Opening Remarks by SUSS President, Professor Tan Tai Yong, at the Success Academy Launch in Chongqing
Date: 10 Mar 2026
Ms Mavis Tan, Vice-Consul, Consulate-General of the Republic of Singapore, Chengdu
Mr Li Xunfu, Deputy Director of Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce
Mr Deng Guang Huai, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Yuzhong District Committee and Executive Deputy District Mayor of Yuzhong District People’s Government, Chongqing
Ms Liao Ying, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Tongliang District Committee and Director of the Organisation Department of Tongliang District Committee, Chongqing
Mr Terence Yap, Regional Director, Enterprise Singapore
Mr Lennon Tan, President, Singapore Manufacturing Federation
Mr Samuel Ng, Executive Chairman, Raffles Young Academy
Ms Candy Liu, Founder, Singapore Overseas Programme Centre, Shenyang
Distinguished Guests,
Industry Partners,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. Good morning and a very warm welcome to the launch of the SUSS Success Academy in Chongqing, in partnership with Raffles Young Academy. Do allow me to say a few words in Mandarin.
2. 大家早上好。我非常高兴今天来到重庆，与大家一起见证新加坡社科大学成就学院（SUSS Success Academy）的成立仪式。在此成立成就学院，体现了我们对终身学习与应用型教育、以及服务社会为宗旨的长期承诺，同时也深化了新中两国在教育领域的合作，并推动人才培养的发展。
3. It is in this spirit of shared values and partnership that today marks an important milestone for the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) as we deepen our collaboration with trusted partners in China and strengthen our engagement in this dynamic region.
4. Today’s launch takes place within the broader context of the longstanding and warm relations between Singapore and China, including the strong ties between Singapore and Chongqing. We are honoured by the presence of representatives from government agencies and partner institutions from both sides, and we sincerely appreciate your continued support and collaboration.
5. As one of Singapore’s six autonomous universities, SUSS offers fully recognised degrees and is guided by a strong commitment to lifelong learning and real-world social impact. These principles define who we are and shape how we engage our learners, partners and communities – both in Singapore and internationally.
6. Our vision is to inspire learning for life and to impact lives, regardless of age, background or life stage. Central to this vision is our emphasis on applied learning and meaningful contribution to society. We believe education must go beyond the classroom – remaining relevant, practice-oriented and closely connected to real-world challenges.
7. The Success Academy was established to extend SUSS’ educational mission beyond Singapore through partnerships with like-minded institutions. It serves as a key platform for advancing applied learning, lifelong learning and social impact in an international context.
8. Here in Chongqing, the Success Academy will connect education, industry and community partners from Singapore and China. Through this platform, we aim to foster collaboration that supports talent development, innovation, and the nurturing of globally minded individuals with strong cross-cultural capabilities.
9. Our partnership with Raffles Young Academy (RYA) is both strategic and timely. RYA brings deep local expertise, strong networks and extensive experience in talent development in Chongqing. More importantly, we share a common commitment to developing future-ready individuals who are adaptable, resilient and socially responsible.
10. Together, we will bridge academic learning with industry application, co-creating programmes that are experiential, relevant and aligned with evolving industry needs by combining SUSS’ academic strengths with RYA’s on-the-ground capabilities.
11. This partnership is underpinned by SUSS’ strong academic capabilities across a wide range of disciplines. Today, SUSS offers more than 110 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across six schools, spanning disciplines such as business, technology, education and the social sciences. Through the Chongqing Success Academy, students from Singapore and China will have opportunities to co-learn and co-innovate through interdisciplinary programmes, student exchanges, startup challenges and industry immersion experiences.
12. The Academy will also support industry-based study programmes, internships and workplace learning opportunities, enabling students to apply their learning in real-world settings while contributing fresh perspectives to organisations in China.
13. Beyond student learning, the Chongqing Success Academy will work with Raffles Young Academy and industry partners to co-develop professional training and development solutions tailored to regional needs, such as supporting workforce upskilling, leadership development and organisational capability building amid evolving economic and technological landscapes.
14. In addition to Chongqing, we are continuing to expand our presence in China. Tomorrow, we will establish a satellite office in Shenyang and formalise new partnerships with universities and industry players to advance cross-border collaboration in areas such as applied learning, industry engagement and social innovation.
15. The Chongqing Success Academy builds on SUSS’ growing network of Success Academies across Asia. We have academies in Beijing, Shenzhen, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Manila and Mumbai. Each is anchored in strong local partnerships and context-sensitive approaches that ensure relevance and impact.
16. As we continue to expand our regional presence, we remain committed to working closely with our partners to ensure that each Success Academy delivers meaningful outcomes for learners, industry and the wider community.
17. In closing, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Ms Mavis Tan, Mr Sun Xi-Yong and all dignitaries for joining us today to witness this significant milestone. I would also like to express our heartfelt appreciation to our esteemed partners and friends in Chongqing and across China for your strong support and partnership.
18. Thank you.