Connexscions Volume VIII Issue 02 Jan - WKWSCI Home - Nanyang ...

ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF THE
VOL. 8 ISSUE I1 JAN – MAY 2012
Wee Kim Wee School
of Communication and Information
31 nanyang link, #04–43, wkwsci building
singapore 637718
here
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20 GROUNDBREAKING FYPS
20 UNFORGETTABLE ALUMNI
20 BIRTHDAY WISHES

CONTENTS
CAMPUS
COVER STORY
ALUMNI
4 sojourning into pyongyang
Journalism students on landmark practicum bond over blackouts, freezing
temperatures and bizarre episodes
6 theatre with no sexual boundaries
Daring play by WKWSCI alumnus and students rocks the Arts House with sold-out
performances
7 cambodia calling
New Regional Strategic Communication Management practicum encourages
community awareness
8 WEE DID IT Again
Students and alumni do the school proud once more
10 study abroad scholarship launched
Founding Dean Prof Eddie Kuo launches new scholarship at anniversary dinner
11 gala dinner for 20th anniversary
Celebration marks two decades of “strong and steady progress”
12 20 years and beyond
Trailblazing spirit continues to be secret of WKWSCI’s ground-breaking growth
22 20 alumni who left their mark
In honour of our anniversary, ConnexSCIons features 20 alumni who have left an
indelible impression on professors and peers with their idealism, professionalism
and, yes, humour
CHAIR’S MESSAGE
As this issue of ConnexSCIons goes to press, plans are well underway for the School’s
20th Anniversary celebrations. On May 11th we will be hosting a special fundraising
dinner at the Fairmont Hotel (some of you may be reading this in the ballroom).
The event has been designed to allow us to look back over the past two decades together
and appreciate the achievements of the School’s students, alumni and faculty. It will also give
us the opportunity to honour the founding dean of the School, Prof Eddie C.Y. Kuo, and
support something that he is deeply committed to – fostering greater understanding through
intercultural experience and communication. The can learn more about the study abroad
scholarship in the magazine.
Current students and recent grads know that the school is highly supportive of international
experiences and helps to promote them through student exchange and specialized courses
that have an overseas component. This issue features stories on two of these courses. Students
travelled well out of their comfort zones and into North Korea and rural Cambodia. In both
locations students learned about worlds that are far removed from Singapore while developing
skills in journalism and strategic communication. The School’s endowment, the Wee Kim Wee
legacy Fund in particular, makes these special courses possible.
We will continue to run these courses and expand the offerings to include more students.
To do so, the full subsidy will have to be reduced, and students participating will share the
costs. To ensure that all qualified students are eligible regardless of their means, travel
bursaries will be available on a needs basis. We also hope to involve alumni more in the
trips, so be on the lookout for news of your former classmates in upcoming stories on
GO-FAR and other courses with overseas components.
ON THE COVER
In celebration of the 20th
anniversary of WKWSCI,
the design team chose a
visual of a sign post against
the backdrop of a blue sky.
The signpost speaks of the
crossroads where the school
now stands, while the blue
sky represents optimistic
growth and boundless
dreams for the future.
– Eufratia Raissa Mandhela
and Seet Kwang Jen
ADVISORS
Dr Yeoh Kok Cheow, Ms Juleen
Shaw, Mr Christopher Yaw
WRITING TEAM
Basu Roy Jayanti, Chow Aiyan, Eng Jing Ci
Dawn, Hu Huiyi, Kelly Koo Min Rui, Kwang
Shu Wen, Lee Shi Jun Derrick, Ng Jun Feng,
Ngeng Shu Wen, Alex Lim Zheng Rong,
Amellia bte Abdul Razak
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Dr Benjamin Detenber, Dr Lee Chun
Wah, Ms Lena Ow
DESIGN TEAM
Eufratia Raissa Mandhela, Hemma d/o
Balakrishnan, Lim Pei Yi, Neo Chin Ding,
Seet Kwang Jen, Yap Ee Ping Jodee
E-mail us your news to include in the next issue:
connexscions@ntu.edu.sg
Speaking of alumni, we have a lot of news about them in this special 20th
Anniversary issue. As the School continues to mature and the ranks of our alumni
grow, we expect to hear more back from more of you. Please take the time to
drop us a line when you have something of interest to report. You can use the
ConnexSCIons email address on the previous page, or just write to me. I am always
happy to hear from former students.
Not only do we like to hear from our alumni, but we like to see you, too. So we are
planning a special event next academic year to launch the Newsplex-Asia, an integrated
multi-media news facility that will help our students and faculty keep up with the latest
trends in digital media production. The exact date has yet to be determined (probably
sometime around the mid-autumn festival), but it will be on a Saturday afternoon so that
as many alumni as possible can come to NTU and see the changes in the WKW School
and meet up with old friends. We are planning a number of activities including a
barbeque, and it should be a lot of fun.
Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to the ConnexSCIons
team for adopting an accelerated production schedule in order to get
the magazine out in time for the 20th Anniversary dinner. As usual,
the students have done a very nice job, and I am sure they have learned
a lot about communication and media production. I am sure you
will enjoy the fruits of their labour.
Benjamin H. Detenber
Chair
2 CONNEXSCIONS
CONNEXSCIONS 3

CAMPUS
Sojourning into
Pyongyang
Journalism students on a landmark practicum bond over
blackouts, freezing temperatures and bizarre episodes
When a group of final-year students won
the chance to visit North Korea for a
week last December for their Short
Overseas Journalism (SOJOURN) module, they
never imagined that the most newsworthy event
would take place after they left. Eight days after they
departed Pyongyang, North Korea’s supreme leader
Kim Jung Il passed away.
When the country’s gates closed to the outside
world, final-year student Elizabeth Law thought to
Supervisor Ms Hedwig Alfred (centre) giving a briefing on the
bus
by Amellia Razak
herself, “Thank goodness we went there earlier. If not
I’d be really annoyed.”
The Straits Times ran a special feature on the group’s
visit to Asia’s famously hermitic nation.
“Honestly, it was very, very humbling,” said
Elizabeth. “When you look at the other names in the
newspaper, you know these people work hard for their
bylines, but all we did was be at the right place at the
right time, with the right person.”
Each year, the journalism faculty allows a select
few to venture overseas for its SOJOURN programme.
Supported by the Wee Kim Wee Legacy Fund, the
programme was created to give students the opportunity
to hone their journalism skills in an environment
unlike home.
For the group of 16 final-year students on the
practicum, being so close to an event that had a great
impact on foreign relations between East and West had
more personal implications.
Despite the freezing temperatures, Elizabeth counted
herself lucky to have walked the streets of Pyongyang.
“It was about zero degrees and even though the
walk was supposed to take only 45 minutes, we took
nearly two hours and by the end of it, I could barely feel
my face,” she said.
To fourth-year student Foo Jieying, the sight of so
much extravagance in a country with a meagre GDP
was stunning.
“You’d be surprised at how much North Korea tries
to give off this perfect image, from multi-talented,
plastic-smiled kindergarten kids to chandeliered ceilings
in libraries and subway stations. For a country so poor,
it’s amazing and shocking at the same time how they
prioritise the flow of money,” Jieying observed.
She has a new appreciation for the comfort of
Singapore—how lucky we are to not have the frequent
blackouts and desolate lands of North Korea.
While she was in Pyongyang, Jieying was also
unable to shake off the feeling of being watched.
“There’s this talk about hidden cameras behind
mirrors in the room and that possibility got some of us
a little paranoid,” she admitted.
That was not the only “creepy” feeling the students
had during the week-long visit. Even a visit with
kindergarten children gave the group chills, as the
entire visit had an air of being overly staged and
carefully executed.
Elizabeth recalled their visit to a school where dead
animals stuffed with cotton lined the corridors.
“The teacher had a long stick which she would
use to point at animals and the kids would shout their
names, or point at the animals to answer the question.
Since I was one of the photographers, I was standing
quite near the front and the next thing I knew, a kid
was grabbing me and shoving the stick into my hand!”
While the children put on a performance for their
visitors, they appeared to be capable of “turning on you
fast”, Elizabeth observed.
“One minute they’re welcoming you at the top of
their lungs and the next, they’re laughing loudly at you
for not knowing what ‘hedgehog’ is in Korean.”
Regardless, stepping into a land steeped in history gave
the group many learning points. North Korea is a cultural
goldmine that outside eyes try hard to peek into.
The group visited the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ)
in Panmunjeom, even stopping at Mangyongdae, the
birth town of Eternal Leader Kim Il-Sung.
For the group, those precious few days will remain
with them for a long time, not just because of the
bizarre behaviour of the children, or the North Koreans’
obeisance to their leaders, but rather, because of the
bond the students developed with one another.
“We were not allowed any gadgets other than our
cameras and we didn’t have the chance to be plugged
in (to the computer) or use our phones,” Jieying said,
adding that as they only had each other for company
and entertainment, “I think the bunch of us grew from
strangers to pretty good friends in a week”. C
A soldier paying respects at the site where the 1953 Armistice ending the Korean
War was signed
The brightly lit Pyongyang railway station at night
The Sojourn team taking a photo with kindergarten children
4 CONNEXSCIONS
CONNEXSCIONS 5

