nus corporate brochure 2009

A Leading Global University Centred In Asia

“The most distinctive part of leading universities is their

energising intellectual and learning environment and culture.

NUS’ distinctiveness is powered by our highly talented faculty,

staff, students and alumni, and a culture that fiercely values

excellence. I believe we should leverage on our community,

culture and location, and seize the opportunity to be

a leading global university centred in Asia.”

PROFESSOR TAN CHORH CHUANPresident, National University of Singapore

VISIONTowards a Global Knowledge Enterprise

A leading global university centred in Asia,

influencing the future

MISSIONTo transform the way people think and do things

through education, research and service

A LEADING GLOBAL UNIVERSITY CENTRED IN ASIA2

NUS – A GLOBAL UNIVERSITY CENTRED IN ASIA

When Legislative Councillor Tan Jiak Kim mooted the idea of a medical school some 100 years ago, he may have envisaged it as Singapore’s flagship university one day. The modest medical school, which he and other forebears have endeavoured to build, has evolved to be the National University of Singapore (NUS) – an institution with a tradition of excellence and an esteemed reputation.

A leading English-speaking global university centred in Asia, NUS offers an experience which is distinctively global and Asian – a global approach to education and research with a focus on Asian perspectives and expertise. Its 14 faculties and schools across three campus locations in Singapore – Kent Ridge, Bukit Timah and Outram – provide a broad-based education which is rigorous and flexible. A strong global orientation is featured in various programmes such as the NUS Overseas Colleges and some 40 double degree and joint degree programmes with top universities worldwide, allowing students to gain valuable cross-cultural exposure.

NUS’ transformative education is also shaped by the growing diversity of its community. Over 30,000 students from 100 countries contribute to a stimulating learning environment with their varied social and cultural perspectives.

The research excellence of talented faculty has made NUS internationally-known in areas of engineering, life sciences and biomedicine, social sciences and natural sciences. Major research thrusts have been made recently in several fields such as quantum technology; cancer and translational medicine; interactive and digital media; and the environment and water. As an integral part of its education and research mission, the University also strives to create a supportive and innovative environment to promote creative enterprise within its community.

NUS today is globally recognised as a major player, competing with some of the world’s top universities. It was recently ranked 30th in the world and 4th in Asia in The Times Higher Education-Quacquarelli Symonds (THE-QS) World University Rankings 2008. In transforming and reinventing itself, NUS remains committed to delivering quality education and high impact research which will contribute to the betterment of society.

Kent Ridge campus

A LEADING GLOBAL UNIVERSITY CENTRED IN ASIA 3

The origins of the National University of Singapore (NUS) may be traced to 1905, when the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School, the first institution of higher learning in Singapore, was founded. The School was renamed King Edward VII Medical School in 1912 and later King Edward VII College of Medicine in 1921.

Raffles College was set up in 1928, to help realise the vision of Sir Stamford Raffles for an educated colony. In 1949, the union of King Edward VII College of Medicine and Raffles College led to the founding of University of Malaya.

Meanwhile, a Chinese-medium university called Nanyang University, built from contributions and resources pooled from the Chinese community, was established in 1955.

In 1959, two largely autonomous divisions of equal status – the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur and the University of Malaya in Singapore – were established.

The University of Singapore was established on 1 January 1962 following the decision of the Governments of Singapore and the Federation of Malaya for the two divisions of University of Malaya to become autonomous national universities in their respective countries.

On 8 August 1980, the University of Singapore and Nanyang University were merged to form one institution – the National University of Singapore.

OUR DISTINGUISHED HERITAGE

The Duke-NUS GMS will

be operating from its new

building by mid-2009.

Bukit Timah campusBukit Timah campus


NUS offers a holistic education aimed at fully developing the intellectual and personal strengths of the students. A flexible curriculum, with a broad spectrum of courses that includes cross-disciplinary initiatives, allows students to personalise their educational experience and help nurture a spirit of inquiry and enterprise.

Globally-oriented programmes such as the Student Exchange Programme, Overseas College Programme as well as various joint and double degree programmes offer students opportunities to broaden their horizon and develop cross-cultural perspectives. Complemented by an international community of faculty and students, the NUS education also prepares them for work and life in today’s globalised world.

TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION

The University offers 52 Bachelor’s degree and 153 Master’s and Doctoral degrees, and Graduate Diploma programmes, conducted by 14 faculties and schools.

• Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

• NUS Business School

• School of Computing

• Faculty of Dentistry

• School of Design and Environment

• Faculty of Engineering

• Faculty of Law

• Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine

• Faculty of Science


• University Scholars Programme

The University Scholars Programme is an honours programme designed to develop the intellectual, leadership and personal qualities of talented undergraduates.

• Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music

The Conservatory, established in collaboration with the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, prepares its students for careers in music performance and composition.

• NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering

The NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering promotes research projects and educational programmes which transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. It serves to complement and strengthen graduate research and education in the Asia-Pacific region as well as internationally.

• Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy

The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy was established to educate and train the next generation of Asian policymakers and leaders. The School offers globally recognised programmes to help aspiring leaders transform their societies and improve the lives of people in Asia and around the world.

• Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore

A strategic partnership with Duke University, the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore offers a Doctor in Medicine (M.D.) programme to train physician-scientists who will excel in clinical care, healthcare delivery and biomedical research.

About 50 per cent of our undergraduates have an overseas educational exposure, with 20 per cent spending a semester or more abroad.


NUS offers several enhancement programmes to provide students with the competitive edge and adeptness to thrive in any environment.

SPECIAL UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES

The University offers a wide range of learning opportunities beyond the traditional single degree programmes to enable students to acquire depth in an additional discipline. These specially-designed programmes such as Double Degree, Joint Degree and Concurrent Degree programmes are offered within NUS or in collaboration with some of the world’s premier universities. A new framework was also established for Double Major programmes, with some 28 second majors offered by the faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Engineering and Science.

Some examples of the international collaborations are Double Degree Programme in Engineering with French Grandes Ecoles, Joint Degree Programme in Actuarial Studies and Economics with Australian National University, Dual Law Degree Programme with New York University and Concurrent Degree Programme in Computing and Entertainment Technology with Carnegie Mellon University.

UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS PROGRAMME

The University Scholars Programme (USP) is an interdisciplinary academic programme for NUS undergraduates. It offers students the freedom to explore across disciplines, participate in overseas academic exchanges and community outreach expeditions, and interact with a group of exceptionally motivated and talented students.

Other initiatives include entrepreneurial internships and individual research with a faculty mentor.

USP students are admitted based on their academic potential, together with their passion, motivation and curiosity. They are concurrently enrolled in one of the six faculties or schools – Arts and Social Sciences, Business, Computing, Design and Environment, Engineering and Science. USP students graduate with an honours degree from their faculty or school, and a certificate that recognises them as University Scholars.

NUS OVERSEAS COLLEGES PROGRAMME

The NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programme provides entrepreneurial students with the opportunity to spend a year of their undergraduate life overseas, working and studying in a leading entrepreneurial-academic hub around the world. They will gain a global perspective as well as an edge at starting entrepreneurial ventures in the market place through this experiential education programme.

While studying at renowned partner universities, students will have a unique opportunity to work in a challenging start-up environment. They can choose Silicon Valley or Philadelphia in the United States, Shanghai or Beijing in China, Stockholm in Sweden or Bangalore in India, and study at Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, Fudan University, Tsinghua University, Swedish Royal Institute of Technology or the Indian Institute of Science respectively. NOC students are awarded a scholarship and stipend to cover their expenses incurred overseas.

OUR PREMIUM PROGRAMMES


STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

The NUS Student Exchange Programme (SEP) aims to nurture global citizens of the future. It offers students an opportunity to experience different education systems as well as ways of life and cultures. Students on SEP can choose to spend a semester or two overseas at one of the 180 partner universities in more than 30 countries.

