Address delivered by the Chancellor, University of Singapore, Inche Yusof bin Ishak

May I first take this opportunity to pay tribute to the late Dato Lee Kong Chian, who was the first Chancellor of the University. His philanthropic contributions to education are well known but he is best remembered for his ability to move freely among all races alike in spite of the Chinese background in which he was born. His appointment as Chancellor was therefore appropriate and in keeping with the multi-racial character of the University of Singapore. Dato Lee like others before him typified the immigrant vitality which has made Singapore today what it is. We must not allow climate and environment to vitiate this vitality, for otherwise, we will revert to the fishing village which Singapore was over 140 years ago.

It is a commendable trait in human beings that those who did not have the opportunities for an education or to acquire a profession have always sought to give to their children what they have missed. It has been persons like these who in the past have made endowments to schools and colleges or have played a leading role in fostering education.

The University of Singapore was built on the foundations of the King Edward VII College of Medicine founded in 1905 and Raffles College founded in 1929. The initiative to establish a school to train local students in the fields of medicine came from a group of civic conscious citizens in those early years. Today’s undergraduates perhaps could better appreciate their good fortune if they were to read the history of higher education in Singapore for then they could comprehend the frustrations of their fathers living in a colonial era. The King Edward VII College of Medicine and Raffles College were institutions established to fill an administrative need - higher education was never in those colonial days an instrument for nation building. Today the necessity for the University to function not only as a centre of learning but also as a focus for nation building is even more urgent. While the University must maintain scholarship and be conscious that it must not be isolated from the international stream of academic studies, this should not mean that the University is to be a mere transit point for travellers who can never give character to the institution or inspire national consciousness and civic spirit, which qualities are so essential in nation building. Neither should the University be a refuge for those who believe that they have landed into a cushy position and can fossilize for the rest of their lives. The University, if it really is to form an integral part of the community in which it is located and to play a dynamic role, must be led and staffed by men with dedication and imagination.

Equally, at undergraduate level halls of residence can only acquire values if they are not reduced to mere hotels for student "enpassant" and those in charge of halls of residence do not regard themselves as mere innkeepers. Those who are elected to reside in the University’s halls of residence must be selected not merely for their ability to pay the hostel fees but for their character and scholastic records, and admission into such halls should be regarded as an honour and a privilege. I believe this role of the University in nation building and in developing the character of its students exceeds in importance its other function of imparting knowledge and turning out competent men for the different professions.

Our University has continued to grow. The enrolment this year is 3,276 which represents an increase of 264 over that of the past year. This shows a 85.5% increased over the enrolment in 1961. The academic staff and all facilities have also increased. Today we have 255 members on the academic staff. Within this past year the new science tower, the physics extension and a new lecture theatre were completed and opened for use.

This year sees the beginning of the new Department of Malay Studies. This development is welcomed by all and is an earnest of our desire to promote the Malay language and to strengthen its culture. The recent past saw the establishment of the Faculties of Social Sciences and Dentistry.

The arrangement whereby the University confers degrees on graduates of the Singapore Polytechnic in accountancy, architecture and engineering is an important one and is likewise to be welcomed. As a result of this arrangement we have at this convocation conferred degrees in accountancy on 25 graduands of the Polytechnic for the first time. In future degrees in architecture and engineering will be conferred.

More developments are in the offing. Due to support from the Government, the late Dr. Lee Kong Chian and the public, the Medical Progress Fund was greatly oversubscribed. This Fund will finance the building of the medical library extension and the Institute of Medical Specialties. Work begun on the former is expected to be completed by the middle of next year. The various medical specialties are being developed simultaneously with the planning of the Institute so that when the Institute is finally built these specialties will be ready to move in. An example of this kind of development is the successful launching of the cardiovascular surgery programme jointly by the Government and the University.

University growth and development depend on two necessary and important factors, namely, funds and personnel. The fees paid by students take care of about ten percent of the budget; the remainder comes largely from Government. With the expansion of other sectors of public service and in the face of competing needs, it is difficult for the Government to fully satisfy the requirements of the University in teaching and research. Inevitably, as is the case even in countries with affluent governments, the University must go more and more to the public for support. We are fortunate that in recent years increasing support has come from foundations, corporations, service clubs and individuals. However, we need more, and may I add, very much more of this support, particularly, for research. Indeed an university must not only teach, but also engage in research and add to the storehouse of universal knowledge, and the University of Singapore can do no less.

Today we have paid tribute to some members of the staff who have made great contributions to the University. The citations read earlier give you the reasons for which we have been pleased to confer honorary degrees on them. I should like to add my personal thanks to them for their service and contribution to the University and the State.

We had great pleasure and honour also in conferring the honorary doctorate of laws on His Excellency Dr. Zakir Husain, President of India, who honoured the University with a visit and addressed students and staff whilst on a State visit to the Republic.

And now I wish to congratulate the eight hundred graduands who have been conferred various degrees this morning. To them this will be a day to be cherished the rest of their lives. In the language of the day they may be said to have "arrived". They have achieved what they set out to achieve. But I should like to advise them that what they have achieved is only the first milestone of their life. There is the whole future before them. What higher education they have received will put them ahead of others less fortunate than they. But with added privilege comes added responsibility. Society expects a contribution from them commensurate with what they have received. 

In this period of our history Singapore expects the maximum contribution of its citizens to ensure the consolidation and success of our nation. You who have graduated from the University are expected and must make your respective contribution to nation building and we know we can count on you. I wish you every success in your future careers.

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