CAMPUS
CAMPUS
Theatre with
no sexual
boundaries
By Kwang Shu Wen
Cambodia
Calling
By Darius Zheng
New Regional Strategic Communication Management
practicum encourages community awareness
Daring play by WKWSCI alumnus and students rocks the Arts House with
sold-out performances
Abold original play, “F’Friends” (you can decide
what “F” means), which ran at The Arts House
Play Den from 18 to 21 January this year,
turned out to be a roaring success for its playwrightcum-director,
WKWSCI alumnus Jocelyn Chua, and
her young cast.
Four out of five of the shows were sold out.
Wittily pieced together, the production was a
brave attempt at “untamed and uncut” theatre by this
collective, a young arts company set up by Jocelyn.
The scenes in the play were set in HDB flats all over
Singapore and delved into complicated love, as well as
lusty and awkward relationships among six couples.
Jocelyn, who graduated from WKWSCI in 2006,
had specialised in Broadcast and Cinema Studies.
She wrote and directed the 2004 staging of Paparazzi,
an annual WKWSCI theatre production.
Despite the inexperience of the young cast in
“F’Friends”, three of whom are current WKWSCI
students, Jocelyn was impressed by their performance
level and professional attitude.
Indeed the audience was visibly moved by the
marvellously daring performances of the young cast.
Kenneth Kwok, an arts reviewer for The Inkpot
Reviews (a theatre and dance online review website)
said of the production, “I’m excited. We are now seeing
more and more young people coming out of theatre or
literature courses in JCs, polytechnics and universities
saying, Hey, let’s rent a space and put on a play.”
The review highlighted the excellent performances
of all three WKWSCI students in the cast.
“It is important to remember that for quite a few
of them, this is their professional stage debut. Best in
show: Willy Beh, Quek Hui Ying ad Marcus Yew and
especially Ellison Tan, “ wrote Kwok.
Behind the Scenes
with “Samantha”
Year 3 student Quek Huiying, who played
Samantha in “F’Friends”, had a tough time juggling
rehearsals, school commitments and her internship
at the same time. But she did it, because theatre is
one passion that she cannot give up.
Her role of Samantha was not an easy one.
“I am not like Samantha!” remarked Huiying,
who described Samantha as “ah-lian”. A
dominating and manipulative character, Samantha
nevertheless secretly possessed a soft heart.
The role was a physically demanding one, as
Huiying and her partner had to practise their
blocking on stage multiple times in order to
perfect the scene. In one instance, they had to
fling objects at each other.
“We had to be careful not to hurt each other
but yet come across as convincing,” Huiying
recalled.
Praise from the audience made all the effort
and rehearsals worthwhile.
“It was heartening to see our hard work being
rewarded by the applause during curtain call, along
with good feedback and reviews from friends
who had come down to support me,” she said
happily. “I remember one of my friends texting me:
‘Please continue acting!’ I believe these are the best
indicators of my performance.”
The cast remained close even after the
production ended. “I find it cool to be able
to save people’s contacts in my phone and
categorise them as ‘F’Friends’! It kind of seals the
bond,” Huiying siad with a grin.
Hoping to participate more widely in the local
arts scene, she added, “We can’t buy happiness,
but we have the right to chase our dreams, and
that’s kind of the same thing.” C
While most students spent their one-week
mid-semester break in February revising,
or travelling if they were lucky, a group of
second-year students chose to spend theirs on an eyeopening
trip to aid Cambodian villagers who have little
access to safe water and proper sanitation.
The 12 WKWSCI students travelled to rural
Cambodia with instructors Mr Tim Clark and
Assistant Professor Fernando De La Cruz Paragas as
part of a newly minted overseas module —Regional
Strategic Communication Management. The trip was
made possible by a partnership with Singapore-based
non-governmental organisation (NGO) Lien Alliance
for International Development (Lien AID).
The new module aims to provide students with an
experiential learning opportunity to study the nuances
and intricacies of communication issues faced by nonprofit
organisations. Through the module, the school
aims to bring community awareness into the classroom
to develop socially-mindful and well-rounded students.
Students on the 10-day trip travelled to Lien
AID’s project sites in Cambodia’s Kampong Speu and
Kampong Chhnang provinces, where they visited
referral hospitals and a health centre. They also visited
Asia’s largest freshwater lake, the Ton Le Sap, where
they spoke to families in the floating communities who
face issues of access to safe water and proper sanitation.
“It is such a different experience as compared
to touring in developed countries,” observed Year 2
student Tay Qiao Wei. “It was honestly quite an eyeopener
for me. I’m thankful for this opportunity given
for us to interact with the unfortunate and know more
about their lives.”
At the end of the module, students were required to
assemble the stories they had documented—in the form
of photography, videos and words—to develop possible
collaterals to pitch the aims of NGOs to potential
donors such as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
departments in various companies. The students hope
to see the module culminate in an exhibition slated to
take place in May at the Arts House.
“Within and outside school, there are really not
many socially-relevant classes available. For students
wanting to deviate from the typical corporate track, this
is an option for them,” said Asst Prof Fernando. It was a
win-win situation for the school as well as Lien AID.
The organisation’s Senior Manager, Lim Chee Leong
said, “At Lien AID, we believe in the need to increase
public awareness of the need for proper water and
sanitation hygiene, which remains a pertinent problem
today in areas such as Cambodia, China and Vietnam.”
He added, “It has been a great experience working with
the school for this trip to visit our project sites. We hope to
further increase this form of community consciousness of
the public via more partnerships in future.” C
Patients in
Oudong Referral
Hospital do not
have the benefit of
proper sanitation,
to the concern of
family members
such as Ms Ouk
Rathana (above)
Students
interviewing staff
in a provincial
hospital, to gather
information on
local sanitary
issues
Course instructor
Asst Prof Paragas
(left) running
through the
itinerary with Lien
AID Cambodia
Deputy Manager
Sopheak Sim
6 CONNEXSCIONS
CONNEXSCIONS 7

CAMPUS
CAMPUS
WEE DID IT AGAIN
ConnexSCIons congratulates our talented new batch of award winners
By Dawn Eng
CROWBAR BRONZE AWARD
Chiang Wei Liang
NFFTY INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE
SELECTION
Tay Lide
SINGAPORE SHORT FILM
AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Audrey Woon
Despite their last-minute submission, Audrey
Woon and her group members Jeanette Lim,
Yap Junhua and Wallace Woon had their
film nominated for best documentary, best editing
and best cinematography in the Singapore Short Film
Awards (SSFA).
Their film centres around the conversations that
Bangladeshi workers have with their families, and
seeks to show how these foreign workers have loved
ones back home that they are working hard for.
“Hopefully the audience will be urged to look
further than the stigma that society creates around
these Bangladeshi construction workers who are, in
fact, lonely in a foreign country,” said the group.
Securing filming locations was tough. “We called
up dorm after dorm and even made a trip down to
Kaki Bukit and got turned down at the door,” said
Audrey. But their “why-not” attitude finally won
through.
EYEKA AWARD
Benny Lim
Eyeka award winner Benny Lim attributes his win
to all of the members of his team: Lisa Tan, Ou
Xin Ying and Edwin Lim. “Perseverance and
team spirit are the key to ensuring that a film shoot
runs smoothly,” he said.
The film is about a girl missing her home in the days
before she goes to study in the US. “Lisa is an awesome
director who always had the film’s vision in her
mind,” said Benny. Not forgetting the rest of the team,
he added, “Edwin is an excellent DOP who was a
steadying presence in the production. Oxy (Xin Ying)
is a terrific sound recordist who did her job efficiently
and effectively. The production assistants were amazing
in going the extra mile for us too.”
His team stuck together through the inevitable
difficulties they faced, including trouble with securing
locations and holding auditions.
Their collaborative efforts paid off in the end, and,
in Benny’s own words, “It was a great morale booster.”
The Crowbar Awards is a recognised means for
the winner to get a foothold in the competitive
advertising industry. But Bronze Award winner
Chiang Wei Liang did not care about all that.
To him, film making is not about the end result,
but the process and people behind it. “If making
films is a way of generating publicity, good grades
or popularity for yourself, you really undermine the
spirit of film making, which is just story telling,” he said
in a phone interview from Taipei, Taiwan, where he is
currently working on his FYP.
His winning film “8MMTPE”, which refers to
the film format 8mm, was shot when he was a Year 2
student on an exchange trip to Taiwan.
“I first met (director) Arvin (Chen) on exchange,”
said Wei Liang. “I sent him a long e-mail after I watched
one of his films, asking him what it was like to shoot in
Taiwan, and we subsequently met up. I was touched by
how a renowned director like himself took the time to
answer my amateur questions, and even paid for our
meal. Veterans here give young people like us a real
chance to develop and show our talents.”
For his winning film, he took elements of films he
admired and experimented on them. “I’d like to think of
my film as an homage to my favorite directors,” he said.
His film, about a man who photographs Taipei, seems to
have been inspired by his own love for a city he described
as “magical”. “When I have time I just cycle around and
look at things—there are so many stories here,” he said.
“8MMTPE” was also selected for the National Film
Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY) 2011 in Seattle,
USA, in addition to another film collaboration he did
with fellow WKWSCI students entitled “Bukit Chandu”.
When Tay Lide first heard about his group’s
film, “Bukit Chandu”, making it into the
official selection under the International
Showcase at the National Film Festival for Talented
Youth (NFFTY) 2011 in Seattle, he was stunned.
At the point of their win, his team, comprising
Elizabeth Lee, Maryam Mokhtar, Pedro Shiu,
Chiang Wei Liang and himself, had only picked up
film studies for less than a year, each with only about
three short films under their belts.
They were “as clueless as most students were”,
confessed Lide, whose team used fellow hall residents
and friends as their talents and make-up artistes.
Having botched an attempt at using wireless
microphones for the audio for the film, the group
had to resort to using ADR (Automated Dialogue
Replacement) to re-record the dialogue and dub it over
their visuals, costing them many extra hours of labour.
With all their difficulties, the group did not hold
out high hopes for their war film. “Bukit Chandu”,
a fictional story, was based on the real-life Bukit
Chandu story. The group was inspired to portray
“a proud piece of our heritage, and also a constant
reminder of our needs as a fledgling nation: that we
alone will defend ourselves in times of war”.
“We had to watch a lot of reference films to get a
better idea of what had to be done in order to make the
story compelling,” said Lide.
“It was our first selection for a film festival, and
understandably, that was the hugest achievement in
my life,” he added with pride. “The fact that I was on
exchange in Seattle and was able to attend the festival
in person was the cherry on top!” C
8 CONNEXSCIONS
CONNEXSCIONS 9

