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Good morning, everyone,

Welcome back to SUTD.

We are truly glad to see so many familiar faces back on campus for this inaugural SUTD Homecoming event. Thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to be here with us. Today is not just a reunion; it is a celebration of who we are, where we have been, and where we are headed—together.

Since the day you graduated, SUTD has not stood still. We have continued to push boundaries, evolve boldly, and stay true to our mission to nurture technically grounded leaders and innovators who will design a better world. That mission is more urgent now than ever before.

We live in an era of relentless change. Technology continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, transforming how we live, work, and interact. The very nature of innovation is being redefined. And so too must education.

This is why SUTD is reimagining itself once more, taking a bold leap forward to become the world’s first Design AI University.

This pivot reflects more than a shift in curriculum. It is a declaration of intent: that we believe the future belongs to those who can integrate AI not just as a tool, but as a collaborator. A teammate. One that expands your ideas, challenges your assumptions, and elevates your creativity. One that redefines team intelligence.

Why Design AI?

Because the true promise of AI lies not just in automation or analysis, but in its potential to amplify human ingenuity. When AI is treated as a teammate, it can dramatically boost the quality, novelty, and impact of solutions. We believe this human-machine partnership will define the future of innovation. And SUTD intends to lead the way, not just with cutting-edge research, but with people like you.

We are already seeing what this future looks like. In our foundation Design Thinking and Innovation course last term, Term 2 students used Design AI to shrink the idea-to-prototype time from days to hours. Sketches became visual concepts in a single afternoon. Students did not just accept what AI gave them. They evaluated it, refined it, pushed it. This is human-led AI, not AI-led humans. My colleague, King Wang, will be sharing more with you later today,

And this is just the beginning. As we revamp HASS and human-centred design, we are infusing wisdom and ethics into how our students innovate. We aim to nurture design innovators who are not just 10 times faster, but 10 times wiser. That’s the promise of Design AI. And we want to extend this promise to you, our alumni.

Because your relationship with SUTD doesn’t end at graduation. In many ways, it starts anew. As you continue to grow in your personal and professional life, we want to walk that journey with you.

I am excited to share three key ways SUTD can support you in your next chapter, through lifelong learning, life design, and career guidance.

1. Lifelong Learning

In such a rapidly changing world, learning cannot stop when school ends. In fact, it is only just beginning. To stay relevant, we must constantly reinvent ourselves and commit to learning for life.

To support your learning needs, we are launching a free one-day executive training course focused on Design AI, developed exclusively for SUTD alumni across all industries and disciplines. We believe this will help to future-proof your career, expand your creative edge, and enable you to stay ahead of the curve in a world where AI and design are rewriting the rules. As SUTD alumni, you already think differently. This programme is designed to help you stay ahead—not just adapt, but to trailblaze.

2. Life Design

We have taught you how to design systems, products, and services. But what about designing your own life?

Whether you are at a crossroads, navigating a career transition, or simply exploring what’s next, having the right tools and mindset can make all the difference.

Hence, the second way we hope to support you is through a pilot of the globally acclaimed “Design Your Life” course, adapted specially for SUTD alumni. Starting in October this year and based on Stanford University’s design thinking approach, this course will empower you to reframe life’s challenges, explore multiple directions both personally and professionally, and make intentional, well-aligned decisions in a world full of uncertainty.

This is not just about choosing your next step. Instead, it is about designing a life that reflects your values, passions, and evolving goals. The same design thinking that helped you create impactful solutions as students can now guide you in shaping a meaningful life.

3. Career Guidance

Career paths nowadays are rarely linear. Many of you may be exploring new roles, changing industries, or even taking time to reset. That is not a setback. It is the new reality of growth.

If you are job searching, making a transition, or re-entering the workforce, please know that you don’t have to go at it alone. SUTD is here to walk alongside you.

Whether it is through one-on-one guidance, curated learning opportunities, or chances to re-engage with campus initiatives, our doors remain open. We also invite you to join our Design AI Fab Lab, where a growing Campus Builder 2.0 community is forming—a space for alumni and students to co-create, experiment, and shape the future together.

At this point, I would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our alumni who have continued to give back. Whether it is mentoring students, collaborating on industry projects, supporting scholarships, or contributing to our growth as a Design AI University, your generosity has made a real and lasting impact. While there are far too many to name, I would like to highlight just a few inspiring examples.

Seow Chun Yong, a dedicated alumnus from SUTD’s pioneer batch, has played a pivotal role in building our alumni community. In 2018, he led the formation of the SUTD Alumni Association as its founding president and continues to return regularly to share his cybersecurity expertise with students. He also proposed a hybrid model that integrates internship and capstone experiences—giving students deeper exposure to real-world challenges while creating meaningful impact for partner companies.

Chok Xin Lin, an ESD alumna from the Class of 2016, has also been a generous contributor of her time and expertise. She has supported our admissions interviews, tea receptions, and Open House events, and was a panel speaker at our Industry Leaders Seminar. While at RedMart, she even organised field trips for our students to better understand the company’s operations. Her efforts reflect the spirit of giving back in thoughtful, tangible ways.

Sharlene Wong, from the Class of 2015, exemplifies the spirit of service. An ISTD alumna, she has actively supported student outreach and alumni engagement through initiatives like the SUTD Open House and alumni panels. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she secured SGUnited Traineeship roles for three SUTD graduates at Temasek, where she works. In 2024, her company organised a Generative AI hackathon, involving 92 Temasek staff and SUTD undergraduates from across ISTD, DAI, ESD, and EPD. The initiative gave students the chance to apply their skills to real business challenges and exemplifies how alumni can create powerful learning opportunities for the next generation.

There are also alumni who have become part of our faculty. One of them is Dr Natalie Agus, a pioneer ISTD alumna, who joined SUTD as a lecturer after completing her doctoral programme in 2018. A highly respected educator, Natalie is known for her passion for teaching, dedication to mentorship, and genuine care for our students. She truly embodies SUTD’s values of integrity, service, and inclusivity, and plays a key role in shaping the supportive learning culture we are so proud of. Another is Doron Teh, a pioneer EPD alumnus who serves as the chief liaison between our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in EPD. In this role, he connects students across levels, fostering collaboration and continuity in the community. Doron is also a tireless supporter of the EPD pillar—mentoring students, representing SUTD at Open Houses, and always ready to strengthen alumni and student ties.

In sports, Kok Shiyun, an ASD alumna who graduated in 2019, has been coaching the SUTD Karate Club—one she herself founded as a student. Tay Zi Hang, who started our Squash Club, has also returned to coach since graduating in 2019. We’re also grateful to Kadir Bhajjaj, an EPD alumnus from the Class of 2022, who coaches track and field. And last but not least, a big thank you to Tracy Tan, an ASD alumna from the Class of 2016, who not only participated in this year’s career-sharing sessions with ASD students, but also designed the SUTD Homecoming logo and created the beautiful campus illustrations featured on the NETS Flashpay Card door gift.

All of you remind us that the SUTD spirit isn’t something you leave behind, but something you carry forward and pass on.

As we reconnect today, I also want to honour the legacy of leadership that has shaped this university. Our three presidents—Tom, Tow Chong, and I—represent different chapters in SUTD’s story, but we all share a deep belief in the power and promise of this community. Our SUTD family is truly something special.

So, I encourage you to catch up with old friends, forge new bonds, and rekindle the spirit that brought you here in the first place. SUTD is not just a place you passed through. It is, and always will be, your family away from home.

We are proud of how far you have come. And we cannot wait to walk with you into what comes next.

Thank you.