Speeches

Don’t be afraid to experiment, and test the boundaries of your ideas, even when it strays from what is expected. This is how the best solutions are found. Build prototypes, test them, iterate, and challenge the status quo. You should expect failure. Embrace it, since it is how we all learn.

We believe this partnership will continue to inspire future generations of design innovators and provide many opportunities to both the SUTD family and the wider community in Singapore to bring ideas out of the academic environment into the real world, into the real economy.

Our world is changing fast. We want to help our people keep pace. But no amount of frontloading can prepare our people for an ever-evolving world. Lifelong learning is not just a good-to-have, but a necessity for us to stay competitive and relevant.

The challenges and issues facing us are complex. But I am confident that SUTD has equipped you with the interdisciplinary skills, knowledge and mindset to navigate and seize opportunities in the future economy.

By working together, despite our differences, we can create holistic solutions to complex world problems. So I hope you stay open and connected, and continue to embrace diversity even as you enter the workforce.

SUTD also plays a key role in ensuring the pipeline of STEM talents for Singapore. They offer a unique curriculum that integrates design thinking within practical projects. Their graduates are highly sought after by employers because of their rich skills in interdisciplinary applications.

These achievements demonstrate that SUTD is, indeed, living out your vision by harnessing science and technology to bring about improved outcomes and inspire a better future for all.

The 21st century is fraught with changes and challenges. I deeply believe that SUTD is strategically positioned to nurture excellent, talented individuals who will be able to transform Singapore and the world.

I often think "The harder I work, the luckier I get." That is because you are laying the ground work in your project, preparing yourself for every contingency and when the opportunity comes, you feel you are prepared for it. And you take the opportunity.