[20 May 2003]
Singapore Management University and the United World College of Southeast Asia hold youth discussion forum on Iraq War

The Singapore Management University (SMU) and United World College of Southeast Asia (UWCSEA) are jointly organizing a discussion forum for youths on “Beyond the Headlines and Hype: Perspectives on the War in Iraq”. The Forum is the inaugural event for a programme co-founded by SMU and UWCSEA called “Education 4 Understanding (E4U)”, an initiative to promote greater understanding among youths in Singapore.

The Forum will mark the first time experts – including diplomats, political commentators and media personalities – are being brought together for a frank and informal exchange of views with youth representatives on this highly topical issue. It will be chaired by former Nominated Member of Parliament, Dr Kanwaljit Soin. Forum panel members include:

• John Madeiros, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy in Singapore
• Philip Malone, First Political Secretary & Head of Chancery, The British High Commission in Singapore
• Shankar Ayer, Channel NewsAsia, Iraq War Correspondent and "In Conversation" Host
• John Gee, Middle East Specialist & Writer
• Amitav Acharya, Deputy Director & Head (Research), Institute of Defence & Strategic Studies
• Sunanda K Datta-Ray, Political Commentator & Journalist and Senior Fellow, NTU School of Communications Studies
• Kirpal Singh, Associate Professor, SMU School of Economics and Social Sciences

The panel will debate issues ranging from the relevance and role of the United Nations, to the power of the media and new technology (i.e. Internet) to shape perceptions and public opinion. There will also be discussion on the war against terrorism and how it impacts relations between Singapore, Southeast Asia and the United States.

Said SMU Associate Professor Mary Wong, one of the co-founders of E4U, “We are expressly inviting the student audience to ‘listen, engage, challenge and speak up’. All too often, we hear that youth in Singapore are apathetic or that young Singaporeans lack intellectual curiosity. We don’t believe that’s true, and what the Forum and E4U hope to do is provide opportunities for students to hear directly from the experts, interact with them, and exchange views with their peers from other institutions. E4U also exemplifies SMU’s mission to provide a challenging and rewarding environment within which students can maximize their potential and develop their creative and leadership qualities.”

Remarked E4U co-founder Melissa Kwee, Director for Development at UWCSEA, “E4U continues UWCSEA’s tradition of realizing the values and principles of the United World Colleges Movement through ‘experiential, multicultural education’. UWCSEA currently numbers some 60 nationalities among its 2600 students, and we are very excited about the opportunity to work with SMU to facilitate learning and interaction between UWCSEA students and their peers in Singapore. E4U will provide a unique framework for intellectual and creative development, and facilitate understanding and respect among youths and educators. As such, the Forum will be a fitting and unique platform to begin the process of engagement and exchange.”