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NTULINK
ISSUE 104 / Jan-Mar 2019
A quarterly magazine for NTU alumni
Inside this issue
Alumni Connect
On the frontlines of the
digital economy
People
Taking graduate education
to greater heights
Navigating
Industry The promises and perils of the
Fourth Industrial Revolution 4.0
CONTENTS
Issue 104 / Jan-Mar 2019
PRESIDENT
Embrace Lifelong Learning
Professor Subra Suresh
SPOTLIGHT
VICE PRESIDENT, ALUMNI & ADVANCEMENT
Professor Alan Chan
Grow with PaCE@NTU
DIRECTORS, ALUMNI AFFAIRS
Mr Soon Min Yam
Mr Th’ng Beng Hooi
NTULINK EDITORIAL TEAM
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Ms Sadia Roohi
The Centre for Professional and EDITORS/WRITERS
Continuing Education (PaCE@ Ms Lau Shu Hui
NTU) supports the local workforce Ms Jennifer Su
and alumni in their professional CONTRIBUTORS
Mr Chong Lub Bun (NBS/1990)
development and lifelong learning Nanyang Business School
journey, enabling them to update their NTU School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences
Wee Kim Wee School of Communication & Information
knowledge and upgrade their skills NTU Class of 1976 Yokyakarta and Solo Trip
Organising Committee
to keep pace with the fast-changing NTU Alumni Toastmasters Club
economy. NTU Buddhist Society Alumni
NTU Chinese Medicine AA
NTU Hall of Residence Seven AA
06
NTU School of Biological Sciences AA
We offer short courses, mobile learning NTU School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering AA
NTU School of Humanities AA
courses, semester-long courses, and NTU School of Materials Science & Engineering AA
part time engineering degree which are NTU School of Social Sciences AA
navigating
NTUAA (Anhui)
approved and funded by SkillsFuture NTUAA (Fujian)
Series. Courses approved under this NTUAA (GCC)
NTUAA (Malaysia)
industry 4.0
series receive funding of 70% and NTUAA (Shanghai)
NTUAA (Sichuan)
90% for its course fees. NTUAA (Taiwan)
PUBLISHING CONSULTANT
Upcoming Short Courses Wildtype Media Group Pte. Ltd.
NTULink is a quarterly magazine mailed free to all alumni
PEOPLE
3D Printing for Rapid Product of NTU. Articles and Classnotes from alumni are most
welcome. Whilst care has been taken in compiling the
Development contents of this magazine, we assume no responsibility for
22, 25, 26 and 27 March 2019 the effects arising there from. Opinions expressed therein
do not necessarily represent those of the Alumni Affairs
Office, Nanyang Technological University, or the publisher.
Software Optimisation for Embedded All information is correct at press time.
Systems
02 22
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26 to 27 March 2019 Editor - NTULink Alumni Affairs Office
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MESSAGE FROM ALUMNI CONNECT
Tel: 6514 1078
Advanced Manufacturing
14
Fax: 6792 5048 THE PRESIDENT
28 to 29 March 2019 Email: alumniaffairs@ntu.edu.sg On The Frontlines of the
Website: www.ntu.edu.sg/alumni
Digital Economy
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04 Jack Ma’s True Mission is
A Keen AI For Innovation
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The NTULink magazine is printed on environmentally
A Grandfather’s Love
Sparks Charity CLASS MEMOS 51
friendly paper. A Springboard for Success NTU SNAPSHOT
Message from
the President
Dear Alumni,
Time flies, and we have entered a brand new year, the Lab. More than just develop
beginning of my second year as President of NTU. I hope innovative products and
2019 is off to a great start for all of you. re c i p e s , t h e j o i n t l a b
It has certainly been a roaring start for NTU as our will investigate greener
university was invited for the first time by the World Economic packaging and methods
Forum to join the Global University Leaders Forum, a select to convert food waste into
group of only 28 prominent universities in the world. At valuable substances, thus
the annual meeting in Davos this year, NTU, together with reducing the strain on the
the National University of Singapore, hosted the inaugural Earth’s natural resources.
Singapore panel session on “Globalisation 4.0: Technology & Beyond our planet, we are also proud to announce that NTU
Innovation for Humanity”. I was honoured to moderate the successfully deployed its ninth satellite, the AOBA VELOX-
ARE YOU READY TO LEAD
panel comprising Mr Heng Swee Keat, Singapore’s Minister IV nanosatellite, into space in January this year. It carries
for Finance; Mr Lim Chow Kiat, CEO of Singapore’s sovereign new technologies that will be tested and validated in space,
wealth fund GIC, an NTU alumnus, and a member of the NTU and our scientists plan to use the findings to build satellites
Board of Trustees; Professor Suzanne Fortier, Principal and robust enough to withstand what would be Singapore’s first
IN INDUSTRY 4.0?
Vice-Chancellor of Canada’s McGill University; and Mr Dion lunar mission, which may be achievable within five years.
Weisler, President & CEO of HP Inc. Amidst these research advances, NTU’s focus on teaching
Our broad ranging discussion touched on how innovation, has never wavered. To further our educational mission, we
technology, skills and economic development will be critical were fortunate to receive a S$4 million gift from the Estate of
to the advancement of a new socioeconomic world order. The Irene Tan Liang Kheng to establish and endow new master’s
convergence of the physical, digital and biological worlds is degree scholarships and grants at the National Institute of
occurring at an unprecedented pace, leaving great societal Education. With matching by the Singapore government, a
change in its wake and bringing forth new challenges, as total endowment of S$7.25 million will go towards supporting Young and research-intensive, Nanyang EXECUTIVE CERTIFICATE IN
well as opportunities. teacher training and development. Madam Tan’s Estate has
set an inspiring example for commitment and passion in Technological University (NTU Singapore) ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP
With Industry 4.0, many researchers and manufacturers
will embrace advanced machines to accelerate the digital support of education. is ranked 12th globally. It is also placed 1st Leading Business
transformation of their processes. NTU has a critical role to We cannot emphasise enough how important the
play in this transformation, and our colleagues in the College international NTU alumni network is to the University, and among the world’s best young universities. - Value Creation through Finance
of Engineering have partnered with Germany’s Max Planck I do my best to visit our overseas alumni whenever I can. While - Innovation Marketing
Institute of Colloids and Interfaces to launch a joint lab in South Korea in November last year, I had the pleasure of
focusing on advanced materials, ‘skin’ electronics, biomedical meeting some of our alumni in Seoul. It was heartwarming Challenges in today’s complex and disruptive workplace require
Leading Innovation
engineering, and artificial intelligence (AI). This work aims to witness how much our alumni value the relationship with engineering leaders to have multi-disciplinary skills beyond their
- Design Thinking for Market Success
to take robotics and medical technologies to the next level their alma mater, no matter where they are based. I urge all technical expertise.
