SINGAPORE - The National University of Singapore's board of trustees will get a new chairman next year.
Mr Wong Ngit Liong, 75, who has held the post the past 12 years will step down on Dec 31 and will be be succeeded by NUS alumnus Mr Hsieh Fu Hua, 66, the NUS said in a statement on Wednesday (Oct 26). Mr Hsieh holds a number of positions in the public and private sectors, and in addition to being National Council of Social Service president, he is also chairman of the UOB Group, the National Gallery and Jurong Health Services.
Mr Wong, during his 12 years at NUS, played "an instrumental role in steering NUS through the corporatisation of the university", said the statement.
This included appointing several new board members to establish a new culture of collaborative work between the management and the board. He also oversaw the implementation of major changes to the university's corporate governance, and the set up of new and enhanced administrative systems.
He was first appointed as chairman to the then NUS Council in 2004, and was re-appointed as chairman of the NUS board of trustees in 2006 following the corporatisation of NUS.
NUS president Tan Chorh Chuan said that the university is deeply grateful to Mr Wong, who is also chairman and chief executive of Venture Corporation, for his leadership.
"He has guided the university with vision and wisdom, and played a key role in the formulation of NUS' goals and strategies in education, research and entrepreneurship. He has worked incredibly hard and personally touched the lives of many in our NUS community," he said in the statement, adding that the university is looking forward to working with Mr Hsieh when he takes on the chairman role.
Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung said in the statement that Mr Wong's contributions have enabled NUS to become a globally leading university with high standards of teaching and research, and that he is confident that "Mr Hsieh will build on the good work of Mr Wong to lead NUS in its next chapter".
