Page 11 - Nanyang Technological University
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ON A RAPID RISE
Agency for Science, Technology and Research and won the Best In-House Team of the Year trophy
National Healthcare Group. The aim is to improve at the 2015 PRWeek Awards Asia.
patient outcomes across the healthcare ecosystem.
Having restructured the central administration
Research in robotics and autonomous systems from 23 to eight departments, we have greatly
will get a leg-up at our new joint research lab with streamlined administrative processes to improve
ST Engineering. This will improve airport operations NTU’s organisational capability and business
and disaster rescue efforts. The S$100 million performance. The shared services department
Photonics Institute, a tie-up with the University of has consolidated common transactions in
Southampton, is one of the most advanced of its human resources, finance, IT and procurement.
kind in the world, and is doing very cutting-edge Initiatives like greater automation and refreshed
work in photonics and optics research. online services have led to a 10% decrease in
administrative operating costs in FY2014. We are
Together with top industry players, NTU is confident that the University will meet the target
spearheading efforts to overcome challenges faced of 15-20% savings by FY2016. I am happy to
in tropical megacities like Singapore. For example, see everyone in the University embracing service
BMW Group and NTU have a electromobility excellence.
research programme together, conducted at the
Future Mobility Research Lab on the NTU campus. In closing, what are the three most exciting
This is BMW Group’s first joint laboratory in changes to the NTU campus that we can expect
Southeast Asia. in the coming year?
The unused spaces at the North Spine and a small
NTU is also working with industry partners in our section of the carpark will be transformed into a retail
eco-campus initiative to transform NTU’s 200- plaza. We have listened to what people hope to
hectare campus into a super test-bed for research have in this area, and the ideas range from essential
projects in cutting-edge green technologies. French services such as postage and travel services to
energy and transport giant Alstom is one of those suggestions for various new types of eateries and
who have come on board and our researchers spaces for greater social interaction. It will become
are developing a unique system to integrate and a new playground, marketplace and creative space
manage multiple power sources. for the NTU community.
Through our collaboration with Thales Alenia Space, The new Experimental Medicine Building that is part
Europe’s largest satellite manufacturer, and Thales of the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine will also
teams in Singapore, new concepts and technologies open its doors soon. This seven-storey building is
for small satellites are being developed. This is outfitted with cutting-edge facilities like an advanced
a boost to our satellite programme, which has Learning Studio for team-based classes and
greatly pushed the frontiers of space technology collaboration spaces that nurture a spirit of inquiry.
in Singapore. An integral part of NTU’s life sciences cluster, it is
connected to the School of Biological Sciences
In terms of student and employee achievements, by a beautiful sky bridge.
what was a source of pride for you last year?
Faculty, staff and students have brought glory to As a university with a strong sports culture, we
NTU in their own distinctive ways, from building also look forward to the completion of our new
and racing Singapore’s first urban solar electric car sports complex, the region’s first energy-saving
to being named among the world’s most influential sports hall. This has many eco-friendly features
scientific minds. and will be a stunning addition to the campus with
its striking curved timber roof that provides better
And helping to communicate NTU’s achievements heat insulation. It breaks new ground in sustainable
is the in-house Corporate Communication team construction methods, like many of the other new
that was once again lauded internationally in every NTU developments, and I look forward to seeing
aspect of its communication strategy, bringing their it become the stomping ground of our national
total awards won to 32 since 2011. The team also athletes and the larger university community.
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