Roundtable Discussions

Gathering heritage experts from academia, civil society, as well as private and public sectors to shape the TF-NUS Heritage Champions initiative

It takes a village to raise a child – and with NUS Libraries’ youth heritage brainchild, a suitably diverse mix of “villagers” was needed to help bring this project to life.

Beginning in March 2024, NUS Libraries convened five mixed groups of heritage experts, comprising academics, independent historians and conservationists, heritage groups such as the Singapore Heritage Society, and Government agencies such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority, National Heritage Board, and the Housing Development Board.

From left: Han Ming Guang (NUS Libraries, Programme Lead), Dr Nadya Wang (LaSalle), Dr Anitha Pillay (NTU), Justin Zhuang (Writer & Researcher), Prof Kevin Blackburn (NTU), Dr Imran Tajudeen (NUS), Prof Hamzah Muzaini (NUS), Gerald Wee (NHB), Prof Timothy Barnard (NUS), Melissa May Tan (NHB), Nur Diyana (NUS Libraries)

The groups met in roundtable discussions held at NUS’ Central Library, where they were briefed on the concept and intent of the TF-NUS Heritage Champions programme, invited to share their views and feedback on the programme, as well as discuss potential focus areas for project teams. The roundtable groups also gave advice on the types of training and skills needed to help participants develop their proposals and implement their projects.

From left: Prof Ho Puey Peng (NUS), Nur Diyana (NUS Libraries), Han Ming Guang (NUS Libraries), Chester Matthias Tan (SHS), Khir Johari (Food Historian & Author),
Dr Effandy (NUS), Mr Esmond Soh (URA), Ms Chui Yee Chin (URA)

Roundtable discussions concluded in May 2024, and resulted in a wealth of feedback and suggestions on heritage topics, themes and geographical spaces in Singapore that programme participants could consider. The feedback also heavily informed the development of a comprehensive training programme for participants.

“The roundtable discussion was a rare occasion that enabled various experts in the heritage field to meet to talk about topics and themes in a safe academic setting, something that NUS Libraries is able to pull off given its network and active work in conservation,” said Fauzy Ismail, President of the Singapore Heritage Society. He added, “This project is a great opportunity for Singapore Heritage Society to advance its mission to support heritage conservation in Singapore. Being able to interact with and link up students, and public & private sectors to collaborate across sectors is a rare opportunity, and should happen more often, since it creates an opportunity for students to understand more about the work that goes into developing and maintaining heritage projects. Hopefully this will lead to students becoming more active participants and stakeholders in Singapore’s heritage. I’m looking forward to see what interesting projects participants will come up with.”