TF-NUS LEaRN 2024: Nurturing leaders for a sustainable future

The latest iteration of the annual Temasek Foundation-NUS Leadership Enrichment and Regional Networking (TF-NUS LEaRN) programme kicked off over the summer break as over 60 students from various universities in Singapore and Southeast Asia immersed in a cross-cultural learning programme held for two weeks each in Vietnam and Singapore.

Organised by the NUS Global Relations Officewith support from Temasek Foundation, the TF-NUS LEaRN programme seeks to nurture the next generation of Asian leaders by providing opportunities for cultural exchange, networking, and leadership development. The theme of Cultural and Environmental Sustainability was the focus of this year's iteration, held in collaboration with FPT University in Vietnam.

Sustainability and the community: lessons from Da Nang

In May 2024, 34 students from NUS, Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) departed on a two-week journey to Da Nang, Vietnam to learn about its cultural and environmental sustainability initiatives, through visits to cultural sites and cultural exchange with Vietnamese students. Students also took lessons on Adaptive Leadership and Eco-Tourism from FPT University.

The lessons in Da Nang set the stage for their experiences at the scenic district of Hoa Bac, located about 30km north-west of Da Nang, where they were welcomed into different homestays and heard from the community directly on how its members have preserved their way of life and the environment around them.

For first-year undergraduate from NUS Electrical EngineeringMuhammad Afham Bin Mohamed Shahril, the time spent with the community at Hoa Bac in Da Nang was particularly significant.

"We explored their innovative efforts towards sustainability and witnessed first-hand how community-driven initiatives can lead to meaningful and lasting change. This experience broadened my understanding of sustainability practices and inspired me to think about how similar models can be applied to my own community," he said.

In addition to their unforgettable experience at Hoa Bac, the programme participants also gained deeper knowledge about Vietnamese history and were immersed in Vietnamese cultural activities such as bamboo and handloom weaving during their two weeks in Da Nang.

At Gian Bi Village, the students engaged with members of the Co Tu ethnic minority, an indigenous population who live in the region. They learnt about their unique ethnic legacies, such as food specialties and basket weaving, and some even put their best foot forward to learn traditional art forms such as the Co Tu people's tung tung da dadance.

Imagining ASEAN 2040

The second segment of the TF-NUS LEaRN programme, which took place in Singapore in July 2024, saw 30 students from Singapore's Southeast Asian neighbours - Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam - gather to learn about sustainability in Singapore, explore the context in which leaders operate today, and envision the potential requirements of leadership in ASEAN in 2040.

Through fireside chats with industry leaders on leadership philosophy; excursions to local farms, the Singapore Zoo and Marina Barrage; and discussions with leaders from various sectors spearheading significant sustainability efforts, the programme contributed to the students' understanding of Singapore's current context in the conceptualisation and implementation of sustainability policies and initiatives, and were necessary building blocks for the next part of the programme where participants envisaged ASEAN 2040.

For Kwan Punyanuka, second-year Humanities and Sustainability undergraduate from Chiang Mai University, the fireside chats held with industry leaders gave him much food for thought and a greater insight into leadership. "My biggest takeaway from this programme would be that in order to be a good leader or to make an impact, one must start with oneself. Being able to hear from and speak to the distinguished speakers and sophisticated thinkers at the fireside chats really helped put things into perspective and shed light on complex questions," he said.

In the final phase of the programme, the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policyintroduced the participants to the Futures Thinking Methodology and other thinking models, equipping them with innovative and investigative ways to think about the future, anticipate possible outcomes, and make better decisions today. The students then had to apply these lessons to their respective team presentations on their visions for the future, the leadership required to achieve it, and their recommendations.

Learning and growing together

Ultimately, it was the deep friendships forged that made the programme memorable. "My most treasured moments are those of connection," said Hannah Chia, a final-year student from NUS Computing.

"I made some unexpected friendships that I think I will have for life… I was inspired, challenged, and invigorated by my peers," she added.

Anna Therese Carolino Lobusta, a Year 3 student from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, concurred, "The programme provided me a space to connect with various individuals, and I am truly inspired by all the insights, experiences and stories of the people I have met. These friendships have taught me a lot; if I am willing to reach out and be open, I can discover so much beauty within each person."

By NUS Global Relations Office