by combining human senses with machine learning. of our alumni to continue to engage with us as the individual - Technology & Business Model
In medical technology too, we will see the arrival of and collective impact of our alumni on Singapore, the region, Innovation
Designed by distinguished faculty of Nanyang Business School, our
many smart medical devices that rely on AI and sensing and the world continues to grow significantly.
technologies. A research team from NTU and Tan Tock Seng I extend my best wishes for success and satisfaction in Executive Certificate in Engineering Leadership equips professionals Leading People
Hospital, for example, has invented a smart handheld medical your professional and personal activities, and look forward in the engineering and manufacturing industries with cutting-edge - Leading in the Digital Age
device that could enable early intervention for patients to seeing you at one of our many alumni events in Singapore management skills in business, innovation and leadership that will - Leading Across Cultures
with congestive heart failure. The portable diagnostic tool or abroad. help them advance their careers. - Powering Self & Team Performance
lets patients check for excess fluid in the lungs—a common
symptom of congestive heart failure—from the comfort of - Communicating with Impact
their homes. Yours sincerely, The programme starts on 22 May 2019. SkillsFuture funding is
As much as we are concerned with the health of people, the available up to 95%*. Please visit www.execed.ntu.edu.sg or
health of our planet is just as important. At NTU, we remain Subra Suresh email nep@ntu.edu.sg for more details. CONNECT WITH US
committed to sustainability, manifested in our recent launch President,
of the Fraser & Neave-NTU Food and Beverage Innovation Nanyang Technological University, Singapore nanyangbusinessschool
* Terms and conditions apply
www.nbs.ntu.edu.sg
04 ON CAMPUS ISSUE 104 / JAN–MAR 2019 05
Forging Ahead
A VISION OF BETTER EYE
TREATMENT
Currently, eye diseases such as glaucoma and macular
& PUSHING BOUNDARIES degeneration are treated using localised methods such as
eye drops and ointments. While doctors may sometimes
prescribe eye injections, such treatments can be painful and
carry a risk of infection and eye damage.
To overcome these problems, researchers led by NTU
Professor Chen Peng developed a proof-of-concept patch
covered with biodegradable microneedles that allows controlled
FROM LEFT NTU’S COLLEGE OF
NTU’s Prof Luke drug delivery to the eye. Each needle, thinner than a strand of
Kang Kwong SCIENCE GETS NEW DEAN hair, is made of hyaluronic acid—a substance found in the eye—
Kapathy and
Asst Prof Lim and is shaped like a pyramid for optimal tissue penetration.
Ni Eng carried Professor Simon Redfern, an experimental They found that the drug-containing microneedles detached
out a study with ABOVE
Tan Tock Seng materials physicist and expert in mineral physics, Each needle of the eye patch designed by NTU scientists is thinner than a human hair and can and stayed in the cornea of mice, releasing drugs over time
Hospital’s has been appointed as the new Dean of the College deliver drugs over prolonged periods of time. as they dissolved.
Asst Prof Png
of Science at NTU. He will take over the reins from
Keng Siang
to better Professor Chee Yeow Meng, the College’s interim
understand Dean, in August 2019.
communication
No stranger to cutting-edge research that
DIAGNOSING A BROKEN HEART
betwen doctors
and patients. influences policy, Prof Redfern has been the
Head of the Earth Sciences Department at the One in five people worldwide run the risk of developing
University of Cambridge and a member of the UK congestive heart failure and the risk of disease onset
MAKE ME FEEL AT EASE, DOC government committee on increases with age. Conventionally, to detect the condition,
radioactive waste disposal doctors check for fluid accumulation in the lungs, perform
While medical knowledge is important, frequent and empathetic since 2016. His research medical imaging or rely on blood-based tests. These
communication between doctors and patients is an equally critical interests include the methods must be performed in a clinic or hospital, can be
aspect of healthcare. To better understand interactions in the context study of how the costly and require a longer time to complete.
of medicine, researchers at NTU and Tan Tock Seng Hospital studied structure, dynamics Scientists at NTU have thus invented a portable device that
verbal and non-verbal exchanges between clinicians and their patients. and properties of records breathing sounds and relies on artificial intelligence
“We found that when doctors pick up on [patients’] concerns or fears, crystalline solids in and to diagnose congestive heart failure. NTU Associate Professor
they usually try to volunteer more information, for example, by talking on Earth impact broader Ser Wee, who led the study, noted that the device could
ABOVE
about anaesthetics or risks, or by describing the procedure in detail, but environmental processes. identify patients with congestive heart failure with 92 percent Medical students getting hands-on experience with anatomically accurate, 3D
this does not reassure them,” said Professor Luke Kang Kwong Kapathy, accuracy—comparable to the existing ‘gold standard’ diagnostic printed organs.
ABOVE
who leds the study. Instead, the doctor could describe how previous Prof Simon Redfern will begin his term as the new Dean of the methods such as X-rays and CT scans.
patients responded positively to the procedure, he suggested. College of Science, NTU, in August 2019.
