Media OutReach
IAIC Launches First Multi-Region Study on Ageing and Ageing Well, Advancing Global Collaboration and Research in Integrated Care
- First-of-its-kind multi-region study on the perceptions of ageing and ageing well officially launched at the Intercontinental Alliance for Integrated Care (IAIC) gala dinner.
- The study featured insights from five member regions to advance support for ageing.
- The Alliance welcomed seven new members, strengthened its local chapters and handed over 2026 hosting duties to the United Kingdom.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 November 2025 – The Intercontinental Alliance for Integrated Care (IAIC), hosted by the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), today launched its first-ever multi-region study on the perceptions of ageing and ageing well. Now in its second edition, the Alliance’s annual flagship event IAIC 2025 brought together partners from across Asia, Europe, and North America, including new members from Estonia, India, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei, to advance new knowledge, partnerships and innovations shaping the future of ageing and integrated care.
Launch of the IAIC Multi-Region Study Report
Led by SUSS and co-developed with IAIC members, the multi-region study – A Study on Perceptions of Ageing and Ageing Well: Exploring Older Adults’ Experiences and Coping Strategies Across Regions – draws insights from five regions: Singapore, Canada, Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and the United Kingdom. It examines how older adults across different societies understand ageing, navigate later-life transitions and define what it means to age well.
Placing the lived experiences of older adults at its core, the study offers a clearer picture of what ageing well means to them and underscores the role of families, communities and care systems in shaping those experiences. It provides a cross-cultural view of older adults’ aspirations and coping strategies, revealing how social, economic and policy contexts influence their day-to-day realities. Insights from Brunei and Thailand will be incorporated in the next phase and shared progressively.
Across regions, the findings highlight a common theme: ageing is shaped not only by biological changes, but also by social and cultural contexts. A recurring paradox emerges – despite physical decline, many older adults continue to experience purpose, connection and well-being.
Singapore Chapter: Local Insights into Ageing Well
Within this broader landscape, the Singapore chapter adds depth to how these themes manifest locally, drawing on responses from about 1,000 survey respondents and 15 in-depth interviews. Several key insights emerged on how older Singaporeans understand and experience ageing. For instance:
- Women aged 75–84 placed higher value on family and close relationships than men of the same age bracket, underscoring the central role of social bonds. Staying socially connected helps them remain emotionally engaged and supported by strong community ties. Men, by contrast, are more vulnerable to isolation after retirement, particularly when their identities were closely tied to work.
- The study also highlighted “mastery” – the belief that one can still influence the course of one’s life – as a strong predictor of successful ageing. Older adults with a strong sense of mastery tend to stay socially connected, feel more satisfied, and continue pursuing activities that bring purpose and joy. They remain active not simply because they are physically stronger, but because they believe their actions continue to matter.
For the full report, please visit https://suss.to/iaic2025-report.
Associate Professor Justina Tan, Vice President of Strategic Partnership and Engagement at SUSS and Principal Investigator for the study, shared “As Singapore becomes ‘super-aged’ next year, the multi-region study aims to provide us with invaluable insights to guide more targeted policies and interventions. By understanding the unique needs and aspirations of our older adults, we can design programmes that not only preserve autonomy and foster meaningful conversations but also ensure that support is tailored to help every senior thrive in their own way.”
Following today’s launch, the IAIC partners will move into the implementation phase, where each country will adapt insights into on-the-ground pilot initiatives within their local care systems.
IAIC 2025: Beyond Borders, Beyond Age
Themed “Beyond Borders, Beyond Age: Shaping Tomorrow’s Tapestry of Integrated Care”, IAIC 2025 convened like-minded partners such as academic institutions, care providers, policymakers, and innovators across regions to shape care systems that transcend geographical, generational, and institutional boundaries.
Across the two-day programme, delegates took part in discussions, learning journeys and collaborative sessions focused on integrated care and healthy ageing. A key highlight was a visit to TOUCHpoint@AMK 433 this morning, where participants learned about Singapore’s community-based approaches to ageing well and supporting seniors to age in place.
The event culminated in a gala dinner at Conrad Singapore Marina Bay, where Guest-of-Honour, Mdm Halimah Yacob, Chancellor, SUSS, witnessed the official launch of the multi-region study together with IAIC representatives from Singapore, Canada, Mainland China and the United Kingdom.
