NUS Economics Alumni

Touching and Transforming Lives

An excuse to return to campus (The AlumNUS, July 08)

To say that Tan Tai Kiat (left) is an active alumnus would be an understatement, for he is not only deeply involved in alumni activities, he is also extremely passionate about his alumni work.

Tai Kiat, 32, graduated with Honours from the Faculty of Arts and Social Science in 2002 and he is the Honorary Secretary of the NUS Economics Alumni. Formed in January last year, the alumni group has about 800 members to date. The group was initiated by Dr Lee Soo Ann, a Senior Fellow with the Department of Economics, and Tai Kiat was roped in to help get the group running.

He said: "I wanted to do something for fellow alumni, so it was a meeting of minds (with Dr Lee). If Dr Lee hadn't started it, I would have suggested it to him."

Tai Kiat, who works as a service quality manager with a transport company and is also an active volunteer, said he has gained a better appreciation of alumni work and derives satisfaction from bringing alumni together.

He quipped: "Selfishly, setting up the alumni group gives us an excuse to come back to campus and when we come back, we can identify with something. Whenever we miss NUS, we can return to campus, use the facilities and meet the teachers."

Tai Kiat believes that students must start building bonds with their alma mater from thair undergraduate days.

He added: "In order for someone to contribute, one has to see that the contribution is worthwhile. But it's not possible to talk about contribution if the bond is not even established.

"What attracts someone to a place is some form of association or memories, or friends and teachers. That's why we want our alumni to come back and just join in our activities. If they are interested in helping out in any way, we'll give them our support."