\r\nOfficially 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.<\/p>\r\nThe 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.<\/p>\r\nNUS 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.\"<\/p>\r\nShe 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.<\/p>\r\nDriving real-world impact through interdisciplinary innovation<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\r\nCSSH is led by Co-Directors Professor Atreyi Kankanhalli from the\u00a0NUS School of Computing<\/a>\u00a0and Professor Peter Millican from the\u00a0NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences<\/a>. The Centre supports both seed funding for emerging ideas and larger projects, all designed to generate real-world impact.<\/p>\r\nProf 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.\"<\/p>\r\nSince 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.<\/p>\r\nAmongst 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.<\/p>\r\nUsing 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.<\/p>\r\nAnother 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.<\/p>\r\nIn 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.<\/p>\r\nProf 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.\"<\/p>\r\nHe 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.<\/p>\r\n<\/article>\r\n\r\nThis story\u00a0first appeared in <\/em>NUSnews<\/a> on 4 March 2026.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>New Centre for Computational Social Science and Humanities at NUS to advance interdisciplinary research on complex societal challenges<\/a><\/h3>05 March 2026 <\/div>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2750\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Present at the launch of the Centre for Computational Social Science and Humanities at NUS today were (from left) CSSH Deputy Director Assoc Prof Dandan Qiao from NUS School of Computing; CSSH Co-Director Prof Atreyi Kankanhalli from NUS School of Computing; Prof Tulika Mitra, Dean of NUS School of Computing; Prof Liu Bin, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology); Prof Lionel Wee, Dean of NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; CSSH Co-Director Prof Peter Millican from NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; and Assoc Prof Miguel Escobar Varela from NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nA 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.<\/p>\r\n\r\nOfficially 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.<\/p>\r\nThe 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.<\/p>\r\nNUS 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.\"<\/p>\r\nShe 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.<\/p>\r\nDriving real-world impact through interdisciplinary innovation<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\r\nCSSH is led by Co-Directors Professor Atreyi Kankanhalli from the\u00a0NUS School of Computing<\/a>\u00a0and Professor Peter Millican from the\u00a0NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences<\/a>. The Centre supports both seed funding for emerging ideas and larger projects, all designed to generate real-world impact.<\/p>\r\nProf 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.\"<\/p>\r\nSince 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.<\/p>\r\nAmongst 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.<\/p>\r\nUsing 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.<\/p>\r\nAnother 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.<\/p>\r\nIn 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.<\/p>\r\nProf 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.\"<\/p>\r\nHe 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.<\/p>\r\n<\/article>\r\n\r\nThis story\u00a0first appeared in <\/em>NUSnews<\/a> on 4 March 2026.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>Revered Song Nian\u2019s work returns to NUS Department of Chinese Studies<\/a><\/h3>28 September 2024 <\/div>\r\n\r\n\tIN BRIEF | 10 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nA report in Lianhe Zaobao<\/em> (25 September 2024, Fukan, p3).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\nClick through image below to read this piece.<\/a><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\nThis story first appeared in <\/em>Lianhe Zaobao\u00a0and\u00a0<\/em>NUSNews<\/a>\u00a0on 25 September 2024.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div><\/div>Ideas Festival 2024: Shining a Spotlight on the Importance of Social Science and Humanities Research on Society<\/a><\/h3>04 April 2024 <\/div>\r\nIN BRIEF | 5 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nLaunched on 20 March 2024 with Minister for Education Mr Chan Chun Sing as the Guest of Honour, this festival was organised by the Autonomous Universities (AUs) in Singapore and is supported by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC). It features 13 events over a month-long period.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1734\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] SSRC Advisor and NUS University Professor Wang Gungwu highlighted the importance of SSH research in enriching our understanding of social issues. \/ Photo credit: Ray Photography<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nHow does research in the social sciences and humanities impact our world? This is a question the inaugural \"Ideas Festival 2024 - Insights from the Humanities and Social Sciences\" seeks to address as it delves into the intricate challenges confronting Singapore and the region amid a period of disruptive change by drawing on the works of the local Social Science and Humanities (SSH) research community.