CAMPUS
study abroad
scholarship
launched
Founding Dean Prof Eddie Kuo launches new
scholarship at anniversary dinner
By Jayanti Basu Roy
The launch of the new and anticipated Professor
Eddie C.Y. Kuo Study Abroad Scholarship is
one of the highlights of the WKWSCI 20th
Anniversary Dinner on 11 May 2012.
The scholarship is aimed at maximising the potential
of students who believe in the power of communication
across cultural barriers. Through his philanthrophy, Prof
Kuo hopes that more students will gain valuable experience
from exchange programmes both within Asia and beyond.
Prof Kuo believes that a student who has been on an
overseas exchange will have “enriched views on several issues
and be a very successful conversationalist”
Prof Kuo, who is Professor Emeritus and Founding
Dean of WKWSCI, is a global educator who has carved
a niche for himself as a reputed academic and policy
maker. He continues to teach and share his knowledge and
experiences with new generations of students in WKWSCI.
In a conversation with ConnexSCIons, Prof Kuo
revealed more about the scholarship and his affection
for a school that is his “baby”.
ConnexSCIons: What is the inspiration behind the
Professor Eddie C.Y. Kuo Study Abroad Scholarship
EK: In the past few years, I have made regular
contributions to the WKW Legacy Fund. In late 2011, I
offered to donate a sum of $10,000 to the Legacy Fund in
support of a student scholarship. However as the Legacy
Fund is not a directed fund, there is little that the school
can do to ensure the perpetuity of this scholarship. With
further consideration, it was agreed that it is high time
that a named endowed scholarship is passed.
C: How will the beneficiaries qualify and what will
they receive
EK: The first scholarship will likely be awarded in
AY2013/2014. Students who aspire to be awarded this
scholarship must demonstrate above average academic
performance (Cumulative Grade Point Average should
exceed 4.0). A passion to learn and interact with people all
over the world coupled with teamwork and leadership skills
will help one to qualify for this prestigious scholarship.
This is an endowed scholarship that has long-term
benefits to the students as the income from the yearly
distribution derived from the principal sum can be used
to support annual award of the scholarship. A one-time
donation would have supported only a one-time award.
Endowed scholarships also receive higher Government
matching, thus enhancing the impact of the gift.
C: Can you describe the bond you share with
the school that inspired you to launch the
scholarship
EK: WKWSCI is my baby. It is my brainchild. Ever
since it was founded, I have watched this school
grow and prosper over the years. It has evolved with
changing times. People have come and gone, but the
infectious spirit of the learning environment in this
school has remained intact. An eagerness to imbibe
newer values while striving to achieve in every
endeavour is the mantra of this school. I just wanted
to take a step forward and extend my affection for the
school and my zeal in the field of communications
through this scholarship.
Celebrating WKWSCI’s 20th anniversary is a
grand gala dinner on 11 May. To be held at
Fairmont Hotel, the dinner is expected to have
450 guests, including faculty, staff and alumni.
The event will be graced by the family of the late President
Wee Kim Wee as special guests.
A highlight of the dinner would be the launch
of the Professor Eddie C.Y. Kuo Study Abroad
Scholarship. Named after the Professor Emeritus and
Founding Dean of the school, the scholarship is being
launched to realise Prof Kuo’s vision of nurturing top
communication and information students through
overseas exchange programmes.
Providing entertainment will be our own alumnus,
singer Tay Kewei, from the class of 2006. In addition,
there will be a silent auction, featuring unusual and
interesting items contributed by faculty, staff, and
donors. This includes a manual typewriter from the
1960s donated by Founding Dean Professor Eddie
Kuo, and a hanfu (traditional Chinese robe from the
pre-Ching dynasty) specially designed by Assistant
Professor K.C. Yeoh. All profits from the auction and
table sales will go towards the scholarship.
In addition, students and faculty will be putting up
key pieces of their works from overseas programmes
such as Go-far, Sojourn, ISCM (International Strategic
Communication Management), and RSCM (Regional
Strategic Communication Management).
C: How do you think this scholarship will improve the
world view of WKW students
EK: One cannot deny that effective and fruitful
communication can only be achieved through
discourse and a diverse pool of ideas contributed by
people from different parts of the world. Students
who will use my scholarship to study abroad will have
transformed to an all-new individual with enriched
views on several issues and be a very successful
conversationalist.
Students will now be incentivised to work harder if
they aspire to be awarded this scholarship. Once they have
returned from exchange and are global citizens, they will
be prepared to face the world and overcome all obstacles. C
GALA DINNER FOR
Celebrating 20 years of nurturing excellence within and beyond
WKWSCI Chair, Associate Professor Benjamin
Detenber, described the progress of the school as “steady
and strong” due to the dedication and hard work of faculty,
staff and students.
“I believe our alumni will make their mark not just in
media industries, but in other sectors as well,” he predicted.
These very alumni will converge at the gala dinner
on May 11 to join in the anniversary celebrations.
Seats will be on sale from April onwards. If you are
interested in attending the dinner or organising a table
for your alumni mates, please call 6790-4577 or e-mail
WKWSCI20ANNIV@ntu.edu.sg. C
CAMPUS
By Amellia Razak
Dr K. C. Yeoh
with the hanfu he
designed specially
for the silent
auction at the
20th Anniversary
dinner
10 CONNEXSCIONS
CONNEXSCIONS 11

COVER STORY
years
and beyond
Even as WKWSCI celebrates its 20th anniversary, the
school’s trailblazing spirit continues to be the secret behind its
ground-breaking growth
By Alex Lim, Hu Huiyi and Kelly Koo
Think of a 20-year-old and a picture of youth and promise springs to mind. It is the age where, on the one
hand, idealism still leads, and on the other hand, exuberance has been tempered by experience.
This is the very picture of the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) as
she celebrates her 20 th anniversary. Faculty, donors, alumni, students and well wishers come together this year to
mark the coming of age of a school that has been a pioneer of sorts from its very inception.
From a tentative newcomer to the academic landscape of 1980s Singapore to a world-class school today, the
Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information has had a history peppered with pioneering stories.
This trailblazing spirit continues to be the secret behind our ground-breaking growth.
12 CONNEXSCIONS
Staff and faculty of Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information
CONNEXSCIONS 13

COVER STORY
14 CONNEXSCIONS
A Pioneering Spirit
“Go west!” is the iconic call of pioneers, and western
Singapore (Jurong, to be specific) was literally where
our fledgling school, with its pioneer communications
programme, was staked out and set up.
But the school as we know it almost did not come
about.
In 1980s Singapore, the field of Communication
Studies was as yet unchartered territory. The first Mass
Communications programme was launched in the
National University of Singapore (NUS) as more of a
department overseeing an enrichment programme.
In 1987, Communication Studies became a subject
in the Bachelor of Arts programme at NUS. Finally, in
1993, the School of Communication Studies (SCS) in
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) was born,
headed by its founding Dean, Professor Eddie Kuo.
The initial plan was to set up a School of Journalism.
Then-President of NTU, Professor Cham Tao Soon,
was astute in his delegation of the responsibility of this
new school to Professor Kuo.
Having previously been Head of Sociology at NUS,
Professor Kuo had established himself as a distinguished
scholar in the fields of Sociolinguistics and Media.
After analysing the increasingly vital role that
Communications plays in various industries and
the lack of human resources in this arena, Professor
Kuo chose to expand the school’s field to cover
Communication Studies as a whole rather than narrow
its focus to just Journalism.
The School of Communication Studies was born
out of the pioneer team’s judiciousness and foresight,
one of the many wise decisions that created and crafted
the school into the elite institution that it is today.
The first faculty, led by Professor Kuo, consisted of
distinguished academia from around the world with
invaluable professional experience, and they helped
pave the way for the school’s brisk success. Professor
Kuo and his pioneer team of colleagues, which included
Professor Ang Peng Hwa, who was to be the school’s
next Dean, deliberated over different curriculum
models and decided on a structure that proved to be
an important foundation for the school. One stand-out
feature of the curriculum is the first Bachelor’s Degree
in Communication Studies, which was unique to NTU.
The Chinese Heritage Centre acted as a foster home
for the Communication Studies students from 1993
to 1996. Although the critical audio and video suites
in the location were not of the best quality, lacklustre
equipment could not stall the progress and enthusiasm
of the passionate students. Following the rapid growth of
2006
Officially named
the Wee Kim
Wee School of
Communication
and Information
1999
Graduates
its first PhD
candidate
1997
Graduates
the first class
of undergraduate
students who
completed the
school’s four-year
honours degree
curriculum
1994
Launches
The Nanyang
Chronicle
2010
Hosts the 60th
Annual Conference
of the International
Communication
Association
1992
Established as
a free-standing
School of
Communication
Studies
2004
Establishes
the Singapore
Internet
Research
Centre
2000
Hosts
the global
IAMCR 2000
conference
1996
Moves into a
new $22.6 million
building housing the
latest in print, audio/
video, photo and
multimedia
technology
MILESTONES
2012
Celebrates
its 20th
anniversary
2007
Hosts the
first World
Journalism
Education
Congress
2001
Becomes
the School of
Communication
and
Information
1998
Graduates
the first class
of Masters
students
School Official Opening by Minister of Commuication and Arts BG (NS)
George Yeo
student numbers over the span of three years, Professor
Kuo and his team decided to construct a building that
would serve as an intimate and personal space for this
burgeoning community. Indeed, that marked the birth
of the “benches”.
On May 10, 1997, then Minister for Information
and the Arts, Mr George Yeo, officiated at the grand
opening of the SCS building. For the four-year-old
school—an infant compared to the rest of its older NTU
siblings—this was a magnificent and unforgettable
event.
The SCS was the first school in NTU to have a
building of its own, and this building continues to be a
source of gratification for Professor Kuo, who counts its
construction as one of the wiser decisions he made with
his team.
It is “a building our students are proud of and that
gives them identity”, he said with paternal pride.
What’s in a Name
Three name changes marked the three milestones that
reflected the changing landscape of the school.
The School of Communication Studies (SCS) was
changed to School of Communication and Information
(SCI) a year after the Division of Information Studies was
added, to emphasise the school’s increasing IT slant.
On December 5, 2006, SCI was renamed Wee Kim
Wee School of Communication and Information in
honour of the late beloved President of Singapore, who
was also a respected diplomat and seasoned journalist..
In explanation of why the late President was chosen
as an icon of the school, Professor Ang said fondly, “The
only two persons I know whom nobody has ever said a
bad word about is my grandmother and Wee Kim Wee.”
Dr Wee also embodied the values of communication in
his work as a diplomat, added Professor Ang.
Associate Professor Benjamin Detenber, the current
Continued on page 16
The late President Wee at the opening ceremony of the School of
Communication Studies in 1997
THE WEE KIM WEE
LEGACY FUND
Wee Kim Wee is more than one of the Presidents of Singapore—
he was a diplomat, the ex-chairman for MediaCorps’ precursor,
the Singapore Broadcasting Centre (SBC), and above all, a
journalist. His roots as a journalist moulded him to be a valuable
diplomat and an irreplaceable President in every Singaporean’s
heart and mind.
The Wee Kim Wee Legacy Fund provides students
with a chance to pursue a vibrant and holistic education in
communication studies, by enabling many students to engage
in enriching programmes. These opportunities enable them to
experience first-hand the many intricacies of communication
studies and the impact it has on society.
Some of the initiatives of the Wee Kim Wee Legacy Fund are:
SOJOURN
The Short Overseas Journalism practicum exposes students to
the experience of reporting in an overseas environment. Students
are tasked to be a translator for readers— to translate the sights
and sounds of a culturally diverse and different country into
succinct articles to titillate readers’ minds. This programme is
also fully sponsored by the Legacy Fund to ensure that worthy
students are able to take advantage of the opportunity without
financial concern.
WEE KIM WEE
UNDERGRADUATE
SCHOLARSHIP
The undergraduate scholarship sponsors students with
outstanding results and co-curricular records to pursue a
Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies on a full time basis in
the Wee Kim Wee School of Communications and Information.
GO-FAR
PROGRAMME
COVER STORY
GO-FAR (Going overseas for advanced reporting) is an
annual journalism programme which allows WKW students to
apply their skills on a major project in a foreign environment.
Students are tasked to prepare for their fieldwork and pitch
their stories to the lecturers—an entirely independent process
which hones their organisational skills and creativity. The
Legacy Fund fully sponsors the programme expenses, which
allows students from all backgrounds to participate as foreign
correspondents. Countries that GO-FAR students have been
sent to include Thailand, Myannmar, Timor Leste and Laos.
CONNEXSCIONS 15

