Welcome Remarks by SUSS President, Professor Tan Tai Yong at the SUSS Faculty Appreciation Event 2025

Date: 25 Jul 2025

Mrs Mildred Tan, Chairman, SUSS Board of Trustees

Professor Robbie Goh, Provost, SUSS

Esteemed award winners, colleagues and guests


1. Good evening, everyone. I am happy to be here this evening, to celebrate the achievements of our faculty members and to honor the important work that you do. 

2. We gather this evening to celebrate individual excellence as well as the collective spirit that defines our teaching community. Your contributions have shaped the learning journeys of our students, and by extension, the identity and values of SUSS.

3. Our refreshed vision – to be a university that inspires learning for life and impacts lives – is not merely a statement of aspiration. It reflects what many of you are already doing in your classrooms, through your mentorship, and in your continued engagement with students well beyond their time with us.

4. Your commitment to teaching and your students' growth is a vital expression of our mission – to achieve social good through purposeful continuous learning, applied research, and impactful partnerships. Through your efforts, students are acquiring knowledge while learning how to think critically, act responsibly, and serve their communities meaningfully.

5. Each year, this event allows us to shine a spotlight on colleagues who exemplify the best of what teaching at SUSS can be – educators who are deeply committed, who innovate in the classroom, and who challenge students to push their limits.

6. This evening, I’d like to take a moment to mention 11 of our Outstanding Teaching Award recipients whose teaching demonstrate very effective ways of engaging, challenging and inspiring learners, both within and beyond the classroom. These outstanding teachers are: 
  • Mr Lim Sheng Yong
  • Dr Brandon Koh
  • A/Prof Jimmy Wong
  • Ms Wang Wei Ping
  • Ms Ng Chia Hui (in absentia)
  • Ms Lim Jit Sy
  • Dr Lee Huey Woon (in absentia)
  • A/Prof Ferlin Jayatissa
  • A/Prof Huong Ha
  • Mr Ng Yaw Tong

  • And Mr Chua Ming Sing (in absentia)

7. These faculty members remind us that good teaching is never static. It continues to evolve with time, adapt to context, and relate to learners.  Great teaching leaves a lasting impression – shaping not just what students know, but how they grow, and what they eventually become. 

8. As we look ahead, there are exciting developments on the horizon. Our new campus beckons.  The upcoming city campus at Rochor represents more than just a physical move. It is part of our broader commitment to making learning accessible, flexible, and relevant for students across different stages of life. 

9. It also brings new possibilities – for a more robust collaboration, greater outreach, and opportunities for our educators and students to thrive.

10. This year, as Singapore marks SG60, it is a timely moment to reflect on the role of education in our nation-building, and how institutions like SUSS can continue evolving to meet the changing needs of learners, industry, and society. 

11. Having committed and effective teachers is a critical ingredient in this enterprise.

12. Once again, thank you for your passion, perseverance, and presence. I encourage all of you to continue the good work in imparting knowledge and empowering our students to become impactful change-makers of tomorrow.

13. Thank you.