MEDICAL EDUCATION GETS A
SHOT IN THE ARM
A S$4 MILLION BOOST FOR TEACHING Imagine being able to hold a realistic model of an organ or
a body part in your hands. Doctors-in-training at NTU’s Lee
NTU has announced a S$4 million gift from the Estate of Irene Tan Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) will be able
Liang Kheng to establish and endow new master’s degree scholarships to do just that under a collaboration with the Singapore
and grants at the National Institute of Education. With matching funds Centre for 3D Printing at NTU. The 3D-printed specimens
by the Singapore Government, a total endowment of S$7.25 million come in varying materials, colours, hardness and flexibility
will go towards supporting teacher training and development. to mimic the properties of anatomical structures in a real
Up to eight scholarships will be given out annually, each valued human body.
at S$10,000 per scholarship for subsidised students and S$20,000 per LKCMedicine is also looking into novel approaches to
scholarship for non-subsidised students. In addition, several grants teaching, including a medical tutor powered by artificial
totalling S$290,000 over two years will also be set up to support service intelligence and a mobile app featuring virtual 3D animated
learning projects and innovations in teaching and learning, among other specimens. “Our mission is to train a new generation of doctors
ABOVE initiatives. The Estate is also contributing S$85,000 for a new showcase who know how and when to use the latest technology, while
Mr Tan Hsuan Heng (right), Trustee of the Estate of Mdm Irene Tan Liang Kheng, ABOVE
presenting the S$4 million gift to NTU Vice President (Alumni and Advancement) of books in the CJ Koh Collection at the NIE Library and Information (From left) Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s Assoc Prof David Foo and NTU Assoc Prof never losing sight of what matters the most—the patient,”
Prof Alan Chan (left) and NIE Director Prof Christine Goh. Services Centre. Ser Wee helped develop a portable device for detecting congestive heart failure. said LKCMedicine Dean Professor James Best.
06 SPOTLIGHT ISSUE 104 / JAN–MAR 2019 07
navigating industry
4.0
M
The promises and perils of the
Fourth Industrial Revolution.
ore than five decades
ago, American singer-
songwriter Bob Dylan
wrote The Times They
A re A - C h a n g i n’ , a
poignant, if somewhat
melancholic anthem
that is eerily prophetic about the state of the world
today. With lines like ‘admit that the waters around
you have grown’ and ‘your old road is rapidly ageing’,
Dylan alludes to transition—revolution even—and
suggests that those who resist change do so in vain.
Indeed, the pace of change is more rapid now than
ever before, much of it driven by technology. Artificial
Intelligence (AI) is weaving itself into business
processes and consumer devices, the Internet
of Things (IoT) is helping to track and trace
everything from logistics to personal health,
and advances in additive manufacturing or
3D printing are modifying the way goods
are being created.
With these innovations and
more, huma nk ind is now
ex per iencing what is
being called the Fourth
Industrial Revolution,
or Industry 4.0.
08 SPOTLIGHT ISSUE 104 / JAN–MAR 2019 09
“Take China as an example. It manufactures 70 percent
of all personal computers and 90 percent of all cell phones
but is 75 percent less productive than similar manufacturing
Facts and figures
“New jobs will be environments in the West,” said Professor Guido Gianasso, of Industry 4.0
50%
Professor (Practice) in Global Leadership and Associate
created, as has Dean (Corporate Engagement and Relations) at NTU's
College of Business. By developing or adopting digital tools of current work activities
happened with and advanced manufacturing methods, China could ramp
up its mass production output and capture an even larger
could be automated at
existing levels of technology
previous Industrial share of global markets, he said.
But more than just improve productivity, Industry Work activities most likely to be automated:
Revolutions—we just 4.0 technologies also create opportunities for greater
personalisation of products and services, explained Predictable
don’t know what kind Professor Louis Phee, Dean of NTU’s College of Engineering.
In the past, most companies took a one-size-fits-all
physical labour
of jobs they are.” approach to designing and fabricating goods. Now, with
technologies such as 3D printing, factories can churn out Data Data
highly-customised goods in an efficient and economical collection processing
manner, ultimately translating to more diverse choices
– Professor Guido Gianasso and optimised outputs for consumers. By 2030,
400
Importantly, a bespoke product no longer has to be
15%
designed and built in one place. Rather, companies can of work
Unlike the industrial revolutions of the past which leverage cloud-based platforms on the internet to remotely could be
enabled mechanisation, mass production and mass coordinate their production processes across multiple displaced by
communication, Industry 4.0 is altering not only what we geographies. So as much as Industry 4.0 technologies are a automation million jobs lost
do and how we do things, but also forcing us to confront boon for the factory of the world (Asia), they help establish
3% 75
questions about the nature of work and what it means a global factory where factors of production can move freely of the workforce million
to be human. before being assembled into a final form for the market. could need workers
“The convergence of the physical, digital and biological to change need to be
worlds is occurring at an unprecedented pace, leaving occupations retrained
great societal change in its wake and bringing forth new
challenges as well as opportunities,” said NTU President
Professor Subra Suresh at the inaugural Singapore How fast automation takes over depends on:
panel session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Productivity,
Switzerland, themed ‘Globalisation 4.0: Technology personalisation and Technical feasibility
& Innovation for Humanity’. “Innovation, technology, decentralisation Cost of developing and deploying solutions
skills and economic development will be critical to the
advancement of Industry 4.0," Prof Suresh said. Arguably, the impact of Industry 4.0 will be felt most Labour market dynamics
greatly in Asia, dubbed the factory of the world. With its Economic benefits
younger population, growing middle class and developing
economy, the injection of the right technologies could lead Regulatory and social acceptance
to a significant boost in the region’s productivity.
But new jobs could be created in:
130 50 20
million million million
Healthcare Technology Energy
Adapted from McKinsey Global Institute's, ‘Jobs lost, jobs gained: Workforce
transitions in a time of automation’ report, 2017
10 SPOTLIGHT ISSUE 104 / JAN–MAR 2019 11
“You need to know
how robots and
computers work,
deeply enough that
you don’t make
judgements about
these technologies
based on hype.”
– Professor Nadia Thalmann
24 hours a day to provide such services. This could change
with robotic caregivers.
Nonetheless, Prof Thalmann thinks that much more
work needs to be done to take robots and AI out of factories
and hospitals and into people’s homes. “What is complex
is the relationship between humans and robots, because
Plugging gaps with in professional settings, the service quality provided by
automation robots has to be on par with that of humans,” she noted.
