Law student first local from a Singapore university named Schwarzman Scholar

Daniel Ng Ming Zhong ’19 – currently a final-year Double Degree Programme (DDP) student in Law (NUS Law) and Liberal Arts (Yale-NUS) has become the first local student from a Singapore university to be admitted to the prestigious Schwarzman Scholars programme.

Daniel described himself as being very humbled to be selected, and looks forward to studying in Beijing.

“I am excited to join this programme of high caliber individuals from all around the world. I look forward to both the structured curriculum and the serendipitous learning in Beijing. I experienced a similar experience in the Law and Liberal Arts DDP and enjoyed learning and growing here. Now, with a focus on China and global leadership, I am looking forward to more rigorous learning experiences with my future classmates.”

As one of the 147 Schwarzman Scholars selected through a rigorous process from 2,800 applicants worldwide, Daniel will receive a fully funded scholarship to study at the new Schwarzman College at the prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Growing up in a tough environment, he views the programme as an investment that will enable him to contribute to the lives of youths-at-risk by proposing fair policies and building bridges that lead to a more gracious society.

“The programme is a wonderful way for me to live out these values in a global context by first understanding China and its role in international law and politics,” explained Daniel. “I hope to contribute to some form of systemic justice through international law – whether that is in legal practice, diplomacy, treaty-making or even academia remains to be seen.”

The Schwarzman Scholars programme is designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders by giving the world’s best and brightest students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and professional networks. The students will pursue a Masters in Global Affairs, and have the option to major in public policy, economics and business, and international studies.

For Daniel, he believes he will benefit from the programme both personally and professionally.

“Living and learning in Beijing with motivated, high-caliber peers that are passionate about changing the world will push me to grow as a person and leader. Professionally, I am looking forward to the opportunity to interact with policy makers, thought leaders and experts from China and around the world. I believe such interactions will help me refine how I think about justice, law and society, and my place in the world.”

Daniel hopes his admission to the programme will inspire more NUS students to follow in his footsteps. His advice: “There are many equally or more capable candidates than me; and I am of the view that NUS students should challenge themselves and try for programmes such as the Schwarzman Scholars programme.”

His capstone project supervisor, Professor David Tan, Vice Dean (Academic Affairs) at NUS Law, said, “I am so proud of Daniel’s exhilarating achievement. It has been a delight supervising Daniel in this project which analyses the effect of ASEAN laws and values on aggression in the South China Sea. I have learnt much from his novel approach using an empirical methodology combined with international relations theory.”