News
NUS Open House 2026: From the future of learning to the pulse of student life
Prospective students turned out in force for the NUS Open House 2026, one of the University's largest events of the year, with some 21,500 visitors packing University Town on 7 March for a first-hand look at the University's distinctive academic programmes and its vibrant campus community.
Featuring an extensive line-up of programme booths, faculty talks, special classes, and campus tours, this year's event - which spotlighted NUS' suite of AI-focused programmes, cutting-edge innovations, and a sampling of student performances - also marked a new chapter for NUS Law, which hosted its entire showcase at UTown for the first time since moving to Kent Ridge in January.
Complementing the full-day showcase was a six-day virtual segment featuring online talks on global and career opportunities, as well as information sessions by NUS Business School, NUS Pharmacy, and the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music.
"I found the programme talks and student sharing sessions especially enjoyable and informative because they provided real insights into student life and the academic experience at NUS," said Suriya Selvarayar, a Ngee Ann Polytechnic student who is interested in applying to technology-related programmes.
At a panel led by NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost Professor Aaron Thean entitled "Earth, Space, Data and AI: Degrees that Launch You into the Future", visitors were introduced to NUS' expanding slate of "AI+X" programmes, designed to integrate AI across diverse disciplines to meet the demand for new careers and fields driven by the technology.
Its latest effort is the new Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Geospatial Intelligence Cross-Disciplinary Programme (GIX), the first bachelor's degree of its kind in Asia, which welcomes its first cohort in August 2026. Co-hosted by the Department of Geography at the College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) and NUS Computing, it will train students to synthesise earth, space, and environmental data - such as those collected by satellites, drones and mobile devices - with AI tools to tackle challenges in urban planning, transportation, and climate change. With courses spanning geography and computer science, and an emphasis on integrated problem-solving, the programme opens doors to sectors including smart cities and sustainable development, as well as the space and satellite industries.
Three other "AI+X" degrees were also highlighted. Admitting its second intake in August, the Bachelor of Computing in Artificial Intelligence provides students with deep technical expertise, preparing them to design solutions to real-world problems using AI systems and models, grounded in a critical understanding of AI governance.
Formerly known as Information Systems, the revamped Bachelor of Computing in Business Artificial Intelligence Systems integrates AI systems with business expertise to solve enterprise challenges and drive digital innovation.
Also welcoming its second cohort in August is the College of Design and Engineering's (CDE) Bachelor of Engineering in Robotics and Machine Intelligence programme. Combining hardware, software, and AI, it prepares students to lead the applications of AI-enabled robotics - systems capable of sophisticated decisions and learning from their environments - in markets that are fast expanding beyond manufacturing to sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and logistics.
Prof Thean emphasised that while NUS seeks to produce graduates who can capitalise on AI, the human element remains essential. "New jobs and careers are emerging, and the question is how we prepare for them," he added, noting that the ultimate goal is for graduates to be adept at using the tools while possessing the critical thinking, decision-making and creativity to excel in the AI era.
Future-ready engineering
Aside from showcasing the new robotics and machine intelligence degree, CDE delivered a comprehensive overview of the available programmes tailored to the evolving landscape - from Mechanical Engineering to the Minor in Artificial Intelligence (Design and Engineering).
The Mechanical Engineering talk explored AI's applications in a wide range of industries, from aeronautics and urban transportation to sustainable energy and future cities. Students were given an overview of their career prospects, ranging from thermal R&D engineers to process development scientists.
Another exciting new programme highlighted was the Artificial Intelligence minor. In the light of AI's position as a national priority in Singapore, prospective students got a snapshot of the industry landscape, as well as how the minor's industry-focused approach provides hands-on learning experiences in fundamental AI concepts like machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision.
Innovations in action
An interactive experience awaited visitors at the Innovation and Robotics Showcase, which featured futuristic projects by faculty and students at CDE, NUS College (NUSC), and the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) that exemplify the spirit of cutting-edge innovation at NUS.
CDE presented an array of technologies making an impact in the real world, from virtual reality simulations that help users identify safety hazards in the construction industry to robot dogs that assist in search and rescue operations in hazardous terrain.