Seeking to overcome this barrier, Prof Thalmann has
Going beyond manufacturing, Industry 4.0 technologies built Nadine, a robot that recognises people, simulates
such as robotics and AI are also expected to have a profound emotions and can hold conversations in six different
influence on medicine. A mechanical engineer by training, languages. Deployed in professional contexts, such as
Prof Phee builds surgical robots and can envision a future in the role of a receptionist, Nadine is revealing the
where the convergence of Big Data, machine learning shortcomings of human-robot relations and may eventually
and advanced robotics will allow doctors to provide more help intelligent machines better integrate with society.
consistent, high-quality treatments to a larger number of
patients. More crucially, Prof Phee highlighted that these Whither the new jobs?
technological developments will help society cope with
a rapidly ageing population—a silver tsunami for which Amidst the optimism surrounding Industry 4.0, many have
society is not adequately prepared for. raised concerns about the availability of jobs in a modern
Professor Nadia Thalmann, Director of the Institute for economy that values automation. A McKinsey report
Media Innovation at NTU, shares this view, adding that estimated that 50 percent of existing work activities can
maintaining a good quality of life for seniors—especially be automated, which means that layoffs are inevitable.
those with physical disabilities or dementia—involves more Yet, new jobs will be created, as has happened with
than “just feeding and washing them”. Social interaction previous Industrial Revolutions—we just don’t know what
and mental stimulation are just as necessary in elder care, kind of jobs they are, said Prof Gianasso. The question,
but it simply costs too much to have someone on standby then, is how do we prepare the workforce for the future?
12 SPOTLIGHT ISSUE 104 / JAN–MAR 2019 13
ALUMNI’S THOUGHTS ON INDUSTRY 4.0
“Industry 4.0 brings exciting opportunities as it takes human potential
“My advice would to the next level by leveraging data, smart analytics and digital
be to go deep into automation. But with greater digital interconnectivity, we also need
to pay attention to areas like cybersecurity. Another aspect to think
one core area of about is regulation, which would play a huge role in enabling newer
competency, but then ways of working while keeping societal interests in check.”
also have a superficial – Mr Abhimanyu Bhola
(NBS/2005)
understanding of
adjacent fields.”
– Professor Louis Phee “Previously, we would purchase
“With more products that are mass manufactured and
In Prof Thalmann’s opinion, a digital skillset is essential
intelligent standardised. In the future, we may be able
for thriving in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. “You may systems, to enjoy products that are customised for
be an economist or a social scientist, but you need to know
how robots and computers work, deeply enough that you production could each of us.”
don’t make judgements about these technologies based
on hype,” she said. be faster, better – Mr Hendri Zhang (EEE/2007)
This is especially important if society wants leaders
who can steer innovation in a positive direction. Today,
and cheaper.
technology is running ahead of regulations and policies, This can be a “The internet has “Many companies pursue
and surprisingly, it is the innovators who are nudging
policy makers to draw up rules governing things like AI good thing if commoditised data relentlessly in the
information, hopes of winning the race
and autonomous vehicles, added Prof Phee.
the objective is
Academia also has a role to play in helping society better and work in a team, and to be agile in their learning,”
and success in the marketplace. But
understand emerging technologies and their implications, Prof Gianasso said, emphasising that the ability to cope to improve the belongs to those it is the extent to which
so the education system needs to produce individuals that with rapidly changing scenarios, paradoxes and conflicting
are strong technically. Prof Thalmann thus suggested agendas will grant job seekers a competitive edge in the quality of human who can react to companies leverage data
that “at least one-quarter to one-third of the courses in global workforce.
any curriculum should touch on computer science and The private sector can also help workers stay relevant life. However, information quickly meaningfully that gives
data science”. in Industry 4.0, Prof Gianasso added. “The most important
technology could and effectively. them a competitive edge
change is in the mindset of the senior management teams.
They need to understand that the money that goes into also lead to a Embracing the over others. Today’s
Softening the blow of training is a high return investment,” he said. tools provided by managers must equip
disruption But at the end of the day, the onus is on the individual race between themselves with data-
Industry 4.0 would
On the other hand, universities should not neglect
to never stop learning. Those who are content with the
knowledge and skills they already have run the risk of
organisations and therefore prevent intelligence transformation
equipping their graduates with soft skills. Ironically, becoming obsolete as new technologies emerge, said countries to outdo one from falling skills to compete effectively
these come at a premium in an age of technology, precisely Prof Phee.
because they cannot be easily replicated by automation. “We all have to be like the Transformers and change one another.” behind.” using actionable insights.”
“While having a digital skillset is important, we must with the times. My advice would be to go deep into one
– Mr Adrian Chye (SCSE/2004) – Mr Roderick Chia (EEE/1998) – Dr Joan Gan Chui Goh (EEE/1990)
also train our graduates to operate across geographical core area of competency, but then also have a superficial
and cultural boundaries, to be able to build relationships understanding of adjacent fields,” he concluded.
14 PEOPLE ISSUE 104 / JAN–MAR 2019 15
A KEEN AI FOR
Innovation
Ms Annabelle Kwok (SPMS/2015) is pushing the envelope of artificial
intelligence and having lots of fun while at it.
F
or someone who describes herself as lazy, my A-levels. Before that, my math teacher in junior college
Ms Annabelle Kwok has an impressive list would say “Annabelle, you will never be good at mathematics”.
of achievements and accolades to her name. That made me a bit angry, so I started studying and I got very
The 26-year-old Taekwondo black belt who good at mathematics very, very quickly.
graduated from NTU’s School of Physical and After the A-level results were released, my mathematics
Mathematical Sciences in 2014 has represented Singapore in teacher asked me, “Annabelle, what will you be studying in
international youth programmes, volunteered in Thailand university?” Mathematics, of course!
and rural Africa, founded two technology companies—
SmartCow and NeuralBay, and was shortlisted as a finalist Could you tell us how you got involved in the
for the Straits Times Singaporean of the Year 2018 award. field of AI?
