BNU graduates of KLC International Institute (KLCII) marked the 120th anniversary of their alma mater on 18 June 2022 with a flag-signing ceremony together with other members of the Singapore BNU alumni.

Singapore BNU Alumni Flag Signing Ceremony at Marina Bay Sands

In support of the Singapore-BNU alumni, KLCII, the Group’s professional development training arm helped in organising the flag-signing event. The signing ceremony, held at the Marina Bay Sands on 18 June, was led by Guest of Honour, Education Chancellor Kang Kai from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Singapore. Other VIP guests who signed after him include Mdm Feng Yu Shan, President of the BNU Singapore Alumni, Mr Chua Ying Hwee, Principal of KLCII and Dr Chen Shi, Vice Principal; KLCII. The flag signing was followed by a cake cutting ceremony.

Flag-signing by the Singapore BNU Alumni

BNU 120th Anniversary Cake cutting Ceremony
From left: Mr Chua Ying Hwee, Principal/CEO; KLCII, Mr Robert Leong, Group Chief Operating Officer, Crestar Education Group, Mdm Feng Yushan, President, BNU Singapore Alumni, Kang Kai, Education Chancellor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Singapore, Ms Kwan Peck Leng, Group Managing Director; Crestar Education Group, Dr Chen Shi, Vice Principal; KLCII

The signed flag will be returned to BNU in Beijing to be featured in the University’s official celebration on 8 September 2022. KCLII has also produced a video showing its alumni sending personal greetings and warm wishes for the continuing success of their alma mater.

Chancellor Kang Kai, in his speech said he looked forward to continuing efforts by the Singapore BNU Association to promote China-Singapore friendship and contribute to the cooperative partnership between the two countries. He also urged the alumni to keep in mind and practise the school motto, “Learn to be an Excellent Teacher; Act as an Exemplary Person”.

Education Chancellor Kang Kai from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Singapore giving a speech at the event

Speaking after him, Professor Chen Guang Ju, Vice President of BNU China Alumni told the gathering of over 100 Singapore alumni that BNU has plans to build BNU into a world first-class university by the middle of this century.

Former BNU China Vice Principal and current BNU China Alumni Vice President, Professor Chen Guang Ju giving a speech for the SG-BNU 120th anniversary alumni event

“Beijing Normal University is making great strides towards the goal of building itself into a world-class university. I sincerely hope that our alumni will continue to strive for success and make more contributions to society ” says Professor Chen

KLCII’s BNU alumni, comprising both diploma and degree graduates, is about 700 strong. They have been officially registered as overseas alumni of the University since 2018. Dr Chen Shi, Vice Principal for KLCII’s Chinese Programmes, a BNU-China graduate herself became the first foreign institute representative to be elected into the section’s committee in 2017.

The BNU Education Faculty Alumni Committee’s 3rd meeting in Beijing First row: Mr Zhou Man Sheng, MOE official (2nd from left), Professor Gu Ming Yuan (4th from left), Professor Chen Li, Vice President (5th from right), Professor Li Jiayong (4th from right), Dr Chen Shi KLC VP Chinese Programmes (2nd row, 4th from left)

KLCII’s partnership with BNU began in May 1995, when it launched the first of its kind joint KLC-BNU Diploma in Chinese Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) to meet the demand from local Chinese preschool teachers seeking a professional diploma certification. BNU’s Chinese Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education was launched in Singapore by KLCII in 2018 for further advancement of Chinese preschool teachers in Singapore

The two programmes continue to be the first overseas collaboration outside China by BNU for early childhood (EC) teacher training and, to date, they are still the only ones approved by China’s Ministry of Education.

KLCII has continued to collaborate with BNU actively in various areas over the years. KLCII has periodically invited EC experts and subject specialists from the University to speak at seminars and workshops for preschool teachers and administrators here. Similarly, BNU has also invited Dr Chen Shi to share her views and experience at its conferences and seminars in China.

More recently, Dr Chen Shi was invited by BNU’s School of Continuing Education and Teacher Training  to join a team of EC experts in China to design and develop an advanced training programme for outstanding preschool principals. The     training programme was launched in China in mid-April 2022.