Connexscions Volume VIII Issue 02 Jan - WKWSCI Home - Nanyang ...
Connexscions Volume VIII Issue 02 Jan - WKWSCI Home - Nanyang ...
Connexscions Volume VIII Issue 02 Jan - WKWSCI Home - Nanyang ...
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COVER STORY<br />
Chair of the school, elaborated, “Wee Kim Wee served<br />
as a diplomat, he was the ambassador in Japan, and<br />
he had a keen understanding of intercultural and<br />
interpersonal communication. These are things we feel<br />
are reflected in the values of the school.”<br />
The late President Wee was also a journalist who had<br />
an investigative spirit, as well as a passion for seeking the<br />
truth and presenting information that would help people<br />
and serve society. Assoc Prof Detenber said he regretted<br />
not having had the opportunity to meet Dr Wee personally,<br />
but added that he continually strove to represent Dr Wee’s<br />
personal and professional values in the school.<br />
Not only a journalist but also eventually the Chairman<br />
of SBC (Singapore Broadcasting Corporation), Dr Wee<br />
had dedicated his life to journalism and the media, as<br />
well as to serving people and serving Singapore. The<br />
Continued on page 19<br />
birthday<br />
Wishes<br />
“Happy Birthday, <strong>WKWSCI</strong>! You will always hold a special<br />
place in our hearts no matter how old you grow. Thank<br />
you for all the wonderful memories!<br />
Miss Regina Tan, Class of 2010<br />
“Happy 20th <strong>WKWSCI</strong>! Looking forward to many<br />
more years of producing the finest communication &<br />
information students and research.”<br />
Dr May Lwin, Associate Chair (Undergraduate Studies)<br />
COVER STORY<br />
OUR three<br />
pioneers<br />
ConnexSCIons uncovers what they really think<br />
of the students... and each other<br />
Do you think that the students at <strong>WKWSCI</strong> have taught you<br />
anything<br />
Dr Detenber What I’ve learned is that students help keep us<br />
young. I feel better connected with the way the world is moving<br />
because I work with young people and this is why I continue<br />
to teach. Seeing the world through their eyes gives me a better<br />
understanding of the way the world is changing. It’s good to be<br />
reminded that enthusiasm and willpower count for a lot. You<br />
may not have all the skills and talents but if you’re willing to<br />
dedicate yourself, and work hard, and you go about what you’re<br />
doing with great enthusiasm, you’re going to have some measure<br />
of success.<br />
We know how your contributions have changed the school. But<br />
has the school also contributed to shaping you as a person<br />
Dr Ang When I studied at law school, it was like four years of<br />
Year 1. I wanted our school’s programme to be exciting and<br />
different. The school has changed me in that I’ve learnt to be a<br />
little softer. I find that I’m able to work with a lot of people now.<br />
Tell us one thing that you admire about each other.<br />
Dr Ang For Eddie, one thing comes quickly to mind. When I first<br />
became Dean of <strong>WKWSCI</strong>, I found myself yelling at our estate<br />
management facilities staff. They said, “Why you yell at us, the<br />
previous deans didn’t do that.” Turns out that out of all the deans<br />
in the university, only Eddie had never yelled at them.<br />
Dr Kuo [laughs]: This is called soft power!<br />
Dr Ang Ben has a very good heart. He means well in many things.<br />
16 CONNEXSCIONS<br />
From left: Prof Ang Peng Hwa, Assoc Prof Benjamin Detenber and Prof<br />
Eddie Kuo<br />
He takes care of colleagues. He’s the one who really pushes the<br />
research agenda in the school. Initially we didn’t have the reserve<br />
for that but by the time he took over he was really supporting and<br />
promoting conference participation and other activities. That<br />
was a major contribution to the school.<br />
Dr Kuo For Ben, one of his strengths is that he speaks very well.<br />
Ben has to deal with layers—different chairs, different offices.<br />
For that, he has to be articulate. He can express his position<br />
which is very important to the school.<br />
Dr Detenber What I admire in Eddie Kuo is his patience and<br />
perspicacity. There are few people in the world with the breadth<br />
and depth of academic experience that Eddie has, especially<br />
when it comes to leadership. What I have learned from Eddie,<br />
and admire greatly in him, is that one needs to take time to<br />
review complex situations in order to fully understand them and<br />
