COVER STORY
Life will sometimes knock you down. Getting through it builds resilience. Collaboration Space @ Central Library
MR YAP KWONG WENG,39
A H I V E OF ACTIVITY
of this international network of people made me realise there was so much I had yet to learn about the world. What better way to do that than to explore it myself?” In 2013, he left the military and moved to Myanmar, where he is currently based. After a couple of leadership stints at Jebsen & Jessen (an engineering, manufacturing and distribution company) and Parami Energy (an oil and gas company), he set up his own firm, Leap Group (which provides trading, distribution and construction services), in 2016. “Switching jobs is never easy, let alone doing it in a foreign terrain,” says Mr Yap, 39. “But I knew there would be setbacks along the way and I was prepared to work hard to overcome them.” Because of the ongoing SkillsFuture national movement, which encourages all Singaporeans to develop their full potential, more and more mid-career professionals are now following Mr Yap’s lead and going back to school to improve their career prospects. Hence, the NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education (SCALE) was established in January 2016. “Part-time degree programmes and certificate courses are offered for working adults who previously did not attend university, as well as degreeholders who want to upgrade their skills,” says Assoc Prof Chng of the new facility.
NUS Centre For The Arts
More than just a place to acquire academic knowledge and life skills, NUS also offers a rich campus life, including participation in sports and recreational clubs. These activities provide further opportunities for students to learn new things and shape their future. It was at the NUS Centre For the Arts (CFA) that Mr Wang publicly presented his first full-length play, The Boy Inside, as part of the NUS Arts Festival 2012. He now receives commissions from the likes of National Gallery Singapore and The Necessary Stage’s Theatre for Seniors, and recently finished writing his second full-length work. “CFA opened the door and gave me the courage to become a professional playwright; if not for them, I would just be a full-time lawyer now,” he says. “I feel lucky that I get to juggle both jobs. I can pursue my artistic passion and still enjoy financial security.”
Likewise, Mr Ong is grateful for his time at NUS, during which he was a resident of Sheares Hall and performed on stage in the annual Sheares Production events throughout his three years there. “Our hall had a lot of Literature majors who were passionate about putting on high-value productions,” he says. Having not had formal acting training, that experience was invaluable for him. Perhaps the most visible change to the main campus in recent years is the addition of University Town (UTown), an educational hub featuring residential spaces, teaching facilities and study clusters. Unlike in other halls of residence, undergraduates at UTown’s four residential colleges — the first two opened in 2011 — are anchored to either the University Scholars Programme or the UTown College Programme. This creates a highly interactive environment where students live and learn with their peers and professors, forming a strong camaraderie. UTown
Just like mature students at SCALE can readily apply what they have learnt in class to the workplace, undergraduates should gain realworld experience as part of their university education. “Industry attachments are key to that,” says Prof Kassim. At NUS, various faculties and CFG offer a wide array
GRADEFREE SCHEME
ALLOWS FRESHMEN TO DISCOUNT THEIR GRADES FOR UP TO 32 MODULAR CREDITS IN THEIR FIRST YEAR
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of internship opportunities. Engineering and Computing students admitted from the 2014 academic year onwards are required to complete an industry engagement before they graduate. The University plans to make internships a compulsory component for all faculties. First-year NUS students finding the transition from junior colleges or polytechnics to university tough can also benefit from the gradefree scheme. This initiative allows freshmen to discount their grades — as long as they pass — for up to 32 modular credits (or eight modules) in their first year, so their Cumulative Average Point (CAP) is not adversely affected. Introduced in the 2014/2015
academic year, the policy was expanded to its current form based on student feedback. “The grade-free scheme eases the curricular pressure of freshmen as they adapt to university life,” says Assoc Prof Chng. It also motivates students to explore new or unfamiliar subjects, without having to stress about their CAP.
ASSOC PROF CHNG HUANG HOON,52 “Compared to my student days in the 1980s, the NUS campus today is a lot less utilitarian. The Central Library’s ‘Perk Point’ means that it is not just a place to read and borrow books, but also a recreational space. And UTown’s residential colleges incorporate an educational component, so they are not just hostels where students can sleep and organise social activities.”
PHOTO BY EALBERT HO
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
H O W T I M E S H AV E C H A N G E D When one thinks about it, NUS has had no choice but to change with the times. “For many years, NUS was the only university in Singapore,” says Prof Kassim. “Now that there are more local universities, and as society becomes more affluent and people can afford to study abroad, we need to adjust our programmes and policies to remain competitive.” The fact that NUS alumni can succeed in a field that is unrelated to their area of study speaks well of the University’s efforts to inculcate flexibility into the student experience by providing a sound academic base, core life skills and diverse learning environments. “Our graduates dare to step out of their comfort zones and experiment with less-predictable pathways in life,” says Assoc Prof Chng. “They have the confidence to deal with changes, regardless of what their future holds.”
JAN-MAR 2017
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