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NUS Asia Research Institute receives S$3 million gift to establish the Nalanda Endowed Professorship in India-China Studies
The NUS Asia Research Institute (ARI) announced today the establishment of the Nalanda Endowed Professorship in India-China Studies. The Professorship seeks to promote research and education on India-China relations - specifically, the political, economic, historical and cultural interactions between India and China - with the overarching goal to shape policy and deepen societal understanding in the interdisciplinary field.
The Professorship is made possible through a generous S$3 million gift from the Nalanda Library Fund Limited (NLFL) which was presented by Former Minister Mr George Yeo as NLFL Trustee to Director of ARI, Professor Tim Bunnell in a ceremony witnessed by NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye at NUS this afternoon.
The NLFL was established to collect donations for the Nalanda University Library in India, providing facilities for study, research, and teaching. Its trustees include Mr Yeo, Ho Bee Land Executive Chairman Mr Chua Thian Poh and NUS University Professor Wang Gungwu. Donors from Singapore had agreed to gift up to S$10 million for the construction of the library to be designed by Singapore architects. After plans were shelved, the Trustees decided, with the approval of all donors, that the remaining amount of S$3 million be donated to NUS for the establishment of the Nalanda Endowed Professorship in India-China Studies.
Prof Tan said, "NUS is delighted to be partnering with the Nalanda Library Fund Limited to establish the Nalanda Endowed Professorship in India-China Studies at ARI. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to illuminating the deep history and contemporary significance of India-China relations and advancing this field of research."
He added, "By promoting study of the many ways in which India and China have influenced each other over long centuries, this Nalanda Endowed Professorship will contribute to advancing understanding between the two countries in ways that serve as ballast for regional stability and prosperity today and into the future."
The Professorship will be awarded to leading scholars in the domain for a fixed term. The appointed professor (otherwise known as the Chair) will spearhead original research through a long-term project on India-China relations, lead archival initiatives to collect, digitise and preserve original materials related to historical research on India-China ties and their regional influence, mentor graduate students, as well as contribute to the broader discourse in the field through engagements with the academic and policymaking communities and the public in the form of workshops, public lectures and an annual conference. The global search for the first Chair has already begun.
Prof Bunnell said, "Trans-Asian research has been part of ARI's DNA for some time, the Nalanda Endowed Professorship in India-China Studies builds on this legacy of trans-regional research. We look forward to the new professorship complimenting the important work provided by ARI's Asian Peace Programme on India and China by situating contemporary geo-politics as one form among many forms of relations between these two historically consequential Asian countries."
Mr Yeo, who is also a current visiting scholar at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS added, "The prospect for peace and development in our region this century depends much on good relations between China and India. I hope the professorship can, in a small way, contribute to greater understanding between these two great civilizations. Southeast Asia is where the mandalas of India and China overlap. We provide a natural platform for the convening of discussions on their contact with each other over the centuries in different domains and their contribution to Southeast Asia."
About ARIARI was established in 2001 to provide a focal point and resource for world-class research on the Asian region at NUS. ARI engages the humanities and social sciences broadly defined, and especially interdisciplinary frontiers between and beyond disciplines. As a university-level institute, ARI brings together scholars from different departments, faculties and colleges across campus for seminars, conferences and collaborative research projects. Located at one of Asia's communication hubs, the Institute is also an important place for scholarly encounters between Singapore, the region and wider worlds.
This story first appeared on NUSNews on 8 April 2025.
NUS Singapore History Prize doubles from S$50,000 to S$100,000
The Department of History at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has announced that the call for submissions for the 2027 NUS Singapore History Prize is now open.
Set up in 2014 on a generous endowment by an anonymous donor, the NUS Singapore History Prize has been awarded to fiction and non-fiction books in 2018, 2021 and 2024 with the aim to spur interest in the understanding of Singapore's history.
The 2027 NUS Singapore History Prize will, for the first time, recognise a non-print media work that engages deeply with Singapore's history under the new 'Arts and Multimedia' category. Moving forward, the Prize will alternate between the 'Books' and 'Arts and Multimedia' categories every three years.
Thanks to a doubling of the endowment by the donor, prize money for the 2027 NUS Singapore History Prize winner will also increase twofold, from S$50,000 to S$100,000, to inspire more impactful works and submissions in the coming years.
These new developments broaden the Prize's reach and seeks to further the objective of the Prize - that is, to make Singapore's unique and complex history more accessible to non-academic audiences and to encourage greater discussion among Singaporeans and the world of Singapore's rich and vibrant history, and its place in the world.
