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SUSS Launches Inaugural Dr Alan Chan Book Prize

The Book Prize celebrates authors of most eligible work from a broad range of genres that best epitomises, inspires and promotes the Singapore Spirit

Singapore, April 18, 2023 – The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) has launched the inaugural Dr Alan HJ Chan Spirit of Singapore book prize to recognise the best spirit of creative writing in Singapore that has a significant impact on societal thinking or issues with a prize of SGD30,000.

Administered by SUSS, the book prize will draw from a SGD1 million donation to the university from Confucian Scholar Dr Alan HJ Chan. A strong believer in education, Dr Chan completed the Advanced Management Programme of Harvard University in July 1979 as a successful entrepreneur in his forties and was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by Bond University, Australia, in February 2014.

The purpose of his gift for the Book Prize is to promote understanding and appreciation of the Spirit of Singapore and the importance of social good in the making of Singapore society. The Spirit of Singapore is broadly defined as the mindset and values that have been indispensable in shaping the development of modern Singapore, such as equality, diversity, religious harmony, meritocracy, pragmatism, resilience, and an emphasis on education, innovation and community. The work could draw on our past, present and future directions for the development of our society and citizenry.

The book, of any genre, must be written in English by a Singaporean or a Permanent Resident of Singapore, published from 2021 to 2022, have a significant Singapore element in its narrative, and be available for sale or distribution to the public. The selection panel includes academics from SUSS and other Autonomous Universities, distinguished writers, critics and publishers.

Associate Professor Ludwig Tan, Dean, School of Humanities and Behavioural Sciences, SUSS, said, “SUSS is proud to launch this important book prize by Dr Alan HJ Chan, which resonates well with our social mission. It celebrates the Singapore Spirit, which is imperative in building a much-needed new social compact for our nation to thrive in an increasingly volatile and unpredictable world. With this new book prize, we hope to champion greater societal thinking and doing in Singapore through the works of our literary talents and inspire more to come onboard this critical journey.”

Submissions can be made from now till 31st May 2023. Interested authors and publishers can learn about the eligibility and rules of submission, and judging criteria from suss.edu.sg/alan-chan-book-prize or contact spiritofsingapore@suss.edu.sg for further enquiries.

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