James Cook University (JCU) has devoted 50 years to developing “graduates who have the knowledge, skills and experience to succeed and thrive in the global workforce.” Much of our success comes from the renown of our researchers who repeatedly make ground-breaking advances in research, and who pass along their skills to students and graduates to create a brighter future.

This year, the Singapore campus of James Cook University proudly presents a series of seven Professorial Lectures to help celebrate our University’s 50th anniversary through a showcase of research expertise across several disciplines.

Amidst the growing unease towards the 2019 new coronavirus (COVID-19), the Singapore campus of James Cook University is taking necessary measures to address the concerns. As such, plans for the Professorial Lecture Series remain flexible so that the University may continue to deliver high-quality, in-depth learning that is easily accessible to the wider community. You can now register for Professor Eddy Ng’s Professorial Lecture here. Stay tuned to this page or https://www.jcu.edu.sg/events for updates on registration details for the other Professorial Lectures.

Having planned the Professorial Lecture Series, Dr Denise Dillon – Associate Dean of Research and Research Education at James Cook University in Singapore – explained the purpose of the series: “Professorial lectures are often an opportunity for newly-promoted or newly-appointed professors to make an inaugural address that showcases their innovative research and contributions to their respective fields, through strategies for community and/or industry engagement. Each lecture thus typically represents a significant milestone in an academic’s career.”

She added, “To date, we’ve missed these opportunities because we hadn’t embraced the practice of the inaugural lecture. It seemed to me that a celebration of James Cook University’s 50th anniversary offered a wonderful opportunity to establish a lecture series to showcase the work of our seven Professors, which collectively represents a body of expertise that translates research of directly practical importance to our place in the Tropics.”

(Pictured: Professor Caryn West)

Professor Caryn West – Dean of Research at James Cook University in Singapore, and one of the speakers in the series – expressed her views on the importance of such a platform: “JCU has a strong connection and ongoing commitment to the communities we serve. The Professorial Lecture Series showcases the diverse range of research undertaken at JCU. With some of the best minds in the world presenting, this series celebrates the contributions made in their fields of expertise and shares future plans for creating a brighter future for life in the Tropics worldwide.”

(Pictured: Professor Eddy Ng)

Professor Eddy Ng – Visiting Professor of Organisational Behaviour at James Cook University, and the James and Elizabeth Freeman Professor at Bucknell University – will kick off the Professorial Lecture Series on Thursday 28 May 2020. His lecture examines the differences in career expectations, attitudes, and work values across four generations, along with the implications of these changes for organisations and employers.

Professor Ng shared, “Millennials have been portrayed in popular media to have high self-esteem, a strong sense of entitlement, and are impatient to succeed in the workplace. Millennials are also said to exhibit a high degree of preference for materialistic rewards, value leisure time over work, and indicate a strong desire for work-life balance. If these assertions were true, existing human resource policies and practices to attract and retain Millennial workers may be outmoded.”

His lecture will be conducted in an online format to adapt to the current global situation. “The COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented and has certainly placed a lot of stress on individuals, organisations, and employers,” Professor Ng said. “Resiliency allows individuals to focus on continuous learning, adaptation to change, and meeting the evolving needs in the labour market.”

If you’ve ever been curious about what makes our researchers tick, this is your chance to peek inside the minds of experts in their given fields – there’s no doubt you’ll learn something by attending any one of the Professorial Lectures.

The best part: it’s all free!

Find out more information about our Higher Degrees by Research courses here.

Find further information on our areas of research and research strength at James Cook University in Singapore here.

Last updated: 3 September 2020

Contacts

Research: Professor Caryn West [email protected]
Media: Pinky Sibal [email protected]