A SINGAPOREAN is now the head of an alliance of 10 of the world's leading universities.

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, president of the National University of Singapore (NUS), was unanimously elected as the new chair of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), a strategic grouping of institutions with a similar vision, committed to educating future leaders.

The association includes the University of Cambridge, Yale, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) and NUS.

An IARU spokesman said: 'The rationale for the selection of the current members was based on member universities' compatibilities, as well as their active global and research profiles.'

Prof Tan was elected by the other nine presidents of the IARU at a meeting in Cambridge in April. He will serve a two-year term.

In a statement yesterday, he said: 'It is an honour to chair such a prestigious alliance of top research universities. The alliance enables exciting innovations in global education, facilitates cross-institutional learning and fosters coordinated action in key areas such as environmental sustainability.'

A renal physician, Prof Tan was appointed president of NUS in December last year. He also holds a concurrent appointment as deputy chairman of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research.

He takes over the helm from Professor Ian Chubb, vice-chancellor at the Australian National University (ANU), who has led the alliance since its formalisation in January 2006.

The alliance already facilitates both undergraduate and postgraduate student exchange programmes among NUS, ETH Zurich, the University of Copenhagen and ANU.

It also plans to develop programmes to tackle climate change by assessing and committing to reduce the overall environmental impact of university activities.

In the works are plans to offer joint degree programmes that allow students from IARU member universities to gain credit towards their final degree qualifications by studying at affiliated institutions.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.