NUS Engineering alumni receive honours at the NUS Alumni Awards 2017

NUS Eminent Alumni Award
Mr Wong Ngit Liong
Engineering '65
Mr Wong Ngit Liong helmed the National University of Singapore as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for 12 years, from 2004 to 2016. Under his steadfast leadership and bold vision, NUS was transformed during that period from a respected local teaching institution, dedicated to manpower development into a leading global university, regarded for its scholarship and research.

Mr Wong's appointment was also during a turning point when NUS took bold steps in becoming an autonomous university. Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam in his capacity as Deputy Prime Minister and Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam who was the Minister for Education then, invited Mr Wong to be the Chair of NUS Council to steer NUS through the process of institutional autonomy. Mr Wong was noticed by Singapore's leaders because of his leadership abilities, international perspective, entrepreneurial zeal and ability to transform large organisations. Following corporatisation, Mr Wong worked hard with the NUS management team to establish a robust governance framework, appoint a Board of Trustees, and establish a new culture of collaboration between NUS management and the new Board.

The greater autonomy afforded by corporatisation enabled NUS to excel and differentiate herself. It was, however, a complex and difficult journey which included substantial restructuring of NUS' administrative, financial and corporate functions and processes. Mr Wong also strengthened key capabilities such as strategic planning and built fresh competencies in development and investment. The hard work and successful corporatisation of NUS was a major enabler in the University's steep trajectory of growth. In the subsequent years after corporatisation under Mr Wong's careful, forward-looking and conscientious oversight, he developed NUS from "a good to a great University", with emphasis on raising NUS' reputation and performance in Education, Research and Enterprise.

NUS achieved many milestones, including the development of the University Town with Singapore's first residential colleges, as well as the establishment of new schools - Duke-NUS Medical School, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Yale-NUS College and most recently the School of Continuing and Lifelong Education in support of the national SkillsFuture initiative. In education, NUS improved its offerings by implementing a grade-free first year, a wide range of overseas programmes including the highly successful NUS Overseas Colleges and the Centre for Future-ready Graduate's Roots & Wings programme. Top researchers in their fields sought to call Singapore home, and created an intellectual buzz on campus. Today, NUS scientists are amongst the most cited in the world. These outcomes are reflected in NUS' strong global standing, and truly, Mr Wong's efforts have made NUS stronger and more respected both locally and globally.

Having studied in the USA and Canada, Mr Wong saw the value of a global education. He began his career in the USA with Hewlett-Packard (HP) Company, where he held a series of management positions. He returned from Silicon Valley in the late 1970s and set up HP's office in Singapore. He was noticed for his deep insights into the workings between top levels of business and governments and that he was able to deepen these collaborations for the mutual benefit of industry and community. When Mr Wong left HP, he successfully built Venture Corporation in 1984 and is now its Chairman and CEO. By 1989, the Singapore-grown company that designs and manufactures electronic and engineering products reported a turnover of $25.4 million. By 2016, revenue reached $2.87 billion, and the Venture Group has grown to comprise 40 companies operating globally, employing 12,000 people. Among its many accolades, Venture Group was voted one of the 100 Best Managed Companies in the world by Forbes Magazine in 1994, 1996 and 1998. It was also named a Top Performing Global Growth Company from East Asia by the World Economic Forum in 1997.

Mr Wong himself has received many awards including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Master Entrepreneur Awards in 2002, as well as the Businessman of the Year awarded by DHL Worldwide Express and The Business Times in 1998. In 2012, Mr Wong was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the Singapore Government in his capacity as Chairperson of the NUS Board of Trustees.

Mr Wong had a deep interest in the NUS community. He attended countless NUS events and arranged Board visits to the faculties and schools. He and his fellow NUS Board of Trustees members met regularly with alumni, students and faculty which strengthened the bonds between the NUS Board and the NUS community. Even as NUS became increasingly successful as a leading global university, Mr Wong constantly reminded NUS about the need to create even greater value and impact for Singapore. He stressed that NUS should always uphold the spirit of service and community.

Mr Wong also contributed his insights, expertise and time to Singapore's education scene. He was part of a high-level committee to look into the establishment of the Nanyang Technological Institute (NTI) in 1981 to address the shortage of engineers. A major figure in our community - Mr Wong has served on the boards of several key agencies including the Economic Development Board, the Singapore Trade Development Board (predecessor to IE Singapore), DBS Bank and the Singapore Exchange. He was also on several high-profile committees such as the Committee to Review the Salaries of the President, Prime Minister and political appointment holders, the Constitutional Commission to review the Elected Presidency, and the 2002 Economic Review Committee.

NUS President, Professor Tan Chorh Chuan has said that Mr Wong is a "proven, world-class global business leader with a sharp, perceptive intellect, great wisdom, deeply held values, and excellent judgement. He is also remarkably modest, quiet, very patient and kind." At an appreciation dinner organised by NUS for Mr Wong's tenure as NUS Board of Trustee Chairman, Mr Wong encouraged everyone to contribute to the advancement of NUS. He retold the story about how Mr Tan Jiak Kim raised $87,000 to start a medical school which would become a leading global research university. "No matter how small we may think our contribution is, seemingly small deeds can lead to very impactful outcomes," Mr Wong said.

Mr Wong was top in his cohort in school in Malaysia. He graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Electrical Engineering in 1965 from the University of Malaya and went on to obtain a Master in Electronics Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was a Fulbright Scholar. Mr Wong also holds a Master of Business Administration (with distinction) from McGill University under the Canadian Commonwealth Fellowship.