Univer-Cities Conference 2019

Univer-Cities Aligning to Economic and Global Restructuring, and Addressing Unsustainable Social Inequality

Date: 18 Nov 2019

Time: 8.30am to 9.30pm

Venue: SUSS, Block B, Level 2, LT B.2.17

The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) will be hosting the fourth Univer-Cities Conference this year on 18 November 2019 (Monday), with the theme 'Univer-Cities Aligning to Economic and Global Restructuring, and Addressing Unsustainable Social Inequality'.

The Univer-Cities discourse gathers together eminent universities from around the world to discuss the changing role of universities in serving the urban hinterland where they are situated. The first conference focussed on'Strategic Implications for Asia'. Univer-Cities Conference 2 had the theme 'Strategic View of the Future', while Univer-Cities Conference 3 was on 'Strategic Implications of Univer-Cities with Medical School Origins'.

The discussion at Univer-Cities Conference 2019 will be set against a backdrop of the continual economic re-structuring as well as technological and social disruption. Amidst these disruptions, it is needful for universities to re-visit their roles in serving their cities, to deal with such questions as:

How can universities prepare their graduates to excel in a disrupted world?
How can universities contribute to the re-skilling of a disrupted workforce?
How can universities help cities to grow in a sustainable manner?
How can universities be promoters of social inclusion, rather than being bastions of exclusive elitism?

Univer-Cities Conference 2019 will congregate senior-level academic, government and industry leaders from around the world to share their insights, experience and aspiration on the role of universities in our disrupted world.

Technological advances and digitalisation bring increasing challenge to labour markets globally. They also present opportunities in every society. Our task, in education, life-long learning, and in developing new social norms, must be to enable people in all walks of life to take advantage of these opportunities, and to avoid a divide between digital haves and have-nots.

Universities will have to evolve, and remain central to this ecosystem of learning. They play key roles, not only in our investments in the young but in providing opportunities for people to keep growing through life.

The Univer-Cities Conference is an important platform for academic, government and industry leaders from around the world to share insights and discuss this evolving role of universities. I wish you a fruitful conference.

Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies

8.30am - 9.00am	Registration
9.00am - 9.10am	Welcome Address By Professor Cheong Hee Kiat, President, Singapore University of Social Sciences
9.10am - 9.20am	Introductory Remarks on Univer-Cities Conference 2019 By Adjunct Professor Anthony Teo, School of Business & S R Nathan School of Human Development, Singapore University of Social Sciences, and Convenor and Editor, Univer-Cities Conference & Proceedings Volume I-IV
9.20am - 9.35am	Keynote Address on 'Univer-Cities Aligning to Economic and Global Restructuring, and Addressing Unsustainable Social Inequality' By Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Former Vice Chancellor, University of Cambridge, and Chairman, Cancer Research UK
9.35am - 11.05am	Panel Session 1: 'Rising to the Challenge' Panellists: Mr Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive, SkillsFuture Singapore Download Presentation Professor Tan Eng Chye, President, National University of Singapore Download Presentation Professor Cheong Hee Kiat, President, Singapore University of Social Sciences Download Presentation Moderator: Professor Cham Tao Soon, President Emeritus, Nanyang Technological University
11.05am - 11.35am	Coffee Break
11.35am - 12.55pm	Panel Session 2: 'Progress from Univer-Cities Conference 2016' Panellists: Professor Caroline McMillen, Chief Scientist for South Australia, and former Vice Chancellor, University of Newcastle Professor James Best, Dean, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Download Presentation Mr John Parman, Visiting Scholar in Architecture, University of California, Berkeley Download Presentation Ms Emily Marthinsen, Campus Architect and former Assistant Vice Chancellor for Physical & Environmental Planning, University of California, Berkeley Download Presentation Professor Frank Rühli, Founding Chair (Full Professor) and Director of the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich Panellist & Moderator: Dr Gordon Johnson, former President of Wolfson College and Deputy Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University
12.55pm - 2.00pm	Lunch
2.00pm - 2.35pm	In Conversation with Ms Lauren Sorkin, Acting Executive Director, Global Resilient Cities Network, The Rockefeller Foundation Download Presentation Moderator: Tan Sri Dr (Med) Sharifah Hapsah, Emerita Vice Chancellor, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2.35pm - 4.10pm	Panel Session 3: 'Addressing Inequalities' Panellists: Professor Asit K. Biswas, Distinguished Visiting Professor, University of Glasgow, and Chairman, Water Management International Pte Ltd Dr Cecilia Tortajada, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Water Policy, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Mr Francis Larios, Chief Academics Officer, PHINMA Education Download Presentation Professor Suh Nam Pyo, Ralph E & Eloise F Cross Professor Emeritus, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Panellist & Moderator: Professor Cheong Hee Kiat, President, Singapore University of Social Sciences Download Presentation
4.10pm - 4.25pm	Closing Remarks By Adjunct Professor Anthony Teo, School of Business & S R Nathan School of Human Development, Singapore University of Social Sciences, and Convenor & Editor, Univer-Cities Conference & Proceedings Volume I-IV
4.25pm - 4.35pm	Presentation of Mementoes
4.35pm	End of Conference
7.00pm - 9.30pm	Dinner at The Clifford Pier (Cocktails will be served from 6.30pm) Occupying the space of the original Clifford Pier, our dining destination at The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore preserves the pier's hawker culture while honouring its historical role as the landing point of Singapore's forefathers. As Singapore's iconic heritage site, The Clifford Pier is poised to ignite a multi-sensory experience of taste, sight and sound during our dinner. For more information, please visit https://www.fullertonhotels.com/the-fullerton-bay-hotel/the-clifford-pier.html.

LT B.2.17
Block B, Level 2
Singapore University of Social Sciences
463 Clementi Road
Singapore 599494

SUSS_map

Getting here

The campus is easily accessible via the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) towards Tuas. Exit at Exit 26A and turn left onto Clementi Road.

Cars - $1.28 per hour (inclusive of GST), based on 30-minute block charging.
Motorcycles - Free

Operating Hours: 6.00am to 11.59pm (daily including Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays).

Bus number: 52, 61, 74, 75, 151, 154, 184.

Nearest MRT stations: King Albert Park and Beauty World (Downtown Line 2); and Dover and Clementi (East-West Line).

For enquiries and to register your interest in attending the conference, please email us at [email protected]. Successful registrants will hear from us shortly after.

We are pleased to advise colleagues, the members of the distinguished Advisory Council for the Univer-Cities Conference 2019.

Members include:

Univer-Cities Book Volume I

Univer-Cities: Strategic Implications for Asia
Readings from Cambridge and Berkeley to Singapore

Univer-Cities Book Volume II

Univer-Cities: Strategic View of the Future
From Berkeley and Cambridge to Singapore and Rising Asia

Univer-Cities Book Volume III

Univer-Cities: Strategic Dilemmas of Medical Origins and Selected Modalities
Water, Quantum Leap & New Models

SUSS is a Singapore autonomous university that is continually providing inclusive lifelong learning and applied education opportunities with a strong social emphasis that transcends disciplinary focus. Our mission is to champion lifelong education to develop future thinkers and leaders to their full potential through our 3H’s education philosophy of ‘Head’ for professional competency with applied knowledge, ‘Heart’ for social awareness of the needs of the society, and ‘Habit’ for passion towards lifelong learning.

Registration Closed