COVER STORY
Chair of the school, elaborated, “Wee Kim Wee served
as a diplomat, he was the ambassador in Japan, and
he had a keen understanding of intercultural and
interpersonal communication. These are things we feel
are reflected in the values of the school.”
The late President Wee was also a journalist who had
an investigative spirit, as well as a passion for seeking the
truth and presenting information that would help people
and serve society. Assoc Prof Detenber said he regretted
not having had the opportunity to meet Dr Wee personally,
but added that he continually strove to represent Dr Wee’s
personal and professional values in the school.
Not only a journalist but also eventually the Chairman
of SBC (Singapore Broadcasting Corporation), Dr Wee
had dedicated his life to journalism and the media, as
well as to serving people and serving Singapore. The
Continued on page 19
birthday
Wishes
“Happy Birthday, WKWSCI! You will always hold a special
place in our hearts no matter how old you grow. Thank
you for all the wonderful memories!
Miss Regina Tan, Class of 2010
“Happy 20th WKWSCI! Looking forward to many
more years of producing the finest communication &
information students and research.”
Dr May Lwin, Associate Chair (Undergraduate Studies)
COVER STORY
OUR three
pioneers
ConnexSCIons uncovers what they really think
of the students... and each other
Do you think that the students at WKWSCI have taught you
anything
Dr Detenber What I’ve learned is that students help keep us
young. I feel better connected with the way the world is moving
because I work with young people and this is why I continue
to teach. Seeing the world through their eyes gives me a better
understanding of the way the world is changing. It’s good to be
reminded that enthusiasm and willpower count for a lot. You
may not have all the skills and talents but if you’re willing to
dedicate yourself, and work hard, and you go about what you’re
doing with great enthusiasm, you’re going to have some measure
of success.
We know how your contributions have changed the school. But
has the school also contributed to shaping you as a person
Dr Ang When I studied at law school, it was like four years of
Year 1. I wanted our school’s programme to be exciting and
different. The school has changed me in that I’ve learnt to be a
little softer. I find that I’m able to work with a lot of people now.
Tell us one thing that you admire about each other.
Dr Ang For Eddie, one thing comes quickly to mind. When I first
became Dean of WKWSCI, I found myself yelling at our estate
management facilities staff. They said, “Why you yell at us, the
previous deans didn’t do that.” Turns out that out of all the deans
in the university, only Eddie had never yelled at them.
Dr Kuo [laughs]: This is called soft power!
Dr Ang Ben has a very good heart. He means well in many things.
16 CONNEXSCIONS
From left: Prof Ang Peng Hwa, Assoc Prof Benjamin Detenber and Prof
Eddie Kuo
He takes care of colleagues. He’s the one who really pushes the
research agenda in the school. Initially we didn’t have the reserve
for that but by the time he took over he was really supporting and
promoting conference participation and other activities. That
was a major contribution to the school.
Dr Kuo For Ben, one of his strengths is that he speaks very well.
Ben has to deal with layers—different chairs, different offices.
For that, he has to be articulate. He can express his position
which is very important to the school.
Dr Detenber What I admire in Eddie Kuo is his patience and
perspicacity. There are few people in the world with the breadth
and depth of academic experience that Eddie has, especially
when it comes to leadership. What I have learned from Eddie,
and admire greatly in him, is that one needs to take time to
review complex situations in order to fully understand them and
respond appropriately.
What I admire in Peng Hwa is his compassion and concern
for others. I know that whenever we are engaged in a difficult
discussion or disagreement (yes, it’s true—we disagree at times)
I know that he never loses sight of how others are feeling or
might be affected. His sense of fairness drives him to look for the
optimal outcome, not the most expedient.
“We started off with no proper office, labs, studios, and
only half a floor at the NUS computer centre in the early
days. As this is a water dragon year, my birthday wish
for the school is: May WKWSCI continue to water the
plants of teaching and research. We will continue to shine
and strengthen our place in the international academic
community. Warm Congratulations!”
Dr Lee Chun Wah, Assistant Chair
“Twenty & forever sexy. That’s what you are, Wee Kim Wee.”
Miss Evonne Ong, Year 1
“Happy birthday—you are no longer a teen, may you
mature in producing the best media practitioners and
journalists in Asia!”
Miss Cassandra Yeap, Year 3, former chief editor of
The Nanyang Chronicle
“Happy birthday, SCI. Working life cannot hold a candle to
the times we had in school. Minus the exams of course.”
Mr Philip Lim, Class of 2010
“Happy 20th, SCI. You may be younger than me but you
hold much, much more intellectual discourse at your
benches than I did. I am jealous.”
Miss Rosalinda Yapit, Class of 2010
“20 is a great age to be. When you hit 20, you leave the
teenage years behind and approach the future with a new
confidence. Anything is possible at 20, and you have the
drive and the vision to make an impact on the world—the
school has that potential and my wish is to see it realised.”
Mr Andrew Duffy, Lecturer
“For 20 years you moulded not just intelligent and sensitive
professionals, but characters with heart and soul, a school
every generation is proud to call home. To many more years
of excellence and integrity.”
Mr Tan Thiam Peng, Class of 2011,
former CI Club president
“WKWSCI is a place in the hearts of many who have
graduated. Happy 20th Birthday.”
Mr Zakaria Zainal, Class of 2010
“Happy 20th birthday, WKWSCI! Wishing you all the best
and more fruitful years ahead!”
Miss Nithiyah D/O Muthukrishnan, WKWSCI Graduate
Programmes Office
“Happy birthday SCI! I can’t think of a better school
that would have made my undergrad experience more
enjoyable and engaging! Here’s to many more years
ahead :)”
Miss Joanna Hor, Class of 2010
“Happy 20th birthday WKW! Don’t worry, half the
student population is still older than you…”
Miss Michelle Ann Kwara, WKWSCI, Year 1
“WKWSCI is just one year away from being legal! Trust
that Wee will never lose the dynamism and passion
that makes you unique. May all aspiring journalists,
publicists, creative directors, filmmakers go through
this rite of passage to fulfill their dreams. Happy 20th
birthday!”
Miss PeiRu Ng, Class of 2010
“I wish WKWSCI will continue to be the best
communication and information school in Asia attracting
the best faculty and students to come to NTU and also
wish that our graduates will be most sought after not only
in Singapore but beyond Asia.”
Mr Vincent Teo, Assistant Director (Media)
“Happy 20th WKWSCI! Stay forever young and more
‘hapz’ than other schools!”
Miss Celine Chen, Year 2
“Congratulations on achieving a major milestone! Happy
20th Birthday!”
Mr Ng Heng Ghee, IT Executive
“Happy 20th WKW! You beautiful sexy thing. Stay
awesome.”
Mr Sulaiman Daud, Year 2
“20 years have come and gone, and you have given
countless individuals like myself the chance to gain
overseas exposure, enjoy school activities and learn from
mentors and friends. Happy anniversary WKWSCI, and
here’s to an even greater 20 years ahead!”
Miss Maxie Au-Yeong, Year 4, former news editor of
The Nanyang Chronicle
“Happy birthday WKWSCI! Please bring back the
sandwich machine!”
Mr Benjamin Lim, Year 1
CONNEXSCIONS 17

