- Co-launched three academies with local partners in Vietnam and China to expand the SUSS education network
- Academies aim to foster entrepreneurship, innovation and partnerships for regional social impact
- Programmes offered are enriched with experiential learning opportunities to empower students and executives to succeed in the global business arena
The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) has launched its inaugural wave of Success Academies across Asia, starting with cities in Vietnam and China. The setup of the SUSS Success Academies marks a new chapter in the university’s continued growth, to extend its education footprint to foster entrepreneurship, innovation and partnerships for greater social impact across the region.
The Academies will serve as a key nexus for academic and industry partners in Singapore and the region to catalyse partnerships to unlock new experiential learning and real-world training opportunities for students and professionals alike. Grounded on the SUSS commitment to lifelong learning and creating greater good, the Academies will also groom well-rounded future leaders who can excel and make positive contributions in the rapidly evolving world.
The first Success Academy opened in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam last week, through a partnership with Embassy Education, the company behind Vietnam’s first Reggio Emilia preschool and school catered to children with autism. Meanwhile, SUSS co-launched two other Success Academies in Beijing and Shenzhen, China earlier this week, working with long-time partners and local education consultancies, MY CN Hub and Bay Area Network, respectively.
Professor Tan Tai Yong, President of SUSS, said: “SUSS going regional is part of our strategic growth to extend our impact and partnerships from Singapore. With the setup of the SUSS Success Academy, our students will be exposed to dynamic overseas programmes in the form of study trips and internships as well as entrepreneurship experiences that will help them gain a holistic, future-ready education. The Success Academy will also serve a dual function of raising professional competencies of corporates through agile training and development. Our partnership with well-connected overseas partners like Embassy Education, MY CN Hub and Bay Area Network, will open up new learning opportunities for students and organisations, both locally and regionally. We look forward to expanding our education circle in the region and nurturing the next generation of leaders and enterprises in Singapore and beyond."
The Academies offer two tracks: Personal Success and Professional Success, to unlock individual potential and cultivate mindsets for lifelong learning. They seek to expand and elevate cross-learning and entrepreneurial journeys for students, through comprehensive programmes that include experiential learning courses, industry-focused training, work attachments and internships. Students from other institutes of high learning in Singapore will also be invited to co-learn and co-innovate with their peers in the region.
One key initiative is the Impact Start-Up Challenge (ISC). This credit-bearing course offers a platform for SUSS students to learn and experience the startup ecosystem, generate ideas, and test and calibrate their proposals in a real-world setting.
- The SUSS-Embassy Education Success Academy in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam will collaborate with Van Lang University to kick off the ISC course in 2024, focusing on sustainability and social entrepreneurship.
- In Shenzhen, the SUSS-Shenzhen Bay Area Network Success Academy will commence its course in January 2024, focusing on the theme of Technology for Social Good.
SUSS-Embassy Education Success Academy in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
From the left: Mr Thanh Bui, Founder and Chairman of Embassy Education,
Mr Roy Kho, Consul-General, Consulate-General, Republic of Singapore in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Professor Robbie Goh, Provost of SUSS.
PHOTO CREDIT: SUSS and Embassy Education
SUSS-MY CN Hub Success Academy in Beijing, China
Fourth from the left: Mr Timothy Liu, CEO of MY CN Hub, Mr Ma Chao, Beijing Cuihu Sci-Tech Development, Professor Tan Tai Yong, President of SUSS, Mr Lin Jiayi, Counsellor (Political), Head of Political Section, Singapore Embassy in Beijing, China, Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan, First Secretary (Political), Singapore Embassy in Beijing, China. Third from the right: Ms Ammily Lim Xin Bei, First Secretary (Information), Singapore Embassy in Beijing, China.
PHOTO CREDIT: SUSS and MY CN Hub
SUSS-Bay Area Network Success Academy in Shenzhen, China
From the left: Mr He Jun, Party Secretary, College of Management, Shenzhen University,
Ms Charine Yong, Consul (Political), Consulate-General of the Republic of Singapore in Guangzhou, China,
Ms Huang Xiaoying, Managing Director of Bay Area Network, Professor Tan Tai Yong, President of SUSS.
PHOTO CREDIT: SUSS and Bay Area Network
Meanwhile, in Beijing, the SUSS-MY CN Hub Success Academy will coordinate a Venture Builder Programme, allowing trainees to work directly with impact start-ups in local incubators and learn to adapt products for success in China. The programme scheduled for July 2024 will provide hands-on experience in bringing concepts to life.
The Beijing Success Academy will also facilitate a two- to six-month Overseas Work Attachment programme, with companies at Beijing’s Zhongguancun tech hub and Shanghai's financial centre, to name a few. This immersive programme provides real-world insights, cross-industry exposure and valuable mentorship, enhancing students' competitiveness and global employability.
In addition, the Academy will also leverage the SUSS expertise in adult and workplace learning to create professional training and development solutions. Executive and graduate programmes by SUSS will be made directly available to industry partners across the various cities. SUSS will also partner with local institutions to customise training programmes to boost their capability growth for the future.
The strategic partners for the Success Academy in Vietnam and China are upbeat on the potential of the collaboration.
Mr Thanh Bui, Founder and Chairman of Embassy Education, said, "I believe in the power of education to transform lives and society. We are honoured to be working with the Singapore University of Social Sciences, where through our joint Success Academy, we aim to provide students with practical knowledge and relevant industry skills that will prepare them for the ever-changing workplace, and assist them in navigating and innovating the future world. This partnership will be our first venture into the tertiary space and this creates a continuum of education pathways from early years, K-12, and beyond.”
Mr Timothy Liu, CEO of MY CN Hub, said, "We are delighted to witness and be a part of the SUSS expansion into China. We take great pride in our role as strategic partners with SUSS in China's capital, Beijing. Our commitment is to establish an outstanding platform that fosters talent and facilitates communication between both China and Singapore. We believe that the Success Academy will create a significant impact in this area. With SUSS as a strategic partner, we hope to enhance and expand executive and professional training opportunities, as well as creative business solutions to a wider audience."
Ms Huang Xiaoying, Managing Director of Bay Area Network, said, “We are very proud to be the strategic partners of SUSS in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. We will strive to build an excellent platform to connect talents and communications between both sides, and hope that our SUSS-Bay Area Network Success Academy can make an impact in the region.”
SUSS is actively extending its regional educational network by launching the Success Academies across Asia. Plans are underway to establish more Success Academies in the region, including in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand next year.
For more information, please visit: www.suss.edu.sg/success-academy.