These universities include:

• Australian National University• University of Melbourne• Imperial College, London• Lund University• Technical University of Munich• Sciences Po• Kyoto University• Peking University• University of Hong Kong• University of British Columbia• McGill University• Cornell University• Georgia Institute of Technology• University of California, Berkeley

Students can also opt for universities located in non-traditional destinations such as Mexico, South Africa, Italy, Poland, Hungary and Thailand. Financial assistance is offered by NUS and external sponsors to help students participate in SEP.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMME

The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Programme (UROP) gives students an opportunity to conduct research under the supervision of faculty members in their respective fields of study. Apart from engaging students in the processes of intellectual inquiry, problem solving and creative thinking, the programme aims to enhance intellectual exchange and collaboration between undergraduates and faculty. Students are expected to spend several hours each week on their projects during the semester, and also work full time on them during the vacation. UROP is offered in the following faculties and schools – Computing, Dentistry, Engineering, Law, Medicine and Science.


THE UNIVERSITY YEAR

The University’s academic year begins on the first Monday of August. There are two semesters, from August to December (18 weeks) and from January to May (17 weeks). In addition, there is a two-part Special Term during the academic year-end vacation period from May to July which allows students to accelerate their progress. Each part lasts about six weeks.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

NUS offers more than 60 subjects at its faculties and schools. Some of these are listed as follows:

• Applied Chemistry

• Applied Mathematics

• Architecture

• Bioengineering

• Business Administration

• Business Administration (Accountancy)

• Chemical Engineering

• Chemistry

• Chinese Language

• Chinese Studies

• Civil Engineering

• Communications and New Media


• Materials Science and Engineering

• Mathematics

• Mechanical Engineering

• Medicine

• Music Composition

• Music Performance (Orchestral instruments/piano)

• Nursing

• Pharmacy

• Philosophy

• Physics

• Political Science

• Project and Facilities Management

• Psychology

• Quantitative Finance

• Real Estate

• Social Work

• Sociology

• South Asian Studies

• Southeast Asian Studies

• Statistics

• Theatre Studies

• Computational Biology

• Computer Engineering

• Computer Science

• Dentistry

• Economics

• Electrical Engineering

• Electronic Commerce

• Engineering Science

• English Language

• English Literature

• Environmental Engineering

• European Studies

• Food Science and Technology

• Geography

• History

• Industrial Design

• Industrial and Systems Engineering

• Information Systems

• Japanese Studies

• Law

• Life Sciences

• Malay Studies

The University’s academic year begins with the Freshmen Inauguration Ceremony, where the NUS President will welcome new students and introduce them to senior members of the University Administration. The students take the University Pledge during the ceremony, signifying their status as members of the University community.


GRADUATE EDUCATION

Graduate courses such as Master’s and Doctoral degree programmes are offered in the faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Business, Computing, Dentistry, Design and Environment, Engineering, Law, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Science, NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore. The Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music offers Graduate Diploma programmes while the Institute of Systems Science, a speciality training unit of NUS, offers Master’s as well as Graduate Diploma programmes.

STUDENT POPULATION

Over 30,000 students from 100 countries around the world give a cosmopolitan feel and add diversity to the NUS campus. International students make up 20 per cent and 50 per cent of the undergraduate and graduate enrolment respectively. Graduate students make up about a quarter of the student population. More than 4,000 of this graduate student population are pursuing graduate studies by research while another 3,000 are pursuing graduate studies by coursework.

SCHOLARSHIPS

NUS offers a significant number of scholarships such as the NUS Undergraduate Scholarship, Faculty Scholarship and Award, and to international students with outstanding achievements in academic studies and co-curricular activities, the ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship. The University’s most prestigious scholarship, the Global Merit Scholarship, aims to nurture Singaporean students with the talent and passion to be future leaders and entrepreneurs. Students on this scholarship are allowed to read any course leading to a first degree (except medicine and dentistry), spend up to a year studying overseas in a partner university, or enrol in a double degree programme.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

The University is committed in ensuring that no deserving student who has been admitted is denied an education because of financial constraints. It provides financial assistance in the form of financial aid packages, which may comprise a combination of loans, bursary and work study assistance. These packages are structured to provide financing for tuition fees as well as living expenses.


CONTINUING EDUCATION

NUS offers learning opportunities in leadership, professional and management development, including personal development and enrichment through its continuing education arm, NUS Extension (NEX). The courses provided are specially tailored to meet the increasing need for skill and knowledge enhancement of NUS alumni and the community at large.

