The Foundation of Yale-NUS

The Internationalisation of Yale University

By the late 1990s, Yale University had embarked on a strategy of internationalisation.

We had been on a long trajectory for a decade of internationalisation of Yale.

Yale President Richard Levin describes the process of internationalisation of Yale and how it led to Yale-NUS College.

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Yale University campus, Sterling Memorial Library with greenery in front.

Our efforts to create a global university start from the premise that the world has become increasingly interconnected—not simply economically and geopolitically but also in the experience of daily life, through the immediacy of events that are broadcast worldwide and through the confrontation of cultures, ideas, and values that are evident to all.

From The Internationalization of Yale University: 2005-2008 by Richard Levin and Yale Vice President Linda Lorimer, 2005.

President of Yale University, Richard Levin, and two other professors sitting in their gowns during the foundation ceremony of Yale-NUS College.

Professor Richard Levin on how discussions with Asian educators convinced him that Asia would benefit from a liberal arts college.

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We needed a programme that focused on critical thinking skills.

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan on the advantages of diversifying the Singapore university sector.

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A Yale-NUS classroom with students sitting around round tables, listening. The student closest to the camera is male-presenting, wearing a red t-shirt and glasses.

We could offer this opportunity to more Singaporeans and then people didn’t have to go overseas if they wanted that kind of an education.

Second Yale-NUS President Tan Tai Yong describes how a liberal arts college would benefit Singapore and Singaporeans.

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The IAAP [International Academic Advisory Panel] also believes that establishing a liberal arts college is of strategic importance to Singapore.

A liberal arts education can be an important way to nurture students who think from first principles, are rigorously grounded across disciplines including mathematics and science, communicate effectively, are able to put problems in historical, cultural and ethical contexts, and have a life-time thirst for knowledge.

Ministry of Education press release, 27 June 2008

First Discussions

In January 2009, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, NUS President Tan Chorh Chuan began discussions with Yale University President Richard Levin and Vice President Linda Lorimer on collaborating to design a liberal arts college in Singapore.

One of the very important things was for the College to develop a new model of liberal arts education.

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan on the need for the College to have autonomy so it would be able to innovate.

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In Autumn 2009, faculty committees at Yale and NUS studied the issues of planning a curriculum, recruiting faculty, and designing a residential college.

A group of 11 Yale-NUS faculty around a round meeting table in a room. The chairs are red and there are white boards in the background.

These committees were at Yale and also at NUS, and they communicated also at these weird hours of the day to plan.

Professor Richard Levin details the planning work carried out by the committees.

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We had many curricular workshops that involved Yale faculty from many disciplines.

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan recalls how NUS and Yale collaborated to design the curriculum and recruit the inaugural faculty.

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An Equal Partnership

On 10 September 2010, Yale and NUS signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to further study the creation of the College:

Yale and NUS were to each have half the seats on the Governing Board.
NUS and the Singapore Government were to provide all funding.
Degrees would be awarded through NUS, not Yale.

This is going to be a true exchange of ideas, and a true work among equals, as opposed to our trying to impose our model.

Professor Richard Levin explaining that Yale and NUS operated as equal partners in the creation of the College.

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Two female-presenting students in a class discussion.

It was truly a joint cooperative effort.

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan describes how the two universities worked together to set up the College.

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Concerns at Yale

Some members of Yale’s faculty raised concerns about possible restrictions on academic freedom, and fears of discrimination, in Singapore.

There were however, a small number of [Yale] faculty who were really quite vociferous in their opposition to this endeavour.

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan recounts some of the objections raised by a minority of the Yale faculty.

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We reached an understanding that freedom of ideas, freedom of expression, freedom of inquiry, would be fully protected in the work of our students and faculty.

Professor Richard Levin details the steps taken to ensure academic freedom at the College.

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Yale University campus, an entrance gate into the campus.

Despite obvious constraints on the scope of public discourse… there is real opportunity for robust inquiry and discussion on the NUS campus.

From Prospectus for a Liberal Arts College in Singapore, 2010

Concerns in Singapore

In Singapore, there were also questions about the viability of a liberal arts college.

Would there be sufficient interest from students?

Would the curriculum work?

Could the College attract suitable faculty?

Would the College be financially sustainable?

How would the College be funded?

Would the curriculum duplicate NUS courses?

Would the College attract students away from NUS?

A Yale-NUS College building pictured from outside of the campus, with Yale-NUS College written on the building with blue and orange letters. There is greenery (Cendana Green) in front of the building.

Countdown to
Yale-NUS College

31 March 2011

Announcement of Yale-NUS College

Yale-NUS College was announced as Singapore's first liberal arts college, and the first with a full residential college model, integrating living and learning. It was also the first time Yale University had allowed its name to be used on a campus outside New Haven, Connecticut.

Yale-NUS College will be a strategic addition to our university sector. It will offer another distinctive educational experience for top students, with its model of liberal arts education that is contextualised to Singapore and Asia.

Singapore's Minister for Education, Dr Ng Eng Hen, NUS press release, 31 March 2011.

11 April 2011

Official Launch

Yale-NUS College was officially launched on 11 April 2011 by Singapore's
Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong

[Singapore is] a society within which a liberal arts college can blossom and grow, and help us to adapt to the changing world.

From PM Lee's speech at the launch ceremony.

30 May 2012

President and Leadership Team Announced

(left to right) Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, President of NUS in a suite and orange tie,
Professor Lai Choy Heng, Executive Vice President (Academic Affairs) of Yale-NUS College in a suit and pink/blue/black diagonally-striped tie, Mrs Doris Sohmen-Pao, first Executive Vice President of Yale-NUS College in a dark blue/ orange dress and a dark blue cardigan, Professor Richard Levin, President of Yale
University in a suit and blue tie,Professor Pericles Lewis, first President of Yale-NUS College in a suit and a red tie.

The presidents of NUS and Yale photographed with the new leadership team, from left to right:

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, President of NUS
Professor Lai Choy Heng, Executive Vice President (Academic Affairs), Yale-NUS College
Mrs Doris Sohmen-Pao, Executive Vice President (Administration), Yale-NUS College
Professor Richard Levin, President of Yale
University
Professor Pericles Lewis, President of Yale-NUS College

6 July 2012

Groundbreaking Ceremony

The new College needed a new campus, and construction began in July 2012 with a groundbreaking ceremony graced by Guest-of-Honour, Singapore's Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong.

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong giving a speech during the founding ceremony of Yale-NUS College. The banner in the background is blue and has the following in white: Groundbreaking Ceremony of Yale-NUS. Friday, 6 July 2021. Guest of Honour, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

July and August 2012

Inaugural Faculty and Curriculum

The inaugural faculty attended a series of workshops at Yale and NUS to discuss the curriculum and teaching methods. Many of the faculty moved to Yale for the next year to develop the curriculum.

We were actually recruiting a set of pioneers to build this with us.

Professor Tan Tai Yong recounts the process of recruiting the inaugural faculty who helped set up the College.

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21 September 2012

Announcement of Vision and Mission Statement

A community of learning,
Founded by two great universities,
In Asia, for the world.

The Yale-NUS Vision was written by the College's inaugural President Pericles Lewis, with inputs from faculty and staff.

16 June 2013

First Students Arrive

In June 2013, the inaugural intake of over 150 students arrived at Yale-NUS.

A photo from Yale-NUS College student orientation 2013, freshman cohort in a big multi-purpose hall with banners with the school name and balloons in blue and orange.

27 August 2013

Inauguration Ceremony

Officiated by Dr Tony Tan, President of Singapore and Chancellor of NUS, the Inauguration Ceremony officially marked the start of the College's first academic year.