession on the morning of 11 July 2024 set the stage for the inaugural NUS Commencement ceremony of this season.

The first of 31 ceremonies celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2024, the Main Ceremony saw graduates from the NUS Faculty of Science and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) receiving their degrees amid cheers and applause from family and friends. A total of 15,958 graduates will be marking this major milestone, with the final ceremony concluding on 21 July 2024.

Presiding over the Commencement ceremony for the first time as NUS Chancellor was Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore, who became the University’s 11th Chancellor in 2023.

The momentous occasion also marked the conferment of honorary degrees on Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon of the Supreme Court of Singapore and Mr Peter Ho, Senior Advisor to the Centre for Strategic Futures in the Prime Minister’s Office and Senior Fellow in the Civil Service College.

Architects of change

Delivering his address at the ceremony, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye expressed his firm belief that the Class of 2024 will be departing the University with the skills, mindsets and traits needed to make a strong impact and thrive in today’s ever-evolving environment.

In his speech, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye encouraged the Class of 2024 to be relentless in their learning, draw lessons from both failures and successes, and aspire to make a difference in their personal and professional capacities.

In particular, he saluted the spirit of resilience exemplified by two graduates – Ms Aisha Shamsudin from the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences who rose above her challenging personal circumstances to make the most of university life, and Mr Ng Jun Kang from NUS Computing, whose medical condition is no deterrent to his goal of employing technology to solve real-world problems.

Sketching out the myriad of pathways that lie ahead for this year’s cohort, Prof Tan encouraged them to go forth with purpose. “Be architects of change, champions of justice and trailblazers of innovation,” he asserted. “Whether you’re bound for boardrooms, laboratories, or paths less trodden, know that you are equipped with more than knowledge – you have within you the power to shape the future.”

Two outstanding leaders were also honoured as Honorary Graduates for the Class of 2024. The Honorary Degree is the University’s highest tribute to outstanding individuals who have rendered distinguished service and made a great impact on Singapore and the world.

In recognition of his outstanding service to the practice and adjudication of law in Singapore, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon was conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws by NUS Chancellor and President of the Republic of Singapore Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon: A legal giant’s contributions to law and the Singapore civil justice system

Chief Justice Menon, an NUS Law alumnus from the Class of 1986, was conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws, in recognition of his distinguished leadership and outstanding contributions to the practice and adjudication of law in Singapore and the legal profession locally, regionally and internationally.

As Singapore’s sixth Attorney-General, Chief Justice Menon was responsible for all prosecutions in Singapore and for advising the Government on a wide range of legal issues, while in his capacity as Singapore’s fourth Chief Justice since 2012, he is known for his efforts in promoting access to justice. In 2019, he was distinguished with the Special Recognition award by the Negotiation and Conflict Management Group International for his contributions through the development of alternative dispute resolution.

A noted expert across multiple fields such as commercial litigation, insolvency, and construction law, he has also made major contributions as President of the ASEAN Law Association, been appointed to the Governing Board of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration, and is an elected member of the American Law Institute, attesting to his standing as an internationally recognised arbitrator and legal giant.

Delivering the citation for Chief Justice Menon’s conferment, Dean of NUS Law Professor Andrew Simester commended him for his exceptional contributions in private practice and public service. “Today, we honour not an office, not just a great judge, but a man,” Prof Simester said. “A man who has demonstrated exemplary service through leadership. A man who has predicated that leadership upon excellence. And a man who has led with a commitment to justice and the rule of law.”

In his speech, Chief Justice Menon cited various challenges facing the world today, from the looming climate crisis to the rise of artificial intelligence, urging the graduates to apply their ambition, skills and drive to make the world a better place.

“We will need you, our best and brightest minds across all disciplines, collectively, to develop new and innovative ways to address these challenges and their wide-ranging implications. These are matters that promise to outlive my generation,” he continued, urging them to “imagine solutions and responses for the good of Singapore and even of the world.”

“So, it is time to be excited; to be passionate and caring for our nation, our people and our world; and to be absolutely committed to doing our best to make a difference.”

