University welcomes deputy prime minister of Singapore

On 15 October, the University of Manchester welcomed the deputy prime minister of Singapore, Heng Swee Keat, as part of a visit to explore opportunities for future collaboration, particularly in the area of research and development, as well as innovation.

Additionally, the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore visited Manchester Metropolitan University on October 9 to learn about the hydrogen and fuel cell research taking place at the Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre (MFCIC). The visit to Manchester, along with Cambridge, was the only non-London component of Heng Swee Keat's UK trip. Keat also met with Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, to exchange views on how government, academia, finance, industry, and talent can collaborate to build integrated innovation ecosystems. Deputy Prime Minister Keat attended a briefing by the Dalton Nuclear Institute and the Christabel Pankhurst Institute, followed by a dinner with President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester Professor Duncan Ivison. Deputy Prime Minister, Heng Swee Keat said: “Like Singapore, Manchester is building a vibrant and innovative ecosystem by bringing together government, corporates, academics, investors and talent. There is good potential for Singapore and Manchester to build closer linkages between our innovation ecosystems at the research, translation and commercialisation levels.” The University of Manchester has a long-established relationship with Singapore, welcoming Singaporean students each year. It has undergraduate exchange agreements with the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, and Singapore Management University. The Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) has also maintained a presence in Singapore since 1992 and launched the South East Asia Centre there in 1999. The Centre, which serves 400 active students and has 1,500 alumni, offers MBA programs and Masters degrees. The South East Asia Centre took part in the University’s bicentenary event, Light Up, in January 2024, hosting a reception for current students and alumni.

The university has over 1,600 graduates from Singapore and its alumni include Teo Chee Hean, former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore.