Speech by President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the Conferment Of Degree of Doctor of the University Honoris Causa at the University of Adelaide, 17 June 2014

The Honourable Professor Robert Hill

Chancellor of the University of Adelaide

Professor Warren Bebbington

Vice Chancellor and President

University of Adelaide

Excellencies

Distinguished Guests

Dear Students

Ladies and Gentlemen

I would like to thank the University of Adelaide for bestowing upon me the Degree of the Doctor of the University honoris causa.  I am indeed deeply honoured to join the ranks of the many eminent persons who have preceded me to receive this Degree.   

I undertook my post-graduate studies in the University of Adelaide in the mid-1960s under the supervision of the late Professor R B Potts and was supported by the University’s Research Scholarship. 

I was blessed that my wife could be with me during that period. Though it was not easy, it was most definitely an enjoyable and fruitful time for us - besides graduating with a PhD in Applied Mathematics, my eldest son was born here!  My wife and I remembered fondly the warmth and generosity of our Australian friends and we have been looking forward to returning to this beautiful city.  We are grateful to have had a chance today to take a walk down memory lane. 

The University of Adelaide is the third oldest university in Australia, and has an illustrious history of academic and research excellence.  The University has a vibrant and diverse student body, with more than a quarter of the students hailing from over 90 countries around the world, including Singapore.  There are almost 300 Singapore students presently enrolled in the University of Adelaide.  The University has also undertaken successful efforts to project the Adelaide brand name internationally.  It has established a strong presence in Singapore through the Ngee Ann-Adelaide Education Centre, which offers both undergraduate and post-graduate programmes.  

The University has on-going exchange programmes with two universities in Singapore.  More recently, students from the National University of Singapore have also been participating in the University of Adelaide Winter School.  As an alumnus, I am truly delighted to witness the strengthening of links between my alma mater and Singapore. 

Honourable Chancellor, Australia recognises that education is one of the most tangible means of achieving the Millennium Development Goals and has made a significant impact in bridging the development gap by helping developing countries train their youth and uplift their education standards. 

Since the 1950s, tens of thousands of foreign students have benefitted from an Australian education and have gone on to contribute to their own countries’ progress and development.  Education assistance is a centrepiece of your Overseas Development Aid.

In international fora, you are an active advocate of improving access to, and the quality of, education around the world.  

Singapore is a beneficiary of Australia’s open and generous education policy.  Our education ties were forged in the 1960s when Singapore students came to Australia under the Colombo Plan Scholarship.  Australia has educated many Singapore students since, some of whom have gone on to become industry leaders, politicians and senior government officials.   A former President of Singapore, the late Mr Ong Teng Cheong, graduated from the University of Adelaide, as did current Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Mr S Iswaran. Our Member of Parliament Miss Foo Mee Har, who is here today, is also an Australian alumnus. 

Indeed, around 130,000 Singaporeans are alumni of Australian universities, an impressive figure given the small size of Singapore’s population.  Our dense and longstanding education ties contribute significantly to the deep reservoir of goodwill that exists among Singaporeans for Australia.  In my capacity as Patron of the Australian Alumni together with the High Commissioner, I have met many Singaporeans who retain close ties with their alma maters, including some who provided sponsorships and scholarships to enable other Singaporeans to benefit from an Australian education. 

Australia remains a popular destination for Singaporean students, because of the excellent education standards, diverse range of courses and unique research opportunities that your country offers.  Out of about 50,000 Singaporeans currently living in Australia, more than 6,000 are students.  Singaporeans generally feel very welcome and “at home” in Australia, which is a testament to the open and inclusive environment which you have cultivated.

Our schools and respective education ministries have close links and numerous research collaborations as well as student and staff exchanges.  While our countries may not always have the same solutions to the challenges facing our respective education systems, Singapore continues to look to Australia for innovative and best practices.  

Our educators undertake many study visits to Australia to learn about your systems for English teaching and learning, curriculum development, educational technology, physical and outdoor education, as well as technical and vocational education.  We are grateful that Australia has always been forthcoming and generous in sharing your expertise.  

Education is but one of the key pillars of the longstanding and wide-ranging bilateral ties that Singapore and Australia share.   We enjoy very healthy and robust trade and investment relations.  Singapore is Australia’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, and Australia’s 4^th largest foreign investor.  

Our defence ties remain very strong.   Singapore deeply appreciates Australia’s continued support for our defence training needs.  Honourable Chancellor, in your former capacity as Minister for Defence, you played an important role in fostering this relationship. 

Looking ahead, Singapore will continue to work with Australia to build upon our existing excellent relations, and explore new ways of collaborating bilaterally, regionally and internationally.   In this regard, Australia’s New Colombo Plan serves as an excellent platform to further our cooperation.  Singapore is happy to be amongst the four participants of the pilot phase of the New Colombo Plan.  The first batch of students is already in Singapore and I had the pleasure of meeting some of them recently at the New Colombo Plan reception hosted by the Australian High Commission.  

Over time, these students will act as yet another bridge connecting our two countries.  I am confident that the New Colombo Plan will play an important role in strengthening our education and people-to-people ties. The New Colombo Plan also reflects the Australian government’s broader focus on enhancing its engagement with Asia. 

Australia is an integral part of the region, and has made substantive contributions to stability and progress in the Asia Pacific.  Singapore looks forward to enhancing our partnership with Australia in strengthening the regional architecture. 

Honourable Chancellor, I would like to reiterate my appreciation to the University of Adelaide for this honour.  May I take this opportunity to encourage the further strengthening of links between the University of Adelaide, and Singapore and the region as a whole. 

Thank you.