NUSC's "Gut Guard", a gamified learning Impact Experience project that tackles misconceptions about gut health, as well as CQT's technologies developed for Singapore's National Quantum-Safe Network testbed, were also on display.
CHS, which brings together the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, traded individual programme booths for immersive thematic zones, allowing visitors to understand how diverse disciplines converge in the real world as part of a new approach that brought its interdisciplinary ethos to life.
In "Understanding People and Societies", which linked anthropology with sociology and psychology, they explored the role of these social sciences in understanding human behaviour, while "Science in our Lives" demonstrated the interconnected fields of chemical, biological and pharmaceutical science in contributing to better therapies.
Underscoring this approach was "Beyond the Textbook: Play, Policy, and Plants", a panel which gathered faculty members from three interdisciplinary courses to discuss timely issues such as the importance of play in learning, the multifaceted aspects of drug regulation, and the study of plants as a lens for examining Southeast Asia's ecology, communities and livelihoods.
Following its relocation from Bukit Timah to Kent Ridge, NUS Law offered prospective students a one-stop shop of what the faculty had to offer, with mooting sessions, thought-provoking masterclasses, and talks that highlighted its world-class faculty and illustrious alumni network.
Unlike previous years, visitors no longer needed to shuttle between both campuses to explore all the Open House activities, said Mr Justin Tan, NUS Law's Vice-Dean (Student Affairs), who gave a welcome talk to prospective students. Remarking on the vibrant setting of its newly upgraded campus, he said, "I think (visitors) will really love the fact that there are literally thousands of people living in UTown's apartment blocks, all within a few minutes' walk of our new campus. This translates to endless possibilities for a fantastic undergraduate life!"
NUSC, the University's honours college, held sessions showcasing its Global Experience (GEx) programme, which immerses students in 14 overseas sites for a month to engage deeply with their themes. In GEx New York, students examine its identity as a global city, investigating its urban development and cultural heritage through interactions with high-level diplomats, non-government organisations, and industry professionals.
NUS Nursing held special classes where users learned empathetic communication in palliative care by conversing with an AI chatbot, and showcased its new Concurrent Degree Programme, which combines the Bachelor of Science (Nursing) (Honours) with the Master of Science (Biomedical Informatics).
Meanwhile, NUS Medicine offered a hands-on look at the future of medical education through clinical simulations, virtual reality stations, and insightful talks on its curriculum.
Inside scoop on residential lifeThrough talks, booths, and guided tours, Masters, Resident Fellows, and student leaders from the Residential Colleges, Halls, and Houses offered prospective students insights on the culture of their residences, the partnership between resident fellows and residents, and the vast array of student-led initiatives that foster vibrancy, community spirit, and inclusivity.
NUS' newest hostel, the sports-themed Valour House, highlighted its key pillars of courage, strength, and resilience - characteristics not just of athletes but of students - to demonstrate its culture of supporting sporting achievements and encouraging residents to step out of their comfort zones.
Vibrancy of NUS student lifeA dynamic line-up of performances and showcases, spotlighting some of NUS' finest talents in the performing arts, was presented by the various student clubs and interest groups at the Student Village. From upbeat, catchy tunes by NUS Fingerstyle Guitar and a capella groups NUS Resonance, RHythm from Raffles Hall, and Eusoff Chorapella from Eusoff Hall to skilful renditions by Helix House's Helix Band and Sheares Hall's Sheares Band, visitors were treated to a glimpse into the vibrant student experience at NUS beyond academic pursuits.
This story first appeared in NUSnews on 13 March 2026.
Sang Nila Utama and the Court of Indra
Sang Nila Utama is widely remembered in Singapore as the legendary founder of a pre-colonial kingdom, yet the origins of his name — and what it reveals about early ideas of kingship — are far less commonly understood. In his article “Sang Nila Utama and the Court of Indra,” Assistant Professor Sureshkumar Muthukumaran (NUS History) explores the mythological and cultural layers behind Sang Nila Utama’s name, showing that it is deeply connected to South and Southeast Asian cosmology, particularly the court of the Hindu god Indra.