COVER STORY
18 CONNEXSCIONS
memorable
final year projects
A special characteristic of WKWSCI students is their desire to contribute to social growth and
change. Here are 20 FYPs over the years that had students putting the spotlight on marginal
communities and taking steps to better lives
Brick by Brick (2012)
This campaign helps troubled and underprivileged youth in
Boys’ Town Singapore by updating their facilities. Locallydesigned
t-shirts are sold on the http://brickbybrick.sg/
website to raise funds for this facility that is not funded by
the government. By Charlene Low Ying Xiu, Seng Qian Ling
Stellina, Sufiyan Bin Sulaiman and Seet Seng Joo Sean.
They Work While You are Sleeping (2011)
This project put the focus on graveyard shift workers in
Singapore. The students burnt the midnight oil to interview
more than 100 workers, their families, experts and doctors,
immersing themselves in the world of the toilers of the night.
The Invisible Force (2010)
This illustrated journalism feature uncovered the Gurkha’s
journey from Nepal to Singapore, their life here with their
families and their fortunes after they returned home. The
project was developed into an anthology of portraits and
anecdotes entitled “Our Gurkhas” by Zakaria Zainal. By
Zakaria Zainal and Chong Zi Liang.
See & Be Seen (2012)
An initiative to promote safe cycling at night, the campaign
will reach out to 1,000 youths through social media and a
night cycling event in the first quarter of 2012. The team
collaborated with Firefly Night Cycling and PedalSG for the
project. By Marcus Yong, Grace Auyong, Ginger Chia and
Alex Shieh. http://www.seeabseen.com
Sharing Plates: Cooking and Coping with Cancer
(2010)
An inspirational cookbook with recipes by cancer
survivors, the initiative aimed to spread the message
that cancer patients need not severely restrict their
diets but have healthy yet tasty, home-cooked food. By
Goh Ji En, Joan Kuang, Rachel Tan, Ng Jia Min, Rhys Lim
and Kuek Jinhua.
Reviving the Death Industry (2010)
This project put the focus on the funeral industry to
raise awareness about consumers’ rights and restore
to them the right to mourn without worrying about
getting fleeced. The students interviewed more than 40
funeral parlour owners, employees and clients to put a human
face on an industry long shrouded in taboo. By Elizabeth Soh
and Gwendolyn Ng.
Food Waste Republic (2010)
The rampant problem of food wastage in Singapore was
addressed in this project. The students worked undercover
at hotel banquets, spoke to more than 200 people and
collected food waste from 150 households. By Chen Wei Li,
Miak Aw and Estelle Low. www.foodwasterepublic.com
The Big Bedroom Bustup @ Zouk – Overcoming Junk
Sleep (2010)
The campaign, touted as the first of its kind to tackle
the problem of junk sleep among youths in Singapore,
advocated responsible use of technology and getting
sufficient hours of restful sleep. By Chew Siew Woon, Ho
Ying Yi, Lum Aiyi Dawn and Nur Raihana bte Muhammad
Razali.
Out of Sight Out of Mind – A Photojournalism
Exhibition (2009)
This project aimed to foster an understanding of people
with mental illness. By Adeline Ong & Lim Chin Ping.
www.asightofmind.com
India’s Growing Surrogacy Industry (2009)
India’s growing surrogacy industry was the focus of this
project, which aimed to raise awareness on surrogacy,
women and poverty. The students spent 10 days in Gujarat
and nine days in Mumbai, Maharashtra, where surrogacy
activity was highest in India. They talked to about 70
people— including surrogates, intended parents and doctors,
opening up discussions of class, culture and human rights
issues. By Tan Wei Xin, David Lee and Muhd Nurluqman
Suratman.
Rebuilding Bukit Lawang (2009)
This project examined the positive role that ICTs (Information
and Communications Technology) played in the rehabilitation
of a community after a flood—in this case, the population
of Bukit Lawang, Indonesia. The study defined the role of
ICTs in long-term disaster recovery and set out directions
for policymakers for the livelihood rehabilitation of rural
communities. By Shilvia Kasdani and Anisha Baghudana.
The Funeral (2009)
The short video explored how values and family
relationships were threatened by conflicting faiths. Through
the story of a typical Singaporean family preparing for a
funeral, the dramatic short focussed on the emotional
connection among family members with different religious
beliefs. By Ang Guangzheng, Tan Chet Hua Darren, Wang
Junjie and Zhang Zhengyong Johnson.
Reclaim Land: The Fight for Space in Singapore (2009)
This online journalism project explored the need for space
in Singapore. It looked at the everyday life of ordinary
people and how they created space in a setting where state
planning dominated the cityscape. By Justin Zhuang, Wong
Shu Yun, Sam Kang Li and Serene Cheong.
For Rent (2009)
A video documentary that uncovered the secrets of residing
in subsidised one/two-room Housing Development Board
(government housing) and rental flats in Singapore, the report
shed light on the challenges and ethical dilemmas faced,
and painted a clearer picture of the lives and challenges of
these residents through personal accounts. By Goh Moy
Yen, Lim Xin Hui Alicia, Ong Kai Wen and Thong Wan Ling
Serene.
• = Enclosed Worlds, Open Minds (2010)
This project explored the neurological disorder that is
autism. Through four profile feature stories, the study
looked into the joys, woes, struggles and difficulties that
individuals with autism faced as they battled with social
stigma and insufficient resources. By Han Weiding and
Wong Hui Foon.
Nintendo Wii as an Intervention: improving the Wellbeing
of Elderly in Long-term Care Facilities (2009)
This study examined the positive impact of playing
Nintendo Wii on the psychological, social and physical
well-being of the elderly. It explored the unique benefits
of the social interaction and physical activity that the
elderly derive while playing Wii. By Koay Jing Li, Ng Sihui
Janissa and Wong Li Chieh Gladys.
Adults with Autism (2010)
This project uncovered the plight of adults with
autism. Students interviewed more than 50 autistic
adults, their parents, doctors, and experts, results of
which highlighted the lack of autism care for adults in
Singapore as compared to children. By Amanda Tan and
Fiona Low.
Naturally Overused: An Analysis of Health Claims
on “Healthy”, “All-natural” Supermarket Food
Products (2009)
Using content analysis, students examined the wording and
images on the packaging of 328 food products in Singapore.
An online experiment examined whether extrinsic cues
and external seals effectively influenced consumers’
perception of a product’s nutritional attributes. By Ho Jia
Hui Eunice, Klyne Mary Ann and Chua Wanlin Joanne.
Unplug! World Wider than WWW (2011)
This campaign addressing Internet dependency amongst
youth in Singapore, raising awareness about the importance
of moderating one’s time online. Via the agents of interactive
programmes, interesting collaterals and a consistent media
presence, the campaign encourages youths to embrace a
world wider than the World Wide Web. By Chew Wen Jing,
Lim Xinyi, Loh Cheryl and Quee Yan Jing.
Daughters of God (2011)
A documentary that centred on gender issues in
Malaysia, the film uncovered the lives of Anusha
and Varsha, who attended a Hindu temple built by
Thirunankais (Indian transsexuals) during the day, but
roamed the streets at night as prostitutes. By Chai Jac-
Quinn, Lai Kahei.
Wee family recognised the request to name the school
after Dr Wee as a meaningful gesture, as the school
was an embodiment of Dr Wee’s lifelong passion for
journalism.
“Journalism was the closest to his heart, and the
Wee family recognised that,” said Professor Kuo.
The First Batch of Graduates
Any mention of the pioneer batch of graduates never
fails to put a smile on Professor Kuo’s face.
“The pioneer batch has a very special position in
my heart as they were really the ones with the pioneer
spirit. They grew up together with the school,” he said.
The pioneer batch was a passionate bunch that
played a major role in the development of the school.
They founded The Nanyang Chronicle, decided the
colour of the convocation gowns, and gave the first
valedictorian speech.
Convocations then were known to be solemn and
boring affairs, but Professor Kuo recalled how “the
instant our first batch of graduates appeared onstage,
they really made a scene”.
Associate Professor Detenber added with a chuckle,
“They didn’t drop the F-bomb, but they did clap and
cheer. They were boisterous. Our students have been
known to be very outspoken and demonstrative.”
This outspokenness is a characteristic of the
WKWSCI students that Associate Professor Detenber
takes pride in, as it has led to requests from the President
for the attendance of students to enliven ministerial
forums and other events. “We like them because they
speak up” is a common observation. This contagious
enthusiasm is a personality trait that still permeates the
lively atmosphere of the school to this day, 20 years on.
Continued on page 20
COVER STORY
Former NTU President Cham Thao Soon offiiciating at the renaming of the
school in 2002
CONNEXSCIONS 19

COVER STORY
COVER STORY
Current Affairs
Today, WKWSCI has grown into a prominent school
that is curiously described as “sexy” by students, faculty
and the general public alike.
The school holds a preeminent position in the
region as a premier institution for Communication
Studies, continuously generating research and analysis
on critical communication topics and policy issues.
Boasting undergraduate and graduate programmes
designed to be on the cutting-edge of the industry,
the school also maintains links to a global network of
educators, researchers and practitioners dedicated to
advancing knowledge and raising the bar of excellence
in the communications landscape.
The Bachelor of Communication Studies is a fouryear
honours classified programme. Students receive
an inter-disciplinary education when they first start
out, equipping them with theoretical knowledge as well
as all the basic functional skills they need.
Once this foundation is in place, students have the
opportunity to design their own customised curriculum
by choosing one or more of the major tracks for indepth
specialisation, taking the courses they are most
interested in.
The four major tracks now available to students are
Broadcast & Cinema Studies, Journalism & Publishing,
Communication Research & Policy, and Public
Relations & Advertising. For the latter two, a minor in
Information Studies is also offered.
The minor examines new media technologies and
applications from the perspective of information and
knowledge management.
From left: Prof Ang, Prof Kuo and former NTU President
Cham Thao Soon at the school renaming in 2002
WKWSCI students continue to excel in all four
tracks, showcasing their talent in their final year
projects (FYPs) which are known for winning local and
international awards year after year.
Broadcast students have produced documentaries,
dramas and multimedia projects that have been
screened in film festivals and competitions worldwide.
Papers written by Communication Research
students have been presented at prestigious
international academic conferences.
Many finished works of Journalism students have
been produced as compilation books or published in
The Straits Times as Special Reports.
Campaigns organised by Public Relations students
have been adopted by small medium enterprises and
multi-national companies.
This spirit of excellence appears to be recognised
by the industry at large in the way WKWSCI graduates
are often snatched up for employment in media and PR
agencies, at times even before they graduate.
Breaking New Ground
What’s next for this ambitious 20-year-old Associate
Professor Detenber, and his team have set their sights
on more groundbreaking moves.
“We’re trying to develop a greater core of expertise
around issues related to health. Health communication
and health information are becoming very important in
the 20th century and our school can play a part in that,” he
said.
There is ongoing research and development being
done to bolster this health communication initiative.
“We’re in the process of enhancing our doctorial
training, increasing both the quality and quantity of the
doctorial students that we’re bringing in,” he elaborated.
One of his prime goals is to help the doctorial
graduates attain faculty positions in leading universities
around the world. “It will take us some time to get
there,” he admitted, but added that he has the utmost
confidence in the top-notch WKWSCI training and is
certain that the students are up for the challenge.
Another goal is to see the development of the
school’s focus on overseas exposure. Every year, the
International Student Exchange Programme (INSTEP),
Global Summer Studies (GSS), Global Immersion
Programme (GIP) and Professional Internship (PI)
take Wee Kim Wee students to more than 20 overseas
destinations, giving students invaluable, hands-on
experience in the practice of real-world journalism and
public relations.
Associate Professor Detenber aims to provide
even more opportunities for fully-subsidised overseas
attachments for the students, ensuring that things will
never remain at status quo at the undergraduate level.
“I don’t know of other schools that have this
level of participation
in overseas
programmes,” he said
matter-of-factly.
With its highcalibre
faculty, zealous
students, innovative
curriculum, and a team
of visionaries leading
the school, WKWSCI
can look forward to a
future that promises
creativity, excellence
and continued relevance
to the communications
field and the world at
large. C
Installation of our familiar sculpture in 1997
Was it Love at First Sight
Students and staff recall their first day at
“We remember the Mediterranean buffet during the welcome ceremony
held for the new students of WKWSCI. We were exclaiming that the
students probably have really good benefits and welfare. During the
orientation camp, we met with seniors and realised that they are the best.
They were extremely helpful and really embodied the pass-it-on spirit.”
Sherry Goh, Year1 (left)
“It’s not just about helping us but also having a supportive community in
WKWSCI and this is evident from Day 1. There are countless examples
showing the seniors’ kindness! One instance is our Facebook page where
seniors and graduates chip in to make it an informative platform for the
new students. From Day 1, we have a comprehensive map of NTU and
WKWSCI, and a good understanding of the course registration system.
They have made a chaotic transition to university a smooth and heartwarming
one.”
Serene Chai, Year1 (right)
“When I came to work on my first day
I was thinking ‘this place looks great!’.
The library was newly renovated so I
felt really good working in this spacious
and bright environment. I was given
the opportunity to start my day at the
service desk and I really enjoyed it. The
students are the ones who really make
the difference. They are cheerful, polite
and very friendly. It was a great way to
begin my journey here in WKWSCI!”
Sri Deva Rani, Staff, Asian Communication
Resource Centre
“We had a great experience during the Freshman Orientation
Camp! We made new friends and we really looked forward to
meeting them after the camp. Everyone in school is connected
and the entire cohort really share a bond that is indescribably
and unmatched anywhere else.”
Felicia Ee (left) & Cai Yi Ming, Year 1
20 CONNEXSCIONS
CONNEXSCIONS 21