Head of the FASS Department of History, Associate Professor Joey Long said, "We firmly support our donor's belief that Singaporeans can learn a lot more about Singapore's rich history from different mediums. These include documentaries, films, visual arts, performing arts, installation art, podcasts, and videos (excluding audiobooks, books in printed form, and e-books). As such, we are glad that the Prize has now been expanded to recognise works beyond books, which also reflects NUS' commitment to foster a comprehensive appreciation of Singapore's past through accessible and modern platforms."
A distinguished Jury Panel chaired by Mr Kishore Mahbubani will judge the Prize and announce a winner in 2027. Mr Mahbubani is a Distinguished Fellow at the NUS Asia Research Institute.
Mr Mahbubani said, "Thanks to our donor who has doubled the prize money and encouraged the creation of a new category, Singaporeans will be able to engage more deeply with their rich history. There is no doubt that for the next phase of Singapore's national development, the Singaporean sense of national identity must be deepened and strengthened. The best way to do this is to develop a deep and common understanding of Singapore's history. Hence, in addition to its academic and scholarly contributions, the NUS Singapore History Prize is also supporting a strong national imperative."
Details of the 2027 NUS Singapore History Prize
The new Arts and Multimedia category will mirror the Book category in its selection process, with the winner determined through an open, public and global competition. For the 2025-2027 competition, the organisers will accept nominations from any artist, author, playwright, performer, producer, or publisher of a multimedia and artistic historical work delivered in the English language (works translated into the English language are also acceptable). There will be no limitations on the date of production as the goal is to open the admission window as wide as possible. The work should address any field, theme, or period of Singaporean history, with the goal of providing either new insights or new ways of exciting the imagination of Singaporeans about Singapore's history. Nominations will be restricted to a maximum of three works per applicant and will have to be submitted by 31 May 2027.
For more information about the NUS Singapore History Prize, please email: hisbox11@nus.edu.sg.
This story first appeared on NUSNews on 1 April 2025.
22 NUS programmes in global top 10 in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
NUS has been placed among the global top 10 for 22 subjects and top 20 for 36 subjects, according to the latest Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (QS WUR) by Subject 2025 released on 12 March 2025. This marks the highest-ever number of NUS subjects to be ranked among the global top 10.
Notably, NUS boasts six subjects ranking top five in the world. History of Art retained its global number two ranking, while Civil & Structural Engineering as well as Social Policy & Administration both climbed to third place worldwide, reaffirming NUS' excellence in these fields. Chemical Engineering, Computer Science & Information Systems and Electrical & Electronic Engineering secured fourth place globally.
Nursing made its debut in the global top 10, jumping 12 places to eighth. Pharmacy & Pharmacology also saw a significant improvement, advancing six places to share the eighth spot.
Steady improvements across the board
Among the five broad faculty areas, NUS has achieved a global top 10 position for Social Sciences and Management and a top 20 position for Engineering and Technology. Over the past three years, the University saw a consistent improvement in the rankings across all broad faculty areas, reflecting the University's strong interdisciplinary focus.
Professor Aaron Thean, Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost, said: "We are immensely proud that NUS has achieved its best-ever performance this year in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, with 22 subjects in the global top 10, and 36 subjects in global top 20. The results reflect the University's consistent trajectory of excellence, with steady improvements in education and research across disciplines over the years.
In particular, our strong performance across STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and Humanities subjects underscores the deep expertise and interdisciplinary approach that define NUS. This achievement is the result of the dedication and hard work of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni. As we continue to push boundaries in research, innovation, and education, we remain committed to nurturing future-ready graduates and contributing meaningfully to Singapore and the world."
NUS leads the pack locally, with three out of five entries from Singapore in world's top three
The QS WUR by Subject is an independent comparative analysis of the reputation and research output of more than 21,000 academic offerings across 55 subjects and five broad faculty areas. In the 2025 edition, 5,200 institutions from 148 locations were analysed with rankings published for 1,747 institutions.
Mr Ben Sowter, Senior Vice President at QS, said: "Singapore shines in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, with four entries breaking into the global top three for the first time-highlighting the nation's rise as a leading hub for world-class education and research."
According to QS, nearly one-third (30 per cent) of Singapore's 114 ranked entries secured top 10 positions in their respective subjects-an unparalleled achievement that sets the nation apart from all other countries and territories.
"With just six universities contributing 114 ranked entries-including 12 in the broad faculty areas-Singapore consistently outperforms its scale. Despite its relatively small system, it competes at the highest level globally, delivering excellence in teaching, research, and graduate outcomes," Mr Sowter added.
