SINGAPORE - 186 students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) graduated in a virtual ceremony on Saturday (June 26) morning. This is the first time NUS has held a graduation ceremony in this manner. Saturday's was the first among 60 online ceremonies that will see more than 23,500 students from the classes of 2020 and 2021 graduating. Those from the class of 2020 had their graduation ceremonies postponed to this year. President Halimah Yacob, who is also NUS Chancellor, gave a speech to the graduating students, in which she noted that the Covid-19 pandemic had up-ended Singaporeans' way of life and altered the face of an already disruptive future. "It is a reminder that sometimes even the best laid plans can be overturned by events that are not within our control," she said. Addressing 154 graduates from the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and 32 graduates from the Master of Science in Industry 4.0 programme offered by the NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education, Madam Halimah encouraged them to hold steadfast to values of respect, integrity, innovation, excellence, and resilience during these challenging times. She said: "I encourage you to embody these traits in the path ahead, strive to give your best in whatever you do, stay curious, and keep learning. More importantly, show respect and humility to all you meet along the way." The class of 2020 comprises 11,582 graduates, of whom 6,973 have been conferred Bachelor's degrees and 4,609 have been conferred graduate degrees. The class of 2021 comprises 11,990 graduates, of whom 6,982 will be conferred Bachelor's degrees and 5,008 will be conferred graduate degrees. NUS had originally planned for in-person graduation ceremonies to take place from June 17 to the end of July, but had made the switch to online amid a spike in Covid-19 cases last month. Mr Vincent Cai, 31, was among Saturday morning's graduands. He had completed a Masters in Public Health while working as part of the contact tracing task group tackling the Covid-19 pandemic here. Mr Cai, who did his undergraduate degree in sports science and management, said he took up the Masters degree as public health has a wider impact and reach in improving the health of people through policy and control measures. Mr Vincent Cai, 31, was among Saturday morning's graduands. PHOTO: COURTESY OF VINCENT CAI He joined the communicable diseases division at the Health Ministry in November last year after learning about infectious diseases through the course. He had been focused on diseases like measles and rubella when the pandemic hit and resources were channelled to tackle Covid-19, so he was shifted to do contact tracing. When asked about his biggest takeaway from the course, Mr Cai said: "It is to do the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people. "For example, the measures we are now taking amid the pandemic may be an inconvenience to most but overall the benefits of protection and prevention outweigh the benefits of not taking any control measures." Mr Cai said he would continue his work with contact tracing until the end of the pandemic and would then return to his area of interest in tackling measles, rubella, and other droplet-borne diseases. More on this topic   Related Story Graduating in the midst of a pandemic: What's next?   Related Story Thousands of polytechnic, SUSS students graduate amid pandemic At the ceremony, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye said he was proud of how the cohorts of 2020 and 2021 had shown resolve, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to excellence during this difficult period. He added: "Many of you have had to make major adjustments to your plans and career pathways… I would urge that you nurture a new mindset, be prepared to chart new paths, and move boldly to seize emerging opportunities." More on this topic   Related Story From home-based farming to virtual museums, NUS grads think of ideas for a post-Covid-19 world   Related Story SUTD's sixth batch of students graduate amid Covid-19 pandemic; more than half have secured jobs