ALUMNI
Alumni
who left their mark
By Ng Jun Feng, Nguang Shuwen, Chow Aiyan & Derrick Lee
In honour of the school’s anniversary,
we feature 20 alumni who have left
an indelible impression on their
professors and peers with their idealism,
professionalism and, yes, humour.
22 CONNEXSCIONS
Senior Correspondent Ng King Kang,
Class of 1998
CONNEXSCIONS 23

ALUMNI
ALUMNI
Desmond Lim
SERENE LOO
WONG VOAL
VOAL
JUSTIN
ZHUANG
Class of 2007
Photojournalist,
The Straits Times
Was most likely to...
Have done his readings
Winner of SPH News Picture of the Year 2010 and
US-based Best News Design Competition 2010. He
currently works on The Saturday Special Report section
of The Straits Times.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember
feeling really out of place.
The teacher I will never forget is anyone who taught
me because they have all shaped me one way or another.
The module I most enjoyed was strangely, Indian
Cinema in my second year.
Class of 1999
Media Manager, Shell
Eastern Petroleum
Was most likely to …
Work on Channel 8
Best known for being a news presenter on Ch8’s prime
time news bulletin. After being in the media industry
for 10 years, Serene made the switch to Shell where she
now implements communication plans to reach out
to Shell’s different stakeholders, including the media,
customers and the public.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember
Freshmen Orientation Camp and meeting some of the
most creative, passionate and quirky people.
The teacher I will never forget is Sharen Liu because she
was my final year project supervisor and she expected
a lot from us. This was probably one of the reasons why
my team won an award for the video project.
The module I most enjoyed was Future Studies. It
challenged me to think out of the box.
Class of 1993
Founding Partner,
IN.FOM
Was most likely to...
Work in public relations
Best known for living and breathing PR. Previously the
Regional Director at H&K Strategies, Voal Voal left to
set up IN.FOM, a regional communication consultancy,
because it has always been his goal to “be able to shape a
world-class PR practice on my own terms and hopefully
along the way, improve the standard of PR trade”.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember
a great sense of adventure being a pioneer of the school
and learning something which most people wouldn’t
think of as important.
The teacher I will never forget is Yeap Soon Beng
because in one of his first few lectures with us, he
encouraged us to watch more TV—how cool is that
The module I most enjoyed was the FYP—I was able to
produce something that is relevant to the PR industry.
Class of 2009
Writer, In Plain
Words
Was most likely to...
Become a politician
Best known for the documentation of Singapore’s creative
community. Justin runs In Plain Words, a writing studio that
provides writing and editorial services. He was commissioned
by non-profit organisation The Design Society to create the
book “INDEPENDENCE: The History of Graphic Design in
Singapore since the 1960s”. It has just been released this April.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember
wondering why the school had so many “cool” kids.
As an undergrad, you would most likely find me on campus
figuring out how to get out of it so that I can learn more from
the world outside.
As an undergrad, you would most likely find me on
campus trying to be invisible.
If I were to be an undergrad all over again, I would do
more outside of course work.
SCI left an indelible impression on me because it paved
the way for my current career.
I became a journalist because I’ve always enjoyed
reading and telling stories, whether in text or photos.
I wish I could interview my paternal grandfather. I
remember being close to him when I was young but
not so much when I grew up. Sadly, he passed away in
2006. If I had a choice, I would love to cajole him to tell
me his life story and how he came to Singapore from
China. Many people think that great stories can only be
found in some exotic faraway country. To me, stories
are everywhere and the ones that are most interesting
and neglected are just right in front of us.
WKWSCI left an indelible impression on me because
of the insights I gained, the interesting people I met and
the values it entrenched in me.
From presenting prime time news on MediaCorp’s
Channel 8 & Channel U, I switched career tracks
because I had a wonderful career at MediaCorp working
both behind and in front of the camera as a producer,
reporter and presenter. Then I came to a point where
I asked myself, what new things could I learn What
followed was the opportunity to work for Shell. I find
it both exciting and challenging to work in the energy
industry, as it is a vital aspect of our lives.
My inspirations are my family. I have extremely
supportive parents who give me the freedom to choose
what I want to pursue in life. My husband whom I am
still crazily in love with and depend on whenever I need
some good advice. My two daughters who are two years
old and less than one month old respectively. Their
laughter and hugs are the best motivation.
The school left an indelible impression on me because
of the incredible pioneering spirit that the first batch of
students had.
If I weren’t in PR, I would be an archaeologist or a
historian—the passion for information and knowledge
flows in me.
Since I studied PR at WKWSCI, the industry has
changed in how social and digital media have altered
the way information and knowledge are created and
consumed. Most PR practitioners are still grappling
with these on-going changes. But, the fundamentals
of sound communication remain unchanged. What is
challenging is for practitioners without a good foundation
in communication to try to grapple with this paradigm
shift—you are learning how to swim in choppy seas.
My hope for my career is to enjoy every single day I
have working with revolutionary business thinkers and
talented PR practitioners and marketers.
WKWSCI left an indelible impression on me because I met
a group of friends who have continuously inspired me to be
better at what I do and to find meaning in the work I produce.
My documentation of Singapore’s creative community had
its roots in school. While working on the final assignment
for the Arts and Culture Reporting module (do they still have
that), I interviewed graphic designers and academics who
later gave me opportunities to work on projects to document
Singapore’s creative community. I think this is an important
community because through their work they are helping give
shape to the soul of Singapore, something that I’ve always
found lacking in this country.
My book is the first to document the history of modern
graphic design’s development in Singapore and was put
together after interviews with close to 100 graphic designers
and countless hours of studying materials from the archive
and the library. I was very fortunate to meet The Design
Society who had a lot of faith in a young writer like me.
24 CONNEXSCIONS
CONNEXSCIONS 25

ALUMNI
ALUMNI
TAY KEWEI
JEANETTE TAN
LIN JUN JIE
Class of 2006
Singer
Was most likely to...
Be late even though she lived near the
Boon Lay bus interchange
Class of 2011
Reporter for Yahoo!
Singapore
Was most likely to...
Miss a stop on the train
because of a cute boy
Class of 2010
Co-founder,
Phocus Academy
Was most likely to...
Do well in exams
Winner of Best Newcomer by Media Choice
at the Singapore Hit Awards 2010. She has just
released her second album, “Fallin”.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I
remember the sprawling common area strewn
with people’s desks.
I chose to study at WKWSCI because I was
fascinated by the media/entertainment industry
and wanted to be a part of it.
The professor I will never forget is Alfred Choi
because he was sweet and funny and saved us
from our last minute FYP woes. The printing
office in school was maxed out by all the last
minute paper submissions and everyone was
printing three copies of hundreds of pages of
reports. We ended up printing in Alfred’s office
and he was helping us sort them out.
The module I most enjoyed was Video Production
where we just had to get out there and shoot.
As an undergrad, you would most likely find me
on campus catching up with missed classes.
WKWSCI left an indelible impression on me
because I loved the hip culture.
If I weren’t a singer, I would be an entrepreneur.
I was inspired to be a singer when I realised
while touring as back-up vocalist for David Tao/
JJ Lin/Wang Leehom that singing could be a
fulltime career.
The musical instruments I play are er-hu, violin,
guitar, ukulele and piano.
Best known for being assigned to cover the General Election
2011 and the 26th South-East Asian Games within months
of joining Yahoo!
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember being
really glad I went for the Freshman Orientation Camp, as for
the first few weeks I moved around with my orientation group.
The module I most enjoyed was the TV Practicum, because
all of us bonded over late nights, crazy laughs and our
favourite pastime—fooling ourselves into believing we were
capable of producing and recording an actual TV news
programme on our own!
When I was an undergrad, you would most likely find me in
Hall 1, where I was overly involved in hall activities such as
dance, theatre and many, many late night suppers.
WKWSCI left an indelible impression on me because of its
warm, friendly community of both students and teachers.
When I was there, I could always look up my seniors for help
and advice (and I often did), and also approach my lecturers
if ever I needed to.
I got into journalism because journalism combines several
of the things I enjoy—talking to people and learning about
the interesting stories they have to tell.
The news event that has had the most impact on my career
is the General Election in 2011, which was extremely
impactful. It greatly honed my skills in writing quickly, taking
photos and reporting from the ground. I also worked against
a massive learning curve while covering the SEA Games in
Jakarta last year. It was madness, but I learned more covering
that event than I did in most of the first year I spent at Yahoo!
I wish I could interview either Jesus or the Virgin Mary. I
would also want to interview any of the great dictators—
because I am determined to find a human side to them.
Best known for developing applications for
iPhone, iPad and Mac. One such application
is Due, which reminds users of errands and
chores. Due was ranked the 7th paid app in the
Productivity category in the US iTunes stores,
ahead of Awesome Note and GV Connect. He
is now working on the Mac version of Due.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember Dr
Cherian George’s lecture, which was so good I didn’t miss any
for the rest of the semester.
The module I most enjoyed was introduction to Journalism
and Publishing, which is no longer being taught.
As an undergrad, you would most likely find me shooting
and editing short films or camping out at the Chronicle room
trying to offstone so we can all go home early on a Friday
night (we never do).
The peer whom I’m still in touch with is Nanda, my senior
whom I met in the Photovideographic Society. I started
Phocus (a photography academy) with him when I was in
my final year. He really wanted to work as an engineer, but
I somehow managed to convince him to do this with me.
So during my final year, Nanda was running quite a bit of
the show while I juggled my FYP and Phocus. By the time I
graduated, Phocus was more or less in good shape, and I owe
much of that to him. Today, he’s also running more of the
photography side of our business as I concentrate on making
apps for the iPhone, iPad and the Mac.
I decided to set up my photography school after my
internship at Offstone Picture, where I was inspired by my
mentor, Lance Lee.
WKWSCI left an indelible impression on me because I
actually had fun studying.
26 CONNEXSCIONS CONNEXSCIONS 27