Overall, NUS is represented in 41 subjects and five broad faculty areas, highlighting its extensive academic reach and strength in multidisciplinary education and research.
This story first appeared on NUSNews on 12 March 2025.
NUS alumnus and aspiring migration anthropologist wins prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford
IN BRIEF | 10 min read
- Salifian Sulaiman (NUS History and International Liberal Studies, Waseda University, 2024) tells us that his interest in anthropology and migration studies is motivated by a concern for uplifting vulnerable and minority communities worldwide, as well as his own experiences.
NUS College and NUS History alumnus Salifian Sulaiman (Class of 2024) has won the Singapore Rhodes Scholarship this year, becoming Singapore's 30th Rhodes Scholar. Under the scholarship, Salifian will be pursuing doctoral research in anthropology and migration studies at the University of Oxford in October 2025.
The Rhodes selection process identifies outstanding young leaders of exceptional character and intellect who apply their energy and talents fully to the service of others and to addressing humanity's challenges.Explaining this year's choice, Ms Yong Ying-I, who chaired the Selection Committee, noted that the scholarship recognises leaders whose efforts can catalyse positive change in the community by inspiring others to serve the common good. "Salifian distinguished himself by exemplifying what the Scholarship seeks to represent. His ethically responsible, intellectually rigorous and personally reflective approach is valuable in the area of migration studies. In Singapore and elsewhere globally, migration challenges abound. We are excited to see how he will make use of the Rhodes experience to become a stronger community and thought leader in the future, contributing to building a better world," she said.
Salifian completed his NUS-Waseda double-degree programme in 2024, earning a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History from NUS and a Bachelor of Arts in International Liberal Studies from Japan's Waseda University.
Inspired by experienceSalifian's interest in his chosen field of anthropology and migration studies is motivated by a concern for uplifting vulnerable and minority communities worldwide, as well as his own experiences.
"I grew up in a working-class family. I have three brothers and parents who did their best to provide for us and encourage us in pursuing our passions and goals as we were growing up. I am grateful for the scholarships and financial aid that have supported my education, in particular the Wee Cho Yaw Future Leaders Award that I received throughout my time at NUS," said Salifian. The scholarship "helped me overcome some of the financial challenges my family was facing so that I could focus on my studies and have a well-rounded university experience," he added.
Having overcome some obstacles of his own growing up, the aspiring researcher is passionate about sharing the stories of others who have overcome challenges and pursued their dreams to inspire positive action in others.
Driven by a desire to promote inclusivity and raise awareness about faith and culture, Salifian started 'Salam' to support and represent the Malay/Muslim students in his community at NUS College (the successor to the University Scholars Programme) and organise interfaith dialogues that encouraged students to engage in difficult but important conversations about faith and common understanding.
Now in its fourth year and with a membership of about 50 students, 'Salam', continues to advocate for the Malay/Muslim community on campus through engagement activities and events.
"My years at NUS College were especially formative for me," he shared. "The residential experience allowed me to constantly engage with my peers and teachers. The creative courses and the conversations shared over meals or even late into the night expanded my curiosity and worldview, and somewhere within that my dream of becoming a Rhodes Scholar was birthed," reflected Salifian, who served as a Residential Assistant for more than two years.
Salifian's passion to make a difference was not confined to campus activities. In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Salifian put his baking skills to good use and founded the Bake As One charity project, a collaboration with three other home-based bakeries in Singapore to raise funds for the Children's Charities Association of Singapore, benefitting underprivileged children.
During his time as an exchange student in Japan under his double-degree programme, Salifian also started an initiative with local students and entrepreneurs called Blossom As One to uplift underprivileged groups through e-commerce. It later branched out to provide English tuition to local children to build their confidence in a foreign language.
Salifian is now pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Social Anthropology at the University of Cambridge under the Lee Kuan Yew-Quantedge Studentship and LBKM Postgraduate Prestigious Scholarship, which he will complete in August 2025, before heading to Oxford in the fall to begin doctoral research.
"This will be an excellent opportunity for me to learn from the outstanding faculty and other students, especially from the Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS), Oxford Martin School, and the Department of Education," Salifian said.
Even after he completes his doctoral research at Oxford, Salifian intends to continue contributing to research on issues related to anthropology and migration, such as the impact of overseas experiences and education on promoting social mobility amongst working-class families. He will also be seeking opportunities to work on projects to uplift underprivileged youth in Singapore through mentorship and other vocational support.
This story first appeared on NUSnews on 2 January 2025.