- 799 graduates across arts, design and performance disciplines
- 560 diploma, 234 bachelor’s, and 5 master’s graduates
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), University of the Arts Singapore (UAS), held its Convocation 2025 on 4 and 5 August 2025 at the Lee Foundation Theatre, NAFA Campus 3, conferring diplomas, degrees, and postgraduate qualifications on 799 graduates across arts, design, and performance disciplines.
The Class of 2025 included 560 diploma, 234 bachelor’s, and 5 master’s graduates, many of whom demonstrated a strong commitment to community care through the arts. This year marked a milestone in NAFA’s postgraduate offerings, with the inaugural graduates from two programmes, the Master of Performance and Master of Composition, stepping forward as high-level professional artists who will contribute to Singapore’s evolving creative landscape.
“With technological advancements, an unpredictable global environment and geopolitical tensions… Singaporeans have grown stronger not because the world is standing still, but because we have learnt to adapt, innovate, and create value in the face of tremendous uncertainty,” said Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for Education and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration, who graced the ceremony on 4 August as the Guest-of-Honour. He also highlighted the power of the arts in an age of technological change and added, “The advancement of technology and AI can drive our technical capabilities in the arts sector, but it is only when this is complemented by the deep empathy and sensitivity of our artists, that we can bring the impact of the arts not only higher, but further across society.”
25 Best Graduate Award recipients were honoured this year for excellence in artistry, leadership, and service. These include:
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Debbie Yuen Hui Yee, NAFA Chairman Award recipient, who was recognised for her work as a children’s book illustrator and winner of the Student Illustrator Book Prize at the Singapore Children’s Book Festival 2024.
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Althaea Grace Wangko, Wu Tsung Kan Book Prize recipient, who has used her knowledge and leadership skills to positively impact communities, through volunteering, moderating forums, as well as representing fellow youths at events such as the Young Singaporeans Conference 2024 on Mental Health.
Muhammad Raihan Syahmi Bin Abdul Hadi, NAFA President Award recipient and winner of the ASEAN Furniture Design Award 2025, who is leading the upcoming glass installation commissioned for the Singapore Night Festival, to be displayed along Bencoolen Street.
This year also saw the launch of the inaugural Young Alumni Medal, alongside the traditional Distinguished Alumni Award, to honour graduates under the age of 40 who continue to excel professionally and give back meaningfully to the community and the academy.
Community-focused partnerships led by students included collaborations with SingHealth Community Hospitals where Fashion Business Management students designed a range of adaptive clothing to support independent dressing among seniors and Assisi Hospice which saw Fine Art students work with caregivers to create mixed media art installations aimed at brightening the environment and uplifting the spirits of both caregivers and patients. These initiatives reflected NAFA’s deepening focus on empathy-driven artmaking as part of SG60’s values of care, resilience, and inclusivity.
“No matter how technology evolves, nothing replaces the artist’s intent, imagination and the human instinct to connect. You don’t just produce things. You create meaning. You bring people together and you tell stories of tomorrow. And that is what the world needs, more than ever,” said NAFA President, Mrs Tan-Soh Wai Lan.
The graduating class of 2025 will join a distinguished alumni network of over 20,000 artists, designers, performers, and professionals who have pursued diverse careers in the arts, fashion, and creatives.
For more information on NAFA’s convocation, visit
https://www.nafa.edu.sg/convocation2025/home
More images are available
here.
About NAFA
Established in 1938, the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), a founding member of the University of the Arts Singapore (UAS), is Singapore’s pioneer and largest arts institution. Renowned for its unique identity and strength in Southeast Asian arts, NAFA’s Institute of Southeast Asian Arts (ISEAA) is a global leader in Southeast Asian art practice and research. NAFA has nurtured the most number of alumni conferred the nation’s highest accolades, with 14 Cultural Medallions and 15 Young Artist Award recipients. As the only arts institution offering a comprehensive range of educational pathways from early childhood to adulthood, NAFA inspires learning and growth through diverse programs. These include tertiary education, lifelong learning courses at the Centre for Lifelong Education, junior arts classes in the School of Young Talents, and arts-enriched preschool education.
With a rich heritage dedicated to arts education, NAFA strives to live up to its mission of “inspiring learning and growth through the arts.”
For more information, visit
www.nafa.edu.sg. Follow @nafa_sg on Instagram for updates.
For media queries, please contact:
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Karen Chang
Head, Strategic Communications Office
Email:
[email protected]
Ashton Chong
Assistant Manager, Strategic Communications Office
Email:
[email protected]