In 1972, Singapore’s first foreign minister S. Rajaratnam laid out his aspirations for the city-state – Singapore was to become a global city with the world as its ‘hinterland’, or economic space. Today, these aspirations have materialised as Singapore’s trade to GDP ratio ranks the highest in the world. Professor Tan Tai Yong (NUS Department […]

A study by Associate Professor Irene Ng from the NUS Department of Social Work and Director of the NUS Social Service Research Centre (SSR), Dr Ong Qiyan from SSR, and Associate Professor Walter Theseira from the SUSS School of Business was recently featured in The Straits Times. Titled ‘Reducing debt improves psychological functioning and changes […]

Assistant Professor Hamzah Muzaini from the NUS Department of Southeast Asian Studies was recently featured in The Straits Times for his two-year research project on Singapore’s Southern Islands titled ‘Mapping the Southern Islands’ heritage landscapes: Integrating culture and nature in heritage conservation’. Supported by the National Heritage Board (NHB), the study explores the relationship between […]

Historically, Singapore has sought to bolster its water security through various means. The government has signed water agreements with Malaysia, constructed water catchment areas such as reservoirs, and invested heavily in water treatment and desalination technologies. In line with previous efforts, the government plans to reduce water use from 143 litres to 130 litres per […]

Since April 2009, families in Singapore have been able to apply for a Family Exclusion Order (FEO) to prohibit a gambling family member from entering the local casinos if the family has experienced harm caused by their gambling exploits. Associate Professor Esther Goh (NUS Social Work), Mr Vincent Ng (AMKFSC Community Services Ltd, Singapore), and […]

Although the medium of instruction in Singapore’s education system is predominantly English, students are still required to take mother tongue subjects throughout primary to post-secondary education. However, many worry that the younger generation is losing interest and competency in their native languages. Today, as people across the world privilege the learning of English due to […]

31 March is the International Transgender Day of Visibility, which celebrates transgender people and raises awareness of discrimination faced by the transgender community worldwide. How do transgender individuals in Singapore negotiate their identity vis-à-vis the government’s stance on gay rights? In ‘Trans-Singapore: some notes towards queer Asia as method’ (Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, 2017), Professor Audrey […]

In 2005, the varsity-wide NUS Campus Green Committee (CGC) embarked on a mission to promote a cleaner and greener campus, as well as a greater appreciation of the natural environment among the NUS community. In particular, they focused on NUS’s own backyard—Kent Ridge, the rocky ridge that runs parallel to Singapore’s western seashore. Together, their […]

Dr Kelvin Seah Kah Cheng from the NUS Department of Economics discusses single-sex learning environments in The Straits Times. According to Dr Seah, understanding whether students truly learn better under single-sex or co-educational (co-ed) conditions is important in informing current debates on which learning environment benefits students. He argues that it is incorrect to assume […]

How does heritage factor into the global and local forces shaping the tourism landscape of Universal Studios Singapore (USS)? The soft opening of USS on 18 March 2010 was an important milestone for ‘Tourism 2015’, Singapore’s tourism master plan. Importing the American brand of Universal Studios into Singapore was a refreshing and seductive enterprise as […]