The extension of the Term Professorship will further strengthen the research culture in Singapore and enhance research capabilities in finance and economics relevant for industry, policy and academia

Singapore, 26 March 2014…The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has reaffirmed its commitment to sponsor the professorship in economics and finance at the National University of Singapore (NUS).  Commencing from 1 April 2014, MAS’ sponsorship for another five years signals MAS' strong support for the programme, which has been successful in facilitating the exchange of research ideas and interests in applied economics and finance in Singapore.

2   First established in 2009, the MAS Term Professorship in Economics and Finance appoints distinguished scholars, jointly as Visiting Professors at the NUS Business School and the Department of Economics in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. It aims to strengthen Singapore’s financial and economics research infrastructure and contribute to a vibrant research community and culture at local universities.

3   Ms Jacqueline Loh, Deputy Managing Director, MAS, said, "Since its inception five years ago, the MAS Term Professorship has attracted world-class researchers to Singapore, and has helped to establish stronger ties between academia, industry and the public sector. A vibrant research ecosystem supports better-informed decision-making by policymakers and market participants and we see it as an integral element of the financial sector landscape. We look forward to working with NUS to ensure the continued success of the professorship.”

4   Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost, said, “Over the last five years, NUS faculty and students have benefitted greatly from the MAS Term Professorship in Economics and Finance. The programme has attracted top-caliber scholars from around the world to teach and conduct research here. These collaborative activities in research and education have significantly strengthened the University’s expertise in finance and economics and raised our international reputation in these fields.”

5   “We are very grateful that MAS is extending its support for the programme for another five years. We will build on the programme’s success to further develop, and facilitate the transfer of, cutting-edge knowledge in applied economics and finance that would be of relevance to the industry and policy,” Prof Tan added.

6   The MAS Term Professorship in Economics & Finance has been awarded to seven distinguished scholars over the last five years. The inaugural MAS Term Professor was Barry Eichengreen, the George C. Pardee and Helen N. Pardee Professor of Economics and Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, who was appointed in 2010.

7   The Professorship was also awarded to the following scholars:

• Nobel Laureate A. Michael Spence, the William R. Berkley Professor in Economics and Business at the Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York University;
• Michael J. Brennan, Emeritus Professor of Finance from the Anderson Graduate School of Management, University of California, Los Angeles;
• Randall Morck, the Stephen A Jarislowsky Distinguished Chair in Finance and University Professor at the University of Alberta, School of Business;
• Benjamin M. Friedman, the William Joseph Maier Professor of Political Economy at Harvard University;
• Darrel Duffie, Dean Witter Distinguished Professor of Finance at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business; and
• Douglas W. Diamond, the Merton H. Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

About National University of Singapore (NUS)

A leading global university centred in Asia, the National University of Singapore (NUS) is Singapore’s flagship university, which offers a global approach to education and research, with a focus on Asian perspectives and expertise.
 
NUS has 16 faculties and schools across three campuses. Its transformative education includes a broad-based curriculum underscored by multi-disciplinary courses and cross-faculty enrichment. Over 37,000 students from 100 countries enrich the community with their diverse social and cultural perspectives.
 
NUS has three Research Centres of Excellence (RCE) and 23 university-level research institutes and centres. It is also a partner in Singapore’s fifth RCE. NUS shares a close affiliation with 16 national-level research institutes and centres. Research activities are strategic and robust, and NUS is well-known for its research strengths in engineering, life sciences and biomedicine, social sciences and natural sciences. It also strives to create a supportive and innovative environment to promote creative enterprise within its community.  
 
For more information, please visit www.nus.edu.sg

About Monetary Authority of Singapore

As Singapore's central bank, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) promotes sustained, non-inflationary economic growth through appropriate monetary policy formulation and close macroeconomic surveillance of emerging trends and potential vulnerabilities. It manages Singapore's exchange rate, foreign reserves and liquidity in the banking sector. MAS is also an integrated supervisor overseeing all financial institutions in Singapore -- banks, insurers, capital market intermediaries, financial advisors, and the stock exchange. Being an integrated supervisor allows the MAS to adopt a consistent and progressive regulatory and supervisory approach and framework, thereby ensuring a level playing field across all market segments, sectors and activities. With its mandate to foster a sound and progressive financial services sector in Singapore, MAS also helps shape Singapore's financial industry by promoting a strong corporate governance framework and close adherence to international accounting standards. In addition, it spearheads retail investor education. MAS ensures that Singapore's financial industry remains vibrant, dynamic and competitive by working closely with other government agencies and financial institutions to develop and promote Singapore as a regional and international financial centre.

For more information, please visit www.mas.gov.sg.