Mr Sean Chiao, Group Chief Executive Officer, Surbana Jurong,

Board of Trustees,

Proud parents,

Esteemed faculty and staff,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen

and most importantly, the graduating Class of 2025—

Good morning,

Commencement is one of the highlights in the academic calendar – arguably the biggest in every student’s journey. It is thus with great pride that I stand here today to congratulate each and every one of you on completing your education journey at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (����ɫ��). Today marks a significant milestone in your lives. It is not just a celebration of the end of a long journey, but the beginning of an exciting new one – an even more exciting one. Whether you are entering the workforce, launching your own ventures, or continuing your studies, you are poised to shape the future in extraordinary ways.

At ����ɫ��, our mission has always been to nurture design innovators, bold thinkers, and entrepreneurs. And today, I am proud to stand before a graduating class that truly exemplifies these ideals—not only in ability, but in action.

Take, for example, Faith Lim from DAI. Seeing that many small and medium tech enterprises lacked the creative element in their outfits, she co-founded Faio Creatives in May 2021, a boutique agency specialising in such services. In an effort to balance her academic journey with her entrepreneurial pursuits, she rallied her fellow ����ɫ�� friends, leveraged each others’ creativity and Design AI expertise, and turned it into a success. Her story is one of sharp insight, entrepreneurial courage, and a spirit of collaboration. These are the qualities that define an ����ɫ�� graduate.

Another example is Chen Guanyu from the MTD Human-Centred Design programme. Originally trained in Education, Guanyu took a bold step from Wuhan, China to join ����ɫ��’s interdisciplinary, hands-on environment. Here, he collaborated with KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital to improve care transitions for preterm infants, interned in digital marketing at a global firm, and represented ����ɫ�� at Tsinghua University’s “Design Futures 2025” Summer School. Now serving as the inaugural Alumni Chair for the MTD programme, Guanyu is already giving back—fostering a growing network that bridges students and alumni. His story shows how curiosity and a human-centred mindset can spark impact across borders and disciplines.

Faith and Guanyu are just two of many amazing ����ɫ�� success stories. And I have absolutely no doubt that there will be many more to come as our graduates head out into the world – sharing their strong go-getter spirit, future-ready Design AI skills and never-say-die attitude.

This ����ɫ�� DNA will stay with you for life.

As you embark on the next stage of growth, remember to continue to challenge conventions —because the world you enter is one of rapid, relentless change. Technology is evolving at a breakneck pace, reshaping how we live, work, and connect. In such a landscape, ����ɫ�� must continue to reimagine and advance our educational approach to remain at the forefront and prepare you for the demands of a dynamic global future. And it is evident by now, a new global future.

With this in mind, ����ɫ�� took a bold leap forward in January 2025 to become the world’s first Design AI University. This pivot reflects our conviction that the future belongs to those who can integrate AI into the design process—not as mere tools, but as collaborative partners—one that expands your ideas, challenges your assumptions, and elevates your creativity. And basically redefine team dynamics and team intelligence. We call this new frontier Design AI.

Why Design AI? Because the true power of AI goes beyond automation or data analysis. It lies in its ability to exponentially amplify the quality and innovativeness of solutions when treated as a teammate—one that challenges ideas, offers fresh perspectives, and accelerates creativity. This partnership between human ingenuity and machine intelligence in a team setting will define the future of innovation across industries, economy and societies.

We are already seeing its promise. For instance, in our foundation Design Thinking and Innovation (DTI) course last term, our Term 2 students demonstrated what this future looks like in action. Using Design AI, they collapsed the time from idea to prototype from days down to mere hours. Sketches were transformed into multiple visual concepts within a single afternoon. By learning how to use AI at such an early point in their university journey since DTI is a Term 2 course, students gain a strong head start, positioning them well ahead of their peers. More importantly, students learned to critically evaluate these AI outputs—knowing when to trust AI, when to question it, and when to lead with human judgment. This is human-led AI. Not AI-led human.

