Nanyang University () was a private university in Singapore between 1956 and 1980. During its existence it was Singapore's only private university in the Chinese language. In 1980, Nanyang University was merged with the University of Singapore to form the National University of Singapore (NUS). It was not until 2005 that another private school in Singapore, SIM University, was established.
History
Establishment
thumb|200px|The main building of Nanyang University
The idea of a Chinese university in Singapore to provide higher education to the Chinese community was first mooted by Tan Lark Sye in 1953, then chairman of the Singapore Hokkien Association. A fund was set up for this purpose, drawing donations from people of all walks of life including from Malayan philanthropist Cheong Yoke Choy and with Tan himself donating $5 million. The Singapore Hokkien Association donated 500 acres (2 km<sup>2</sup>) in the western Jurong area, which was then largely undeveloped rural land.
In July 1959, Dr Gwee Ah Leng (魏雅聆) chaired a commission to follow up on the Prescott report. The Gwee commission submitted its report in November 1959, which was published by the Legislative Assembly in February 1960. The Gwee commission recommended that recruitment of students be broadened to other language streams, the learning of the national language, Malay, and wider use of English in instruction.
In January 1965, Professor Wang Gungwu of the University of Malaya was appointed to chair a committee to review the curriculum of Nanyang University. The Committee reported in May 1965. Meanwhile, in August 1965, Singapore separated from the Federation of Malaysia as an independent republic. In September 1965, the committee was released, and the university accepted the recommendations, triggering students protests, petitions, and boycotts of classes and examinations.
Merger with the University of Singapore
During the 1970s Nanyang University encountered problems in student enrolments, for many students were attending English-language schools. Lee Kuan Yew, the Prime Minister of Singapore, prompted the university to adopt the English language within five years. Subsequently, in the same year in March, a joint campus scheme was introduced to allow students from Nanyang University to jointly study with students from the University of Singapore.
In 1979, Lee invited British academic Frederick Dainton to present his views on the future of university education in Singapore. He suggested merging Nanyang University and the University of Singapore into the latter's campus at Kent Ridge.
His proposal gained the support of the government, and in April 1980, the merger was confirmed. In 2004, the administration announced that the renaming would be held off, citing a need to establish itself in other fields of study first.
List of former Nanyang University Chancellors
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Name
! Term start
! Term end
! Notes
|-
| Lin Yutang
| 1954
| 1955
| Began term on 2 October 1954, resigned on 3 April 1955
|-
| Zhang Tianze (張天澤)
| 1956
| 1959
| Chairman of the management board. Nanyang University set up its management board as the highest administrative body on 5 March 1956, with Dr. Zhang as its chairman presiding over school affairs and taking over the duties of the president.
|-
|Chuang Chu Lin
| 1960
| 1964
| Vice-Chancellor
|-
| Liu Konggui (劉孔貴)
| 1964
| 1965
| Interim chairman of the management board. Zhuang resigned on 1 July 1964, and the university set up an interim management board on 8 July with Prof Liu as chairman, presiding over school affairs.
|-
| Huang Yingrong (黃應榮)
| 1965
| 1969
| Vice-Chancellor and Chancellor
|-
| Rayson Huang
| 1969
| 1972
| Chancellor
|-
|
| 1972
| 1975
| Chancellor
|-
| Lee Chiaw Meng
| 1975
| 1976
| Vice-Chancellor
|-
| Wu Teh Yao
| 1976
| 1977
| Acting Chancellor
|-
| Lu Yao (卢曜)
| 1968
| 1977
| Vice-Chancellor (Administrative). From 15 August 1977, the position of Chancellor was vacant and a special committee was set up to manage the university. Chen Zhuqiang 陈祝强 served as Director-General of the University assisted by Andrew W.K. Yip as Director (Special Duties). The Directors acting as University Secretary, carried out the decisions of the committee. On 7 July 1980, Nanyang University was closed and merged into the new National University of Singapore.
|}
Publications
References
External links
- Association of Nanyang University Graduates (Chinese)
- Nandazhan Toronto, unofficial website of Nanyang University alumni in Toronto (Chinese)
- Bibliography on the History of Nanyang University