About the Gift
Dr Chan donated $1 million to SUSS in 2022. Coupled with the government’s matching grant, the total endowed fund of $2.5 million will support an annual book prize, applied research and the Dr Alan HJ Chan Biennial Conference.
A Life of Learning
Dr Chan was a shining example of a lifelong learner.
Initially a self-made businessman running a shipping company, he enrolled in Harvard Business School in his late forties to study management.
He eventually became a Confucian scholar, where he wrote several books and gave lectures on Eastern philosophy in various countries till his passing.
It is no wonder that Dr Chan felt connected to SUSS’s mission and purpose of inspiring lifelong learning, especially in the social sciences, which can be a force for social good.
In 2022, he gifted $1 million to the university.
The Dr Alan HJ Chan Book Prize was launched on 18 April 2023.
Largest Book Prize Money in Singapore
Dr Chan’s gift enabled SUSS to establish the Dr Alan HJ Chan Spirit of Singapore Book Prize.
Launched in 2023, the annual $30,000 book prize recognises the best creative writing work in Singapore that makes an impact on societal thinking or issues.
The work, which can be a fiction or non-fiction book, must be written by a Singaporean or a resident of Singapore and have a Singapore focus in its narrative.
The inaugural winner will be announced in 2024.
Celebrating the Spirit of Singapore
The book prize promotes writing that honours the values of the Singapore spirit, from which our students can learn and emulate.
Examples of such values include equality, diversity, religious harmony, meritocracy, pragmatism and resilience, and an emphasis on education, innovation and the community.
Dr Chan had said, “The purpose of my gift is to build understanding and galvanise thinking on how social good can make a difference in Singapore’s society.”