A steady stream of prospective students and their families invested their Saturday into exploring their future education and career possibilities at the NUS College of Humanities and Sciences Open House 2023 (13 May 2023). They explored CHS, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) majors and minors, as well as a myriad of languages and other courses.

One parent, Audrey Balakrishnan, said her daughter found the programme of talks and workshops, as well as the availability of Department representatives at their respective booths very engaging and helpful in her daughter's decision-making process.

“This is the longest we have stayed, compared to all the other [local higher education institutions’ open houses] that we have attended,” said Audrey, who appreciated the open sharing by FASS’ faculty and students. “The session with the Dean was highly informative. The other programme-focused intimate sessions provided us with a very good idea of what she was hoping to acquire in each course. And some of the sample lectures we went to were very interesting, and I saw her busy taking notes because she was taken in by the subject being discussed.” Other visitors chimed in with similar comments and sentiments, as their major concerns had been addressed by the end of the day.

Professor Lionel Wee, Dean of FASS, presenting to prospective students and parents the diverse options available here at the faculty

The main sessions of the day were two sessions to Meet the Dean: A FASS Education Offers Depth, Diversity & Difference led by CHS Co-Dean and FASS Dean, Professor Lionel Wee, flanked by Vice-Deans Associate Professor Zhang Yang (Undergraduate Studies) and Associate Professor Nicholas Hon (External Relation and Student Life). Both sessions covered a broad spectrum of topics ranging from the choices available to students of CHS with many options for specialisation across disciplinary lines (under FASS, the Faculty of Science and other NUS schools, colleges and Faculties) and the requirement of the CHS common curriculum to the success of the Career Compass and other preparation programmes with the NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates and the larger discussion of interdisciplinarity and its necessity in the real world.

The day’s programme, included specific programme masterclasses, lectures, workshops, purely Q&A (dubbed Ask Me Anything or AMA) sessions, and demonstrations.

High Engagement in Sessions and Immersive Experiences

Other highlights included a CHS Common Curriculum, Integrated Pillars@FASS, session with Associate Professor Loy Hui Chieh (NUS Philosophy and Vice Dean at NUS College), Dr Clay Eaton (NUS Japanese Studies) and Dr Kamalini Ramdas (NUS Geography) addressed interesting issues topmost on the minds of today’s students.

From left to right: Associate Professor Loy Hui Chieh, Dr Clay Eaton and Dr Kamalini Ramdas

The sample lectures from three interdisciplinary courses from the CHS Common Curriculum – Do Play Play: The Importance of Play by Dr Alex Mitchell (NUS Communications and New Media), A Scientist Pirate? William Dampier's Explorations by Dr Donna Brunero (NUS History), Earth and Beyond by Dr Muhammad Nawaz (NUS Geography) – intrigued attendees.

Focused programme sessions, such as those for majors and minors in Anthropology, Chinese Studies and Chinese Language, Communications and New Media, Economics, English Language and Linguistics, English Literature, Geography, Japanese Studies, Malay Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Southeast Asian Studies, and Theatre and Performance Studies saw a good mix of prospective students already committed to their choice of majors and minors, and those who were undecided.

4th year undergraduate Elijah Woo sharing about English Literature to prospective students and parents

Among the highlights of the day were the immersive learning showcase for applied geography presented by Dr Gretchen Coffman (NUS Geography and the Bachelor of Environmental Studies Cross-Disciplinary Programme), and the virtual reality field trip around Singapore’s Civic District presented by Dr Clay Eaton (NUS Japanese Studies) as part of the CHS integrated module HSA1000: Asian Interconnections. (Thanks to NUS Libraries for the indispensable use of their 360imx facility, fitted with 360° panoramic projection and surround sound technology!)

Prospective students and parents going on a virtual reality field trip with Dr Clay Eaton at the NUS 360imx theatre

The Shape of the Incoming Cohort is Set

FASS and CHS look forward to seeing familiar faces returning come Orientation in July.

When they come, we will be ready to welcome them, and to support to #BuildaSharedTomorrow.