Associate Professor Lee Cher Leng (Department of Chinese Studies) was recently interviewed on BBC World News, where she spoke about the importance and meaning of Chinese names, in light of a viral video on Chinese names made by a Chinese student at Columbia University after a racist incident there.
View the BBC segment here.
Chinese Studies
Department of Chinese Studies Sets Up New Wan Boo Sow Research Centre for Chinese Culture
On 2 December 2016, the Department of Chinese Studies, FASS, NUS, celebrated the opening of the Wan Boo Sow Centre for Chinese Culture. The Centre was set up to actively promote in-depth cultural research by both local and overseas scholars, and to raise research efforts and output in Chinese culture to a higher level in order for NUS to establish itself as a leading institution in the field in Asia and beyond. Through visiting fellowships, it seeks to attract renowned scholars to Singapore to conduct interdisciplinary research with academics both in and outside the Department of Chinese Studies.
In his speech during the opening ceremony, Guest-of-Honour, Mr Sam Tan, Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office & Ministry of Manpower, said he hopes that the setting up of this new research centre for Chinese culture will strengthen the bilateral cooperation between Singapore and other countries, in addition to encouraging exchanges between academics and non-academics. He added that NUS’ facilities, and bilingual and bicultural advantage will enable it to become an international centre for Chinese cultural studies.
The Centre is named in honour of the late Mr Wan Boo Sow (1918-1992), a pharmacist in the 20th century. Born and bred in Singapore, Mr Wan obtained a Diploma in Pharmacy from the then-King Edward VII College of Medicine, before starting his own pharmacy along High Street. Mr Wan recognised the importance of education and his children—upholding their late father’s view—contributed generously to the set-up of this Centre.
To mark its official opening, the Centre organised an inaugural conference on the 2 and 3 December 2016. The conference had six panels reflecting the current research focus of the six research clusters in the Department of Chinese Studies. Professor Benjamin Elman of Princeton University and Professor Ge Zhaoguang of Fudan University were the keynote speakers for the conference. More than 20 preeminent scholars from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Peking University, Xiamen University, University of London, University of Manitoba etc., presented their research outcomes in the field of Chinese history, literature, culture and linguistics.
Commencement Celebrations 2014
Another eventful year has come to pass. Another batch of graduating students marked the end of their formal school years and the beginning of an exciting future ahead with the annual Commencement Ceremony at the University Cultural Centre. On top of that, respective departments also held Commencement Celebrations for their graduates to bid them farewell, as well as to welcome them into the FASS Alumni family.
Other than the usual get-togethers, some departments added in a dash of intellectually engaging components. The Department of History had a quiz on history and, as with tradition, held their famous customary event – Mad Hatters! – inviting alumni from the Classes of 2013, 2007, and 2008. Some hats on display included a Samsui woman’s, a Bollywood Cop’s, a Shameless Monarch’s, and even a Bird’s Nest hat. The English Language department also had a pub quiz of sorts which tested the graduates’ linguistic and general knowledge about NUS. They also had a graduate who recited a poem he had specially penned for the occasion. Graduates too did not miss out on the opportunity to showcase their musical talents. The Department of Japanese Studies invited alumni from previous years and many friendly exchanges were made between the graduating class, faculty, and alumni, while sharing a communal Japanese meal at Waraku Restaurant. A happy coincidence occurred during Social Work Department’s graduation event – two PhD graduates found that they were classmates from the same Honours batch 18 years ago. All in all it was a joyous occasion for all parties involved.
Click on the following links to read more about the individual events that were held, as shared by the respective departments!
Chinese Studies Communications and New Media Economics English Language English Literature
Geography History Japanese Studies Philosophy Political Science Psychology Social Work Sociology
We wish the Class of 2014 the best in their endeavours!
Disclaimer: Links are correct and available at the time of posting.
Commencement 2013 Celebrations
This year, a good number of the departments in FASS, together with some of their alumni associations, organised events to celebrate their graduates’ commencement. Lunches, dinners, and even themed parties were held. Some of the highlights include: personalised congratulatory letters with calligraphy (Department of Chinese Studies), performances put up by the NUS Rondalla and the Chorda Trio (Department of Economics), instant photo booth with fanciful props (Department of Political Science), and students and staff coming with ‘mad hats’ of their own (Department of History).
Click on the following links to read more about the individual events that were held, as shared by the respective departments!
Chinese Studies Communications & New Media Economics Geography
History Japanese Studies Philosophy Political Science Psychology
Social Work Sociology South Asian Studies Programme
We would also like to take this opportunity to wish all graduates the best in their future endeavours!
Disclaimer: Links are correct and available at the time of posting.
[Seminar] Between Me and the Media: 20 Years of Singapore Chinese Media
Between Me and the Media: 20 Years of Singapore Chinese Media
Presented By NUS Chinese Studies Students’ Society
Date: 25 October 2012 (Thursday)
Time: 6pm to 8pm
Venue: AS1/03-01
Speakers:
(1) Ms. Tan Li Yi, current Ngee Ann Polytechnic lecturer, former Mediacorp YES 93.3FM DJ.
(2) Mr. Bob Lee, former photojournalist of Lianhe Zaobao and MyPaper and award winner in numerous international photojournalist competitions
Description of Seminar:
The teaching track and the media career are two conventional career pathways that many Chinese Studies graduates decide to embark on. The two speakers have a great deal of experience in the local Chinese media industry, particularly with Mediacorp Radio and Singapore Press Holdings. Through the sharing of past experiences and how the local Chinese media industry has evolved in the past two decades, students will be able to gain greater insights about the industry. This will be helpful for students who are interested in embarking on a career in the media industry.
日期：10月25日（星期四）
时间：6pm 至 8pm
地点：AS1/03-01
主题：《初探本地华文媒体与我的关系》
演讲人：
(1) 陈丽仪女士：现任义安理工学院讲师；前新传媒YES 93.3 DJ
(2) 前任《联合早报》和《我报》摄影记者，曾多次荣获国际摄影记者奖项
简介：
本地中文系毕业的学生，大多投身教育事业，或从事华文媒体行业。这次受邀的两位主讲嘉宾在本地华文媒体领域以活跃多年，身负经验，分别在新传媒和《联合早报》都曾任职。通过嘉宾分享自己的个人经验，以及讲解本地华文媒体业在近十多年来的发展，学生将能够更深入地了解这一领域如何蜕变并不断改革。分享内容必定能够让有志投身媒体工作的学生对本地华文媒体有更深一层的认识。