Jason Hau | jasonhau@nus.edu.sg
the ridge news
A NUSSU Publication
Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, the new President of the National University of Singapore (NUS), met members of the NUS student media for the very first time in a press conference held on Jan. 19, 2009.
Prof Tan broadly highlighted his vision regarding the future of the University and answered a number of questions from the group.
“NUS is a highly respected research institution internationally,” said Prof Tan, “we need to maintain and steepen the growth we have achieved over the past 10 years and aim to be one of the top universities in the world.”
With this statement, the first brushstrokes appeared on the NUS canvas.
As the press conference, organized by the Office of Corporate Relations, progressed, more details became apparent regarding the direction of NUS for the future.
It was clear that the upcoming University Town, or U-Town for short, was to be a key component of the new NUS.
“U-Town will help us build up a diverse learning culture, where students will learn as a group and grow together,” Prof Tan explained.
All too often in our current system, new friendships are formed at the beginning of a new semester, only to drift apart and lost completely by the end of the semester.
There is no real “class” to speak off, unlike what Singaporeans have had in previous education institutes such as junior colleges and secondary schools.
This makes it difficult to form enduring friendships in university now.
According to Prof Tan, this is a point that U-Town will address.
By having the same group of students take modules together for up to a year, there will be a greater chance to forge long-lasting bonds among both international and local students.
Prof Tan also hopes that students in U-Town will also be able to “gain global and cross-cultural energy” from their time there.
The close proximity of U-Town to research institutes such as one set up by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will allow for increased exposure of students to these researchers, which also raises the possibility of joint degrees with them.
This research environment was a point that Prof Tan felt was important towards the growth of NUS.
An issue then developed over whether strong researchers or good teachers were more desirable for an institution like NUS.
Many students have had the experience of having lecturers who were brilliant researchers and experienced academics, but rather lacking when it comes to lecturing a large group.
However, Prof Tan had a ready explanation regarding this issue.
“By building up Centres of Excellence in areas such as Quantum Technology and Cancer research, we will be able to develop and draw in top notch faculty members,” said Prof Tan.
These faculty members will then be able to act as “role models that can inspire” NUS students into achieving their goals.
“Being inspired is as important as being taught. The discussions will also be more cutting edge and up-to-date,” explained Prof Tan.
The projected date for U-Town to take in her first batch of students is 2011, two years from now.
Nonetheless, pilot tests are being carried out now among selected students across the university to test out whether the specially tailored courses are viable.
This, Prof Tan explains, will ensure that the staff will have had experience and be ready by 2011.
Prof Tan also touched on the importance of keeping and expanding the NUS Alumni network.
The newly upgraded Shaw Foundation Alumni House was cited as an avenue for alumni members to help current undergraduates create and maintain useful contacts.
By keeping alumni members “informed and engaged”, he hopes that a “positive spiral” will be created, where alumni members will create opportunities for students who will then act the same way when they graduate.
He was pleased to announce that despite these troubling times, the amount of donations given by the alumni had doubled, thus proving the strong links that NUS has been able to maintain with her former students.
Prof Tan then assured the gathered journalists that NUS has not been too adversely affected by the current economic meltdown.
With most of NUS’ funding coming direct from the government, financial assistance will “not be compromised and will receive continual support.”
A new Office of Financial Aid has also been established to help students who may be in financial need. (See next story)
The amount of financial aid available to students has been increased, with the number of bursaries offered increased and the qualifying threshold lowered.
In order to fund this aid, Prof Tan explained that NUS will conduct more fundraising exercises.
There will also be more streamlining to gain greater utilities savings.
An example of the effect of utilities savings is the raising of temperatures of air condition units to 25 degrees last semester.
According to Prof Tan, this has helped the university save a lot in costs.
With the school’s financial position strong and U-Town looking to bring a new, vibrant side to NUS, it seems like this painting will be a bright and vivid masterpiece.
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