NEX leverages on the University’s pool of talent and its network of leading industry practitioners to impart up-to-date knowledge in the best mode of delivery and instruction. The courses cover a wide spectrum of areas, including entrepreneurship development and enterprise leadership.

GLOBAL TEACHING AND RESEARCH PARTNERS

An NUS education features a global dimension and the University collaborates with some of the world’s best institutions in its teaching and research programmes. Among others, these include:

• Australian National University

• Columbia University

• Duke University

• East China University of Politics and Law

• Ecole Centrale de Paris (ECP)

• Ecole Polytechnique

• Ecole Supérieure d’Electricité (Supelec)

• Fudan University

• George Washington University

• Georgia Institute of Technology

• Harvard University

• Imperial College London

• Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

• Johns Hopkins University

• Karolinska Institute

• Korea University

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• New York University

• Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases

• Peking University

• Technical University of Munich

• Tsinghua University

• University of Basel

• University of California, Berkeley

• University of California, Los Angeles

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• University of Heidelberg

• University of Melbourne

• US Naval Postgraduate School


As a research-intensive university with a strong focus on research excellence, NUS seeks to create and disseminate new knowledge and breakthroughs that will impact the socio-economic progress of the nation and the world. Research activities which help to achieve this goal include:

• Leveraging on available expertise to establish a research base that encompasses a broad range of disciplines

• Building peaks of research excellence

• Strengthening global research links

• Forging strong links between research and graduate education

Each year, over 1,700 projects are carried out, about 100 research awards garnered and 100 symposia and conferences hosted or organised. In 2008, NUS produced over 2,400 conference papers, filed 43 patents and had 11 of its patents granted.

The national research climate has undergone a major transformation in recent years. Similarly, NUS has to adjust its research focus to ensure it remains aligned with Singapore’s research objectives whilst delivering cutting-edge research that attracts global attention. It has identified emerging and key focus areas of research such as biomedical and life sciences, physical sciences and engineering, humanities and social sciences.

VIBRANT RESEARCH CULTURE


MAJOR RESEARCH FACILITIES

• Trisonic Wind Tunnel Facility

• Mixed Reality Laboratory

• Remote Sensing Satellite Ground Station

• Synchrotron Light Source

• Grid Innovation Zone (GIZ@NUS) and TeraScale Campus Grid (TCG@NUS)

• Bioengineering and Nanobioengineering Corridor

NUS also undertakes research in areas of strategic importance to Singapore and these include translational medicine, nanoscience and nanotechnology, quantum information and technology, environment and water technology, interactive and digital media, maritime research and transportation, logistics and supply chain management, and defence-related research.

RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND CENTRES

Research at NUS is conducted at 22 university-level research institutes and centres, 16 NUS-affiliated national research institutes and more than 80 faculty-level research centres and laboratories.

University-level research institutes and centres undertake research in multi-disciplinary areas that cut across more than one faculty. They secure their research funding mainly from external sources.

Research institutes and centres hosted by NUS are:

• Asia Research Institute

• Cancer Science Institute of Singapore

• Centre for Quantum Technologies

• Centre for Maritime Studies

• Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing

• East Asian Institute

• Energy Studies Institute

• Institute for Mathematical Sciences

• Institute of Real Estate Studies

• Institute of South Asian Studies

• Interactive and Digital Media Institute

• Life Sciences Institute

• Mechanobiology Research Centre of Excellence

• Middle East Institute

• NUS Environmental Research Institute

• NUS Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative

• Risk Management Institute

• Singapore Synchrotron Light Source

• Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore

• Temasek Laboratories

• The Logistics Institute-Asia Pacific

• Tropical Marine Science Institute

NUS enjoys a close association with several national research institutes under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Temasek Holdings and others. These research institutes are:

• Bioinformatics Institute

• Bioprocessing Technology Institute

• Data Storage Institute

• Genome Institute of Singapore

• Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology

• Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences

• Institute of High Performance Computing

• Institute for Infocomm Research

• Institute of Materials Research and Engineering

• Institute of Medical Biology

• Institute of Microelectronics

• Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology

• Singapore Eye Research Institute

• Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences

• Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology

• Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory


PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP

NUS Enterprise (ETP) provides an entrepreneurial and innovative dimension to the University’s core research and educational activities. It aims to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit and nurture future entrepreneurial leaders through three key thrusts: Experiential Education, Industry Engagement and Partnerships, and Entrepreneurship Support.

EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION

The NUS Overseas Colleges programme allows students to gain invaluable international experience at leading entrepreneurial hubs around the world.

Immersed in the dynamic environments of Silicon Valley, Philadelphia, Shanghai, Beijing, Stockholm or Bangalore, they embark on a working stint at start-up companies while studying at renowned partner universities.

Closer to home, other initiatives such as the innovative Local Enterprise Achiever Development (iLEAD) programme offers students first hand experience on entrepreneurship. iLEAD is an internship programme which integrates experiential learning of entrepreneurship and includes a 2-week overseas study mission where students are exposed to the international business environment and challenges of setting up a business globally.


INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS

ETP facilitates the University’s drive for industry engagement and partnerships through its Industry Liaison Office (ILO). ILO supports industry collaboration through industry-sponsored research and joint R & D projects, technology transfer and commercialisation of the University’s intellectual assets and expertise. It manages and protects the University’s intellectual property and assists in the translation of new discoveries and inventions by NUS researchers into useful products and services. This is achieved through licensing of technologies to existing companies and new start-ups.

A key partner of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), ILO promotes technology transfer in the Asia Pacific through the development of training programmes for technology transfer professionals. It has also been appointed as the Technology Transfer Office by the National Research Foundation, to manage the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Centre, the R & D set-up of MIT located in Singapore.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUPPORT

The NUS Entrepreneurship Centre (NEC) encourages entrepreneurial pursuits among the NUS community through a wide range of activities, such as the annual Start-Up@Singapore Business Plan Competition, Asian Youth Energy Summit and local and regional ICT/IDM-related events with companies such as Google and Facebook.

NEC has in place an incubator ecosystem which provides both the hard and soft infrastructure to nurture start-ups into viable companies. These include provision of physical space, mentoring, match-making with venture capitalists/angel investors, start-up funding schemes and IP advisory services.

To further establish NUS as a thought-leader in entrepreneurship development, NEC also carries out research to advance the policy and practice of technology venturing in Singapore and the region.

NUS Enterprise and the Action Community for Entrepreneurship jointly hosted the inaugural Global Entrepreneurship Week in November 2008, which saw the participation of some 11,000 people. The Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest single event which promotes innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity globally.


As a leading global university centred in Asia, NUS is outward-looking and internationally connected. Over the years, the University has strengthened its international presence through active participation in key global academic and research networks, strong partnerships with renowned institutions and sturdy ties with its Asian counterparts.

NUS is a founding member of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), a selected group of 10 of the world’s leading research universities from eight countries that share similar values, a global vision and a commitment to educating future world leaders. It is also a founding member of Universitas 21 (U21), an international network of 21 research-intensive universities in 13 countries; and ASEAN University Network (AUN), a consortium of 21 top institutions from the 10 Southeast Asian countries.

The University plays host to the Secretariat of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), a consortium of 42 leading research universities around the Pacific Rim. The APRU World Institute (AWI), a centre of advanced studies formed under the auspices of APRU in 2005, is also headquartered in NUS.

Other international networks in which the University plays an active role include:

• Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE)

• Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)

• Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL)

• Shanghai-Seoul-Singapore University Alliance (S3UA)

NUS has also established strategic alliances and industry partnerships with internationally renowned institutions. Some of these include:

• European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS)-NUS Research and Development partnership

• Global Enterprise for Micro-Mechanics and Molecular Medicine (GEM4)

• Global Public Policy Network (GPPN)

• Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

• Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Centre

• Supelec ONERA NUS DSTA Research Alliance (SONDRA)

REACHING OUT GLOBALLY


The University was corporatised on 1 April 2006. With a new model of governance, the University was given autonomy to chart its own strategic directions, build on its areas of strengths to achieve higher peaks of excellence and enhance its students’ educational experience. As a corporatised entity, the University is more adept in responding to changing market needs and excelling in the increasingly competitive higher education landscape.

The Memorandum and Articles of Association of the University are its constitutional documents which set out the University’s aims as well as regulations by which the University is governed.

UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE

The President of the Republic of Singapore is the Chancellor of the University. The Board of Trustees, the executive body responsible for setting the strategic direction of the University, plays a stewardship role in the University’s development and growth. The Senate is the academic body which sets the general direction for matters relating to academic programmes, examinations and awards as well as research. The principal executive and academic officer of the University is the President of the University, who is a member of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Senate. The University is structured along four main areas – Academic Affairs, Research and Technology, Enterprise and Administration.


NUS provides a conducive environment for the community of students, alumni, faculty and staff to engage in artistic and cultural pursuits. Campus talents leverage on the wide range of facilities and activities to help develop their creativity and showcase their artistic skills.

Performing, visual and literary arts on campus are promoted by the NUS Centre For the Arts (CFA). As the creative cradle of the University, CFA manages 23 campus arts groups – with over 2,400 members – in music, dance, theatre, film-making and production and visual arts. CFA also presents a rich calendar of arts events and festivals which includes the annual NUS Arts Festival and Dance Reflections extravaganza.

IGNITING A PASSION FOR THE ARTS

Adding to the diversity of arts and cultural activities are some 900 activities organised by 112 student groups.

NUS Museum, an institution of CFA, is a comprehensive museum for teaching and research. Focusing on Asian regional art and culture, it seeks to create an enriching experience through four different collections of over 7,000 artefacts and artworks:

• Lee Kong Chian Collection: A wide representation of Chinese materials from ancient to contemporary art

• South and Southeast Asian Collection: A range of works from Indian classical sculptures to modern pieces


The University Cultural Centre (UCC) is an innovative performing arts venue for events that reflect both the rich cultural heritage of Singapore and the best in international arts and entertainment. Apart from hosting performances by NUS students, local arts groups and international artistes, UCC is also the venue for major University events such as Commencement, University Awards, State of the University Address and the Freshmen Inauguration Ceremony.

• Ng Eng Teng Collection: A donation from Singapore’s foremost sculptor Dr Ng Eng Teng

• Straits Chinese Collection: A mix of material culture and customs of the Straits Chinese heritage, located at NUS’ Baba House, one of Singapore’s last remaining Straits Chinese townhouses. The 3rd floor gallery houses temporary exhibitions, including contemporary art exhibitions which reflect and explore Straits Chinese culture, its origins and other related issues.

Baba House


LIVING AND LEARNING ON CAMPUS

The NUS learning experience is complemented by a rich residential life and avenues to pursue sporting and social interests. Continuous efforts are being made to create a student-centric campus environment.

Close to 7,000 students have the opportunity to sample the hustle and bustle of living within campus. There are a choice of three residences – Kuok Foundation House, Prince George’s Park Residences and Ridge View Residences; and six Halls of Residence – Eusoff Hall, Kent Ridge Hall, King Edward VII Hall, Raffles Hall, Sheares Hall and Temasek Hall. Besides being conveniently located, these residences are equipped with modern amenities and facilities for rest, recreation and study.

The residences and Halls of Residence possess their own distinctive system and character. Students staying in the residences are encouraged to participate in activities organised by their preferred university clubs and societies. On the other hand, students from the Halls of Residence immerse themselves with hall life and activities ranging from arts to sports to community work. A long standing tradition of hall participation is the Rag and Flag Day, a float-building event unique to NUS which raises funds for the underprivileged.

The University has also recently injected an academic dimension by having some specialty academic courses hosted by the Halls of Residence.


Campus living is a rewarding experience as it encourages personal growth and development and helps create positive intellectual, social, learning and living experiences for the students. Students learn to adapt to independent living within a communal setting. Character is built, lasting friendships are forged, and a sense of community prevails through studying, volunteering and playing together.

A new University Town, an innovative model of living, learning and discovery integrated into residential colleges, is being built.

The first phase, which will be completed by 2011, will include two Residential Colleges, two Graduate Residences, academic and learning facilities, sport and leisure amenities as well as retail and lifestyle services.

The University Town is designed to build a global learning community with a strong sense of identity and belonging to NUS. Accommodating a cosmopolitan mix of some 6,000 students, this diversity will promote social bonds and cross-cultural communication and contribute towards enriching campus learning and living experience.

