Welcome Speech by SUSS President Professor Tan Tai Yong at SUSS Day 2026

1. Good morning, everyone and welcome to SUSS Day.

2. Following our National Day Observance Ceremony, it is especially meaningful to have more than 1,700 students, alumni, faculty, staff, partners, and family members gathered here today.

3. The spirit of Singapore is built on people coming together with a shared sense of purpose, and your presence here reflects the same spirit of community and belonging that defines SUSS.

4. Last year, we came together for the RAISE Carnival. This year, we have renamed the event SUSS Day to better reflect what it represents: an occasion for our entire community to connect, celebrate, and contribute.

5. While the event name has changed, the values that guide us remain the same. Respect, Adaptability, Integrity, Service, and Empathy continue to shape how we learn, work, and care for one another at SUSS.

6. This afternoon, we will welcome our newest cohort at the First-Year Assembly. To all our first-year students joining us today, welcome to SUSS. We hope you will come to see that SUSS is a place of support, growth, and possibilities.

7. Today also marks the inaugural launch of SUSS Strides 2026, a month-long fundraising initiative that brings our community together through walking, running, cycling, and swimming in support of our students.

8. At SUSS, we believe that education has the power to shape lives, uplift families, and strengthen communities. We are a university designed for the needs of today’s learners and society: one that enables people to learn throughout life, apply their learning with purpose, and contribute to society.

9. This means widening access to education and supporting learners from all walks of life, and at every stage of life, to build better futures for themselves, their families, and society.

10. Many of our students balance their studies with full-time work, caregiving responsibilities, and other commitments at home. 

11. Sometimes, life can take unexpected turns. 

12. A sudden loss of income, rising household expenses, or an unforeseen crisis can place tremendous pressure on a student and raise difficult questions about whether they can continue their studies.

13. At such moments, timely support can make all the difference. It can provide reassurance, restore confidence, and help our students remain focused on their education without having to face these challenges alone.

14. Funds raised through SUSS Strides will support the SUSS Student Care Fund and other SUSS community funds. Since 2019, our Student Care Fund has provided timely financial assistance to over 2,600 students, helping with essential education-related and living needs.

15. This is why every contribution, every participant, and every kilometre matters.

16. Whether you walk, run, cycle, or swim, and whether you take part individually or with your school, colleagues, friends, or family, there is an activity for everyone in SUSS Strides.

17. You do not have to be an athlete. You can simply take part and move with purpose.

18. I have personally committed to completing 202.6 kilometres through walking and running over the course of the challenge. But whether you complete two kilometres or 202.6 kilometres, every stride is an act of support for our students. 

19. At its heart, SUSS Strides is compassion put into action. It shows what becomes possible when a community comes together to uplift and journey alongside those navigating difficult seasons in life. 

20. I warmly invite all of you to join me in going the distance for our students. Together, our individual efforts can become a collective force for good.

21. SUSS Day is also a celebration of what we can achieve when we come together as one community. Today’s programme reflects that collaborative spirit.

22. I would like to thank our colleagues from Advancement, the Student Success Centre, Alumni Relations, Human Resources, Campus Development, Infrastructure, and the Recreation Committee, as well as everyone who has worked behind the scenes to make this day possible. 

23. There is much to look forward to across the Dream, Dare, and Do zones, including games, food, and student-led booths. Do take the time to explore the activities and enjoy the day with your loved ones.

24. But first, it is time for us to take the opening strides together.

25. After these remarks, members of the SUSS community will take part in the SUSS Strides Treadmill Challenge to mark the official launch of the initiative.

26. Let us move with purpose, make every stride count, and go the distance together.