ALUMNI
ALUMNI
JOHNSON ZHANG
Class of 2009
Audio Engineer and Multimedia
Artist
Was most likely to…
Be at the benches, sleeping
Best known for having a job that is also his hobby. This
entails audio design, music composition and editing, motion
graphics and video editing for corporate videos, multimedia
video productions and television commercials.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember the
sound of all the fashion accessories my course mates wore.
Interestingly, the volume of sound decreased exponentially
during the second and third year but peaked again in the
final year.
The module I most enjoyed was the radio practicum
because I’ll never forget the nights I spent in the audio suites
churning out radio capsules.
If I were to be an SCI undergrad all over again, I would still
continue working overnight and sleeping at the benches the
next morning.
The school left an indelible impression on me because I’m
always asked by folks from other faculties if my coursework
involved holding a camera or a boom, or if the girls in SCI
are “chio or not”.
The school prepared me for my current career as I started
helping friends with their work. These opportunities gave
me the stepping stones to attain more knowledge in the
area that I wanted to specialise in, and also allowed me to
hone my skills over the four years. Furthermore, my current
company is the one that I interned for.
I was inspired to pursue the profession as I used to be
doing quite a bit of music composition, and after I got into
WKWSCI, I started to get involved in more sound design
work and video stuff. From there, I found a nice little niche
where I belonged.
NEO
XIAOBIN
Class of 2007
Photojournalist,
The Straits Times
Was most likely to...
Climb into a drain to
take a photograph
Winner of Silver Award for Best in Photojournalism (Feature
Photograph) at the World Association of Newspapers and
News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) Asia Media Awards 2011, and
Honorable Mention for Excellence in Feature Photography
at The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) 2011 Awards for
Editorial Excellence”. She now shoots for The Straits Times and
is also part of the team on ST’s visual journalism site “Through
the Lens”.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember
Freshmen Orientation Camp—taking bus service 179 into
NTU with my group, Apollo, from the Boon Lay interchange
and a cheer about the school’s blue windows.
The module I most enjoyed was GO-FAR. We went to
Nepal and the overseas reporting module opened my eyes to
photojournalism.
As an undergrad, you would most likely find me either in
Hall 8, where I spent a good four years of my life with a bunch
of good hall mates, or on the SRC field getting bruised playing
softball.
The project that had the most impact on me was a story
titled “Shattered Dreams” that was published in 2010 in The
Straits Times. It was a feature on a family grieving the loss of
their daughter, Li Hong Yan, a young Chinese national who
had drowned accidentally in a Sentosa Cove bungalow. They
had sold their farm in northern China to come to Singapore.
I followed the family back to Dalian where they held a sea
burial before trying to buy back their land with the donations
from anonymous donors. There was a lot of feedback from the
public after the story was published, both good and bad, but
I was glad that we showed the family’s side of the story. I was
especially touched by the donors who came forward to help an
unknown family in need.
(The story won the above awards.)
NG KING
KANG
Class of 1998
Senior
Correspondent,
Lianhe Zaobao
Fukan, and ZbbZ
Editorial Consultant
Was most likely to...
“Siam” class or forget to do homework
Three-time Winner of most Popular TV Theme Song
in the MediaCorp Star Awards. He has written songs for
Aaron Kwok, Andy Lau, William Su, Eric Moo, Na Ying,
Stefanie Sun, Tanya Chua, Fann Wong and Zoe Tay, his
most famous song being Jacky Cheung’s “I waited till
the flowers have withered”. Not one to shy away from
sensitive topics, two of the 18 books he has penned are on
the gay community in Singapore. His most recent book,
“OnBoard@2359”, features Fann Wong’s illustrations as
well as a foreword by former minister George Yeo.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember
rushing down from SPH news centre to Jurong, cause I
just finished filing a story and was late for class.
The teacher I will never forget is Dr Mark Hukill because
with such a killer name (“who kill!”), who can forget.
The module I most enjoyed was about the Internet,
because it was still in an infant stage back in 1998 and
we were curious to find out more about this “new
technology”. This also led me to do research on my
thesis which I have published, “The rainbow connection:
the Internet and the Singapore gay community”.
I am a journalist, song writer and author because
I love driving in the fast lane. I love to get the
adrenaline pumping when I pack my day with multiple
deadlines of tasks to complete. That makes me feel that
I live life to the fullest. Though all these projects may
seem different, they are all creative writing in different
formats.
What has kept me in the Chinese media industry for
more than two decades is the travel. I have travelled to
250 cities in nearly 60 countries. Travel is an essential
part of my life. I travel to make myself a better person; it
is a humble reminder that I am not the most important
being on earth.
KUEK JINHUA
Class of 2011
Freelance journalist
Was most likely to...
Be the best informed
about exam deadlines
Best known for initiating “Wee Share PI” in WKWSCI,
where Year 4s returning from Professional Internships
share their work experiences. He currently writes lifestyle
stories for UW (U-Weekly) magazine, where he had
interned as an undergraduate. He also has a weekly
column in My Paper.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember
going for a job interview at ACRC. I started school earlier
after National Service by enrolling for a special term course,
and I chanced upon a student assistant position there.
As an undergrad, you would most likely find me in the
ACRC answering user queries by the counter, or helping
with library duties, or at the benches doing work.
I was inspired to pursue journalism because in junior
college, I participated in SCI’s Chinese Media Workshop.
It was a five-day workshop where participants from
various junior colleges picked up news writing and
reporting skills from professors and media professionals.
Throughout the four years in WKWSCI, I had many
opportunities to learn about and experience journalism
through various courses and writing for the Nanyang
Chronicle and sub-editing for The Enquirer. So it was a
natural progression to pursue journalism as a profession.
I chose to freelance because I want to have more control
and flexibility over what I do, with my skill sets and
abilities, while I am still young. Never mind the lack
of staff benefits! The trend of freelancing is on the rise
as on one hand, more workers desire freedom and
flexibility, and on the other hand, companies are turning
to freelancers to cut costs and acquire niche expertise.
WKWSCI inspired me to be the person I am by
encouraging the “be different” streak in me.
I will always remember the school spirit that everyone is
fiercely proud of.
28 CONNEXSCIONS CONNEXSCIONS 29

ALUMNI
ALUMNI
JOY WONG
Class of 2010,
Journalist at
Ministry of Defence
Public Affairs,
Defence Media
Centre
Was most likely to…
Be on time for lessons
Best known for being one of the girls in MINDEF,
where she writes defence and military news for both
PIONEER magazine and Cyberpioneer, the news website
of MINDEF. In addition, she edits and oversees the
production of PIONEER in the Chinese edition. This
year, she is involved in the National Day Parade publicity
efforts.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember
my apprehension about whether I could adapt to
university life and my excitement in having enrolled in
my dream course.
When I was an undergrad, you would most likely find
me working on The Nanyang Chronicle, or meeting with
my co-curricular activity (CCA) mates from the Cultural
Activities Club.
WKWSCI left an indelible impression on me because
it has been my dream school since I was young. This
was where I learnt that the ability to communicate
well requires skills—it’s not just about the content of a
message but also about how one says it.
I was inspired to pursue my profession because of my
interest and curiosity in defence and military issues. I’m
inspired by how our forefathers fought hard against the
Japanese forces during World War II to protect their
loved ones and I see peace and security of a country
as the cornerstones of economic prosperity, societal
development and harmony.
I find fulfilment in my job because lofty as this may
sound, I feel a sense of satisfaction knowing that I’m
playing a part in the defence of my homeland.
provocative
LOH CHEE
KONG
Class of 2005
News Editor,
TODAY
Was most likely to...
Say something
Winner of Story of the Year with Public Participation prize at
the MediaCorp News awards 2006—just eight months into his
job with TODAY. He was MediaCorp’s Young Journalist of the
Year 2008 and won TODAY’s Commentary of the Year in 2008
and 2009. While at WKWSCI he won the Nanyang Outstanding
Young Alumni Award and a special achievement award for
journalism for his stint at The Nanyang Chronicle.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember
telling myself that this was exactly where I wanted to be.
As an undergrad, you would most likely find me involved in
hostel activities.
WKWSCI left an indelible impression on me because it
trained me how to think.
The news event that has had the most impact on my career
is the 2004 Nicoll Highway collapse which occurred when
I was an intern at TODAY—I watched the incident unfold
on television and worked overnight to file reports from
the site. In particular, the encounters with the grieving
families and dedicated rescue workers left a deep impression.
When disasters happen, sometimes reporters are a source
of comfort for the victims and their families, asking
questions on their behalf and providing answers that are not
forthcoming from the authorities.
Politics, to me, is more than the sideshows. It is really about
improving the lives of the people and in that regard, it is our
duty as citizens to be interested in politics. Under the present
circumstances, which are similar to the early years when
we had a more vibrant political landscape, the challenge for
journalists is to not lose sight of what is truly important to
society and stay above the fireworks and politicking.
I wish I could interview
Abraham Lincoln— a great man. His gems of wisdom would
delight any interviewer.
ESTHER TAN
Class of 2005
Senior Copywriter, OgilvyOne
Was most likely to...
Be found in the sports pool
Best known for being part of Singapore’s first all-women
team to scale Mount Everest. She was awarded the Nanyang
Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 2007. When not outdoors
seeking new adventures, Esther works as a senior copywriter at
OgilvyOne. She is also currently writing a book chronicling her
Everest journey as well as a full-length play under the National
Arts Council’s Mentorship Access Programme.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember
feeling a little intimidated by all the outspoken people
around me.
I was inspired to undertake the climb because of my
curiosity and love of the great outdoors. I’ve always loved
being immersed in nature, but mountaineering was
something totally new to me. I’d never seen snow before
I joined the team. So when I received the email that
heralded a nationwide call for women to climb Everest,
I was intrigued by the idea of an all-female team and
thought it was too rare an opportunity to pass up without
at least trying for the team.
During the climb, I had a near death experience until
Jamling, my Sherpa came to my rescue. Jamling and
I were clipped in to a rope leading up to Camp Three,
and we were about halfway up the Lhotse Face when we
suddenly heard a commotion on the radio but we couldn’t
make out what was communicated, and before we could
make sense of the commotion, he swung me abruptly to
the right. I saw a black massive figure fly past me on my
left, barely missing me by a few inches. Minutes later, we
heard shouts over the radio, “Was it a body or a bag”
It was only when we got to Camp Three that we realised
that a climber near Camp Four had been hit by a rock, and
when he fell, his bag full of oxygen bottles fell from that
height, and was gaining momentum as it tumbled down
the mountain. Each oxygen bottle weighed close to 8kg,
and there were several bottles in his bag. If that bag had hit
Jamling or myself, I don’t think we would’ve survived.
Since coming back from Everest, my next adventure will
be to become a mother this May, so that’s going to be a real
adventure for me!
Senior Copywriter
& Everest Adventurer Esther Tan,
Class of 2005
30 CONNEXSCIONS CONNEXSCIONS 31

