From left: Prof Tan Thiam Soon, Institute Professor, SIT; Mr Ng Yat Chung, Chairman, SIT Board of Trustees, and Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Press Holdings Ltd; Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education; Mr Nicholas Chua, Chief Executive Officer, Ho Bee Land, and Board Chairman, Chua Foundation; Dr Chua Thian Poh, Executive Chairman, Ho Bee Land; and Prof Chua Kee Chaing, President, SIT.
Dr Chua Thian Poh has made a new endowed gift of S$2.6 million to the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) – in support of the development of its future campus in Punggol, as well as the establishment of the Chua Thian Poh Bursary to nurture financially disadvantaged undergraduates at SIT.
In recognition of this generous gift, the Discovery Hub at SIT’s future campus in Punggol will be named the Chua Thian Poh Discovery Hub. In the interim, before the Punggol Campus is operational, the Student Activities Centre at SIT’s current campus in Dover will be named the Chua Thian Poh Student Activities Centre.
The Chua Thian Poh Discovery Hub, to be located at Levels 3 and 5 of Block E2 in the East Zone of SIT’s future Punggol Campus, is designed to cater to students working on project assignments in teams and as individuals and for their presentations. It is envisioned to be a space that actively engages the students as co-creators, planners, and managers in their academic and research project work.
This gift from Dr Chua Thian Poh through the Chua Foundation, will also support the establishment of the Chua Thian Poh Bursary – thus enabling SIT to award six bursaries (valued at $5,000 each) each year and in perpetuity. The Chua Thian Poh Bursary is applicable to Singaporean and Singapore Permanent Resident undergraduates at SIT who have a monthly household per capita income of no more than S$1,500.
The Chua Foundation was set up and funded by Dr Chua and his siblings to continue the legacy of their late mother, Madam Seah Sar, and to remember the values she stood for. Madam Seah always emphasised the importance of education, despite having little education herself and was very keen to help those in need. Following her example in nurturing the next generation and aiding the underprivileged, the Chua Thian Poh Bursary seeks to give SIT students the confidence to reach their true potential.
In both his private and public capacities, Dr Chua Thian Poh’s support for SIT and its students has been transformative. In 2019, in his capacity as Chairman and CEO of Ho Bee Land, Dr Chua made possible an endowed donation amounting $3.25 million. It was the first donation that SIT had received for its future campus in Punggol, as well as a scholarship for academically promising undergraduates at SIT. The Ho Bee Auditorium and the Ho Bee Scholarship at SIT were named in recognition of this donations.
An artist rendering of the East Zone in SIT's upcoming Punggol campus.
Said Professor Chua Kee Chaing, President of SIT, “As a young university that is about to embark on a new era of growth in its own new campus, SIT is very grateful for Dr Chua Thian Poh’s firm friendship, which goes back to 2012. SIT and its students are deeply appreciative of Dr Chua’s philanthropic leadership and firm support. On behalf of SIT, I wish to express our utmost thanks for his generous new gift to support our future campus, as well as to encourage learning and discovery.”
“I am very pleased to be able to nurture the students at SIT, who are set to become future professionals to drive Singapore’s economy,” said Dr Chua Thian Poh, adding, “SIT has a very thoughtful approach to nurturing pragmatic and innovative ‘thinking tinkerers’ who are also passionate about serving the community. I hope the students will be well supported by the Chua Thian Poh Discovery Hub and Bursary on their learning journey.”
The naming ceremony for the Chua Thian Poh Discovery Hub took place today at SIT@Dover, attended by Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education, who was the Guest of Honour, as well as Dr Chua Thian Poh, Executive Chairman of Ho Bee Land Limited and Mr Nicholas Chua, Chief Executive Officer of Ho Bee Land Limited and Chairman of Chua Foundation.
SIT’s campus in Punggol will be located in the upcoming Punggol Digital District, which is set to become a vibrant and inclusive district underpinned by cutting-edge technology. The campus will be co-located with JTC’s business park buildings and will facilitate the cross-fertilisation of knowledge and collaboration opportunities among students, faculty and industry.
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About Singapore Institute of Technology
The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) is Singapore’s first University of Applied Learning, offering industry-relevant degree programmes that prepare its graduates to be work- and future-ready professionals. Its mission is to maximise the potential of its learners and to innovate with industry, through an integrated applied learning and research approach, so as to contribute to the economy and society.
The University’s unique pedagogy integrates work and study, embracing authentic learning in a real-world environment through collaborations with key strategic partners. Its focus on applied research with business impact is aimed at helping industry innovate and grow. Targeted to be ready in 2024, SIT’s centralised campus within the larger Punggol Digital District will feature a vibrant learning environment where academia and industry will be tightly integrated with the community.
For more information, visit www.SingaporeTech.edu.sg
About Dr Chua Thian Poh
Dr Chua Thian Poh is the founder and Executive Chairman of Ho Bee Group.
Dr Chua has held several public appointments. He was appointed as the Non-Resident Ambassador of Singapore to the Republic of Maldives (2015 – 2019), a member of the Constitutional Commission for the review of Elected Presidency (2016), an alternate member (2017) and subsequently a full member (2019) of the Council of Presidential Advisers.
An active community leader, Dr Chua serves as Honorary President of Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan. He is also Honorary Chairman of Bishan East Citizens’ Consultative Committee and Ren Ci Hospital, as well as Chairman of Board of Trustee of the Chinese Development Assistance Council and Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre.
Dr Chua has received many accolades for his business leadership and philanthropic impact, as well as contributions towards the community and public service sector. In July 2019, National University of Singapore conferred on him the Honorary Doctor of Letters.
Among the other awards conferred on him include the Public Service Star (BBM, 2004), Justice of the Peace (2005 – 2020), Businessman of the Year (2006), President’s Award for Philanthropy (Individual, 2012), Forbes Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy (2014), and Distinguished Service Order (2014).
