Speeches
Speech by RAdm (NS) Lui Tuck Yew at HEC Paris (École des Hautes Études Commerciales de Paris) & NUS Business School Strategic Partnership & Double Degree MBA Agreement Signing Ceremony & Official Launch on 13 February 2009, Friday, at 4.30pm, University Hall, National University of Singapore
His Excellency, Mr Pierre Buhler, French Ambassador to Singapore,
Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, President of the National University of Singapore,
Professor Bernard Ramanantsoa, Dean of HEC Paris,
Professor Bernard Yeung, Dean of NUS Business School,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon
It gives me great pleasure to be here today to witness the signing of the HEC Paris-NUS Business School Strategic Partnership & Double Degree MBA Agreements.
Asia and Europe enjoy a close and dynamic relationship. Countries from both regions engage in regular and wide-ranging dialogue and this has led to a shared outlook and increased cooperation on political, economic and social issues.
Universities in Europe also recognise the importance and potential for quality academic exchanges with their counterparts in Asia, and many European students are taking the opportunity to study in or participate in exchange activities and internships in the region.
Education is one of Singapore’s key growth sectors, and our vision is to build a world-class education hub, internationally renowned for its intellectual capital and creative energy. Our institutions constantly take the initiative to anticipate and design programmes that meet the future needs of the country, region, and the world. These programmes benefit from the different perspectives and expertise of strong international partners.
The NUS Business School and HEC Paris complement each other. Both are highly reputable business schools which have received widespread acclaim for their rigorous academic programmes, distinguished faculty and top quality students.
The NUS Business School is the first in ASEAN and among the firsts in Asia-Pacific to be accredited by AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) for meeting the highest standards of achievement in education and research for business schools worldwide. Just last December, the School was ratified as a full academic member of CEMS, a prestigious global alliance of leading business schools and multi-national companies. This makes it the first and only business school in Asia to be awarded this honour.
HEC Paris, also a full academic member of CEMS, has been ranked in first position for three years in a row in the Financial Times’ European Business School rankings. This demonstrates not only the high quality of the school’s programmes, but also its consistency as a leading institution at the forefront of global business education. Throughout its 125 years of history, HEC Paris has continually attracted highly capable and entrepreneurial talents, training them to be the world leaders of tomorrow.
I believe that the NUS Business School and HEC Paris will augment each other’s strengths through this collaboration, and empower their students with knowledge of the best practices of both Asia and Europe.
Indeed, business schools have a crucial role to play in view of the current financial crisis, especially in equipping their graduates to manage the risks of the financial systems effectively and ethically. Business schools can also provide public education on the intricacies and dynamics of the global financial system, and help our wider society better come to grasp with what is happening in our economy today. I am glad to note that the NUS Business School has stepped forward to do so through an ongoing series of essays written by its faculty in The Straits Times as well as The Business Times. It is my hope that the NUS Business School will continue to contribute to the community with its partners’ support.
Let me once again extend my heartiest congratulations and best wishes to the NUS Business School and HEC Paris on their exciting journey together. I wish both institutions a fruitful partnership.
Thank you.