That is what innovation looks like—not just faster, but smarter. With our current revamp of HASS and human-centred design, we hope innovations will be wiser too. And these Term 2 students showed us that nurturing design innovators who are 10 times better—or more—is not just a dream, but a real possibility. We plan on scaling these insights across our curriculum so that future cohorts can also reap the benefits of Design AI.

Class of 2025, having undergone our rigorous education, you have been equipped with the necessary tools to harness and partner with AI. We have also taught you to be innovative, adaptive, and to thrive amid constant change. We will also support your lifelong learning journey.

But while we often speak of innovation in the context of technology, it is important to remember that innovation also lives in the human spirit—in our capacity for resilience, determination, and grace in the face of adversity.

Let me share the story of Jonathan Davinius Layardi from ESD, whose journey reminds us of the tenacity it takes simply to keep going.

In Term 6 of 2023, Jonathan fainted after a volleyball Fifth-Row session warm-up. What initially seemed like fatigue revealed a startling diagnosis: a brain tumour as large as a tennis ball. Emergency surgery and 36 rounds of radiotherapy followed. For almost a year, he was in a wheelchair, learning to walk again, battling cognitive difficulties, and managing lifelong medication. And yet, in January 2024, Jonathan returned to school, determined to complete his education. Despite needing to replay every sentence of lecture recordings four to five times just to fully grasp the content, he persisted. He contributed meaningfully to his Capstone project, Bubbles by the Bay, which was later showcased at InspireCon. His story is a profound testament to perseverance, and a powerful reminder that the true measure of strength is not how fast we move—but how deeply we endure. Jonathan shows us that behind every innovation is a human being—one who dares to continue, even when the odds say otherwise. His courage is a beacon for us all.

And he is not alone.

Among you are many more stories—of courage, of creativity, and of quiet strength. You’ve been shaped by a dynamic, demanding education that has prepared you not only to master new technologies but to use them with wisdom, empathy, and purpose.

Beyond academics, I hope your years at ����ɫ�� were filled with meaningful connections and unforgettable experiences. The friendships formed over late-night projects, the laughter echoing through hostel corridors, the moments of discovery in labs and lecture halls—these memories will become your anchor and your inspiration.

As you prepare to step into the next chapter of your life, it is important to acknowledge the uncertainties that cloud the global economic landscape today. Unprecedented world events have shaken markets and disrupted industries, making job prospects more challenging. Stability, once taken for granted, is now something we must work hard to secure.

If you have not begun your job search, I urge you to start now. The urgency is real. We live in times that demand agility, initiative and relentless effort. Do not be disheartened by setbacks; instead, meet them with resilience and resolve.

To those who face challenges in securing employment, please know that you are not alone. Our Career Development Office is here to support you. I personally pledge that ����ɫ�� will do all we can to assist you in navigating this transition. Reach out, seek guidance, and tap into the strength and resources of this community.

For those among you with aspirations to start your own ventures, know that ����ɫ�� is ever ready to help. Our Office of Venture & Incubation Experience offers a variety of initiatives and support to nurture entrepreneurship. We encourage you to explore these opportunities, connect with mentors, and bring your ideas to life.

As you cross this threshold, I warmly welcome you into the ����ɫ�� alumni family. Today is not the end of your time with ����ɫ�� but the beginning of a new relationship with your alma mater. ����ɫ�� remains committed to supporting your continued growth—whether through career guidance, further learning, or opportunities to stay involved. We hope you’ll stay connected, contribute back, and lean on us as a lifelong partner in your journey.

As President of ����ɫ��, it is my deepest hope that you will go forth not just to do well—but to do good. Whether through design, research, business, or service, I urge you to contribute meaningfully to Singapore and the world around you. Carry with you the spirit of design thinking, the resilience to overcome, and the courage to co-create with technology, not be defined by it.

Because ultimately, innovation is not only about technology. It is about people, purpose and perseverance. You—Class of 2025—are the designers of tomorrow’s world, and I have every confidence that you will shape a future that is brighter, more inclusive, and more compassionate.

Congratulations once again, Class of 2025. Go forth with confidence, curiosity, and courage.

Thank you.