| "Nanyang" in Chinese means "south of the ocean" or "south seas", a reference for the Southeast Asian region. Back in the earlier days in the 1940s and 50s, many Chinese from mainland China ventured south to seek their fortunes in new lands. Malaya (Singapore and Malaysia) was then known as "Nanyang" to the Chinese.
After World War II, the Chinese found it difficult to attend higher education in the Nanyang area. The people decided to start a university in Singapore, a university that can provide tertiary education in Chinese in the region. The idea of establishing a Chinese university was first mooted by Mr Tan Lark Sye on 16 January 1953 at the Executive Committee and Supervisory Committee of the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan.
On 23 March 1953, the Hokkien Huay Kuan, under Mr Tan's leadership, donated 523 acres of land for the university. Mr Tan himself donated $5 million. His call for the establishment of the Chinese university received enthusiastic support from Chinese communities all over Southeast Asia. People from all walks of life rallied for the cause. It was a very cohesive effort by the entire Chinese community in the land.
In 1955 a pre-university class was started to prepare students for entry into the new university.
The first batch of 584 students was admitted in 15 March 1956. There were three faculties: Arts, Science and Commerce. Research activities were started as early as in 1957. The first batch of 437 graduates was produced in 1959. Seven years later in 1963, the student enrolment reached 2,324. In 1964, the university, for the first time in her history, received the same financial grant as the then University of Singapore from the government. In the same year, the Nanyang University Alumni was formed.
Nanyang University was affectionately known as "Nan Da" in Chinese. (Nanyang Technological University (NTU) also adopted the name "Nan Da" for its Chinese name in the mid 1990s.)
Many of the Nanyang University graduates are outstanding in many fields: academic, research, business and public service, both in Singapore and overseas.
In 1980, the Nanyang University and the University of Singapore were merged to form the National University of Singapore. This closed the chapter on the NU history. In 1981 the Nanyang Technological Institute (NTI) was instituted in the same grounds as the illustrious Nanyang University. |
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The famous main gate of Nanyang University which is a landmark till this day. |
