Dear students, alumni, colleagues, and partners of CDE,

AI has dominated news and discussions, prompting profound changes across systems, jobs, and education. It has driven not only revisions to curricula across institutions to incorporate AI-related skills, but also deeper reflection on the meaning of human intelligence and the role of schools and universities in preparing students for an increasingly uncertain future.

There has been, and will continue to be, discussion about the impact of AI. However, we need not view the future with fear. As I reflect on what we have achieved as a college this past year, I see not merely a list of accomplishments, but the underlying forces that have driven them—qualities that AI cannot replicate, because they are fundamentally human.

Curiosity, the desire to connect with others, the capacity to reflect and internalise, and the courage to face uncertainty and make the best of what is presented to us—these remain enduring threads woven into the fabric of who we are, and they will carry us forward into an AI-driven future that is still unfolding.

I am proud to say that our students understand this well. The core values they articulated when we first became a College—adaptability, creativity, and inclusivity—are as relevant today as they were five years ago, if not more so. These values are, at their heart, deeply human.

In January 2026, we will celebrate our fifth CDE Day—a milestone first launched in 2022 when we came together as a College to build connections within a shared community. Today, CDE Day celebrates our genuine human connections, diverse perspectives, and the creativity that emerges from them, as well as the remarkable community we have grown into.

So let us look ahead to 2026 and beyond with optimism and confidence.

I wish you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season, and a new year filled with health, happiness, and new opportunities.

Professor Teo Kie Leong
Dean
College of Design and Engineering (CDE)