In her address, Mdm Halimah said “Ageing is not a burden to be managed. It is a season of life to be respected, supported, and reimagined, where every person, regardless of age, continues to have value, voice, and belonging.” She added, “As we look to the future, the challenge of ageing will test every society’s capacity for compassion, creativity, and courage. It also offers a profound opportunity to redefine what it means to live and age well, and to reaffirm our shared humanity.”
Alliance Expansion and New Local Chapters
IAIC 2025 also marked a significant milestone for the Alliance with the addition of seven new member institutions, welcomed through a symbolic handprint ceremony. Led by SUSS, the IAIC is supported by 12 founding members across Asia, Europe and North America, each contributing expertise in ageing and integrated care.
This year, the Alliance expanded its network with the following new members:
- Jeonbuk National University (South Korea)
- Center for Sports Science and Healthy Aging, National Cheng Kung University (Chinese Taipei)
- National Mental Health and Welfare Commission (South Korea)
- Public Health Foundation India (India)
- Tallinn University (Estonia)
- Teikyo University (Japan)
- Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (Malaysia)
SUSS also formalised two new Local Chapter Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with Presbyterian Community Social Services Limited and Singapore Hospice Council. These partnerships seek to strengthen community-based initiatives, pilot projects and workforce development in integrated care, while advancing applied research and fostering innovation to better serve community needs.
Intergenerational Fashion Runway Featuring Seniors and Young Designers
A highlight of the gala dinner was a vibrant intergenerational fashion showcase co-created by seniors from Lions Befrienders and student-designers from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), University of the Arts Singapore (UAS), in partnership with SUSS.
Themed “Tapestry of Style: Weaving Generations Together through Fashion,” the showcase brought together lived experience, creativity and technical skill as seniors and students co-designed each ensemble. It celebrated seniors as active creators, spotlighting their stories, perspectives and style while demonstrating the value of intergenerational collaboration.
Passing the Baton
IAIC 2025 drew to a meaningful close with a symbolic handover ceremony, where SUSS formally passed hosting duties to Royal Holloway, University of London, which will host IAIC 2026. After two years of stewardship in Singapore, the Alliance now continues its journey of learning and collaboration beyond Singapore’s shores.
The handover highlighted IAIC’s rotating stewardship model and its commitment to continuity, shared leadership and cross-border knowledge exchange. It reaffirmed the Alliance’s vision of a global community working together to advance integrated care through partnership, research and collective progress.
Professor Tan Tai Yong, President, SUSS, said “The Intercontinental Alliance for Integrated Care reinforces a collective commitment across regions to rethinking how societies can better support ageing populations. SUSS is proud to take the lead in convening this year’s Alliance and in spearheading the multi-region study with our partners. The intergenerational elements woven into this year’s edition – from the study’s findings to the collaborative fashion showcase with Lions Befrienders and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts – remind us that strengthening care systems requires the voices, creativity and participation of all ages.”
Hashtag: #IAIC2025 #SUSS #HealthyAgeing #IntegratedCare #ActiveAgeing #SeniorsWellbeing #PublicHealth #SocialCare #Gerontology #AgeFriendlySociety
https://www.suss.edu.sg/
https://www.linkedin.com/school/singapore-university-of-social-sciences/
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About Singapore University of Social Sciences
At SUSS, we have a singular vision to be a university that inspires learning for life and impacts lives, regardless of age, background or life path. Our university is a vibrant tapestry of ages and experiences. From recent JC and polytechnic graduates to seasoned professionals, parents seeking new horizons and individuals redefining their careers in their golden years—our diverse community comes together for one common goal: to empower themselves with an education that impacts lives and society.
We offer more than 110 undergraduate and graduate programmes, available in full- and part-time study modes which are flexible, modular and interdisciplinary, catering to both fresh school leavers and adult learners. SUSS also offers a broad range of continuing education and training modular courses for the professional skills upgrading of Singapore’s workforce.
Our programmes and courses are offered by our six schools:
- S R Nathan School of Human Development
- School of Business
- School of Humanities & Behavioural Sciences
- School of Law
- School of Science & Technology
- School of Social Work & Social Development
Since becoming an Autonomous University in 2017, over 25,000 graduates have experienced our unique brand of education. More than 19,000 students are currently pursuing their full- and part-time studies with us.
The Institute for Adult Learning (IAL), as part of SUSS, leads in the field of research on adult and workplace learning and training of adult educators to build capabilities of the training and adult education sector in Singapore and beyond.