She also kicked off 2019 with a trip to Hawaii, where she
and 20 other dynamic individuals met with ex-US President Well, I picked up programming in primary school, did H2
Barrack Obama to help craft the Obama Foundation’s Asia- computing for A-levels, and my major at NTU was in
Pacific Leaders Programme. “President Obama has two modes: mathematics, all of which are useful for building AI. Back
the charismatic on-stage mode and the ‘let’s get down and then, I was interested in image processing, so I took some
work, no-nonsense’ mode,” she said, recalling her second image processing classes under NTU’s math faculty and did else is perfect. But when you talk about real-world conditions, has worked for the past ten years, they tend to assume very
encounter with the world leader—the first was four years ago. some crossover modules from computer science. What I didn’t such as when you want to recognise an apple from 200 photos completely that it will work for the next ten years. But that’s
To Ms Kwok, being busy does not equate to being productive. realise was that the concepts used to build image processing taken from different places at different times of the day, with not the case in this Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Instead, she prefers to wait around for that ‘aha!’ moment, applications were relevant to creating AI as well. different quality of cameras, there’s a lot of moving variables So we’re seeing a very deep technical disparity emerging.
then spend the next few hours fleshing out an idea. “If you One of the visiting professors at NTU who taught me a lot to consider. So what we do at NeuralBay is train a software to If we continue glorifying how fast everybody’s innovating
keep yourself busy all the time, good ideas are not going to about image processing is Professor Alfred Bruckstein. He let recognise the apple under many different scenarios. without paying attention to inclusiveness, we are going to
come to you,” she quipped. me crash his class meant for graduate students. Because it To better answer your question, one interesting project run into social problems very soon.
In this interview with NTULink, Ms Kwok shares how she was a small class and there was less exam pressure, I felt like that I’m working on is using AI-assisted image processing to
“accidently” stumbled into the booming artificial intelligence I had a lot more space to ask random questions about concepts improve accountability at toll gates. In doing so, authorities
(AI) industry and explains what excites her in this age of that were not in the curriculum, and I thought that was great can better keep track of the number and types of vehicles What advice do you have for a young person
technological disruption. for promoting curiosity. passing through an area, and whether those numbers tally to thrive in a technology-driven age?
So yeah, my entry into the field of AI was very accidental. with the toll fees collected.
Why did you enrol yourself in a mathematics Then came the sudden surge in interest in AI and people started Don’t just look at the glory of building technology; pay
degree programme at NTU? saying “hey, let’s talk to her” because I was already working on it. What are your thoughts about innovation in attention also to the ethical responsibility that comes with
the modern economy? it. The jobs of today are more than just about needing to put
To make mama happy, lah! I actually had a full-time job offer What is one interesting project that you are food on the table, and the jobs of tomorrow will be more than
after I left junior college. It’s a very traditional Singaporean working on right now? I’m excited that today we are more connected than ever before just about muscle and brains—they will be about heart. So
mindset where as a parent, you get some form of closure only because of technology. I’m also proud that we have become invest your time and effort into a job that is meaningful, that
when your child graduates from university. So I pretty much At NeuralBay, we’re developing AI for image and video smarter and stronger as a species. has purpose and that resonates well with your value system,
decided: OK, I will go to university, but that doesn’t mean I processing, which essentially means getting machines to However, I worry about technical and financial disparity. and choose carefully.
have to do well in university! recognise people, objects and text. It’s more difficult than Big corporations are innovating so much faster than the Along the way, there will be a lot of temptation to go for
I chose the easiest course—mathematics. There are just people think. smaller companies. I think smaller companies don’t have the the highest-paying job or project, but ask yourself: are you
ten numbers, right? Zero to nine. How hard can it be? Having When you have a scanned document, AI can easily make resources to have their own innovation labs, but at the same sure you are using your skill in the right way that allows you
said that, I only became proficient at mathematics in time for sense of it because the lighting, orientation and everything time, they don’t see the urgency to innovate—if something to sleep soundly at night?
16 PEOPLE ISSUE 104 / JAN–MAR 2019 17
TAKING GRADUATE EDUCATION TO
Greater
Heights
Dean of NTU’s Graduate College Professor K. Jimmy Hsia shares how
the College is helping to shape graduate education and research at NTU.
W
hile it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, Science Foundation, Prof Hsia is no stranger to refining graduate
graduate education and qualifications beyond education programmes at institutions of higher learning.
the bachelor’s degree do carry some perks Now at NTU, he has formed the Graduate College Executive
when it comes to job hunting. As employers Committee, responsible for reviewing, debating, evaluating
demand stronger leadership skills and deeper and eventually recommending new initiatives and changes
technical know-how, higher qualifications like the Master of to graduate education programmes.
Business Administration and the Doctor of Philosophy can give Already, Prof Hsia notes the need to develop policies and
aspirants an edge in a job market that is increasingly global processes to guarantee that the quality of graduate education is
and competitive. high and relatively uniform across the various schools in NTU.
Universities, being hubs of higher education and Currently, some graduate education programmes are better
vocational training, have a role to play in tailoring education designed than others in terms of structure, content or course
programmes that equip individuals with the knowledge load. What the Graduate College seeks to accomplish is assess
and skills to thrive in the modern economy. As one of the these success stories, identify best practices, then share them
world’s top young universities, NTU is seeking to do more to with other schools so that they too may implement strategies
improve the scale, scope, quality and impact of its graduate that benefit their graduate students.
education and research. “Some programme elements have worked out beautifully
“We have 37 PhD degree programmes and more than 70 for some schools and produced highly versatile and capable
master’s degree programmes at NTU,” said Professor K. Jimmy graduate students. We don’t know whether those practices can
Hsia, founding Dean of the Graduate College, NTU. “Many of be transplanted to other schools, but the Graduate College should
them are ripe for review because ten years ago, the standards, at least be the body that gathers and safeguards institutional
the faculty and the students were very different.” knowledge of what’s important and critical for successful
graduate education,” said Prof Hsia.
