Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore (DPM) and Chairman of the National Research Foundation, recently visited The University of Manchester, as part of a working visit to the United Kingdom.
While on campus, DPM Heng and his delegation explored opportunities for future collaboration, particularly in the space of R&D and innovation. The visit to Manchester was the only non-London element of the DPM’s UK visit, alongside Cambridge; they visited the city due to its effective innovation ecosystem evident in the relationship between the university, businesses and local government.
DPM Heng observed a briefing by the Dalton Nuclear Institute and the Christabel Pankhurst Institute before having dinner with President and Vice-Chancellor, Duncan Ivison. He also visited the Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre and met with the UK Biobank.
As part of his visit to the city, DPM Heng met with Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, to discuss views on how government, academia, finance, industry and talent can come together to grow vibrant and integrated innovation ecosystems.
The University of Manchester has a longstanding relationship with Singapore, welcoming many Singaporean students each year. Undergraduate exchange agreements are in place with the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University.
The International Office at The University of Manchester maintains good relationships with the various institutions across Singapore and arranges several visits to Singapore each year for colleagues from Faculties and Schools.
The International Office also has close links with the Singapore Students’ Society of Manchester who act as ambassadors at events, and there are also close ties with the active University of Manchester Alumni Group.
The Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) has had a presence in Singapore since 1992 and opened the South East Asia Centre, in Singapore, in 1999; with 400 active students and 1,500 alumni, the Centre offers MBA course and Masters Degrees.
The South East Asia Centre participated in the University’s bicentenary event, Light Up, in January 2024, by gathering current students and esteemed alumni for a jubilant reception.
