What lessons can developing economies take from Singapore’s success story? Dr Goh Keng Swee is recognized as Singapore’s first economic architect. Despite his passing on 14 May 2010, the visionary’s legacy lives on. Dr Goh firmly believed that non-economic factors trumped economic ones in determining a developing economy’s success. Like other developing nations, Singapore faced […]

Word has been going around that Singapore might play host to the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. But can Singapore and Southeast Asia take on other meaningful roles in this particular situation? Dr. Hyejin Kim, Lecturer from the Department of Political Science at NUS, and Associate Professor […]

The tudung, a piece of cloth worn over women’s heads, can be seen as a signifier of Malay Muslim women identity. Wearing tudung has been a way of life for Malay Muslim women. However, when Dr Suriani Suratman (Senior Lecturer, Department of Malay Studies) discovered that a few Malay female students in her class had […]

Singaporeans are largely resistant to raising the standards of Foreign Domestic Workers’ (FDWs) work conditions, especially with regards to wage, welfare and living arrangements. Are Singaporeans really lacking in empathy? Assistant Professor of Psychology in NUS, Jia Lile, together with his incoming PhD Student Mike Hou, shares with Channel News Asia the need to shift […]

Many of us complain about Singapore’s sweltering heat, but Assistant Professor Winston Chow (NUS Geography) suggests we stop wondering and focus on how to make our city cooler. Dr Chow is one of three Singaporean-based academics selected by a United Nations committee to contribute to the sixth assessment report for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate […]

How should literature be taught in Singapore’s secondary schools? Using texts authored by local writers, or English literary texts hailing from the British tradition, Prof. Philip Holden (Dept. of English Language and Literature) suggests a rethink, but cautions against reconstituting the curriculum in a purely nationalist mould. He proposes some alternatives, one of which is […]

Considering that mangroves only cover 0.5% of Singapore’s land area, do these ecosystems really matter? NUS Geography Associate Professor Daniel Friess shares with The Straits Times insightful findings after three years of research on the mangroves in Singapore. Mangroves offer both environmental and cultural benefit for Singapore, making them invaluable ecosystems worth our attention. The […]

Are your medical savings adequate for your post retirement period? In April 1984, the Singapore government introduced a compulsory Medical Savings Account (MSA) known as Medisave, with the objective of allowing each individual citizen to save a portion of their salary so that they have an adequate healthcare fund which they can use in the […]

Does having an autistic child in the family have an impact on the relationship between their siblings and their parents? World Autism Day has been held annually since 2 April 2008. Organisations supporting those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) around the world celebrate this day by hosting unique fundraising activities. However, autism not only impacts […]

Don’t be fooled by a preschooler’s rudimentary education, especially their bilingual capacity! On 1 April 2013, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) was officially launched in Singapore to promote the accessibility of the early childhood sector and enhance the affordability of pre-school programmes. ECDA raises public awareness and support for children’s development. Aligned with this […]