Excellence across the board
No more silos
Having served as the Associate Dean of the Graduate College
and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research at the University In addition to sharing best practices, Prof Hsia wants to
of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the Founding Director of strengthen the interdisciplinary aspect of graduate education
the Nano & Bio Mechanics Programme at the US National and research at NTU. Graduate education programmes run by18 PEOPLE ISSUE 104 / JAN–MAR 2019 19
individual schools and colleges tend to be structured according like the Energy Research Institute @ NTU and corporate/joint
to their specialty disciplines, and this forms an intrinsic barrier
to interdisciplinary thinking.
laboratories such as the Alibaba-NTU Singapore Joint Research
Institute, graduate students will have numerous opportunities NTU’s Graduate College
“You do need in-depth understanding of a particular field to carry out interdisciplinary research with real-world impact.
in order to do high quality research in science and engineering “What the Graduate College can also do is support the
Raising the standards of:
fields. But by exposing students to multiple different disciplines, concept of interdisciplinary education and research. If a faculty
new ideas come up and perhaps new fields can be developed,” member proposes a ‘crazy’ idea that demands an unconventional
Prof Hsia said. Hence, the Graduate College is helping schools mix of disciplines, as long as the idea has merits, we can provide
tweak their graduate education programmes such that students him or her with resources such as PhD scholarships to develop
14
are given the option to explore areas beyond their core discipline. the idea further,” he said.
>70
Graduate education programmes will also be better aligned
with NTU’s ‘peaks of excellence’—sustainable Earth, secure PhD
Broadening horizons Programmes Master’s Degree
“
community, healthy society and global Asia—meant to address
national needs and global issues. Together with research centres
Beyond interdisciplinary research and technical competency,
Programmes
Prof Hsia thinks that graduate students should also be trained in
Twenty years communication and writing, research integrity and ethics, and
have opportunities to learn something about entrepreneurship,
Across 4 peaks of excellence: What graduate students stand to gain:
after you
1
leadership and other soft skills.
“Twenty years after you graduate, how much of the technical Sustainable Earth
stuff you learnt in university would still be relevant and used As humankind and life forms evolve, their
graduate, how much heavily? Quite a bit may have become obsolete. What would
still be relevant as you rise along the career ladders are your
relationship with the environment also changes.
Sustainability and the Earth’s ability to meet the needs of
of the technical soft skills, such as communication and persuasion,” both current and future generations is a growing global
i
he said. concern. Research on clean water, alternative energy,
stuff you learnt For example, to help graduate students
become better communicators, the Graduate
clean technologies and geological risks will thus be
critical in the 21st century. nterdisciplinary mindset
+ skills in
in university
College has established a requirement
2
for communications training for all
Secure Community
C
PhD students. The programme
would still be includes an intensive 39-hour
course that focuses on helping
Singapore is undergoing rapid digital
transformation, and talent will be needed to ommunication and writing
relevant and students present their technical
ideas and research findings
position the country as one of the key strategic media
centres in the Asia-Pacific region. Hence, laterally
used heavily?
translating new media research into teaching and learning
L
in an accessible manner, be it
in speech or in writing, and a pedagogies will better prepare students for the workforce.
eadership
Quite a bit may
university-wide three-minute
3
thesis competition as a means to Healthy Society
get graduate students to condense Countries all over the world are facing tremendous
have become
E
their entire thesis into a succinct challenges as their populations age and chronic
yet understandable presentation for a diseases become increasingly commonplace. To cope ntrepreneurship
obsolete. What non-expert audience.
Prof Hsia further noted that it was important
with the rising burden of healthcare, society needs
a convergence of medicine, health, engineering,
would still be relevant to engage the right schools to provide the best training in technology, science, business and humanities.
A
specific soft skill areas. This entails working closely with the
as you rise along the
4
Wee Kim Wee School of Communications and Information and rtificial Intelligence and
the Nanyang Business School, among others, to add value to Global Asia
Bringing a new focus and understanding to the machine learning
career ladders are
graduate education programmes.
“What we want, at the end of the day, are individuals who rapid transformation of Asia and its linkages to
R
are not just comfortable working at the interface of different the rest of the world, the Global Asia peak of excellence
your soft skills.” scientific fields, but who can also be leaders and advocates for
their research on the global stage,” said Prof Hsia.
integrates business studies, social sciences, the
humanities and the natural sciences to contribute to the
esearch integrity
and ethics
national development of Singapore in the Asian context.
– Professor K. Jimmy Hsia20 PEOPLE ISSUE 104 / JAN–MAR 2019 21
A history of giving
A GRANDFATHER’S LOVE
Sparks
The Sellappah Scholarship is named after Mr
Raj’s late grandfather, Mr K.N. Sellappah, who
was a mentor to Mr Raj and a staunch advocate
for education. Born in 1913 in Sri Lanka to a poor
family, Mr Sellappah became a school teacher
Charity
before selling what he could to journey to Malaya
in search of a better life.
D u r i n g t h e s e c o n d Wo r l d Wa r, h e
was kidnapped and forced to work on the
construction of the infamous Thai-Burma Death
Railway. Fortunately, Mr Sellappah survived that
ordeal to live a long and fulfilling life. He passed
Mr Pravin Raj (NBS/2018) shares how his away in 2006 at 92 years of age but left behind
grandfather inspired him to establish the Sellappah valuable lessons on the importance of discipline,
education, perseverance and community service
Scholarship at the Nanyang Business School. to his grandson.
“He played a big role in my life. I always looked up Mr Pravin Raj at the 8th Nanyang
to him,” said Mr Raj, describing his late grandfather as MBA Olympics.
a “calm and composed” person whom his family could
always turn to for advice. “He was not a strict disciplinarian,
but did things with a lot of love, and inspired you to do better.” One such scenario etched into Mr Raj’s memory is the
day he showed a perfect test score to his grandfather. “He
I
f you graduated from the Nanyang looked at it and said, ‘You can improve on the handwriting’.
