For more than a year, conferences and symposiums have practically vanished as the pandemic continues to wreak uncertainty and trepidation across the world. Such face to face meetings are valuable for people across the world to have conversations with one another on matters that concern everyone. Overcoming this challenge requires all of us to strive on and find means to continue to provide opportunities for youths to have meaningful conversations regarding the future. Their voices must be heard as the future is theirs to make.

Last year, we pivoted to an e-symposium and we were glad that participants were fully engaged in the deliberations. Most importantly, the absence of a face to face symposium did not inhibit a robust discussion of issues. This year, we have decided to organise the second e-International Humanities Symposium following the success of last year’s event. This year’s theme “Humanity – Challenges, Adaptation and Innovation” focuses on issues arising from the pandemic. Some of these issues are extant but unexplored until the pandemic jolted the status quo. I am gratified that students and educators have embarked on projects that address these issues. Altogether 30 schools from Singapore and other countries have registered 75 projects. In July, the students from these schools will present their research and how they will make the future better for everyone. I wish all participants a consequential conversation ahead.

Service with Honour.

Mr. Ang Pow Chew

Principal

National Junior College

Dr Jonathan Leong is current a Senior Lecturer with the Singapore University of Social Sciences, managing the capstone projects and the Events Management Programme under the School of Science and Technology. He was also the pioneer graduate from the NUS-Imperial College London Joint PhD Programme, having received his doctorate degree in 2013.

Jonathan’s research has spanned various disciplines; his original field was in tribology (the study of friction and lubrication), an area often housed within various engineering specialisations, and specifically on the lubrication of micro-/nano-machines. Since then, however, his passion for education has taken him on a different route – his current focus is on pedagogical methods, and in particular, the use of Experiential Learning as well as Cognitive Conflict as frameworks for use in both classroom and real-world settings. At the moment, he and his colleagues at SUSS are formulating a novel framework which marries the use of traditional craftsmanship and reflective experiential learning to impart portable skills to their students.