<\/p>\r\nLaunched on 20 March 2024 with Minister for Education Mr Chan Chun Sing as the Guest of Honour, this festival was organised by the Autonomous Universities (AUs) in Singapore and is supported by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC). It features 13 events over a month-long period.<\/p>\r\nAt the launch event, SSRC Advisor Professor Wang Gungwu who is also NUS University Professor, highlighted the importance of SSH research in enriching our understanding of social issues, which are inherently complex and dynamic, shaped by historical developments and disrupted by the latest technological advances.<\/p>\r\nAgainst this backdrop, he urged more work to be done to understand Singapore's multicultural society and the complex environment in which it exists. One approach is to encourage researchers to consider having Co-Principal Investigators from a mix of academic disciplines in the humanities, social science as well as the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. \"What I envisage is that research proposers are open-minded to different perspectives that could lead them to something fruitful they did not expect to find. A variety of insights coming from scholars with different backgrounds makes that possible.\"<\/p>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1733\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Guest of Honour, Minister for Education, Mr Chan Chun Sing, delivered a speech at the Ideas Festival. \/ Photo credit: Ray Photography<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nEchoing the importance of SSH research, particularly in a STEM-focused world, Professor Elaine Ho, Chair of the Ideas Festival Organising Committee and Vice Dean of Research at the\u00a0NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences<\/a>, said at the sidelines, \"Social science and humanities research is very much part of our everyday lives,\" citing examples such as mental health and children's health outcomes, which are concerned with the behavioural dynamics within society. \"Social science and humanities researchers have these kinds of insights that can help us to improve the way that we try to better society,\" she noted. \"There has been much more attention given to STEM research subjects in the Singaporean landscape\u2026but where the opportunity lies for both the STEM subjects as well as social science and humanities is by coming together.\"<\/p>\r\nThe festival features more than 50 researchers across a spectrum of expertise in SSH sharing key insights on a range of topics. These include the impact of digital acceleration and disruptive technologies like the metaverse and artificial intelligence (AI) on childhood, an inclusive future of work, new forms of social interactions, as well as fake news and misinformation in the media. It will also touch on strengthening support for mental health and well-being through a whole-of-society approach, such as leveraging family and social circles to support the well-being of individuals across various stages of their lives.<\/p>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1732\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Social science and humanities researchers from the six AUs in Singapore listening on to the speeches delivered at the launch. \/ Photo credit: Ray Photography<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nAcknowledging how the scholarship of social science and humanities in Singapore has made significant progress, Chairman of the SSRC, Mr Peter Ho, said, \"You just need to look at the span of interesting projects in the universities and research institutes to get a sense. Public sector agencies have also taken greater interest, indicating the increasing traction of the social sciences and humanities among policy researchers (and) policymakers. By bringing together researchers across the universities and research institutions, the Ideas Festival clearly signals that the research ecosystem is vibrant and thriving.\"<\/p>\r\nNUS is the host of two events at the festival. The first, \"Gazing into the Metaverse<\/a>\", which was held on 26 March 2024 looked at how the metaverse - a world of avatars, digital twins and digital currencies - will be built, how it will be curated, who will use it, and how it will transform our everyday lives. The roundtable examined the key questions, implications and themes that researchers in the social sciences and humanities are now asking about this next stage in our digital journey, particularly in Asia.<\/p>\r\nThe other, \"Foundations of Home-Based Work<\/a>\", will take place on 12 April 2024 and will explore the spatial, social and technological dimensions of home-based work (HBW) in Singapore. This is done through looking at considerations such as the policy framework surrounding this type of work and exploring the following questions: who is involved in it; what kind of living do they make; in which housing types and neighbourhoods is this work occurring; and the pathways for accommodating HBW in our lives through design and policy recommendations.<\/p>\r\nOn 17 April 2024, the University will also co-organise \"Singapura Before Raffles: Early Modern Asia in the Global Renaissance<\/a>\", which will discuss how early modern Singapore and Asia played important roles in shaping global ideas about maritime trade, global commerce, international law, political governance, and literary and artistic advancement. It will draw on new and exciting interdisciplinary research from teachers and scholars across Singapore's universities and the wider Asia region.