Diplomacy in Action: Taylor’s Launched Distinguished Diplomat Series with Global Perspectives

On 14 May 2025, Taylor’s University marked a significant milestone with the launch of the Distinguished Diplomat Series, a premier initiative under the Bachelor of Social Science (Hons) in International Relations. The inaugural session featured an insightful dialogue between His Excellency Vanu Gopala Menon, Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, and Dato’ Dr. Ilango Karuppannan, retired Malaysian Ambassador and convener of the series.

Hosted at Taylor’s Lakeside Campus, the event drew an impressive audience comprising students, academics, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives from think tanks and international organisations. Centred on the timely theme “Singapore and Malaysia in a Changing World,” the session offered a nuanced exploration of regional diplomacy and Southeast Asia’s evolving role on the global stage.

The conversation spanned pressing issues such as the future of ASEAN centrality, the delicate art of managing bilateral ties with pragmatism, and the diplomatic tightrope in an era of heightened US-China competition. The dialogue also touched on Malaysia’s ASEAN 2025 Chairmanship and Singapore’s strategic outlook on multilateralism, digital diplomacy, and regional economic integration.

Prof. Dr. Anindita Dasgupta, Head of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences (SLAS), formally opened the event. This was followed by a welcome address by Dr. Andrea Passeri, Programme Director for the International Relations programme, who articulated the vision behind the Distinguished Diplomat Series to bridge academic learning with real-world diplomacy.

The Distinguished Diplomat Series is poised to become a cornerstone of experiential learning at Taylor’s, offering students a rare opportunity to engage directly with global diplomats and practitioners. By cultivating critical dialogue and international perspectives, the series enriches student learning and enhances graduate readiness in diplomacy, global governance, and foreign affairs. The initiative will continue throughout the April and September semesters, featuring high-level diplomats from diverse regions to inspire and inform the next generation of global leaders.

The session concluded with a presentation of tokens of appreciation by Prof. Dr. Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management (FSLM), in recognition of the speakers’ contributions to the success of the series launch.