Business School’s Master of Business I smile when I think about it today. That was something he
Administration (MBA) programme in July instilled in me: it is good to pat yourself on the back when
2018, you would have had Mr Pravin Raj you have done well, but also constantly strive to be better,
as your fellow coursemate. Cutting a not just for yourself, but for other people. Always think about
confident and convincing figure during presentations, how you can do more.”
the 34-year-old Strategic Planning Manager (Asia Pacific)
at automation solutions provider Emerson emcees
events, delivers public speaking training on a part-time Many drops make a shower
basis and was President of the NBS MBA Student
Executive Council from 2017-2018. Mr Sellappah’s words continue to inspire Mr Raj, spurring him
But beneath Mr Raj’s polished demeanour is on to pay it forward whenever he can. In fact, the Sellappah
a humble individual that gives back to society in Scholarship at NBS is the second one he has established in his
more ways than one. In his free time, he volunteers grandfather’s name; the first is at Newcastle University in the
with local charities and non-profit organisations United Kingdom, where Mr Raj completed his undergraduate
and actively participates in panel discussions on studies and received his bachelor’s degree.
current social issues. To top it off, he is also the “The NBS team was very helpful and fantastic from start
sponsor of the Sellappah Scholarship, which to finish when I told them I wanted to set up the scholarship.
aims to provide financial aid to students from They made it happen quickly and always kept me in the loop,
Southeast Asia (excluding Singapore), Africa so I was always aware of the progress. The important thing
and South America who are committed to was having the right people with a similar mindset and desire
making a positive contribution towards the to get things done,” Mr Raj said.
development of their respective home countries To encourage others who may be keen to contribute to
and communities. society in their own small ways, Mr Raj had this to say: “Every
“It has always been a dream of mine to little bit helps. I would encourage others to identify causes that
help underprivileged and deserving students they are passionate about and think about what they can do
achieve their academic aspirations,” said to make a difference in some way. Once they have that figured
Mr Raj. “I believe everyone deserves the out, the rest of the pieces will fall in place automatically. The
opportunity to obtain a quality education, to positive impact you can create in the lives of others cannot
give them the stepping stone they need.” be underestimated.”22 ALUMNI CONNECT ISSUE 104 / JAN–MAR 2019 23
The robot mascot got NTU
ON THE FRONTLINES OF
alumni smiling for the camera.
the digital
economy
NTU alumni
admiring the
figurines on
display.
A
s digitalisation continues to sweep across
the globe, those who fail to embrace it will
inevitably be left behind. Furthermore, as
“I am impressed by
the nexus of innovation shifts to Asia, China
has emerged as a strong contender in the
digital economy, leveraging technology to bring new products
and services to global markets, thus driving economic progress. the deep appreciation
To help alumni better understand the nuances of the
risks and opportunities presented by the digital economy, [the Chinese] have for
the Nanyang Technopreneurship Center (NTC) and the NTU
Alumni Affairs Office jointly organised a Digital Economy systematic technological
Innovation Immersion Trip to China from 2 to 7 December
2018. Alumni participants had the opportunity to visit leading
innovation. Their hunger
corporations in China to obtain insights on successful business
models and gain a deeper understanding of the strategies
for success and their
of Chinese tech giants. Among the companies that opened
their doors to NTU alumni were Alibaba, Hikvision, Kujiale,
Virtual reality provided NTU alumni with focus on human capital
are key lessons we can
an immersive experience.
Hema Xiansheng, JD.com and Xiaomi, many of which are also
NTU alumni got the chance to learn from Hikvision about their video
involved in driving Singapore’s Smart Nation transformation. In addition, delegates attended the Entrepreneur China
learn for our business
surveillance technology.
Annual Conference 2018 in Beijing, an event that has
and professional
successfully attracted prominent speakers and thought
leaders in China since 2007. Themed ‘Break & Change’, the
conference attracted some 5,000 guests and saw wide-ranging
discussions on pertinent issues such as enterprise services, development.”
artificial intelligence, financial technology, the future of
consumer experiences and the future of health. – Mr Ken Toh,
“The main factor that motivated me to enrol in this CEO and Director of Thinking Notes Pte Ltd
immersion trip was the programme outline, which focussed
on experiential learning through on-site visits to the many innovation. Their hunger for success and their focus on human
established companies in China,” said Mr Jerome Lau capital are key lessons we can learn for our business and
(NBS/2001), Managing Director of Splash Productions Pte professional development.”
Ltd. “Instead of just learning about them in a classroom Meanwhile, Director of Mega Indah Cargo Mr Joseph
setting, we saw the companies first hand and interacted with Situwali (EEE/2008) felt that the immersion experience left
the key executives from the companies.” him with a profound respect for how China has evolved and
Other alumni participants described the trip as “eye- matured into an online consumption behemoth. The key
opening” as they learned from the experts and from one to their success, he noted, was making technology easily
another, sharing their personal and professional experiences. available to people and the various communities in China.
But what most impressed Mr Ken Toh (WKWSCI/2014), “I highly recommend this learning trip... In addition to the
CEO and Director of Thinking Notes Pte Ltd., was “the deep knowledge gained, I have made valuable friendships with my
NTU alumni gathered in front of the Alibaba Group appreciation [the Chinese] have for systematic technological fellow participants,” he added.
headquarters for a group photo.JACK MA’S TRUE MISSION IS
Not Retail, But
GlobaliSation
NTU-PKU
J DOUBLE MASTERS
ack Ma’s destiny, it seems, is not limited to promote globalisation, among others reasons—by his own
leading the “A-team” that built Alibaba to estimate, he will chalk up 1,000 flying hours this year.
where and what it is now. As he put it himself Despite stepping down, Ma will continue to be involved
in a Bloomberg interview, “I think some day, with Alibaba as a member of the board of directors and
PROGRAMME
and soon, I’ll go back to teaching. This is a lifetime member of the Alibaba Partnership. Outside of
something I think I can do better than being CEO of Alibaba.” Alibaba, he has publicly stated that he wants to spend more
By now, the story of Jack Ma, his partners, and how time on education, environment and philanthropy.
