Building Dreams: Unlocking SIT Students’ Potential through Forward SITizen Awards

Supported by Quantedge Foundation and a passionate community of committed benefactors, the Forward SITizen Initiative empowers students to rise above challenges, chase their aspirations, and step into opportunities that lead to a brighter future.

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“We believe that every individual should have the opportunity to pursue further education in pursuit of their ambitions, and in so doing, realise their potential and flourish.”
– Mr Suhaimi Zainul-Abidin, Director, Quantedge Foundation and CEO, Quantedge Capital

This belief was at the heart of the Quantedge Foundation – Forward SITizen Award Ceremony held at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) on 28 April 2025, where a total of 21 students were recognised for receiving full tuition-fee support under the Forward SITizen Initiative (FSI) for Academic Year 2024/25.

Launched in January 2023, FSI was made possible through a $3 million seed gift from Quantedge Foundation. This initiative ensures full tuition fee coverage for students with the greatest financial need, by supplementing Government-funded public bursaries with donor contributions. Mission-aligned partners like Quantedge Foundation share SIT’s commitment to make higher education accessible to its most financially vulnerable undergraduates.

This tuition-free commitment lifts financial burdens, allowing students to focus fully on their studies and pursue their aspirations with confidence. In April 2024, to uphold this commitment, Quantedge Foundation extended its support with an additional term gift.

Professor Tan Thiam Soon, SIT Institute Professor, underscored how the initiative transforms lives beyond the classroom. “Many of these students come from underprivileged backgrounds. For half of them, they are the first in their families to attend university,” he said. “By investing in their education, Quantedge Foundation and our donors are helping to build a more inclusive and socially mobile society.”

Among this year’s recipients is Ng Shu Zhen, a first-year Food Technology student. After her father passed away in 2017, Shu Zhen’s mother became the sole breadwinner, supporting Shu Zhen and her brother, also an SIT student, on a modest income. “The award is crucial in helping me achieve my academic goals,” she shared. “It eases the burden on my mother and allows me to focus on my studies without constant financial worry.”

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From left: Mr Marc Chan, Director, SIT Advancement Office, Mr Suhaimi Zainul-Abidin, Director, Quantedge Foundation (middle), and Ms Larissa Tan, Senior Manager, SIT Advancement Office (right most) with two of the award recipients who were re-awarded the Forward SITizen Award at the ceremony.

 

Mr Suhaimi reflected on the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to social mobility. Over eight years ago, Quantedge Foundation envisioned a future where no deserving student would be held back from university due to financial constraints – a vision that sparked the launch of University Access. “Today, I’m proud to say that vision has become reality,” he shared. “All six autonomous universities in Singapore now guarantee full tuition fee coverage for eligible students.”

Closing the ceremony on an uplifting note, Mr Suhaimi addressed the award recipients with a heartfelt message of encouragement, “Education is more than grades and degrees – it’s about the experiences that shape who you are. Be bold, dream big, and as you journey through university and beyond, don’t forget to lift others as you rise. Pay it forward.”

The event concluded with a powerful reminder: the Forward SITizen Initiative is not just about financial aid. It is a shared belief in the potential of every student. With continued support from Quantedge Foundation and like-minded donors, SIT is not only opening doors, but helping students walk through them with confidence, purpose, and the opportunity to shape a better future.