List of Professorships in Alphabetical Order (A–F)
Albert Winsemius Professorship (1997)
The Albert Winsemius Professorship was established in 1997 as a lasting tribute to the late Dr Albert Winsemius (1910-1996) for his significant contributions to the economic development of Singapore.
Dr Winsemius was a Dutch economist who came to Singapore as the leader of a United Nations Development Programme mission in 1960. As Singapore’s long-term economic advisor, he was instrumental in promoting a pro-business environment, advocating training for workers, and establishing the National Wages Council, helping to move the island up the value chain.
The Professorship reinforces that legacy by supporting a senior economist to lead teaching and research in applied economics and deliver public lectures.
The current holder of the Professorship is Professor Euston Quah Teong Ewe, Director of the Economic Growth Centre at NTU.
Alice Y. Hung Professorship in Science and Technology (2024)
In 2024, NTU inaugurated the Alice Y. Hung Professorship in Science and Technology – supported by a gift from Ms Alice Y. Hung and Paeonia Foundation – to establish a professorship that recognises excellence in science and technology.
Ms Hung is the founder of Paeonia Group, a Singapore-based family office. A member of the NTU Board of Trustees, Ms Hung shares NTU’s unwavering belief that discovery and innovation propel societal progress.
The Professorship will enable the appointment of global distinguished academics and luminaries to promote research excellence and nurture scientific talent, especially in the area of precision instruments for analytical chemistry. This field reflects Paeonia Group’s business interest in scientific analytical instruments
Read more here.
AXA-Nanyang Professorship on Earth and Environmental Science (2011)
The AXA-Nanyang Professorship on Earth and Environmental Science, founded in 2011 through an endowment from global insurer AXA, supports multi-disciplinary research programmes in natural hazards and climate change at NTU’s Asian School of the Environment and Earth Observatory.
The appointment fosters cross-sector collaboration – linking academic research with actionable insights for cities and policymakers.
Notable scholars such as Professor Kerry Sieh and Professor Benjamin Horton have held this chair, elevating NTU’s global profile in climate and hazard science.
Canon Visiting Professorship (1997)
The Canon Visiting Professorship was launched in November 1997 with an endowed gift from Canon Singapore Pte Ltd to commemorate Canon’s 60th anniversary. This gift underscores Canon’s commitment to the Singapore community and reiterates the importance of education and a global sharing of knowledge, which demonstrates Canon’s Kyosei philosophy.
The Professorship enables NTU to support the appointment of internationally renowned scholars to fulfil the university’s mission of international academic and research excellence. It also supports chaired appointments.
Cham Tao Soon Professorship in Engineering (2021)
As the founding President of NTU for 22 years, Professor Cham Tao Soon played a historic role in building the university, transforming it from a technical institute into a renowned university for industry and business. Professor Cham remains active in the local industry and the engineering profession, having served on various boards and high-level committees.
His legacy of fostering academic excellence and innovation inspires the Cham Tao Soon Professorship in Engineering, which provides recognition for existing mid-career faculty members at NTU with distinguished achievements.
The inaugural and current recipient of this Professorship is Associate Professor Xu Yan, Director of Centre for Power Engineering and Cluster Director (Smart Grids & Microgrids) at Energy Research Institute at NTU.
Read more here.
Cheng Tsang Man Chair Professorship in Energy (1999)
First established in 1999 as the Cheng Tsang Man Professorship in Engineering and subsequently pivoted to the Cheng Tsang Man Chair Professorship in Energy in 2011, the Professorship pays tribute to one of Singapore’s pioneering industrialists and entrepreneurs – the late Mr Cheng Tsang Man, Honorary Life President and Founder of Prima Ltd. Under Mr Cheng’s leadership, Prima grew from a modest flour mill to a diversified multinational group. Read more about Mr Cheng’s story here.
The Professorship at NTU’s College of Engineering plays a vital role in advancing knowledge creation and discovery in sustainable energy. It has enabled NTU to honour distinguished scholars and scientists in the field of energy and to address critical sustainability challenges facing our planet.
The current holder of the Professorship is Professor Chan Siew Hwa, who leads hydrogen and fuel cell research as the Co-Director of the Energy Research Institute @ NTU.
Dieter Schwarz Foundation Chair Professorship in QUASAR (2024)
Initiated in 2024, the Quantum Sovereignty and Resilience (QUASAR) Programme was enabled by a gift from the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, a German non-profit charitable foundation dedicated to promoting education and science.
Led by NTU’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich, QUASAR aims to address quantum-based cyberthreats by examining how quantum technologies can be used in encryption, building quantum-safe systems, and ensuring the safety of future Internet of Things and 5G devices. The impact of the research will lead to quantum-safe application security in key domains, including telecommunications, banking and finance, logistics and advanced manufacturing.
The gift also made possible the appointment of outstanding NTU faculty as the Dieter Schwarz Foundation Chair Professor in QUASAR to lead this research programme. Professor Gao Weibo, an accomplished quantum physicist, was appointed the inaugural Dieter Schwarz Foundation Chair Professor in QUASAR in September 2024.
Read more here.
E. W. Barker Professorship in Physical Education & Sports Science (2002)
The late Mr Edmund William (E.W.) Barker was Singapore’s longest-serving Minister for Law and a passionate advocate for sports. One of the nation’s pioneer leaders, his cabinet portfolio included labour, national development, home affairs, environment, science, and technology.
In recognition of his contributions to the sports scene in Singapore, the E. W. Barker Professorship in Physical Education & Sports Science was launched by then President S.R. Nathan at the National Institute of Education (NIE) in August 2002.
The Professorship is one of the most prestigious awards in physical education and sport in Singapore. It aims to promote and foster collaborative research among stakeholders, including NIE, Sport Singapore, the Singapore Sports School, Singapore Sports Hub, local schools, and other universities.
Professor John Wang Chee Keng is the inaugural E. W. Barker Chair Professor in Physical Education and Sport Science.
Read more here.