In 1929, Raffles College was founded on this site to provide an institution of higher education for students from Singapore and Malaya. This idea of establishing a College of Arts and Science was mooted as early as January 1902, supported by Dr Lim Boon Keng. At first, the college only awarded diplomas to its graduates, including prominent figures in Singapore like Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Dr Goh Keng Swee. During the Battle for Singapore in 1942, Raffles College was used by the British forces. After the British surrendered, the Japanese Commander, Lieutenant-General Yamashita moved his headquarters from the Ford Factory to Raffles College. After the war, the college reopened in October 1946 and together with King Edward VII College of Medicine, Raffles College was incorporated as the University of Malaya three years later. In 1980, the school was renamed the National University of Singapore (NUS) when it merged with Nanyang University and the name remained till today. When NUS moved to its current location on Kent Ridge, several other institutions called the campus home.