The article begins by explaining a surprising detail: Sang Nila Utama’s name is derived from Tilottamā, a celestial woman or nymph in Indian mythology. Tilottamā, along with her sisters Menakā and Suprabhā, belongs to a class of divine female beings known as apsarases, who inhabit Indra’s heavenly realm. In the Malay Annals, Sang Nila Utama and his brothers bear names that correspond directly to these celestial figures. This naming choice is not accidental but would have been recognised by contemporary audiences familiar with Indic literary traditions circulating in the Malay world.
Muthukumaran argues that by taking on the names of these celestial women, the princes symbolically inherit the supernatural power (kesaktian) associated with Indra’s court. Rather than being a historical name used in everyday life, “Sang Nila Utama” functions as a mythic title that signals divine legitimacy. This is reinforced by descriptions in the Malay Annals of the brothers descending from the heavens, appearing youthful and radiant, wearing gem-studded crowns, and riding white elephants — imagery closely associated with Indra himself, who is traditionally depicted riding the white elephant Airāvata.
The article situates this symbolism within a broader regional pattern. Across South and Southeast Asia, rulers were often portrayed as earthly equivalents of Indra, the celestial king and bringer of rain, fertility, and prosperity. Inscriptions and texts from Java, Sumatra, and the wider Nusantara world show kings explicitly aligning themselves with Indra through names, rituals, and imagery. Sang Nila Utama, therefore, fits into a longstanding tradition in which political authority is legitimised through divine association.
Importantly, the article also highlights the central role of powerful female figures in these narratives. Tilottamā is not a passive character but a potent mythological figure whose beauty and agency shape the outcomes of cosmic conflicts, such as the destruction of the demon brothers Sunda and Upasunda. Within the Malay Annals, this pattern continues through figures like Wan Seri Beni, the Queen of Bintan, whose actions are crucial to Sang Nila Utama’s success. The use of a celestial woman’s name to legitimise a male ruler thus reflects a cultural landscape in which female supernatural power was deeply respected.
In conclusion, Muthukumaran suggests that while Sang Nila Utama may not have existed as a historical individual with that exact name, the legend preserves important insights into 14th century Singapore’s royal culture. The blending of myth, religion, and kingship reveals how early societies understood authority, identity, and power. Rather than reading the Malay Annals simply as history, the article encourages readers to see it as a palimpsest of cultural memory — one that embeds Singapore’s origins within a wider Indic and Southeast Asian cosmological world.
Read the article in a forthcoming issue of Friends of the Museum magazine here.
New Centre for Computational Social Science and Humanities at NUS to advance interdisciplinary research on complex societal challenges
A new research centre at the National University of Singapore (NUS) is bringing together data science, AI and computational methods with deep insights from social sciences and humanities to better understand complex social phenomena and develop solutions to pressing societal challenges. By combining technological innovation with human insight, the Centre for Computational Social Science and Humanities (CSSH) aims to generate research that improves lives, strengthens institutions, preserves cultural knowledge, and shapes more inclusive and resilient societies in Singapore and beyond.
Officially launched today, CSSH is the first in Singapore to systematically bring together computational social science and the humanities within a single centre to bridge research, policy and real-world applications.
The Centre draws on expertise across disciplines including computing, new media, linguistics, geography, public policy and healthcare, amongst others. This interdisciplinary foundation enables CSSH to examine how digital technologies intersect with social systems, such as assessing the societal implications of AI-enabled platforms, using digital tools to help preserve Singapore's cultural heritage, and strengthening digital literacy in vulnerable communities.
NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology) Professor Liu Bin said, "Rapid advances in digital technologies and AI are transforming our world. But technological breakthroughs are only as valuable as the difference they make to peoples' lives. CSSH reflects NUS' commitment to ensuring that innovation translates to tangible improvements in how we live, work and build stronger communities. By integrating computational methods with social science and humanities, the Centre will help translate research insights into policies and practices that deliver real-world impact."
She added that the Centre complements Singapore's broader push for innovative, responsible harnessing of technology and AI which emphasises that progress should be not only technically advanced, but trusted, inclusive and grounded in real social needs.
Driving real-world impact through interdisciplinary innovation
CSSH is led by Co-Directors Professor Atreyi Kankanhalli from the NUS School of Computing and Professor Peter Millican from the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The Centre supports both seed funding for emerging ideas and larger projects, all designed to generate real-world impact.