respond appropriately.<br />
What I admire in Peng Hwa is his compassion and concern<br />
for others. I know that whenever we are engaged in a difficult<br />
discussion or disagreement (yes, it’s true—we disagree at times)<br />
I know that he never loses sight of how others are feeling or<br />
might be affected. His sense of fairness drives him to look for the<br />
optimal outcome, not the most expedient.<br />
“We started off with no proper office, labs, studios, and<br />
only half a floor at the NUS computer centre in the early<br />
days. As this is a water dragon year, my birthday wish<br />
for the school is: May <strong>WKWSCI</strong> continue to water the<br />
plants of teaching and research. We will continue to shine<br />
and strengthen our place in the international academic<br />
community. Warm Congratulations!”<br />
Dr Lee Chun Wah, Assistant Chair<br />
“Twenty & forever sexy. That’s what you are, Wee Kim Wee.”<br />
Miss Evonne Ong, Year 1<br />
“Happy birthday—you are no longer a teen, may you<br />
mature in producing the best media practitioners and<br />
journalists in Asia!”<br />
Miss Cassandra Yeap, Year 3, former chief editor of<br />
The <strong>Nanyang</strong> Chronicle<br />
“Happy birthday, SCI. Working life cannot hold a candle to<br />
the times we had in school. Minus the exams of course.”<br />
Mr Philip Lim, Class of 2010<br />
“Happy 20th, SCI. You may be younger than me but you<br />
hold much, much more intellectual discourse at your<br />
benches than I did. I am jealous.”<br />
Miss Rosalinda Yapit, Class of 2010<br />
“20 is a great age to be. When you hit 20, you leave the<br />
teenage years behind and approach the future with a new<br />
confidence. Anything is possible at 20, and you have the<br />
drive and the vision to make an impact on the world—the<br />
school has that potential and my wish is to see it realised.”<br />
Mr Andrew Duffy, Lecturer<br />
“For 20 years you moulded not just intelligent and sensitive<br />
professionals, but characters with heart and soul, a school<br />
every generation is proud to call home. To many more years<br />
of excellence and integrity.”<br />
Mr Tan Thiam Peng, Class of 2011,<br />
former CI Club president<br />
“<strong>WKWSCI</strong> is a place in the hearts of many who have<br />
graduated. Happy 20th Birthday.”<br />
Mr Zakaria Zainal, Class of 2010<br />
“Happy 20th birthday, <strong>WKWSCI</strong>! Wishing you all the best<br />
and more fruitful years ahead!”<br />
Miss Nithiyah D/O Muthukrishnan, <strong>WKWSCI</strong> Graduate<br />
Programmes Office<br />
“Happy birthday SCI! I can’t think of a better school<br />
that would have made my undergrad experience more<br />
enjoyable and engaging! Here’s to many more years<br />
ahead :)”<br />
Miss Joanna Hor, Class of 2010<br />
“Happy 20th birthday WKW! Don’t worry, half the<br />
student population is still older than you…”<br />
Miss Michelle Ann Kwara, <strong>WKWSCI</strong>, Year 1<br />
“<strong>WKWSCI</strong> is just one year away from being legal! Trust<br />
that Wee will never lose the dynamism and passion<br />
that makes you unique. May all aspiring journalists,<br />
publicists, creative directors, filmmakers go through<br />
this rite of passage to fulfill their dreams. Happy 20th<br />
birthday!”<br />
Miss PeiRu Ng, Class of 2010<br />
“I wish <strong>WKWSCI</strong> will continue to be the best<br />
communication and information school in Asia attracting<br />
the best faculty and students to come to NTU and also<br />
wish that our graduates will be most sought after not only<br />
in Singapore but beyond Asia.”<br />
Mr Vincent Teo, Assistant Director (Media)<br />
“Happy 20th <strong>WKWSCI</strong>! Stay forever young and more<br />
‘hapz’ than other schools!”<br />
Miss Celine Chen, Year 2<br />
“Congratulations on achieving a major milestone! Happy<br />
20th Birthday!”<br />
Mr Ng Heng Ghee, IT Executive<br />
“Happy 20th WKW! You beautiful sexy thing. Stay<br />
awesome.”<br />
Mr Sulaiman Daud, Year 2<br />
“20 years have come and gone, and you have given<br />
countless individuals like myself the chance to gain<br />
overseas exposure, enjoy school activities and learn from<br />
mentors and friends. Happy anniversary <strong>WKWSCI</strong>, and<br />
here’s to an even greater 20 years ahead!”<br />
Miss Maxie Au-Yeong, Year 4, former news editor of<br />
The <strong>Nanyang</strong> Chronicle<br />
“Happy birthday <strong>WKWSCI</strong>! Please bring back the<br />
sandwich machine!”<br />
Mr Benjamin Lim, Year 1<br />
CONNEXSCIONS 17