Fraternity in Focus: NUS Leads Mindset Shift Discussions

The National University of Singapore's Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), housed within the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), recently hosted its flagship event, Singapore Perspectives 2026, themed 'Fraternity'. Held on January 20 and 26, 2026, the conference brought together policymakers, academics, and community leaders to explore pathways to greater social cohesion amid rapid technological changes, cultural diversity, and competitive pressures.

Opening the in-person session at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, IPS Director Mr Janadas Devan drew from Singapore's National Pledge to underscore happiness as a collective endeavour. He recalled the original draft's phrasing, 'seek happiness and progress by helping one another', contrasted with the final 'achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation', emphasizing fraternity's role in national identity.

Panel Insights: Rethinking Social Capital

The first panel, 'Rethinking Social Capital in a Smart Nation', featured Minister of State Jasmin Lau and Mr Ang Jin Shaun of Stranger Conversations. Lau highlighted personal roles in building trust—from parenting to policy-making—stressing safe digital spaces and everyday conversations. Ang advocated prioritizing human connections as a 'need' over a 'want', sharing how his initiative fosters listening and vulnerability to combat digital isolation.

For Singapore universities like NUS and NTU, this resonates with campus life where digital tools dominate yet serendipitous interactions in common areas build lasting bonds. Initiatives like NUS College's 60+ clubs encourage such organic engagements, mirroring the panel's call for individual ownership in cohesion.

Navigating Diversity: Relational Perspectives from NUS Faculty

Panel two, 'Navigating Challenges to Social Cohesion', included Ms Shahrany Hassan of The Whitehatters and NUS Professor Elaine Ho from the Department of Geography and Asia Research Institute. Hassan urged viewing people as individuals, not proxies for groups, through safe dialogues on race and religion. Ho advocated leveraging shared interests like food and sports in public spaces such as void decks—iconic HDB features fostering informal ties—to design inclusive environments.

NUS campuses exemplify this: University Town (UTown) and void deck-inspired communal areas promote cross-cultural friendships. With Singapore's universities hosting diverse international cohorts—NUS alone with over 10% international students—these spaces are vital for relational diversity, preventing polarization.

Redefining Meritocracy for Inclusivity

The third panel, 'Building a More Inclusive and ‘We First’ Society', spotlighted NUS Associate Professor Vincent Chua from Sociology and Anthropology, alongside NVPC CEO Tony Soh. Chua outlined inequality's 'three Rs': resources (persistent wealth gaps), relations (public-private housing divides), and recognition (meritocracy equating worth to achievement). Soh called for action-based merit: valuing volunteering in hiring and scholarships.

• Resource inequality: Income gaps narrowing but wealth endures.
• Relational: Social mixing via schools insufficient against housing segregation.
• Recognition: 60 years of meritocracy links respect to grades, eroding cohesion.

In higher education, this prompts reforms. SMU mandates 80 hours of community service for undergraduates, blending service with curriculum. NTU's CoLab4Good awards recognize societal contributions. NUS could expand scholarships for ground-up initiatives, aligning with academic career advice emphasizing holistic profiles.

IPS at NUS: Pioneering Policy Thought Leadership

Established as an autonomous centre under LKYSPP in 2008, IPS bridges academia and policy. Director Janadas Devan, a Cornell PhD and former journalist, has led since 2011, fostering dialogues like SP2026. NUS faculty contributions underscore universities' role in societal mindset shifts.

IPS website hosts resources on cohesion studies.

Singapore's Happiness Landscape and University Ties

Singapore ranked 34th in the 2025 World Happiness Report, second in Asia, buoyed by safety and governance but challenged by work pressures. Student surveys reveal similar trends: high achievement stress impacts wellbeing.

Universities respond with frameworks like holistic mental health support, integrating peer networks and counselling—echoing fraternity's trust-building.

Campus Spaces: Engineering Cohesion Like Void Decks

Just as HDB void decks enable spontaneous gatherings, university designs prioritize communal areas. NUS's Yusof Ishak House and NTU's open quads facilitate informal interactions, vital for diverse student bodies.

Research shows such spaces boost belonging, reducing isolation amid academic rigour.

Student Volunteering: Stats and Momentum

Youth volunteerism rose to 31% in 2023, with universities leading. SMU's 80-hour requirement engages thousands annually; NUS students log significant hours via community arms. NVPC data links volunteering to happiness and employability—perfect for higher ed jobs seekers showcasing impact.

Meritocracy Evolution in Singapore Higher Education

Debates intensify: Pure grade-based admissions risk recognition inequality. Proposals include valuing extracurriculars, as in NUS holistic reviews. Faculty hiring could prioritize community leaders, fostering kinder campuses.

World Happiness Report correlates social support with rankings, urging unis to lead.

Mental Health and Wellbeing: Fraternity's Frontline

Inter-University Network addresses student concerns like mental health via policy dialogues. NTU's new MSc in Psychology meets demand; NUS counselling expands peer support—key mindset shifts for resilience.

Photo by Vladyslav Tobolenko on Unsplash

Outlook: Universities Spearheading Kinder Singapore

NUS IPS sets the tone; expect expanded initiatives like Stranger Conversations on campuses, merit reforms, and space redesigns. For students, embracing fraternity enhances not just happiness but career edges—check rate my professor for inspiring faculty.

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