Pressroom

At SUTD, it is never business as usual. We are constantly looking at new and innovative ways to do even the most mundane of tasks.

The STEAMunity programme, which stands for “STEAM community” is not just another exercise aimed at encouraging our youth to pick up STEAM or Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, it is much more meaningful.

Spiderman’s Uncle Ben famously said: “With great power comes great responsibility.” I urge all of you to take all that you have learnt during your time here and multiply it when you head back into society.

In a rapidly transforming world, aim to be a “Master of Change” rather than a “victim of change.” As the saying goes, “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain.” This means developing both agility and cognitive flexibility—the ability to learn and adapt strategies when needed.

it is important to cultivate a growth mindset. This mindset embodies the willingness, curiosity, and humility to constantly learn and develop yourself to stay relevant in our complex and uncertain world.

Sustainability principles have always been integrated into the Singapore University of Technology and Design’s interdisciplinary and design-centric curriculum.

Our new Vision, “Trailblazing a Better World by Design”, resonates deeply with every SUTDian aspirations. We will continue to redefine design, education and research, working closely with industry partners throughout the educational journey to nurture technically grounded leaders who embrace risks to continuously innovate for a better tomorrow.

Some time back, I challenged SUTD to continue to pioneer new ways of teaching and learning. I challenged them to learn from the best across the world so that we can develop new models of teaching and learning that is scalable, affordable, accessible. It sounds simple, but perhaps not so easy to achieve.

We have students whose education levels range from those without degrees to those with post-graduate degrees. About a third are in full-time employment and will be juggling studies and work at the same time. Another third are currently unemployed and will be using this opportunity to upskill themselves…

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.