Inside the Shaw Foundation Alumni House, a room of former chief executives, public servants, and seasoned professionals settled in for their first day back in school.
Welcoming DSFP ‘26 back on campus. The Distinguished Senior Fellowship Programme (DSFP) is the world’s first life transition programme set in Asia for accomplished senior leaders. Learn more about DSFP here: https://scale.nus.edu.sg/home/dsfp#home
The scene mimicked the chatterings of friends across hallways, so many years back, only now they had come back wiser. Thoughtful. With steely eyes and steady determination to challenge the norms of what one was supposed to do nearing retirement.
DSFP Candidates mingling, excited for the upcoming semester.
That day was the Orientation Day for the NUS Distinguished Senior Fellowship Programme (DSFP) – the first of its kind in Asia to guide accomplished leaders on how to thrive in the 100-year life.
First Connections and Campus Exploration Tuesday opened with a welcome briefing by Mr. Paul Yong, Head of Recruitment and Community Management.
Mr Paul Yong, Head for Recruitment and Community Management, showing the candidates around at various sites on campus.
The conversation carried over onto a bus tour across NUS campus sites.
The cohort visited the Education Resource Centre, the Central Library hosted by University Librarian Prof. Natalie Pang, the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, the NUS Museum, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and the College of Design and Environment.
Their learning would be supercharged in these various classrooms, as the programme challenges them to learn bravely and experientially.
The group was welcomed by University Librarian Prof Natalie Pang. The Central Library (CLB) is the largest and flagship library of NUS Libraries.
What was special about the SCALE Classrooms was that, unlike a traditional classroom, the seminar rooms are designed for the exciting discussions that take place in them. In DSFP, the people sitting around you become as valuable as the faculty standing in front.
Vice University Librarian Magdeline Ng shows the candidates around campus. CLB boasts a sizeable collection of 2.9 million printed books, 748,000 e-books and more.
A Focus on Community and Continuous Learning As evening set in, the focus shifted to the Welcome Ceremony and Dinner.
Ambassador Chan Heng Chee, Chair of the DSFP Advisory Board, addressed the room, describing the Fellows as "wonderful people doing wonderful things".
Ambassador Chan Heng Kee addresses the candidates at the Welcome Ceremony and Dinner.
She framed the experience around the principle that "life is a continuous learning journey." What sets the DSFP apart, she explained, is its focus on community – both in building strong bonds of trust and friendship among participants and in giving back to wider society.
Ambassador Chan also outlined updates to the academic lineup. The program features 21 new courses and a 60 percent curriculum refresh covering history, religion, Buddhism, geopolitics, and longevity. This reflects a continued commitment towards lifelong learning.
She encouraged the Fellows to bring intellectual curiosity and a willingness to be challenged as they set out on a path defined by exploration, discovery, and friendship.
Creating a Multiplier Effect Academic Director Prof Virginia Cha welcomes the new cohort of DSFP ‘26.
Academic Director Prof Virginia Cha reflects on launching the programme a year earlier.
She recalled that getting the program off the ground required considerable convincing because nothing like it had been attempted before. Yet, as she put it, "magic really did happen" during the inaugural year.
She thanked the teaching team for their continued support towards the programme, for believing in the vision of DSFP even before the programme had materialised.
Prof Wang Gungwu, University Professor at the East Asia Institute, well-known expert in Chinese history, in particular, the Chinese diaspora. At DSFP, he teaches “History of China: Key Inflection Points”.
Looking to the new cohort, she spoke about building a multiplier effect with leaders who believe there is more to life than just a career.
Pointing out that every Fellow from the first class pledged to contribute to social projects, she reminded the incoming group that "magic doesn't happen on its own."
Back to School The inauguration concluded with each participant receiving a Back-to-School backpack, marking their transition back to student life.
A fond tradition for fellows: the backpack-donning ceremony.
Welcome, DSFP Class of ‘26!
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