NATIONAL University of Singapore (NUS) president Shih Choon Fong was awarded the Chief Executive Leadership Award by non-profit organisation, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, last week.

The organisation, which was founded in the United States in 1974, provides professional expertise to educational institutions in areas such as fund-raising, marketing and alumni relations.

Professor Shih is the first person in the Asia-Pacific to receive the award.

In delivering his citation, Mr John Lippincott, president of the council, said of Prof Shih: 'His vision and leadership have helped transform the very culture of NUS, especially with respect to advancement.

'For example, Prof Shih knows the importance of engaging alumni as key stakeholders.'

In conjunction with the ceremony, the organisation also officially launched its Asia-Pacific office in Singapore.

It has been operating out of premises in NUS' Kent Ridge campus since May.

Internationally, the council has 3,300 member schools in more than 54 countries.

There are 102 member institutions in the Asia-Pacific region. Of that number, half are higher education institutions while the other half are private primary and secondary schools.

Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam. who was the guest of honour at the event, said that since universities around the world were grappling with the same issues, they could learn a lot by sharing experiences.