SUSS and UOB Launch S$1 Million Initiative to Equip Students for the Future of Work

Launched in conjunction with SUSS Convocation 2026, the UOB Future Resilience Fund will provide scholarships, developmental programmes and entrepreneurial opportunities to help students gain practical experience, build future-ready skills and bring promising ideas to life.

Singapore, 13 October 2026 – The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and UOB have announced the establishment of the UOB Future Resilience Fund, made possible through a S$1 million gift from UOB Foundation over five years. The fund supports scholarships, student development programmes and entrepreneurial opportunities that will benefit students throughout their educational journey. The initiative comes as SUSS celebrates more than 3,600 graduates at its 2026 Convocation, held from 13 to 15 October at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre. 

Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education & Ministry of National Development, Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi giving his speech at Session 1 of SUSS’ Convocation 2026.

The ceremony was presided over by SUSS Chancellor Mdm Halimah Yacob and graced by Guest-of-Honour Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education & Ministry of National Development. Anchored on the theme, “The Next, Ours to Create”, Convocation 2026 marks a milestone as graduates take ownership of what comes next and shape their futures with confidence and purpose. The UOB Future Resilience Fund builds on this spirit by creating opportunities for students to build resilience, gain real-world experience and develop skills to adapt to technological change and evolving careers. 

SUSS Chancellor Mdm Halimah Yacob presided over the first session of the Convocation, where she conferred degrees on this year’s graduands.

Developing Future-ready Talents and Businesses

For students, resilience is the ability to navigate personal and financial challenges, adapt to technological and workplace changes, and continue pursuing their goals with confidence. The UOB Future Resilience Fund supports this development through financial assistance, experiential learning, community engagement and entrepreneurial opportunities. Together, these efforts comprise four components:

• UOB Future Resilience Scholarship;
• Resilience Series;
• Venture Builder Programme Seed Funding; and
• Special Mention Student Award.

Firstly, the UOB Future Resilience Scholarship will support up to 41 full-time and part-time students. From 2026 to 2029, up to eight scholarships will be awarded each year, comprising two full-time undergraduate scholarships valued at S$30,000 each and six part-time undergraduate scholarships valued at S$20,000 each. In 2030, up to two full-time and seven part-time undergraduate scholarships will be awarded with the same respective values. Open to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, the scholarship recognises academic achievement alongside courage, initiative and resilience among full-time students, while encouraging a social entrepreneurial mindset. For part-time students, it supports learners returning to their studies after a pause, as well as those continuing their education while navigating financial or personal pressures.

Secondly, the UOB-SUSS Resilience Series provides students and aspiring founders with opportunities for holistic development through a three-part framework focused on individual wellbeing, community engagement and environmental sustainability. These include resilience and leadership workshops, ecosystem immersion visits and sustainability-focused innovation programmes. Students and emerging entrepreneurs can gain opportunities to build leadership capabilities, engage with communities and apply entrepreneurial thinking to real-world social and environmental challenges.

Thirdly, UOB’s support also includes seed funding for promising start-ups from the SUSS Venture Builder Programme. Two start-ups will receive S$5,000 annually in seed funding to further develop their ideas. The funding will support impact ventures, including those that seek to uplift communities in need and support vulnerable communities in Singapore.

Lastly, the Special Mention Student Award recognises an undergraduate who has demonstrated exceptional resilience in overcoming significant personal or educational challenges during their academic journey. Presented annually, the award is valued at S$1,000 and celebrates perseverance and determination in the face of adversity. 

SUSS Class of 2026 graduates celebrate their achievements at Convocation.

Professor Tan Tai Yong, President, Singapore University of Social Sciences, said: “As we celebrate this milestone for our graduates, we are reminded that no one reaches it alone. Every graduate’s journey is supported by a community of family, faculty, mentors and partners. Through our partnership with UOB, we hope to extend that same spirit of support to current and future students, creating opportunities for them to build resilience, gain real-world experience and develop the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven economy.”

Ms Janet Young, Chairman of UOB Foundation, said: “Guided by UOB Foundation’s purpose of Building a Better Future for the Next Generation, we want to help our students turn potential into opportunity and guide them to build future-ready skills. Our partnership with SUSS goes beyond supporting students through their studies; it enables them to put ideas into action, develop solutions to real-world challenges and contribute meaningfully. By investing in their aspirations, we hope this will create a ripple effect of positive impact across our communities for years to come.”

SUSS Class of 2026 at a Glance

Across this year’s Convocation ceremonies, SUSS celebrates graduates from its undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes.

• Total graduates: 3,611
• Bachelor’s degree graduates: 3,076 (Including Juris Doctor graduates)
• Master’s degree graduates: 528
• Doctorate degree graduates: 7
  • 6 Doctor of Business Administration graduates
  • 1 Doctor of Philosophy (Gerontology) graduate
• Juris Doctor graduates: 30
• Executive Management Programme certificate recipients: 4

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About Singapore University of Social Sciences 

At SUSS, we have a singular vision to be a university that inspires learning for life and impacts lives, regardless of age, background or life path. Our university is a vibrant tapestry of ages and experiences. From recent JC and polytechnic graduates to seasoned professionals, parents seeking new horizons and individuals redefining their careers in their golden years—our diverse community comes together for one common goal: to empower themselves with an education that impacts lives and society. 

We offer more than 110 undergraduate and graduate programmes, available in full- and part-time study modes which are flexible, modular and interdisciplinary, catering to both fresh school leavers and adult learners. SUSS also offers a broad range of continuing education and training modular courses for the professional skills upgrading of Singapore's workforce. 

Our programmes and courses are offered by our six schools: 

• S R Nathan School of Human Development 

• School of Business 

• School of Humanities & Behavioural Sciences 

• School of Law 

• School of Science & Technology 

• School of Social Work & Social Development 
  

Since becoming an Autonomous University in 2017, over 21,000 graduates have experienced our unique brand of education. More than 19,000 students are currently pursuing their full- and part-time studies with us.

The Institute for Adult Learning (IAL), as part of SUSS, leads in the field of research on adult and workplace learning and training of adult educators to build capabilities of the training and adult education sector in Singapore and beyond. 

For more information about SUSS, please visit www.suss.edu.sg.