Address by Prof Tan Tai Yong at SUSS-SIA Strategic Launch, 14 March 2023

Remarks by Professor Tan Tai Yong, President, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) at the SUSS-SIA Strategic Launch of co-created programmes for aviation industry, 14 March 2023

• Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education,
• Mr Mak Swee Wah, Executive Vice President, Operations, Singapore Airlines (SIA),
• Captain Quay Chew Eng, Chairman, Singapore Flying College (SFC)
• Captain Eugene Antoni, Chairman-Designate, Singapore Flying College (SFC),
• Our Valued Partners from various sectors, and
• Friends and colleagues from SFC, SIA, SUSS

1. Good morning. It is my pleasure to welcome you to join us at this exciting milestone in our collaboration with the Singapore Flying College (SFC), one of the world’s best -flying colleges, and a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA).
   
   
2. In SUSS, we place great emphasis on partnerships. Not only do these partnerships support enterprises in their transformation, when they are carefully nurtured and are a good fit, they bear fruit in so many ways – from new applied research collaboration, breakthrough innovation that offers novel paradigms, speed to market, business efficiency and more!
   
   
3. Arising from this wide range of collaborations are academic programme innovations, knowledge sharing, community initiatives, work attachments, job redesign and much more.
   
   
4. Many of these strategic collaborations have put us at the forefront of an increasingly diverse and enriching global education space. Our students and faculty continue to benefit greatly from the multi-faceted, real- world challenges and strong industry ties.
   
   
5. Our partnership with SFC is an excellent example that the academia and industry can co-develop programs with useful outcomes. Bringing together both our unique intellectual and market-leading capabilities, the two teams worked closely to ideate and design a new series of unique, differentiated, and specialised learning programmes.
   
   
6. This collaboration has resulted in two innovative programs that we are launching today - the customised Master of Management and the new Minor in Aviation Management programmes.
   
   
7. These programmes will equip Singapore with a pool of skilled professionals with in-depth knowledge and recognised skills sought after by aviation employers. (My colleague, Associate Professor Calvin Chan will share more details of these new programmes later.)
   
   
8. The spirit of collaboration between Academia and Enterprise demonstrates that when we combine SFC’s industry knowledge and SUSS’s expertise in teaching pedagogy, new ideas can flourish and thrive.
   
   
9. As a leading University that has deep expertise in adult education and online learning, SUSS will continue to invest our efforts in strengthening new and existing partnerships. Along with our Centre for Continuing and Professional Education (CCPE) and the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL), we have the capabilities, and capacity, to work with enterprises to help pave the way for engaging and industry-relevant learning experiences for all learners from different walks of life, and various sectors.
   
   
10. To our partners and friends from the SFC and SIA, we are indebted to your passion, and commitment, in working alongside our team in SUSS to make these unique programmes possible.
    
    
11. Our faculty and colleagues have enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with the entire team from SFC. Both sides have learned and accomplished much together, and we look forward to forging a long-term partnership with not just SFC, but also the extended family of SIA. The opportunities before us are many, and like some of us might say - “The Sky is our Limit”!
    
    
12. Thank you.