5月 - Nanyang Technological University

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SPOTLIGHT 8 NTU New alumni association in Vietnam The launch of our Vietnamese chapter on 22 April was keenly celebrated by 100 NTU alumni and guests in Ho Chi Minh City. An alumni get-together dinner was held in Ho Chi Minh City on 22 April which also saw the launch of the newly formed NTU Alumni Association (Vietnam). The occasion which was graced by Mr Anthony Teo, Secretary to the University, NTU, was also attended by Mr Michael Cheng, the Vice Consulate-General of the Republic of Singapore to Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City). Some 100 NTU alumni and guests who gathered at the Duxton Hotel Saigon included our undergraduate and postgraduate alumni, and also participants of the International English for Administrators (IEA) course from all the fi rst six batches under the Singapore Co-operation Programme Training Awards. Apart from the Vietnamese alumni, there were also Singaporean undergraduate alumni in our midst. Mr Anthony Teo said: “Alumni are very important. You all represent the best of Vietnam, 500 of you. And we are more keen that you as alumni, will group together to be active for knowledge and connections with NTU. We will share with you all the research that we have and all the relationships that we have.” “As we invest abroad, friends are very important. This is where the Vietnam alumni is going to be very important, both for Vietnamese alumni as well as alumni from abroad who come here in friendship, trade and business. I am very grateful to Dr Tri and the protem committee, for setting this up. It is an exciting adventure,” he added. Heading the newly formed Vietnam Chapter is Dr Nguyen Duc Tri who graduated from Nanyang Business School in 2000 and is currently the Head of Tourism Division, Faculty of Commerce and Tourism in Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics. Dr Tri and Alumni enjoying the dinner together and the chance to network with fellow graduates in Vietnam his other eight Committee Members who have volunteered to hold different positions in the Association were introduced to the attendees. Dr Duc Tri said: “As business grows, socialization is needed. Some or all of us have to communicate with prospects whom we may or may not know well. Network helps; we should form an association that will bring network benefi ts to its members. We are working in different disciplines and from many organizations. We, however, share one thing in common - we have studied in NTU. This is an opportunity for us to form a network. We commit to make this Chapter a good place for contacts, communications, knowledge-sharing and socialization.” The alumni present at the dinner were pleased to be part of the NTU community and gave their fullest support to the newly formed Association. They appreciated the opportunity to foster closer relationships among themselves and with their alma mater; and spent the evening networking with fellow alumni and guests. Happy quips from our alumni at the Vietnamese gathering... Thanks for giving me the chance to meet my old friends. We enjoyed the food and sharing memories. - Nguyen Minh Anh It was nice to meet my friends and remember the times together in NTU. I also received new information about the university and about the new alumni association in Vietnam. - Vo Thanh Dam It is a good chance for us to meet each other. I support the alumni association and wish to assist the NTU alumni family. - Nguyen Manh Chong It was a wonderful dinner, and I was able to meet up with my former classmates once again! - Nguyen Huu Aui A gathering of our Vietnamese alumni family at Ho Chi Minh City SPOTLIGHT Distinguished guests and protem committee members of the NTU Alumni Association (Vietnam). From left: Ly Xuan Nam, Committee Member; Vo Minh Tuan, Committee Member; William Tan, Asst Hon Gen Sec; Huynh Cong Trung, Vice President; Mr Micheal Cheng, Vice Consulate-General of the Republic of Singapore at Ho Chi Minh City; Mr Anthony Teo, Secretary to the University, NTU; Dr Nguyen Duc Tri, President; Mr Soon Min Yam, Director, Alumni Affairs Offi ce, NTU; Phan Phi Long, Hon Gen Secretary and Nguyen Thanh Nha, Treasurer . Not in picture: Truong Thai Quang, Committee Member and Vo Thi Cam Tu, Committee Member. NTU 9
