The National University of Singapore (NUS) has received a generous S$3 million pledge from global real estate powerhouse Mapletree Investments (Mapletree) to strengthen service-learning courses that will empower over 4,000 student volunteers annually to uplift more than 60,000 beneficiaries. This collaboration underscores that everyone has a role in building a "we-first" society where the government, community and corporate partners work together to create a more inclusive Singapore.
This milestone moment was graced by Guest-of-Honour Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry, on 25 August 2025 at Mapletree Business City.
Under the Communities and Engagement (C&E) pillar of the General Education curriculum, NUS undergraduate students across various disciplines can read service-learning courses as part of their graduation requirements. These courses encourage deep reflection and constructive actions on societal needs and real-world issues such as inequality and poverty which underprivileged and disadvantaged communities struggle with.
As the Principal Founding Donor and one of the largest donors towards the C&E Pillar with a focus on Seniors and Vulnerable Families, Mapletree's contribution will sustain and expand NUS C&E courses such as GEN2060 Reconnect SeniorsSG, GEN2061 Support Healthy AgeingSG, GEN2062 Community Activities for Seniors with SG Cares, and GEN2070 Community Link (ComLink) Befrienders. Since the pilot launch of the C&E Pillar (Seniors and Vulnerable Families) in Academic Year 2022/2023, over 5,000 students have completed, or are currently enrolled in, these courses.
These service-learning courses run up to a year, encouraging students to take initiative in community service while developing critical thinking about complex social challenges.
Beyond volunteering, students also reflect, analyse and create solutions. The impact of this approach is multifaceted - beneficiaries find companionship and renewed hope; community partners gain extra help on the ground; students cultivate life-long values, and the ripple effects strengthen Singapore's social fabric.
NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye said, "We are grateful to Mapletree for this generous contribution, which will greatly enhance the impact of our service-learning courses. By empowering our students to serve the community, we are nurturing among the next generation empathy and a deeper awareness of societal needs among the disadvantaged and underprivileged. At the same time, we create opportunities for our students to do their part and support Singapore's ageing population and lower-income families. These efforts reinforce our commitment to make a positive impact on society and community through our mission in education."
Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman of Mapletree, said, "Mapletree's latest Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative with NUS aligns with two of our four CSR pillars - Healthcare and Education. Through our gift, as part of our S$10 million commitment to Temasek Trust's Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA), these courses create beautiful bridges to facilitate relationships between students, seniors and vulnerable families, enriching the lives of all involved. We will continue to invest in the communities where we operate, strengthening the social fabric in meaningful ways."
In 2023, Temasek Trust announced the launch of PAA to drive positive impact across Asia and mobilise collective philanthropic partnerships and strategies addressing global environmental and social challenges.
With Mapletree's support, students will deepen their role as volunteers to implement hands-on initiatives to engage seniors and disadvantaged families. For example, as part of GEN2062, students facilitate thoughtfully designed activities at Active Ageing Centres and Senior Care Centres that stimulate cognitive function, enhance physical health, and improve the holistic well-being of elderly participants. Students in GEN2060 and GEN2070 conduct home visits to befriend seniors and vulnerable families, while students in GEN2061 share vital information about government assistance schemes with seniors through door-to-door visits. A small part of the gift will also go towards empowering student initiatives in other C&E courses to support these sectors.
Ms Cheryl Lim, Manager of Programmes at NTUC Health Senior Day Care, said, "We are heartened to witness the smiles on the seniors' faces, made possible by the diverse range of activities organised by NUS students. The contributions of the students have been truly invaluable-their initiative in planning and leading these activities has not only enriched the lives of our seniors but also provided our team with interesting ideas. We truly appreciate the long-term, sustained collaboration and partnership with NUS that helps foster intergenerational bonds and nurture a continued sense of belonging, especially in our seniors, and within the broader community across generations."
Complementing the efforts by community partners to promote better health and social engagement among seniors, the courses under the C&E pillar also enable NUS students to experience personal growth through their interaction and involvement with the seniors.
Mr Sean Ang Teng Han, a second-year student from the NUS Faculty of Science, who is currently reading the GEN2062 course, said, "It challenged me to step up and develop soft skills I did not have in the past, such as managing group dynamics, holding the attention of a crowd, and adapting quickly to different personalities. Learning how to engage and entertain a group of elderly participants has taught me a lot about communication and leadership in a more communal setting."
Mapletree's gift is the latest in a long-standing partnership with NUS that began over a decade ago with the establishment of the Mapletree Bursary in 2012. With a total endowment of S$900,000 to date, the Bursary has provided over 130 students with financial support, removing barriers that may otherwise pose challenges to their education journey. With this latest gift, Mapletree hopes to promote intergenerational bonding, a volunteering culture among youth, and opportunities to enhance age-in-place initiatives, one of the many efforts to address one of Singapore's most pressing societal challenges - a rapidly ageing population, with one in four residents reaching the age of 65 by 2030.