An artist’s impression of University Town


IT AND COMPUTING SERVICES

NUS has one of the most advanced information and communication infrastructures in the Asia Pacific region. The University offers a myriad of multimedia and innovative applications, fostering research, teaching, learning and administration. It continuously explores and adopts best industrial practices and advanced technologies to deploy IT as a strategic instrument.

LIBRARY SERVICES

The NUS Libraries provide a full range of library services through a group of seven libraries – six located at Kent Ridge campus and another at Bukit Timah campus. It has a rich and diverse collection of resources including web-based resources on many disciplines, allowing round-the-clock access to the NUS community via its Library Portal. To further support the teaching, learning and research needs of the community, the library has embraced web 2.0 technologies in its enhanced library catalogue LINC+ and Library Portal. A 3D interactive map of the Central Library further provides users with a new experience of retrieving information.

LEARNING RESOURCES

SUPPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

The Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL) aims to enhance the quality of teaching and learning at NUS. It facilitates critical reflections and conversations about teaching and education among the NUS community, helping to enrich the students’ learning experience. Apart from promoting research on education and pedagogical practices, CDTL provides input on educational policies and issues, such as the faculty peer review and student feedback systems, and the evaluation of teaching excellence.

The Centre for Instructional Technology (CIT), on the other hand, enhances teaching and learning through the application of digital and audio-visual technologies. This is facilitated through NUS’ Integrated Virtual Learning Environment as well as webcasts, podcasts, blogs, wikis, mind mapping software and other online services. CIT also works with faculty members to develop e-learning courseware and courses which incorporate multimedia features.

NUS has launched a virtual campus called NUS

Second Life, a first for a Singapore university.


NUS has an alumni body of 196,000 graduates in Singapore and across the globe. A network of 14 overseas chapters in strategic locations around the world and 43 local alumni groups ensure that the alumni community remains engaged in university matters and shares warm ties with its alma mater.

As the NUS alumni fraternity is an integral constituent of the University community, the Office of Alumni Relations actively seeks to address the interests of alumni, cultivate ties and engage them with the aspirations of NUS through alumni events and reunion activities such as Homecoming. It also facilitates networking among alumni, students and the NUS community, and rallies alumni support for NUS projects and programmes.

ENGAGING OUR ALUMNI

The establishment of an alumni e-community through the AlumNET web portal and AlumMAIL lifelong email accounts help alumni stay connected with the University and amongst themselves. Alumni are also kept updated on news and happenings at NUS through e-newsletters and The AlumNUS Magazine.

The newly-opened Shaw Foundation Alumni House at Kent Ridge campus provides a special “Home on Campus” for the NUS community. It is a place of global connectivity where alumni can forge new friendships and partnerships, explore opportunities for lifelong learning and networking while staying connected to their alma mater.

Shaw Foundation Alumni HouseShaw Foundation Alumni House


CONTINUITY AND TRANSFORMATION

As a university, NUS has made great headway in creating a more transformational educational experience for students. By positioning itself as a global university centred in Asia, NUS aims to introduce innovative models of global education with strong perspectives and expertise in Asian issues. Educational programmes will be tailored to nurture students to become global citizens, bridging continents and cultures.

A new NUS Global-Asia Institute, for example, is being planned. It aims to bring together relevant expertise to study large-scale research issues which are important globally as well as in Asia. Complementing the University’s existing expertise on Asian-related matters, the NUS Global-Asia Institute would enable NUS to become a university that is influential in thought-leadership on global matters and their relevance to Asia.

To invoke the thrill of learning and discovery among a wider student community, the upcoming University Town will offer a new educational experience which stretches beyond the confines of classroom learning. It will be an energising intellectual and social hub that will further intensify the rich multi-cultural interactions that characterise NUS.

University Town will also host the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), which brings top researchers from leading universities to work alongside Singapore-based collaborators. CREATE’s first centre is the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART).

By creating its own distinctiveness, the University is poised to achieve its bold aspiration of being placed in the distinguished league of the world’s great universities.

An artist’s impression of University Town An artist’s impression of University Town

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National University of Singapore21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119077Tel: (65) 6516 6666nus.edu.sg

nus corporate brochure 2009

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