A year late, no thanks to COVID-19, the BBA/BAcc Class of 1981 finally celebrated their 40th anniversary dinner on 9 September 2022.
It was a joyfully boisterous event that effectively combined their 40th and 41st anniversaries, with Professor Chng Chee Kiong (Vice Dean of Undergraduate Studies, representing the Dean) and former faculty Professors Gan See Khem, Francis Koh and Francis Pavri as special guests.
Almost to the day 41 years ago, 13 Sep 1981 marked the end of an era and the start of another. It was the Convocation for the first cohort of BBA and BAcc graduates from the National University of Singapore. These same graduates were also the last cohort of students admitted to the BBA and BAcc programmes of the University of Singapore and Nanyang University before they merged to form NUS.
A simple degree scroll and decades of economic growth
“The degree scroll we received at our Convocation in 1981 looked like we’d made it ourselves using a home printer. It lacked the NUS logo, which wasn’t yet in existence,” said one of the celebrants. “It coincided with what we were told would be a difficult job market, so most of us didn’t give that much thought to its homemade appearance so long as it would help us get a job.”
It was not known then that Singapore’s growth trajectory would accelerate for the next few decades, and the BBA/BAcc Class of 1981 was fortuitously graduating in the right place at the right time. And, of course, this class can claim much credit for contributing to this growth!
The Class of 1981 reunited to celebrate their 40th and 41st anniversaries.
Amidst the revelry, the attendees—now grandparents or even great-grandparents—were inspired by Prof Gan’s talk on “Finishing Well”. Prof Gan left academia in her 50s to become an entrepreneur, and it was an experience that resonated with the Class of ’81, who are equally blessed with the joys of increasing life expectancy even as they deal with the challenges of avoiding late-age boredom.
Reminiscing their university days, eight alumni from the Class of 1981 had formed a committee in mid-2021 to organise their 40th anniversary dinner. “It wasn’t democratic,” one of them laughs, “But it was effective and efficient because we’re old friends who know each other’s strengths. It was easy to ‘arrow’ the most suitable person for a given task. Relying on electronic direct mail marketing and word-of-mouth to reach all members of the Class of 1981 amidst the pandemic proved to be the biggest hurdle.” Gratifyingly, the attendees included three alumni who returned from Hong Kong, Perth and New Zealand, specially for the occasion.
A commemorative present and future anniversaries to come
As dates optimistically chosen for 2021 were shifted into 2022, the committee relied heavily on contingency planning, working closely with the NUS Business School Alumni Association (NUSBSA). Additional support came from the NUS Society (NUSS), Alumni Student Advancement Committee (ASAC) and Office of Alumni Relations (OAR). Caterers were contacted, a venue booked, door gifts arranged, and donations solicited for the NUSBSA Bursary Fund. The alumni also received a surprise present—a commemorative degree with the NUS logo.
As Professors Chng, Gan, Koh and Pavri took turns presenting the commemorative degrees, the atmosphere resembled a joyous second Convocation as each attendee came forward. Those who graduated with honours received two degree scrolls. Applause, cheers, laughter and shouts of “Finally!” echoed as each graduate received their degree.
Prof Gan See Khem (right) presenting the commemorative degree scroll to a Class of 1981 alumna.
One recipient later humorously texted, “Told my daughter about my 41-year degree course.”
Adding to the celebratory mood was the sharing of good news: at the final count, the Class of 1981 had raised over S$129,000 to fund bursaries for NUS Business School students.
Next on the cards: an Organising Committee for the Class of 1981’s 45th anniversary.
NOTE: Commemorative degrees have been printed for all graduates of the BBA/BAcc Class of 1981 who were unable to attend the event. If you would like to collect your commemorative degree, please contact the NUS Registrar’s Office at Commencement@nus.edu.sg, or 6601-7743.
