Mdm Halimah Yacob Launches SUSS’ Sixth Success Academy in her First Official Trip as Chancellor

Mdm Halimah Yacob Launches SUSS’ Sixth Success Academy in her First Official Trip as Chancellor

• In partnership with KPN Corp, the Academy will offer programmes with cross-cultural industry experiences to empower students and executives for success in the global business arena.

Jakarta, Indonesia, 3 September 2024 - The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and KPN Corp today launched the SUSS Success Academy in Jakarta, creating new learning experiences and real-world training opportunities for students in Singapore and Indonesia.

The occasion was marked by an opening ceremony at The Westin Jakarta and attended by over 80 guests from both countries, including representatives from institutions of higher learning, as well as industry and community partners. The ceremony was presided by Deputy Chief of Mission & Minister-Counsellor, Mr. Terrence Teo, Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Jakarta, and Mdm Halimah Yacob, Chancellor of SUSS and former President of the Republic of Singapore, in her first official trip for the University since taking on the role in October 2023.

Grounded in SUSS’ commitment to lifelong learning and creating social impact, the Academy will serve as a key nexus for academic and industry partners from both countries, fostering partnerships and grooming well-rounded future leaders capable of excelling and making positive contributions to society.

As a large corporation headquartered in Jakarta with extensive businesses including oil palm plantations, palm oil processing, cement, property, hospitals and education, KPN Corp will bring its expansive networks and experiences to support and enhance the Academy’s offerings.

Building on this partnership, the Academy will feature two distinct tracks – Personal Success and Professional Success – through which SUSS will offer opportunities for students from SUSS and other Singapore pre-tertiary and tertiary institutions to co-learn and co-innovate with students from Indonesia. This will include participation in programmes such as interdisciplinary global learning courses and student exchanges, enabling students to collaborate across borders. Additionally, SUSS students will have the opportunity to gain professional experience in the region through work attachments and internships.

Key initiatives include:

• Experiential Early Childhood Centre: In partnership with the Singapore Experiential Education Academy (SEEd Academy) supported by KPN Corp, SUSS serves as a key knowledge partner in delivering high-quality preschool education based on Singapore's standards and pedagogy. Undergraduate students from SUSS’ Early Childhood Education (ECE) programme have undertaken internships with SEEd Academy, contributing to the design of curriculum frameworks and content.

• Impact Start-Up Challenge (ISC) and Venture Builder (VB): The ISC is a credit-bearing course that provides a platform for students from Singapore and Indonesia to experience the startup ecosystem, collaborate to generate ideas, and test and pivot their proposals in real-world settings. Since 2017, SUSS has empowered over 1,000 students in over 10 cities through this programme. The 12-week VB programme allows budding entrepreneurs to validate their business ideas in both Singapore and international markets. Over 65 SUSS and Indonesian students have gained valuable experience from the ISC and VB programmes conducted in collaboration with various Indonesian institutions since 2022.

The Academy will also support SUSS in collaborating with universities in Indonesia to co-design and co-deliver interdisciplinary and experiential global learning and service-learning programmes, focusing particularly on cultural heritage, sustainability and food security. This will build on efforts over the past four years, during which SUSS has partnered with the University Airlangga, University of Indonesia, Gadjah Mada University, Bandung Institute of Technology, Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haj, Petra Christian University, ITS Surabaya and IPB University. Through these partnerships and engagement with their Indonesian peers, over 170 SUSS students have significantly expanded their intercultural competencies, empowering them to become responsible and effective global citizens in a diverse and sustainable world.

Beyond its student focus, the Academy will leverage SUSS’ expertise in adult and workplace learning to create professional training and development solutions for industry partners, organisations, and institutions.

Professor Tan Tai Yong, President of SUSS, said: "SUSS is committed to providing transformative student experiences, and our expansion into Indonesia, in partnership with KPN Corp, is a pivotal step in this journey. The launch of the Success Academy in Indonesia reflects our dedication to offering students valuable real-world insights and global exposure beyond the Singapore landscape. I extend our sincere gratitude to KPN Corp for their valued partnership, which has empowered us to build a strong network of alliances and expand our educational reach to learners and organisations across Indonesia."

Ms. Jocelin Sitorus, CEO, Property, KPN Corp, said: “We are excited to support and collaborate with SUSS as we have in our past projects. Education is key in shaping the future of young talents, providing students from both countries and the region opportunities to learn and innovate together.”

The launch of the Success Academy in Indonesia is the latest in a series of academy openings as SUSS continues to expand its educational footprint across Asia. Last year, SUSS established three Academies in Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing, and Shenzhen. Just last month, SUSS launched two other academies in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. In the next two months, the University will inaugurate two more academies in Manila and Mumbai, bringing the total to eight regional academies.

For more information, visit www.suss.edu.sg/success-academy.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Ms. Melissa Ho
Public Relations Executive
Singapore University of Social Sciences
E: melissaho@suss.edu.sg
T: +65 6248 9138

Mr. Agusnadi
Head of Corporate Communication
KPN Corp
E: agus.nadi@kpn-corp.com
T: +62 8129940819

About Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)

At SUSS, we have a singular vision to be a university that inspires learning for life and impacts lives, regardless of age, background or life path. Our university is a vibrant tapestry of ages and experiences. From recent JC and polytechnic graduates to seasoned professionals, parents seeking new horizons and individuals redefining their careers in their golden years—our diverse community comes together for one common goal: to empower themselves with an education that impacts lives and society.

We offer more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programmes, available in full- and part-time study modes which are flexible, modular and interdisciplinary, catering to both fresh school leavers and adult learners. SUSS also offers a broad range of continuing education and training modular courses for the professional skills upgrading of Singapore's workforce.

To date, over 47,000 graduates have experienced our unique brand of education. More than 21,000 students are currently pursuing their full- and part-time studies with us.

The Institute for Adult Learning (IAL), as part of SUSS, leads in the field of research on adult and workplace learning and training of adult educators to build capabilities of the training and adult education sector in Singapore and beyond.

For more information about SUSS, please visit www.suss.edu.sg.

About KPN Corp

KPN Corp is a holding company formed in 2019 and headquartered in Jakarta. KPN Corp has several businesses, including: oil palm plantations, palm oil processing, cement, property and hospitals. The business activities of KPN Corp, spread throughout Indonesia and even to several countries in Asia. With the support of more than 30,000 employees, KPN Corp continues to develop its business to be sustainable and provide benefits and profits for its stakeholders.

For more information on KPN Corp, please visit https://kpn-corp.com.