18 May 2020
Yale-NUS, an autonomous college of NUS, is the first among Singapore’s universities to hold graduation ceremonies online this year.
Around 43 per cent of Yale-NUS graduands are international students and the rest are Singaporeans.
Other universities in Singapore have similar plans. The National University of Singapore has postponed its ceremonies until January next year, while Singapore Management University intends to have a virtual commemoration as well.
The Yale-NUS ceremony, which has been pre-recorded, will include speeches from its president Tan Tai Yong and Education Minister Ong Ye Kung.
The online session will also show individual photographs of the graduands as the college’s two rectors read out their names.
Dr Trisha Craig, vice-president (engagement) of Yale-NUS College, said: “There’s formality and intimacy at the same time. Typically, the minister would be far away on stage, but now it feels like he’s having a conversation with you.”