Alumni Event

Reminisce, Reconnect, Renew: The MPP Turns 25

Synopsis

The LKY School celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Master in Public Policy (MPP) programme with a reunion dinner at the Conrad Centennial Hotel, in August.

MPP students and alumni, staff, as well as current and former faculty members came together for an evening of good cheer, cosy conversation, and lively intellectual exchange. Joining in the festivities were Singapore’s Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who chairs the LKY School’s governing board, and Dean Kishore Mahbubani.

The evening’s highlight was the hour-long panel discussion, moderated by Dean Mahbubani and featuring alumni members Moe Thuzar, Kunzang Lhamu, Jacqueline Chen, and Will Chua.* The alumni speakers reflected on how the MPP programme had transmuted their professional and personal journeys, by opening doors to pathways that were previously inaccessible to them. In the spirit of authenticity, they spoke candidly about the challenges encountered while in pursuit of their goals, and offered sound advice to those still in the programme.

The occasion was especially meaningful for Professor Mukul Asher, who has been with NUS for 42 years (since 1975), of which 25 years was with the MPP programme. He was also part of a trio of lecturers who visited Harvard University prior to setting up the Public Policy programme, to ensure that the local programme adhered to international best practices.

No reunion would be complete without friendly competition—through the dinner, prizes were awarded for the “Class with the Biggest Turnout,” “Furthest Travelled Alumni,” and an “LKY School in My Heart, Mind, and Stomach” photo contest.

"It was both exhilarating and humbling to witness and be a part of the MPP 25th anniversary celebration,” said Moe, one of the panel speakers. “The camaraderie among the different batches of students and the students' affection for the faculty illustrate that lifelong friendships were forged in our common experience of being challenged to go beyond our best.”

Distance was no deterrent for John-Paul Parmigiani (Class of 2011), who picked up a prize for having travelled from the US to attend the reunion. "Gatherings like these keep our network strong and celebrate the outstanding work of our fellow alumni. It is such a great privilege and honour to be an alum of the school, and have opportunities like these to reconnect with the people who made my LKYSPP experience so special,” he said. “Keeping with the LKYSPP tradition, the event was masterfully executed, and beautifully celebrated."