For more information about SUSS, please visit www.suss.edu.sg.
The decision was announced during the discussion “Competition Development in Global Grain Trade: Joint Efforts of BRICS Countries”, organized by the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre on the sidelines of the 23rd Session of the UNCTAD Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition Law and Policy in Geneva.
The event included a closed meeting of BRICS competition authorities and a public panel featuring researchers, academics and representatives of international organizations.
Discussions focused on competition in global grain markets, the growing influence of financialization and digitalization across agricultural value chains, and policy tools to improve market transparency. Participants also reviewed the findings of a joint report prepared by the BRICS Competition Centre and UNCTAD (link: https://www.bricscompetition.org/ru/grainreport) , first presented at the 9th BRICS International Competition Conference in Cape Town in 2025.
A coordinated market study
The central outcome of the meeting was the establishment of a BRICS task force that will coordinate a joint sector inquiry into global grain trade within the framework of the BRICS Working Group on Food Markets.
The task force will be co-chaired by Diogo Thomson, President of Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), and Mahmoud Momtaz, Chairperson of the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA).
Thomson welcomed the initiative and proposed making competition in global grain trade a key topic at the next BRICS International Competition Conference, scheduled to take place in Brazil in 2027.
“Brazil is the only jurisdiction that has launched an investigation into digital grain trading platforms such as Covantis. I therefore strongly welcome this sector inquiry, which will help us better understand the impact of digitalization across grain supply chains and the risks it may create for competition. I also support using the BRICS Competition Centre as the coordination platform for this work,” he said.
Momtaz said one of the main conclusions of the BRICS-UNCTAD report was the significant role speculative activity plays in global grain markets.
“One of the key findings of the report presented by the BRICS Competition Centre is the extent to which speculative factors influence global grain trade. The most effective response is greater market transparency. We should not accept a situation where farmers receive only a small share of the value they create while consumers in Egypt pay excessively high prices for bread. Where does this margin accumulate, and who ultimately benefits from it? These are the questions our sector inquiry should answer,” he said.
He also proposed that the task force develop a common AI-powered price monitoring tool covering BRICS grain markets.
“Such a tool would provide the information needed for market analysis and become an important complement to the joint sector inquiry,” Momtaz added.
From analysis to policy recommendations
Hardin Ratshisusu, Deputy Commissioner of the Competition Commission of South Africa, said the study should contribute to the implementation of the BRICS Grain Exchange initiative endorsed by BRICS leaders in the Kazan Declaration (2024) and the Rio de Janeiro Declaration (2025).
“The proposal to establish a BRICS Grain Exchange should become one of the key recommendations of the sector inquiry as an innovative mechanism for restoring competition in global grain trade. Our objective is not merely to identify market problems but to develop practical recommendations that can ultimately be submitted to the leaders of our countries,” he said.
Alexey Ivanov, Director of the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre, said competition authorities should play a central role in designing the institutional framework of the future exchange.
“The BRICS Grain Exchange should not become another formal institution. It must serve as a practical mechanism for improving competition and market transparency. Competition authorities are uniquely positioned to identify the institutional features that will allow the exchange to achieve these objectives,” he said.
Growing international role
Frédéric Jenny, Chairmanof the OECD Competition Committee, said the initiative demonstrated the growing international role of BRICS competition authorities.
“This project illustrates how BRICS competition authorities are becoming drivers of the global competition agenda. In the past, they largely followed the lead of developed jurisdictions. That is no longer the case. There are very few examples worldwide of such close cooperation between competition authorities. This applies not only to joint market studies, but also to enforcement cooperation and competition advocacy. Rather than acting individually, you have found both the mechanisms and the political will to work together,” Jenny said.
The task force will now begin developing the methodology and work plan for the joint inquiry. Its findings are expected to provide policy recommendations aimed at strengthening competition, improving transparency in global grain trade, and supporting future BRICS initiatives in agricultural markets.
Hashtag: #BRICSCompetition
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Today’s premium SUVs are expected to do more than ever before. For EVs, that expectation increasingly extends beyond the drive itself to the ownership experience that comes with it.
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 July 2026 – There’s a reason premium SUVs remain the vehicle of choice across much of the Middle East. People here spend a lot of time in their cars, commuting between cities, shuttling between meetings, while thinking nothing of driving hundreds of kilometers over a long weekend.
