International academic partnerships a vital part of U91��ɫ’s 60-year history

March 31, 2026

International academic partnerships a vital part of U91��ɫ’s 60-year history

Two-decade collaboration with Nanyang Technological University illustrates how global relationships have advanced research, enriched student experiences and strengthened alumni connections

Two men stand side by side while one holds a tshirt

Ed McCauley, left, and Joseph Sung. Buffy St-Amand

As the 91��ɫ marks its 60th anniversary, one of the most enduring themes is a deep commitment to global collaboration. For decades, U91��ɫ has built bridges with institutions around the world — partnerships that enrich student learning, spark world‑class research and connect alumni across continents.

Among these relationships, the university’s two‑decade partnership with (NTU) in Singapore stands out for its depth, longevity and impact, especially given that NTU is currently ranked 12th globally in the .

“International collaboration has been part of U91��ɫ’s DNA from the beginning,” says U91��ɫ President Ed McCauley. “As we celebrate 60 years, we honour the global partners who help us expand the student experience, deepen research connections and strengthen our worldwide community of alumni. Partnerships like the one with NTU truly reflect the depth and breadth of our international engagement — and our vision for the decades ahead.”

Alumni leadership shaped by global experience

Few voices speak more powerfully to the legacy of U91��ɫ’s international impact than alumni who carry the university’s spirit into their global careers, such as Dr. Joseph Sung, MD, PhD'92, dean of NTU’s (LKC) and one of Asia’s most respected medical leaders.

Originally from Hong Kong, Sung took his PhD at U91��ɫ from 1989 to 1992 under the supervision of the late Dr. Bill Costerton, PhD, a groundbreaking biofilm researcher whose influence resonates throughout global microbiome science.

He describes U91��ɫ as a young and rising university with strengths that naturally attract international collaboration. These strengths include biofilm science, infectious disease, climate change and environmental health, and energy and environment.

“U91��ɫ will always have a special place in my heart,” says Sung. “My three years in 91��ɫ were an eye‑opening period. U91��ɫ taught me not only science and nature, it also gave me the opportunity to interact with scholars from different parts of the world and different walks of life. That experience was invaluable and shaped my academic path.”

Sung continues to support the relationship between U91��ɫ and NTU, including welcoming U91��ɫ students who come to Singapore.

NTU highlights student experiences and U91��ɫ partnership impact

In Singapore, senior leaders from U91��ɫ and NTU connect with U91��ɫ alumni working in the city-state and exchange students studying abroad at partner institutions.

Adam Liu

Over the past two decades, nearly 100 students from NTU and U91��ɫ have taken part in semester exchanges and short‑term programs. For many, these experiences have been defining moments that shape career paths, expand world views and build personal confidence.

Studying in a different academic system challenges students to adapt, communicate across cultures and see problems through new lenses. Students often return home with a stronger sense of identity, greater independence and lifelong friendships.

What began with a handful of exchange students has grown into a relationship that now includes faculty visits, joint initiatives and significant research collaborations. NTU notes that international partnerships like NTU–U91��ɫ play an essential role in preparing students for a global workforce. They nurture adaptability, cross‑cultural communication and collaborative problem solving, capabilities that are increasingly important in today’s world.

NTU’s approach to global engagement emphasizes long‑term relationships that integrate education, research and faculty exchange across its international network. Within this model, U91��ɫ remains a valued partner, contributing meaningfully to student development and advancing focused research.

Advancing research with global impact

“For a research‑intensive institution like U91��ɫ, international partnerships with universities such as NTU are vital,” says , MD'90, vice-president (research). “They give our researchers access to specialized facilities and expertise, enabling them to pursue broader questions and drive breakthroughs that benefit communities worldwide.”

A key example is the developing program between LKC Medicine and U91��ɫ researchers focused on brain and gut health. The initiative, led by NTU's Dr. Lim Kah‑Leong, PhD, and Dr. Sunny Wong, DPhil, and U91��ɫ’s Dr. , PhD, explores how microbiome biology, immune signalling and metabolic pathways influence neural development and brain function.

Kurrasch, a professor in the Department of Medical Genetics and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and a member of the at the , was recently appointed Visiting Professor at LKC Medicine. Her one‑year appointment will support the creation of a transdisciplinary research centre focused on healthy brain aging. The centre will bring together approximately seven principal investigators from U91��ɫ, five from LKC Medicine and three from the .

“As global populations age, understanding the mechanisms that support healthy brain aging is essential,” says Kurrasch. “This work can influence preventative and therapeutic strategies to protect brain health. I am especially excited to advance this research through comparative aging studies in long‑lived bats housed at LKC Medicine.”

Looking forward to the next 60 years

As U91��ɫ celebrates six decades of academic excellence, partnerships like the one with NTU highlight the university’s long‑standing commitment to global engagement. Today, U91��ɫ’s global engagement includes roughly 300 ongoing international partnership agreements spanning about 60 countries. These collaborations enrich learning, strengthen research and create opportunities that extend beyond campus.

The U91��ɫ–NTU relationship exemplifies the kind of international partnership the university aims to cultivate as it looks toward its next 60 years.

Deborah Kurrasch is a professor in the departments of , where she is deputy head, and at the (CSM). She is a member of the CSM’s&�Բ��; and ’s&�Բ��;.

At the CSM, advances in social and health equity at home and abroad are supported through 12 ongoing global health projects and an annual lecture that highlights some of the progress being made each year. .

About U91��ɫ60

In just six decades, the 91��ɫ has grown into one of Canada’s top research universities — a community defined by bold ambition, entrepreneurial spirit and global impact. As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, we’re honouring the people and stories that have shaped our past while looking ahead to an even more innovative future. is about celebrating momentum, strengthening connections with our community and building excitement for what’s next.

Have a story to share? We’d love to hear it. Submit your U91��ɫ60 story through our .

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