SUSS Celebrates SG60 with Largest Individual Donation and Expanded Tuition Coverage for Students

Date: 8 Aug 2025

SUSS Celebrates SG60 with Largest Individual Donation and Expanded Tuition Coverage for Students

  • Gift of S$7.5 million by Dr Lillyn Teh to establish the Dr Lillyn Teh Endeavour Endowment Fund and Pay It Forward Award, while strengthening support for the SUSS Education Access Initiative
  • Under the initiative, SUSS will become the only autonomous university in Singapore to offer tuition-free education to eligible part-time students

Singapore, 8 August 2025 – In a major step to make higher education more accessible and inclusive, the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) today announced an expansion of its financial support programme, the SUSS Education Access Initiative. This enhancement will benefit a wider group of students, including part-time undergraduates, and was made possible through a generous gift of S$7.5 million from Dr Lillyn Teh – the largest ever from an individual donor for the University.

From left: Professor Tan Tai Yong, President, SUSS; Mdm Halimah Yacob, Chancellor, SUSS; Dr Lillyn Teh, accompanied by her husband, Dr Foo Suan Tong, at the Cheque Presentation.

Building on the foundation of an earlier seed funding from the Quantedge Foundation, the broadened SUSS Education Access Initiative, inclusive of Dr Teh’s gift, will enable SUSS to become the only autonomous university in Singapore to offer tuition-free education to all eligible part-time undergraduate students – further reinforcing the University’s commitment to expanding learning opportunities and empowering a wider community of learners.

These announcements were made by SUSS President, Professor Tan Tai Yong, at the opening of the University’s inaugural RAISE Carnival, held in conjunction with Singapore’s 60th birthday celebrations. In a symbolic gesture, Mdm Halimah Yacob, Chancellor, SUSS, received the donation from Dr Lillyn Teh during the cheque presentation ceremony.

The RAISE Carnival brought together more than 1,600 members of the SUSS community, including community partners, for a celebration of care, giving and shared purpose. Named after the SUSS RAISE values – Respect, Adaptability, Integrity, Service, and Empathy – the event also marked the close of Welcome Month for students, Family Day for staff and faculty, and Giving Day for the wider community, including alumni and partners. 

Improving Access to Education

From the Academic Year 2025/2026, all full-time and part-time undergraduate students with a Per Capita Income (PCI) of $1,100 or below will have their tuition fees fully covered under the SUSS Education Access Initiative, provided they meet and continue to maintain a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.0.

The award is designed to support students throughout their academic journey at SUSS, while ensuring assistance reaches those who would benefit most from greater access to education. By providing full tuition support to students who demonstrate academic potential and perseverance, the SUSS Education Access Initiative helps deserving learners overcome financial constraints in their education pursuit.

Previously, the initiative was only available to full-time undergraduate students with a PCI not exceeding $750, and residing in HDB flats no larger than 4-room units. With the expanded eligibility criteria, comprehensive financial support will now be extended to a larger and more diverse group of full-time and part-time undergraduates. This enhancement is expected to benefit more than 800 students annually, comprising over 500 full-time and 300 part-time undergraduates. This marks a bold step forward in enabling equal opportunity for learners who often juggle work, caregiving, and studies.

Recognising Student Excellence

Dr Lillyn Teh’s gift establishes the Dr Lillyn Teh Endeavour Endowment Fund, which contributes to tuition fee support as part of the broader SUSS Education Access Initiative. The fund also enables a suite of merit- and values-based awards to recognise academic excellence and students who embody SUSS’ RAISE values.

Awards under the fund include:

  • Dr Lillyn Teh Endeavour Award
    • For tuition fee support under the SUSS Education Access Initiative
  • Dr Lillyn Teh Endeavour Merit Award
    • Valued at S$1,000 each for top-scoring students in Years 1-3 of selected undergraduate programmes
  • Dr Lillyn Teh Valedictorian & Salutatorian Awards
    • Valued at S$5,000 and S$4,000 respectively for top scorers of overall bachelor and overall master programmes
  • Dr Lillyn Teh – SUSS Core Curriculum Top Graduate Award
    • Valued at S$2,000, one award each for overall full-time undergraduate and overall part-time undergraduate graduates
  • Dr Lillyn Teh – SUSS RAISE Excellence Award
    • Valued at S$2,000, one award to a nominated student from the graduating cohort who exemplifies the RAISE values

Building a Giving Community that Pays It Forward

Meanwhile, the Pay It Forward Award is a cash award that helps SUSS students manage out-of-pocket education-related costs. The award will provide up to S$2,000 for students to offset costs such as overseas service-learning trips, laptop purchases, or expenses incurred for their participation in competitive sports. The award is open to all SUSS students, with priority given to those from lower-income backgrounds. It is application-based and designed to help students fully participate in university life.

Professor Tan Tai Yong, President of SUSS, said, “At SUSS, we believe that every deserving student, regardless of background or circumstance, should have the opportunity to thrive. This expanded support is a powerful reminder of our purpose as a university rooted in the belief that education is a lifelong and collective journey. Thanks to the generosity of Dr Lillyn Teh, we are deepening student support initiatives, especially for our part-time students who often juggle work and family commitments. In the spirit of SG60, we are building Singapore’s future together – by connecting, contributing, and showing care.”

The Pay It Forward Award is also uniquely designed to grow. For every S$1 raised by the SUSS community – students, alumni, or staff – Dr Teh will contribute S$2 from the seed fund of S$330,000. Together with the matching grant from the Ministry of Education, this multiplies into S$6 of impact for every dollar given. 

Dr Lillyn Teh said, “In this phase of our lives, we are thinking more about what we want to build and leave as our legacy. We wish to create something meaningful and lasting, and most importantly, have a positive impact on people’s lives and livelihoods. Through this gift, we are delighted to support equal access to education, celebrate merit, and also inspire others to pay it forward. We chose to partner with SUSS because its vision and values closely align with ours – a commitment to lifelong learning, social good, and a student community motivated to give back through their chosen vocations.”

 

 

For media enquiries, please contact:

Ms Nur Aziemah
Public Relations Manager
Singapore University of Social Sciences
E: [email protected]
T: +65 6240 8846

Ms Melissa Ho
Public Relations Executive
Singapore University of Social Sciences
E: [email protected]
T: +65 6248 9138

Mr Kenneth Huang
Consultant
IN.FOM on behalf of Singapore University of Social Sciences
E: [email protected]
T: +65 9339 5380