Prof Kankanhalli said, "What distinguishes CSSH is our ability to study human behaviour, institutions and societies at a scale and depth that was not previously possible. By combining computational methods with rich domain expertise in the social sciences and humanities, we can uncover patterns, test ideas, and generate evidence that directly informs policy and practice. Our goal is not just to analyse social problems, but to help shape systems that work better for people."
Since beginning operations in the second half of 2024, CSSH has embarked on more than 50 interdisciplinary projects involving 105 researchers from across NUS and their external collaborators. The projects demonstrate the breadth of its work - from AI-enabled analysis of social media impacts to digital preservation of historical archives.
Amongst the major research projects currently being undertaken by CSSH is one titled "Computational Social Simulations for Aiding Policy Design", led by Prof Kankanhalli. In this five-year project, researchers from NUS and three other local universities are collaborating to develop an AI-driven social simulation platform for policymakers to help test and refine policy interventions before they are rolled out.
Using large language models (LLMs), the platform will model diverse public personas to enable policymakers to conduct swift preliminary testing of policy ideas. The simulations will complement traditional research methods by reducing the frequency of costly, time-consuming large-scale surveys and field studies during early policy development, while retaining real-world validation and community engagement at critical decision points. CSSH Deputy Director Associate Professor Dandan Qiao from the NUS School of Computing is also contributing her expertise to the project.
Another project titled "The Jawi AI Project", led by NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Associate Professor Miguel Escobar Varela, harnesses AI to enable large-scale transliteration and analysis of Jawi texts. Early Malay-language newspapers in Singapore, published between 1870 and 1970 were written in Jawi, a script few can read today.
In collaboration with the National Library Board (NLB), the team comprising local and foreign experts is transforming thousands of archived pages into searchable Malay text, significantly expanding the range of materials available at NLB's digitised archives. Assoc Prof Escobar Varela, who is also Deputy Director at CSSH, noted that the project could significantly expand research into Malay-language journalism and public debate in the region, broadening how Singapore's history is understood and taught.
Prof Millican highlighted that a core mission of CSSH is to break down the walls between disciplines. By connecting humanities and social science researchers with computing and data science experts, the Centre fosters collaborations that neither field could achieve alone. "Many of today's biggest challenges demand both deep specialist insight and serious technical firepower", he explained, "whether they involve untangling complex social issues, tackling health crises, anticipating future problems, or building the tools to address these. CSSH provides a natural home for such interdisciplinary conversations."
He added that the Centre looks forward to developing more projects addressing societal challenges to which computational insights can make the greatest difference. Focus areas include AI and emerging technologies, sustainability and environmental policy, population trends and demographic change, public health and social care, and the preservation and understanding of history and cultural heritage.
This story first appeared in NUSnews on 4 March 2026.
Recording now available: Singapore Heritage Roundtable (11 November 2025)
As part of the “Celebrating Singapore Studies: Sixty Years of Nationhood” campaign, the Singapore Research Nexus hosted a richly informative Heritage Research Roundtable that featured four National Heritage Board Heritage Research Grant recipients from FASS and brought fresh scholarly light to lesser-known chapters of Singapore’s past. The full video recording is now available here.
Programme
- Welcome Remarks and Chair: Assoc Prof Jack Meng-Tat Chia (NUS History & Assistant Dean of Research, FASS)
- Opening Remarks: Ms Melissa May Tan (Director, Heritage Policy & Research, National Heritage Board)
Presentations
- Dr Yang Yan (Research Fellow, NUS Chinese Studies)
In Their Own Ways: Identification and Documentation of Singapore’s Chinese Medicine
Explores how Singapore’s Chinese medical tradition diverged from mainland TCM, developing distinctive doctrines, diagnostics, and formulae shaped by local climates, migration patterns, and everyday clinical practice.
- Dr Clay Eaton (Lecturer, NUS Japanese Studies)
Mapping Middle Road: Prewar Japanese Community in Singapore
Reconstructs the vibrant yet largely forgotten “Little Japan” centred on Middle Road – home to merchants, photographers, dentists, schoolchildren, and karayuki-san – and its place within colonial Singapore’s cosmopolitan society.
