The Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) is set to undergo a change in leadership in August 2024, aligning with a new strategy named SUTD Leap to enhance its position as a leader in design and technology education. Professor Phoon Kok Kwang, currently serving as provost, will assume the role of president from Professor Chong Tow Chong on August 1. Despite his transition, Prof Chong, an electrical engineer, will persist in his role as a professor within the university.
This leadership transition is a pivotal component of the SUTD Leap initiative, aiming to provide students with more hands-on experience in design and technology by fostering closer ties with industry partners. Addressing an audience that included Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, Prof Chong expressed his belief that the time is right for him to pass on the responsibility to the next generation of leaders who have collaborated closely in developing the new strategy.
In the wake of these changes, Professor Tai Lee Siang, currently heading the architecture and sustainable design pillar, is appointed deputy president and will additionally assume the newly established position of chief innovation and enterprise officer, as stated by Prof Chong. The university is actively seeking a new provost and chief academic and innovation officer, a role to be redefined as part of the SUTD Leap initiative. Prof Chong emphasized that the strategy envisions the university's evolution to equip students with skills essential for success in a rapidly changing world.
Expressing mixed emotions about his departure, Prof Chong conveyed confidence in the new leadership's ability to effectively implement the SUTD Leap strategy. Reflecting on his longstanding association with the university, he recounted personal interactions, such as delivering offer letters to students and engaging with parents to instill belief in SUTD's mission. Despite his departure, Prof Chong expressed hope that the university would continue its tradition of bold initiatives in reimagining education.
