Since at least 1951, Singaporean students have been attending the University of Illinois. Early Singaporean Illini have included accountants, architects, architectural engineers, civil engineers, labor and industrial relations scholars, and mathematicians too.

Read on to learn about more early Singaporean Illini!

Early Illinois – Singapore Connections

A review of the Board of Trustees proceedings (Record Series 1/1/802) yields multiple instances of emerging connections between the University and Singapore. For academic year 1965-1966, Professor W. Ellison Chalmers took a leave of absence to be Visiting Professor of Industrial Relations at the University of Singapore for one full year. [1] Dr. Chalmers was responsible for developing an industrial labor relations program, including teaching and research, in addition to serving as a consultant for labor and management organizations as well as the Singaporean government, The Daily Illini reported. In 2002, the M.S. in Chemical Engineering program added an optional study abroad program featuring one semester of coursework at the National University of Singapore. [2] In 2004, the study abroad option was expanded for Ph.D in Chemical Engineering program. [3] In 2008, there was even administration discussion to further develop Illinois – Singapore research programs too. [4]

Students

During the 1950s, there may have been about a few Singaporean Illini undergraduates enrolled each year.

Mr. Peng-Khoon Ng, (B.S. Civil Engineering, 1953), was invited to join the scholastic honorary organization Phi Eta Sigma in 1952. Mr. Peng Kiang Sim, (B.S. Accountancy, 1953), left few records behind. While Mr. David Chan-Wa Chow, (B. Architecture, 1954) was invited to join Phi Eta Sigma in 1951.

Also, Mr. Sin-Hoa Lim, (B.S. Accountancy, 1955), left few records behind.

But, Mr. Tiong Siew Tan, (B.S. Architectural Engineering, 1957), was interviewed by The Daily Illini at least twice, for his opinions on foreign student education at Illinois. In March 1960, reporter Margie Schaefer investigated how foreign students were finding their studies in the United States. Mr. Tan was quoted to say that foreign students needed to make the first efforts, when making friends with Americans. At the end of the year, in December 1960, Mr. Tan was interviewed again. Reporter Guy Sattley investigated how foreign students and Americans were socializing on campus. Mr. Tan gave the advice that foreign students should try to live with American students, to deeply understand them.

For 1960s Singaporean Illini, there have been few records identified as of yet. Some undergraduates included Ms. Bee Leng Tan, (B.S. Mathematics, 1960), Mr. Chih-Chieh Chao, (B.S. Electrical Engineering, 1965), and Mr. William Hsiong, (B.S. Chemical Engineering, 1966).

Beginning during the later 1960s, the earliest Singaporean Illini graduate students began to complete their degrees. Some early Singaporean Illini graduate students have included Mr. Eng Fong Pang (M.A. Labor and Industrial Relations, 1967; PhD Labor and Industrial Relations, 1971) and Mr. How Ngee Ng, (M.S. Mathematics, 1970; PhD Mathematics, 1974).

Organizations

Since the 1980s, Singaporean student enrollment has significantly increased and a student organization has since formed too. Today, the UIUC Singapore Students Association supports Singaporean students through organizing annual events and trips, as well as hosting broader Illinois community members to learn more about Singapore.

Are you a Singaporean Illini? Do you know someone who is? We’d like to hear from you! Please send us a message or leave a comment below. We want to include you and your story, as we celebrate the first 150 years of the University of Illinois.

Happy First 150 everyone!

(A special thank you to the officers and members of the 2016-2017 Singapore Students Association for reaching-out to us and beginning their own student group archives.)

References

[] As always, a special thank you to all students whose tireless work for student life and publications (many of which are available at the University Archives) help preserve the memories of Illini everywhere.

[1] Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, April 23, 1965, page 528, Record Series 1/1/802.

[2] March 14, 2002, page 521.

[3] January 15, 2004, page 470.

[4] May 24, 2008, page 884-885.