- Dr Jinna Tay (Senior Lecturer, NUS Communications and New Media)
Re-Interpreting Fashion Narratives in Singapore: De-colonising the Modern
Draws on decades of newspaper archives (1950s-1990s) to reveal how fashion became a site where colonial ideas of modernity persisted, and how contemporary research can help deconstruct those inherited frameworks.
- Asst Prof Guo-Quan Seng (Assistant Professor, NUS History)
Small Businesses and Shops of Chinatown, 1819-1980s
A social history of the modest shophouses and enterprises that formed the backbone of Chinatown’s economy, tracing flows of textiles, rubber, remittances, and credit across regional Chinese networks.
We invite researchers alumni, heritage enthusiasts, and the wider public to watch the recording and discover how NUS FASS scholars are uncovering the diverse, lived textures of Singapore’s past.
Walking Through a Songline
Walking Through a Songline is an immersive digital experience that introduces visitors to the Seven Sisters Songline, one of the foundational stories of Australian Aboriginal culture. Songlines map the routes taken by Ancestral beings as they travelled across Australia, creating the land and its people. Known also as Dreaming, these narratives are used by Aboriginal communities to hold and transmit important geographical and moral knowledge to new generations. Jointly organised by the Department of History and the National Museum of Australia, this Indigenous-led exhibition is a unique opportunity to experience ancient knowledge in an embodied way. The exhibition runs at NUS Library's 360imx space at Central Library Level 4 from 21 November to 30 January 2026, on Monday to Friday at 1100-1400. Walking Through a Songline is suitable for all ages and open to the public, there is no admission fee. See the exhibition microsite for more details on opening hours and for directions. The Singapore premiere of Walking Through a Songline is supported by the Australian High Commission, Singapore.
Iwan-no-chyu: The origin of the Pleiades
Once upon a time, there were seven sisters and three brothers. The sisters were very lazy. They played continually from morning to evening. They did not work for their family at all. Meanwhile, the three brothers worked very hard, plowing their fields from early morning to late evening.
The brothers asked their sisters, "Please help us to plow the fields."
The sisters replied, "No, we won't. If we plow the fields, our hands will get dirty. We will never do such dirty work." One brother said, "Don't worry. You can wash your hands with river water." The sisters said, "Oh! How terrifying! We could fall into the river if we washed our hands there." Another brother said, "No problem. It's easy to grab grasses on the riverside so that you would never be swept away." The sisters replied, "Oh! The grasses could cut our hands." Finally the sisters said, "We want to become stars, because they have nothing to do".
The three brothers got so angry that they ran after their seven sisters to catch them. The seven sisters got into a boat and escaped from their brothers. The three brothers got into a boat and chased after them. However, it was hard to catch up with their sisters’ boat, because they had seven rowers. Eventually the seven sisters rowed their boat up into the starlit sky. The three brothers followed them into the sky. When the seven sisters reached to the western sky, a kamui, a god of the Ainu people appeared, in front of the seven sisters and said, "How lazy you are! Halt!" Their boat stopped immediately.
The kamui turned the seven sisters into a group of small, faint stars called “Iwan-no-chyu”, the Pleiades. As punishment for their laziness, the kamui let them rise into the sky when people finished their work in the fields and cold winter approached. The youngest sister was ashamed of herself and covered her face with hands. Therefore, one of seven stars became unable to see. The kamui praised the three brothers for their hard works, and turned them into a straight line of three bright stars, which are the three stars of Orion.
Traditional poetry of the Ainu people, Hokkaido, Japan.
Compiled by: Kouichi Kitao
Translated by: Ramzey Lundock and Norio Kaifu
Read more about the 'Stars of Asia': https://fumiyoshidaermei.wixsite.com/starsofasia This post is associated with research conducted with the Walking Through a Songline exhibition, running from 21 November to 30 January 2026.The Cowherd and the Weaving Maid (China)
The beautiful and charming Weaving Maid (Zhīnǚ 织女) was a servant in the celestial palace of the Queen Mother of the West (Xī Wángmǔ 西王母), where she spent her days weaving.