In tribute to his visionary leadership and distinguished services to Singapore as well as his sterling contributions towards education and NUS, Mr Peter Ho was conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters.

Mr Peter Ho: A stellar career in public service with significant contributions to society and the nation

Mr Ho, a former Head of the Civil Service and one of Singapore’s finest public servants, was presented with the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters for his distinguished service to Singapore as well as his wide-ranging contributions towards education and NUS.

Until his retirement in 2010, Mr Ho’s career in the public service spanned more than 34 years, with Permanent Secretary appointments in various ministries. Through his visionary leadership, he built a future-ready public service, significantly advanced Singapore’s interests in various areas such as defence, foreign affairs, security, urban planning and governance, and galvanised agencies to tackle cross-cutting national challenges.

“A Renaissance Man, Mr Ho has many areas of expertise, from governance, urban development and scenario planning to strategic futures,” said Associate Professor Suzaina Kadir, Vice Dean (Academic Affairs) at LKYSPP, who delivered the citation for Mr Ho’s conferment. His stellar service in the public sector, she noted, “has left an indelible mark on Singapore’s public service, policy-making and governance”.

Currently Chairman of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore – among his many other roles – Mr Ho has gained international recognition for advancing Singapore’s brand of urban development. His service in the public sector has continued, particularly in education, as a former NUS Trustee from 2011 to 2023 and as a member of the LKYSPP’s Governing Board today. In 2022, he was conferred the NUS Outstanding Service Award for his significant contributions to the University.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Ho recounted his longstanding links with NUS, dating back to his early involvement in the inception of two research institutes – The Logistics Institute - Asia Pacific and Temasek Laboratories at NUS. Remarking on the University’s substantial progress and its rise in the rankings since then, Mr Ho challenged NUS to press on, scaling new peaks of excellence even in the face of intensifying competition.

“(NUS’) ambition and motivations must match the national ethos of excellence and achievement that drives Singapore,” he said. “Boldness – a willingness to take some risk, and the courage to act – must define NUS as a world-class university.”

Being human first

In his valedictory speech, Mr Yang Chen, who graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours from the Faculty of Science, reflected on the shared experiences of his graduating cohort, which included adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic when lessons moved online for nearly two years and witnessing the inspiring contributions of Singapore’s pharmacists to the healthcare response.

Giving his valedictory speech, Mr Yang Chen, a Faculty of Science graduate with a Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours, urged his fellow graduates to carry the resilience, purpose and passion they have gained through their university journey into their next chapter.

“The degrees we receive today mark the beginning of a new chapter, a chapter that may just be as unpredictable as when we first entered university. Regardless, let’s carry forward the resilience and dedication we have demonstrated,” he told his fellow graduates.

Speaking on behalf of his fellow graduates, LKYSPP valedictorian Mr Ethen Ong Yongsen congratulated the school on celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, having graduated over 3,500 leaders worldwide since its founding in 2004. Mr Ong, who graduated with a Master in Public Administration, offered a timely reminder to his fellow peers to treasure those human moments that paved their journey – from the long hours spent buried in papers to the occasional episodes of self-doubt. 

Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy valedictorian Mr Ethen Ong Yongsen called on his peers to never forget the human aspect of their work, and to use their skills, knowledge and networks to effect positive change in the world.

“Being human first means acknowledging our imperfections and leveraging our strengths. It means understanding that our power as public administrators comes not from a place of authority but from a place of empathy and service,” he emphasised. 

Closing his speech after extending his gratitude to the families, friends, and faculty members who have been pillars of support for the Class of 2024, he reiterated: “As we leave this prestigious institution, let us approach our careers with humour to keep us grounded, empathy to keep us connected, and determination to make a difference. Let us be human first, always.”

This story is part of NUS News’ coverage of Commencement 2024, which celebrates the achievements of our graduates from the Class of 2024. For more on Commencement, read our stories and graduate profiles, check out the official Commencement website, or look up and tag #NUS2024 on our social media channels!

Read the press release on the Honorary Graduates here.


News from: https://news.nus.edu.sg/commencement-2024-a-new-class-charts-the-next-course-of-their-journey/