Yale-NUS College receives strong support from Singapore's education community
Yale-NUS College, Singapore’s first liberal arts college, received its first gift from an educational institution ahead of its official opening in 2013. Adding to the distinguished list of local foundations, families and trusts, as well as multi-national corporations, Yusof Ishak Secondary School (YISS) contributed almost S$20,000 raised from their annual Festival of the Arts 2011 to the Yale-NUS College Endowment Fund on . This fund provides students in need with financial assistance.
“Yusof Ishak Secondary is pleased to support the diversity of educational landscape of Singapore through liberal arts,” said Mr. Richard Chew. “While we have created platforms for students to develop their skills in the arts and aesthetics, we also hope to educate our students on the value of giving back to the educational fraternity that gives them every opportunity to progress”, he added.
The Principal of YISS, Mr. Chew was first moved by the Yale-NUS College project after hearing a speech by Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong. Mr. Lee explained his vision for the first liberal arts college in Singapore as “first of its kind in this part of the world” and how it would play a crucial role in creating a learning environment to prepare the future leaders and global citizens of Singapore.
“To receive such warm support from the community is very meaningful, and we are grateful to all our partners in this endeavour to build liberal arts in education in Singapore,” said Professor Pericles Lewis, President, Yale-NUS College. “We would like to thank Yusof Ishak Secondary School for their kind donation and for educating their students by example about the value of engaging in our community,” he added.
Mrs Doris Sohmen-Pao, Executive Vice President (Administration), Yale-NUS College, attended the school’s 47th Founder’s Day celebration and received the cheque from YISS Principal, Mr Richard Chew on .