ALUMNI
ALUMNI
GRACE KWAN
ZAKARIA
ZAINAL
LIM WUI LIANG
MARCUS GOH
Class of 2008
Assistant Manager
(Endowment Fund),
WKWSCI
Was most likely to...
Publish a book of short
stories
Class of 2010
Freelance
photographer
Was most likely to...
Deliver a corny joke
Class of 2004
Executive Photojournalist,
The Straits Times
Was most likely to...
Quit Comms and transfer
to Business School
Class of 2007
Scriptwriter, MediaCorp
Was most likely to...
Ask “Who Would Most
Likely To” questions
Best known for re-joining WKWSCI as staff after
graduating as an undergraduate and post-graduate
student. She is now working on launching the Professor
Eddie C.Y. Kuo Study Abroad Scholarship.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember
asking my senior if there was a dress code for school,
and was told, “What dress code I wear bathroom
slippers to lectures.”
The teacher I will never forget is every one of them,
especially since I was here as an undergrad, grad student
and now a staff. It is weird to have your teachers as
colleagues, but in a good way.
When I was an undergrad, you would most likely find
me on campus having project discussions at the benches.
WKWSCI left an indelible impression on me because of
the people. I am proud of the fact that my peers started
off being idealistic, venture out into the real world, but
still hold on to these ideals, under the cynical façade.
I find my job fulfilling because it presents many
opportunities to learn as I was never a PR or a finance
person, but this job strangely merges these two roles. It
is a challenge and I figured that I needed something that
takes me out of my comfort zone, so here I am.
It is also the first fund raising project I am involved
in. I understand from talking to our students that cost
is usually the reason they do not apply for exchange
programmes, and in fact, money was also the key reason
why I didn’t apply for exchange so I know exactly how
these students feel. It is rewarding if even one student
benefits from a cause that I have a part in.
Best known for his supplement in The Straits Times on
retired Singapore Gurkhas. Zakaria was invited by TEDx
Youth Singapore to talk about his project last November.
He is currently working on a book to share the inspiring
stories of the Gurkhas. He is also running a company as
a fulltime photographer, taking on both commercial and
editorial projects.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember
overdressed students in our main LT.
The teacher I will never forget is Advanced
Photojournalism instructor Tay Kay Chin, for inspiring
and sharing a world over and above photojournalism—
and also being a mentor and friend.
The module I most enjoyed was Future of Journalism.
Taught by Cherian George, Reginald Chua and PN Balji.
When I was an undergrad, you would most likely find
me wasting time at the benches.
WKWSCI left an indelible impression on me because
of its sense of community and gotong-royong spirit (the
spirit of solidarity).
If I weren’t a photographer, I would be a trade
negotiator.
The best thing about my Gurkha project has been the
surprising response and support from everyone—mainly
the diasporic Singapore Gurkha community. What is
most rewarding is being able to share their important
stories on various platforms and having the public relate
to such stories in a personal way.
Winner of Singapore Press Holdings 2008 EMND Awards:
Feature Picture of the Year and the IFRA Asia Media
Awards 2008: Gold award for Best in Photojournalism
(Spot News). After completing his Master of Science
degree at Columbia University Graduate School of
Journalism, Wui Liang returned to The Straits Times to
manage the paper’s visual journalism website, “Through
the Lens”. In lieu of his achievements for “Through the
Lens” he won the IFRA Digital Asia Media Awards 2011:
Gold award for Best in Online Websites (Newspapers).
He has been with The Straits Times since 2004 and has
travelled to countries such as North Korea and Pakistan,
photographing subjects from ministers to gravediggers.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember
my classmates in my orientation group.
As an undergrad, you would most likely find me on
campus cycling!
I was inspired to pursue my profession because I
love photography and I hated being unemployed. So
when I heard of an opening at The Straits Times after
graduation, I applied. Been there ever since!
The most unexpected thing about my job is that I spend
more time driving, waiting, and watching, than actually
shooting.
The project that has had the most impact on my career
is starting up and running “Through the Lens”. It opened
up another dimension for my colleagues and me to tell
stories visually.
Best known for writing the scripts for Channel 5 TV
series First Class, Police and Thief and Polo Boys. He is
currently working on Point of Entry.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember
part of it was under construction. Part of it is always
under construction. Is it still
The teacher I will never forget is Dr Sharen Liu because
nobody forgets her, really.
The modules I most enjoyed were the ones that had no
exams.
When I was an undergrad, you would most likely find
me trying to steal chairs for my hall room.
WKWSCI left an indelible impression on me because it
keeps on changing names.
As a scripwriter I manipulate Singapore audiences into
doing my bidding.
The TV shows that most inspired me were Ducktales
and Money.
A little known fact about me is that in December
2011, I was among the first few in the world to be at
the premiere of Transformers: The Ride. I won it by
submitting a photo of the nearly 500 Transformers toys
I own in a competition organised by Universal Studios
If I weren’t an endowment fund manager, I would be a
novelist.
Over the next five years I would like to continue doing
what I love.
I would love to photograph Jesus’ last moments and
resurrection. This would set the record straight.
32 CONNEXSCIONS CONNEXSCIONS 33

ALUMNI
ALUMNI
SELENE CHIN
Class of 1993
Head of Commercial
Marketing and Creative
Services, element14
Was most likely to...
Win a dance competition
Best known for being in the pioneer batch to graduate
from the school. Selene counts the most memorable point
as being the moment when “Nona, our valedictorian at the
graduation ceremony, asked us to give thanks to our parents
standing at the back of the auditorium. I was proud, and I
was touched”. At element14, a high service distributor of
electronic components, Selene’s portfolio covers branding,
creative services, web operations and web content, as well as
marketing activities across the Asia Pacific.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember
thinking, “WOW. All these talented people!” There was a
scene that stuck in my mind… we had finished a lecture
and all 97 of us were still packing up in the lecture theatre
when a group broke out into song, then more people joined
in, all in their own ways. It was an amazing experience. I
felt so overwhelmed by the talent.
If I were to be an undergrad again, I would pick a more
meaningful FYP. There was a very meaningful project I
did for a course on feature writing on how our educational
system was like for hearing impaired children. If I had
another go, I would take this one step further and turn
our findings into a meaningful awareness campaign to let
everyone else know more about this special group of people.
Being in the pioneer batch of students felt dynamic, exciting,
real, a little elitist even just because we are going through a
very different experience from the rest of the university. I think
there’s a halo around the pioneer batch from then SCS. We were
the first, we were the test bed for a lot of ideas the founders of
the school had to shape what is now WKWSCI. There wasn’t so
much of a sense of learning from the books—which is what I
observed of the rest of our friends in other schools.
I am inspired by the people I work with. My team is a young
bunch and I am constantly inspired by how they are always
hungry for more things, how they are always curious about the
world about them. Sometimes, you forget that this is what you
have to do to create real, relevant, honest marketing.
LIM SIOW JOO
Class of 1999
Head, Corporate & Business
Communications, Standard
Chartered Bank Singapore
Was most likely to...
Stage another hall musical
Best known for being offered a job at Hill & Knowlton
before she even graduated. Currently she is responsible for
all external communications in Singapore, including driving
communications for the CEO, corporate news, wholesale
banking and consumer banking businesses and Corporate
Social Responsibility initiatives.
When I think of my first day in WKWSCI, I remember that it
was called School of Communications Studies (SCS) and we
had to use the Chinese Heritage Centre for our lessons.
As an undergrad, you would most likely find me in the Hall
of Residence Five with a group of like-minded theatre lovers
rehearsing the hall musical production.
The school left an indelible impression on me because
it encouraged me to be myself. It provided the necessary
foundation for me in the public relations industry. More
importantly, the SCS training that encouraged us to think
out of the box and be creative has enhanced my ability to
strategise and develop communications programmes that are
innovative and yet effectively aligned with business objectives.
The added skill set of being able to take a macro view and
connect the dots has also helped me to be strategic in my
thinking—this is crucial when it comes to issues management
and mitigating a potential crisis.
I was inspired to pursue the profession when I signed up for
an internship with Hill and Knowlton when I was in my third
year at SCS. I went for the interview but was not selected for
the overseas internship in New Zealand. At that time, the
financial controller for Hill and Knowlton Singapore rang me
up personally and told me that I should give her a call when
I graduate and she would offer me a job if there’s an opening.
The sceptical me thought that she was just trying to make me
feel better. A year later, she rang me up a day before my last
exam paper and offered me a job. I was very impressed that
she kept her word and till this day, I owe what I learned to
her and her actions serve as a good reminder to myself—that
sometimes, the younger ones simply need a little lift to be able
to achieve what they can achieve.
The volatile climate of the financial industry does not worry
me because I was with another financial institution before
joining Standard Chartered and went through the 2008
financial crisis. I dare say those were the most exciting times
in my career. As a guardian of the company’s reputation, the
essence of my job is in safeguarding and building its reputation
and the ability to mitigate any negative impact. That was also
the steepest part of my learning curve. My current employer
is in a sweet spot, with the right fundamentals and business
strategy, hence my job is made a lot easier in accentuating the
positives to our stakeholders.
My inspiration is a Chinese saying that means that a strong
general has no weak soldiers. At this stage of my career when
I’m managing a team, it is even more important to make sure
that everyone in my team is a strong performer. Training
to properly equip them with the right mindset and skills is
important and if they are capable and able to perform, my job
will be made a lot easier.
At some stage of my life, I would like to dedicate half of my time
to community work and doing more for the less privileged. C
b r e w e r k z
thursdays
Every 1st Thursday of
the month, join our
networking evening for
all WKWSCI alumni,
staff and fourth-year or
graduate students at
Brewerkz. Come and
meet alumni, faculty and
friends over food and, of
course, drinks.
ALUMNI CONNECTOR
Please detach the Alumni Connector and send to:
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include in the next ConnexSCIons. Please print in block letters and cut along the dotted lines before
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Name: E-mail:
Major: Mobile:
31 Nanyang Link, #04-43,
WKWSCI Building,
Singapore 637718.
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Address (line 2): Year of graduation:
Comments, feedback, or news to share:
Alternatively, reach us through
Fax: 6791-5214
E-mail: SD-SCI@ntu.edu.sg
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34 CONNEXSCIONS CONNEXSCIONS 35