September 22, 2020

In December 2016, Tembusu College organized  a visit to The Tembusu, a freehold residential development situated in Tampines (https://tembusu.nus.edu.sg/event/tree-planting-ceremony-at-the-tembusu). During the tour, students will be educated on The Tembusu’s architectural innovation, which was inspired by the origin of the site as a garment factory owned by Wing Tai Asia, and also get to participate in a tree planting ceremony.

In ‘Singapore’s Collegiate Model: Combining Teaching, Research and Residency’, a chapter from The Collegiate Way (Sense Publishers, 2016), Associate Professor Gregory Clancey (NUS History) reviews the establishment of NUS’ four residential colleges, with particular focus on Tembusu College, where he became the founding Master in 2010.

NUS residential colleges have successfully integrated teaching, research, and residency. For teaching, residential colleges formed their own unique curricula which could be counted towards the students’ university degree. These courses were held in small seminar sessions with a low staff to student ratio and had to be interdisciplinary in nature. They did not have quizzes or exams, but were aimed at developing the students’ critical thinking, speaking, and writing skills. Additionally, Tembusu college held a near-weekly Master’s Tea series which invited prominent members of society into the college to discuss relevant topics with undergraduates.

To foster diversity and facilitate interaction among the student residents, residential colleges encourage the mixing and intermingling of different personalities. When selecting overseas exchange students, Tembusu college attempted to choose students from nationalities that they had not admitted before. Regular activities, interest groups, and shared dining halls promote more interaction, contributing to a vibrant student life.

A/P Clancey points out how a research element is crucial to the success of the NUS collegiate model. Tembusu College’s partnership with the Asia Research Institute (ARI) allows staff to hold joint appointments in both the college and ARI. The partnership helps to associate the college with a leading research institute and also eases the recruitment of research fellows from ARI, who teach in the college.

A/P Clancey concludes that despite the success of the NUS residential colleges, the collegiate model must continue growing to overcome any future challenges. It should continue to excel in teaching and contribute further to the university’s research profile to maintain its importance in Singapore’s pragmatic society.

Read the chapter here.