A vehicle is where conference calls are taken between appointments, where children fall asleep in the back seat on the drive home, and where many of the ordinary moments of daily life quietly unfold. That is also why buyers in the region tend to value both performance and convenience, rather than simply paying for horsepower or a premium badge.
Electric vehicles have made those decisions even more nuanced. Not long ago, conversations about EVs were largely centered on battery size, driving range and charging times. Those questions still matter, but increasingly, buyers also demand a clear picture of their post-delivery ownership experience, specifically requiring convenient charging, straightforward servicing, and long-term support.
Viewed through that lens, perhaps the most interesting thing about the VinFast VF 8 isn’t any single specification. Rather, it is the way the company has approached the ownership experience around it.
Designed by the legendary Italian design house Pininfarina, the all-electric D-segment SUV combines premium styling with everyday practicality. With up to 493 km of NEDC driving range and up to 402 horsepower through its dual-motor AWD system, the VF 8 is equally at home navigating city traffic or tackling longer journeys across the region. Its spacious cabin, Level 2 driver assistance technologies and 15.6-inch infotainment display are designed with comfort in mind, whether the journey lasts twenty minutes or two hours.
In the UAE, buyers also benefit from a 10-year vehicle warranty, a 10-year unlimited-mileage battery warranty, 24/7 roadside assistance and five years of free maintenance up to 100,000 km. These benefits strike at the heart of the EV ownership experience, especially for first-time buyers. Running low on charge before an important meeting or worrying about finding support on a long drive are precisely the kinds of concerns that can make consumers hesitate about making the switch.
Globally, VinFast has been investing heavily in the ecosystem surrounding its vehicles. Earlier this year, the company signed agreements with 29 international aftersales partners as part of its plan to expand its global service network to more than 1,100 workshops across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia during 2026. The initiative includes globally standardized technician training alongside software updates, battery inspections and technical support throughout the ownership journey.
In the UAE, VinFast works with Al Tayer Motors to provide local aftersales support while continuing to strengthen its regional service network through experienced local partners. Earlier this year, the company also signed an MoU with PlusX Electric, a DEWA-approved charging provider, to complement its charging ecosystem with portable charging pods, on-demand mobile charging and emergency roadside charging services.
In many ways, the Middle East’s EV market is still writing its next chapter. Buyers have more choices than ever before, but expectations are rising just as quickly. Developing a competitive electric SUV addresses only part of the equation; ensuring a seamless ownership experience may ultimately prove equally decisive.
Hashtag: #VinFast
https://me.vinfast.com/enThe issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Media OutReach
Alpro Launches Subsidised RM1 Ferritin Checks to Help Women Understand, Prepare and Live Well Through the Transition to Menopause
Before Menopause, Many Women Are Already Struggling in Silence
While menopause is becoming more widely discussed, the years leading up to it often receive far less attention. During perimenopause, women may experience changes in their menstrual cycle, energy levels, concentration, sleep, mood and overall well-being. These changes may begin several years before menopause and can gradually affect a woman’s daily life, work and family responsibilities.
The fatigue women are expected to live with
Women in their late thirties, forties, and early fifties often carry multiple responsibilities at home, at work, and within their communities. Persistent exhaustion or difficulty concentrating may therefore be dismissed as stress, lack of sleep, ageing or simply part of having a busy life.
Representing the Faculty of Pharmacy, UiTM, Associate Professor Dr Mahmathi Karuppannan said:
Hashtag: #Alpro
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About Alpro Group
Founded in 2002, Alpro Group’s ecosystem has grown to include Alpro Pharmacy, Apotek Alpro, Alpro スギ (Sugi) Pharmacy, Alpro Physio, Alpro Clinic, Alpro Baby, Alpro OptiSaver, Alpro Audiology, Alpro Health, and Alpro Foundation. Supported by a team of more than 1,000 healthcare professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, nutritionists, dietitians, physiotherapists, optometrist and many others, Alpro serves over 5 million families in Malaysia and Indonesia through its extensive network of 500 physical outlets.
Alpro Pharmacy is the first and only community pharmacy in the region to offer product liability insurance of MYR 1 million in Malaysia and IDR 3 billion in Indonesia, ensuring the supply of genuine medications and enhancing consumer trust.
With the vision of a healthy and vibrant world, Alpro Group aims to become the No. 1 prescription pharmacy chain in Southeast Asia.