SPOTLIGHT Wondering when the next Formula One race is? Ask Prof Cham. So devoted is he to the sport that he jots the schedule in his pocket diary at the start of each season. And, yes, he makes it a point to watch every single race. Such unwavering dedication is characteristic of Prof Cham, who, with the same fervour more than two decades ago, worked hard to get a fl edgling science and engineering institute off the ground. Build solid foundations he did, for NTU’s predecessor, Nanyang Technological Institute (NTI), in 1981, and lobbying for a practice-oriented approach to engineering education, Prof Cham quickly helped NTI fi nd its niche and role in Singapore society, too. A mere four years later, in 1985, NTI was singled out by the Commonwealth Engineering Council as ‘one of the best engineering institutions in the world’ – a feat by any standard. Under Prof Cham’s leadership, the university continued to grow, from only 582 pioneer students in 1982 to more than 20,000 students a year by 2002. Another fi rst for NTU and Singapore So it comes as no surprise that Prof Cham, 66, was recently chosen to be the fi rst-ever recipient of The Royal Academy of Engineering International Medal. The award recognises outstanding and sustained personal achievement in engineering – including commercial and academic leadership – and is awarded by the Academy to an individual residing outside of the European Union. Prof Cham was honoured for his outstanding work in the engineering 10 NTU 1. 2. University Distinguished Professor awarded top engineering medal community, the strong international links he has forged in academia and business, and his stellar contributions in developing NTU into a premier university with strengths in technology. “It was a great surprise to me,” Prof Cham muses. “I feel very privileged to be the inaugural medal recipient.” The University Distinguished professor at NTU, who was also the fi rst Singaporean to be elected International Fellow of the Academy in 1998, adds that “the medal is a recognition of the high status of NTU in the academic world”. Founded in 1976, The Royal Academy of Engineering promotes excellence in the science, art and practice of engineering. As Britain’s national academy for engineering, its fellowship comprises the UK’s most eminent engineers, as well as a smaller number of International Fellows and Honorary Fellows. A most worthy winner Prof Cham received the award on 17 March from the Academy’s Senior Fellow, HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, during his state visit to Singapore. The presentation ceremony, held at the Epicentre, Biopolis, was attended by senior members of the engineering fraternity and academia, friends and family. “Professor Cham is a most worthy winner of our inaugural International Medal,” notes Lord Alec Broers, President of the Academy. Prof Richard Williams, Vice President of the Academy and Chair of the Awards Committee, adds that the Academy was “enormously impressed by Professor Cham’s leadership”. NTU President Dr Su Guaning sent his 1. Prof Cham receiving the award from HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at the presentation ceremony on 17 March 2. A family portrait during the special day The Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK presents its fi rst International Medal to Prof Cham Tao Soon, founding President of Nanyang Technological Institute. congratulations on behalf of NTU’s faculty, staff, students and alumni, “We salute Prof Cham for his commitment to excellence for NTU. Thanks to the 21 years that he has devoted to NTU, we have a solid foundation of science and technology to charge ahead. We offer our students a residential and global experience together with a broad education based on science and technology. Such an educational experience enables our graduates to excel in this globalised, hightech world of the 21st century.” Steering industry and business Besides heightening academia in Singapore, Prof Cham has harnessed engineering in business and entrepreneurship. He is an active Director of six listed companies and leads the boards and councils of many private and public organisations. His roles in companies like NatSteel Ltd, one of the top steel providers in the Asia Pacifi c, and WBL Corporation Ltd, a leading name in Singapore’s technology sector, has kept him busy but attuned to the importance of engineers in society. “An engineer’s role is to value-add and apply engineering knowledge to R&D. Engineers can design the latest addons or apply technology to services,” he says.“Technology creates opportunities, so businesses need to make good use of technologies for the future. Progress in the next 10 to 20 years will be very much based on technology.” Progress, driven by research and innovation, that will help society win the race. With thanks to NTU’s Corporate Communications Offi ce
Page 1: NTU ISSUE (56) MAY 2006 ISSN: 0218-
Page 9: GIVING TO NTU Launching Ceremony of
Page 12 and 13: SPOTLIGHT 18 NTU Fast & Furious at
Page 14 and 15: SPOTLIGHT Employers prefer NTU grad
Page 16 and 17: PERSONALITY Genie Gan, (alumna from
Page 20: HAPPENINGS 26 NTU Savouring tea and
Page 23: HAPPENINGS Building Bonds Get-toget
Page 29: 38 NTULINK NTULINK 39

5月 - Nanyang Technological University

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