Longest-serving principal of Singapore Poly dies, aged 80

19 Sep 2016

The Sunday Times, 18 Sep 2016 - SP’s longest-serving principal Dr Khoo Kay Chai has died at the age of 80. SP’s Chairman of the Board of Governors Mr Bill Chang, who is also an alumni, mentioned how Dr Khoo had always cared for the student community. SP Graduates’ Guild president Jimmy Lim shared Dr Khoo’s role in developing the alumni clubhouse. SP’s senior director (Administration Cluster) Mr Tan Peng Ann, who worked with Dr Khoo in the 1980s and 1990s, talked about how Dr Khoo was always open to listening to ideas. Dr Khoo saw the need for students to have pastoral care and also initiated foreign exchanges and career guidance at a time when these initiatives were not common. Article also mentioned that Dr Khoo introduced advanced diploma courses, arranged degree transfers with the then University of Singapore in 1969 and set up a department of industry services to maintain links with the industry. Similar story was reported in Lianhe Zaobao, Lianhe Wanbao and Shin Min Daily News.