The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), a leading institution in applied and lifelong learning, has made a significant commitment to advancing Chinese language, literature, culture, and the arts through the establishment of the Eddie Kuo Fund for Chinese Studies. Endowed with S$1.01 million—including matching grants from the Ministry of Education (MOE)—this fund honors the lifelong contributions of Emeritus Professor Eddie Kuo, a pioneering scholar in communication, sociology, and Chinese studies. Launched in 2022 with public announcement in early 2023, the initiative supports a range of activities aimed at enriching academic discourse and public engagement in Singapore and the region.

This development comes at a pivotal time for higher education in Singapore, where interest in Chinese studies is surging amid stronger economic ties with China and a renewed emphasis on bilingual proficiency. SUSS's Centre for Chinese Studies (CCS@SUSS), under whose auspices the fund operates, positions the university as a key player in preserving and evolving Singapore's unique Chinese cultural identity.

Emeritus Professor Eddie C.Y. Kuo (1940–2026) was a towering figure in Singapore's academic landscape. His career spanned sociology at the National University of Singapore (NUS), communication studies at Nanyang Technological University (NTU)—where he served as founding dean of the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information—and Chinese studies at SUSS. As founding director of CCS@SUSS from 2012 to 2016 and honorary advisor thereafter, Prof Kuo championed the concept of 'Cultural China,' blending traditional heritage with contemporary societal dynamics.

Prof Kuo's research focused on language policy, national integration, multilingualism, and Singapore's ethnic Chinese identity. Notable works include co-authoring Unity in Diversity: Language and Society in Singapore, which examines bilingual education and racial consciousness. His efforts extended beyond scholarship; he advocated for the SUSS Student Care Fund and inspired the namesake endowment. Tributes following his passing in March 2026 highlighted his gentle demeanor and visionary impact on humanities and social sciences.

The fund originated from donors inspired by Prof Kuo's dedication, including the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, Mr. Kek Boon Leong (former president of Nanyang Confucian Association), and Mr. Kwek Boon Watt (owner of Music Book Room). These contributions, matched by MOE grants, created a robust S$1.01 million endowment. The selection committee, comprising media veteran Mr. Lim Jim Koon, CCS director Assoc Prof Foo Tee Tuan, and Dr. Lee Wee Heong, ensures projects align with promoting Chinese studies.

At the launch, Prof Kuo reflected, “This is really the last lap of my long journey... there is still more that can be done.” Donors like Mr. Kek emphasized its meaningful cause, underscoring community support for cultural preservation.

The fund's mandate is multifaceted: funding local and regional public events, book publications, academic research, and visiting scholar programs. It targets interdisciplinary projects involving SUSS students, alumni, and faculty from Chinese Language and Literature, Early Childhood Education, and Translation and Interpretation. By bridging academia and community, it aims to deepen appreciation of Chinese heritage while addressing contemporary issues like identity in a globalized world.

• Public events: Lectures, film festivals, symposia to engage diverse audiences.
• Publications: Translations and monographs for wider accessibility.
• Research: Grants for studies on Singapore-Malaysia Chinese literature and intellectual history.
• Visiting scholars: Exchanges to enrich curricula and perspectives.

The inaugural project is the English translation of Unity in Diversity, launched in Chinese in July 2022 and named among Yazhou Zhoukan's top non-fiction books. Translated by Dr. Susan Xu and colleagues, it democratizes insights on Singapore's language policies. A second project has also received support, demonstrating the fund's immediate impact—though specifics highlight ongoing research into regional Chinese communities.

These initiatives exemplify step-by-step processes: from proposal review by the committee, to funding allocation, execution by SUSS experts, and public dissemination via events or publications. For instance, the translation process involves linguistic adaptation to preserve cultural nuances while ensuring readability for English-dominant readers.

CCS@SUSS, directed by Assoc Prof Foo Tee Tuan, organizes high-impact events like the 15th Cultural China Public Lecture (over 200 attendees), the 2025 Singapore Early Childhood Education Chinese Symposium, and the 13th Singapore Chinese Film Festival (3,800+ attendees). Publications include the SUSS Humanities Series and Xin You Yue Bao. The advisory committee, featuring experts like Prof Wong Yoon Wah, guides strategic direction.

An advisory board ensures balanced, multi-perspective programming, fostering collaborations with Taiwan's NCCU and regional partners.

SUSS offers robust programmes tailored for working adults and full-time students. The part-time BA Chinese Studies requires 130 credit units (cu) for ordinary degree, covering linguistics, literature, history; honours adds 40 cu including dissertation. The four-year full-time BA (Hons) Chinese Studies (200 cu) includes tracks in Chinese Education and Chinese Media, Advertising & Publications. Core courses span ancient/modern history, intellectual thought, and Singapore-Malaysia literature.

Entry requires strong Chinese proficiency (e.g., H2 Chinese pass). Graduates enter teaching, media, publishing, or admin roles, with flexible pacing suiting Singapore's workforce.

Singapore's six autonomous universities emphasize Chinese studies amid bilingual policy. NUS's Department of Chinese Studies offers BA/MA/PhD; NTU reports 290 Chinese undergrads in AY2024-25. Recent expansions include Mandarin-taught degrees at NUS/NTU to attract Chinese students (half of 73,000 intl students in 2023). Trends show rising enrolments, driven by China's economic pull and no TOEFL/IELTS barriers.

Singapore's bilingual policy—English as first language, Mother Tongue (Chinese for 74% ethnic Chinese)—underpins education since 1966. Higher ed reinforces this, with Chinese proficiency aiding careers in trade (China SG's top partner). Funds like Eddie Kuo address challenges: declining dialect use, 'Speak Mandarin' evolution, unique 'Singlish Chinese' identity. Prof Kuo's work highlighted ethnic Chinese disunity evolving into cohesive identity.

Stakeholders view it as vital for cultural transmission, economic competitiveness. Experts note risks of Mandarin dominance but praise balanced approaches.

Graduates leverage skills in education (MOE schools), media (Lianhe Zaobao), publishing, diplomacy. With China-SG trade at S$100bn+, proficiency yields premiums. Fund enhances via research opps, enhancing employability. Students gain actionable insights: e.g., translation projects build portfolios; events network with scholars.

• Teaching: Certify via NIE pathways.
• Media: Content creation amid digital shift.
• Business: Cross-cultural comms.

With two projects underway, the fund eyes expanded visiting programmes, symposia amid intl student boom. As Chinese students flock to SG (73k intl 2023, half Chinese), it positions SUSS for growth. Legacy: perpetuating Prof Kuo's vision, ensuring Singapore's Chinese studies thrive globally-local hybrid.

Challenges include sustaining donor interest, integrating AI in language learning. Solutions: partnerships, alumni funds like SUSS Chinese Studies Alumni Fund.

Photo by TSquared Lab on Unsplash

Prospective students: apply BA Chinese Studies (Jan intake). Donors/scholars: contact CCS@SUSS. Attend events like Chinese Film Festival. Explore careers via AcademicJobs.com resources.