Alibaba grew is well-known to many people. As the story At the corporate level, business is far from being done,
goes, Ma and his co-founders sought to help Chinese factories and Alibaba will continue to connect the world with China
find foreign buyers, essentially to bridge the gap between through its vast and still expanding ecosystem, which of
(English and Chinese)
China and the rest of the world. Many years and billions of course encompasses much more than e-commerce. Outside
dollars later, Alibaba has morphed beyond recognition, but business, education, environment and philanthropy transcend
the mission is still the same. Regardless of whether it is cultures and political divides, and it will be on these fronts
e-commerce, movie, cashless payment, cloud computing or that Ma will continue to connect China with the rest of the
whatever Alibaba sets its sights on, it is still about bridging world personally through his own Jack Ma Foundation. The Double Masters Programme offered by Nanyang
China with the rest of the world. In some ways, Ma’s destiny reflects China’s own destiny
This, then, is Ma’s true destiny. as a nation. Indeed, both are intertwined at times. To help Technological University and Peking University aims to train
There is a timeless Chinese adage—“When drinking water, US small and midsize enterprises sell to Chinese customers,
think of the source”—that extols the value of being grateful for Alibaba launched ‘Gateway 17’ in Detroit, in part heeding bilingual professionals with solid foundation in financial knowledge
how far a person has come and who has helped in the past. US President Donald Trump’s call to help create jobs in the
Alibaba, Ma and the rest of China are significant US. Just last month, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir
and international exposure for the global finance industry.
beneficiaries of a connected world and globalisation. There Mohamad visited Alibaba in Hangzhou, and expressed his
are no reasons why these benefits cannot also accrue to other desire to tap on Alibaba’s technology to benefit Malaysians. It
countries, and Ma has been jet-setting around the world to is worth noting that Alibaba’s contribution is taking place at Nanyang Business School offers the Master of Science in Finance Programme which will
a time when China’s relationships with the US and Malaysia
are going through a difficult phase.
be conducted in English and Chinese. School of Economics, Peking University offers four
At only 54 years old, and backed by the might and reach professional Master Programmes in Finance, Insurance, Tax and International Business
of his foundation as well as Alibaba, there is still plenty
left in the tank for Jack Ma, the teacher, to fulfil
which will be conducted in Chinese.
his true destiny.
This commentary was written by
alumnus Mr Chong Lub Bun
(NBS/1990) and originally published MSc (Finance) Programme
on Caixin Global. Mr Chong is the Nanyang Business School
Director of C Consultancy Ltd.
(www.c-consultancy.com) Nanyang Technological University
and has worked with Chinese S3-B3A, 50 Nanyang Avenue Singapore 639798
entrepreneurs, Chinese joint
ventures and foreign companies
in China since 1993. He also
is the author of Managing a
Chinese Partner: Insights From
Tel: (65) 6592 3247 / 6790 5696
Four Global Companies and
a number of published articles Website www.mscf.ntu.edu.sg
on China. Email: mscfinance@ntu.edu.sg
WeChat: NTU_MScFINANCE26 ALUMNI CONNECT ISSUE 104 / JAN–MAR 2019 27
“Sustainability is about
BUILDING A UNIQUE BRAND OF us; about humanity. Look
sustainability
at the bigger picture and
avoid the temptation of
being side-tracked for
selfish gains.”
– Mr Paul Chain,
S
ingle-use plastic disposables have made life CEO for NTU Development and Facilities Management
so convenient that most people have stopped
thinking about their impact on the natural
world. After all, it is just one plastic utensil, but we are bold enough to go back to basic principles to
just one plastic straw and just one plastic reinvent solutions.”
bag—but the environmental problem they collectively pose Above all, Mr Chain emphasised the need for original
is disastrous. innovation in the push for sustainability in Asia. “What
Plastic waste does not break down easily, and when they is applicable to the West is not always applicable to us as
do under certain conditions, they release toxic chemicals, we have different environmental, societal and cultural
taking a toll on wildlife and human health. NTU is no outsider problems,” he said.
to the issue of plastic waste, said Mr Paul Chain, CEO for NTU
Development and Facilities Management, who added that as
much as 35 percent of the total waste generated on campus All in the same boat
is plastic, mainly due to food packaging.
“We have been too pampered and refuse to give up Mr Chain attributes NTU’s stellar track record of sustainability
convenience,” said Mr Chain to some 80 NTU alumni and to three good governing principles, the first of which is a
guests on 8 November 2018 at the NTU Alumni House at culture of forgiveness.
Marina Square. “If I had my way, I would enforce a ‘no plastic “If you want your researchers or subordinates to try
bag’ rule instead of asking consumers to purchase plastic something bold and take risks, you must be prepared to
bags for 20 cents—the same goes with disposable utensils.” forgive them if they fail,” he said. “If you strike them out for
genuine mistakes, you will not be able to reap any results.”
Mr Chain also mentioned that boundaries should be pushed,
Shrinking the environmental footprint and rules should be challenged if they ran contrary to common
sense. “Do not let a policy, practice or standard override logic
Even as NTU is taking steps to address the plastic waste or reason,” he said.
problem, it is already one of the world’s greenest university Finally, he mentioned that the most important principle
campuses. To date, 95 percent of NTU’s buildings are was to view commitment towards sustainability as an act of
certified Green Mark Platinum, and the latest six-storey righteousness, love and ethics.
academic building to be constructed will be just as “Sustainability is about us; about humanity. Look at the
environmentally friendly. bigger picture and avoid the temptation of being side-tracked
Made of mass-engineered timber procured from for selfish gains,” he said.
renewable forests and prefabricated for installation on The audience found the intimate Tête-à-Tête session with
site, the amount of pollution produced at the worksite is Mr Chain enlightening. Mr Lye Rongfang (NBS/2009) felt
reduced, and the amount of manpower required is much intellectually stimulated by Mr Chain’s explanations of the
lower compared to traditional construction methods. When three principles.
completed in 2021, it will house the Nanyang Business Ms Wong Chu Ting (NBS/2013) also left the talk feeling
School and the activities of several other colleges. better informed. “It was an eye-opening session to know that
Such eco-friendly construction solutions stem from NTU has an office dedicated to sustainability efforts. I’m really
diligence with a dash of courage, said Mr Chain. “Our glad there is someone like Mr Chain who is taking a strong
bold designs in engineering are not necessarily ‘smart’, stand to make NTU more sustainable.”You can also read
