Welcome Address by SUSS President, Professor Tan Tai Yong at the First Year Assembly 2025

Date: 8 Aug 2025

Good afternoon to all and a very warm welcome to SUSS!

  1. Today is a special day for you as new students and for our university as well. We are proud to welcome the incoming cohort at the First Year Assembly, the very first of its kind at SUSS.

  2. This ceremony was created with intention and heart. We wanted to mark your entry into university life not with routine or formality, but with meaning and a sense of belonging. Before you begin your learning journey here at SUSS, we also want to: 
    • Introduce the key people – our faculty, staff, and student leaders – who will walk alongside you in your academic and personal journey.
    • And, celebrate the diverse talents and creative energy that define the SUSS student community.

  3. So, let me begin by extending my warmest congratulations. You have made it here through perseverance, ambition, and perhaps even through some uncertainty. Whether you are joining us full-time or part-time, fresh from school or balancing studies with work and family, we are proud to welcome each and every one of you into our learning community.

  4. A university is more than just a place to study – it is a space to grow, a platform to challenge ideas, and a crucible for transformation. At SUSS, we believe that learning is not simply about preparing students for the workforce. Instead, it nurtures individuals to lead lives guided by purpose, contribution, and character. We are a university built on the belief that education should be a force for good.

  5. That’s why our values – Respect, Adaptability, Integrity, Service and Empathy – form the compass that guides how we engage, lead, and serve society.

  6. You will soon discover that SUSS graduates are out there making a real difference – from championing mental health and sustainability, to reimagining business for social impact, and shaping policy that uplifts the vulnerable. Some have started ground-up initiatives. Others have led change within their industries or contributed to national conversations.

  7. Here at SUSS, on top of earning a degree, you're also preparing to lead with purpose and serve with heart.

  8. As you embark on this chapter, I would also like to speak about something central to the SUSS identity: Community.

  9. We are a community of learners, thinkers, doers, and changemakers.

  10. This is a place where we choose collaboration over competition. Where your classmates are not your rivals, but your supporters, co-creators, and maybe even lifelong friends.

  11. And what a diverse community we are. Among you are students from all walks of life – some who have come through polytechnic or JC, some through the workforce or unconventional paths. You may differ in age, experience, goals, and even language or culture. But what binds you together is a shared commitment to learn and to make meaning of that learning.

  12. Your time at SUSS will not look the same as your peers’, and that is exactly how it should be. Some of you will sprint, others will pace yourselves. Some are returning to study after years in the workforce; others are just beginning your adult lives. All paths are valid. All journeys are valued.

  13. What matters is that you make the most of your journey here, together. Step into this community fully. Join a student group. Be part of a mentorship circle. Say hello to someone new. Try new things and stretch beyond your comfort zone.

  14. At SUSS, we often say Dream. Dare. Do. These three words encapsulate the spirit we hope you will embody during your time here. To dream is to envision the possibilities beyond the present; to dare is to step forward with courage, even in the face of uncertainty; and to do is to act with purpose and resolve. This is how growth happens, and meaningful impact begins.

  15. You will come to discover that learning at SUSS happens everywhere – in lecture halls, online forums, conversations, group projects, and late-night discussions. You will share moments of doubt and discovery. You will have opportunities to apply what you learn in real-world contexts, and encounter ideas that may change the way you see the world and yourself. You will also discover that some of the most important learning happens outside the classroom.

  16. As you receive your SUSS pin today, wear it proudly, let this pin remind you:
    • That you are capable of achieving more than you imagine.
    • That you are never alone on this journey.
    • And that the future isn’t something that just happens to us. It’s something we build – by dreaming boldly, daring greatly, and doing it together.

  17. Once again, welcome to SUSS.

  18. Thank you.