<\/p>\r\nThe Ideas Festival 2024 runs till 19 April 2024. More information can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThis story by the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences first appeared in NUSNews<\/a> on 3 April 2024.<\/i><\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>NUS Chinese Studies Celebrates 70 Years of Education and Research<\/a><\/h3>28 September 2023 <\/div>\r\nIN BRIEF | 7 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe NUS Department of Chinese Studies<\/a>' deep roots trace back to 1953 when the former University of Singapore\u2019s Department of Chinese Studies was founded. Since then, it has grown to be recognised as one of the leading institutions in the field of Chinese Studies and Chinese Language globally, as well as a major centre in the Southeast Asian region..<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1544\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Joining Head of Department Prof Ong Chang Woei (third from right) on stage for the cake-cutting ceremony at the celebrations was NUS President Prof Tan Eng Chye (fourth from right). The other participants included former and current faculty, staff and students from NUS Chinese Studies (from left): Prof Kenneth Dean, Prof Yung Sai-shing, Ms Teo Jia Yu, Mdm Lillian Low, Prof Wong Yoon Wah, Assoc Prof Wong Sin Kiong, and Ms Ooi Huey-en.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nA dinner to mark the NUS Department of Chinese Studies\u2019 70th anniversary saw some 260 university and faculty members, cherished alumni, as well as prominent members of the Singapore Chinese cultural, education and media landscape coming together to celebrate the Department\u2019s past, present and future on 23 September 2023.<\/p>\r\nThe Department\u2019s deep roots trace back to 1953 when the former University of Singapore\u2019s Department of Chinese Studies was founded. Since then, it has grown to be recognised as one of the leading institutions in the field of Chinese Studies and Chinese Language globally, as well as a major centre in the Southeast Asian region.<\/p>\r\nProfessor Ong Chang Woei, Head of Department of Chinese Studies and an alumnus, said \u201cThe Department\u2019s evolution is intrinsically intertwined with Singapore\u2019s history, and it has drawn from this rich heritage to shape its vision and developmental trajectory across the decades. We firmly believe that as an integral part of Singapore's Chinese language education ecosystem, the Department of Chinese Studies at NUS must continue to play a role in leading society towards the future at the academic and intellectual levels.\u201d<\/p>\r\nToday, the Department\u2019s academic rigour combines the strengths of classical and modern Chinese Studies to promote research and study in such key areas as Chinese linguistics, Chinese literature, Chinese history, Chinese philosophy, and Chinese-English translation.<\/p>\r\nDrawing on examples of how the Department has expanded over the years, Prof Ong said it now offers elective bilingual and English courses, as well as interdisciplinary courses such as those combining economics and history, and works closely with various institutions and organisations to design courses that allow students to gain a deeper understanding of the local Chinese community.<\/p>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1543\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] A special project entitled \u201cA Rejuvenating Department: Memories, History, Direction \u2013 The 70th Anniversary of the Department of Chinese Studies at NUS\u201d was announced at the dinner.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nThe dinner also saw the announcement of a special project entitled \u201cA Rejuvenating Department: Memories, History, Direction \u2013 The 70th Anniversary of the Department of Chinese Studies at NUS\u201d that charts the Department\u2019s key developments and milestones. Historical photos, news clippings and documents, as well as close to 70 hours of oral interviews with 14 former department heads, teaching faculty and alumni, were meticulously compiled and condensed into a new publication and website<\/a> to give the public impressive insights into the Department\u2019s 70-year history.<\/p>\r\nAmong those who participated in the oral interviews was Mdm Tan Chin Hwa, who is an alumna and former Head of Department of Mother Tongue at Hwa Chong Institution as well as former Chinese Language Curriculum Specialist at MOE. The project, she observed, is a significant endeavour, as it \u201coffers a panoramic picture of an important chapter in our history and can be viewed as a valuable resource to shed light on the impact and development of Chinese language education in Singapore\u2019s history.\u201d<\/p>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1542\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] A dinner guest reading the publication that charts the Department throughout its 70-year history, including key developments and milestones pre- and post-merger.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nGuests were also treated to a trip down memory lane with a video montage of the Department\u2019s key milestones and events. Reminiscing about her time in school, Mdm Tan shared, \u201cI remember enjoying Chinese Studies sessions in a cosy classroom filled with lots of memorable and joyful moments. Featuring an array of subjects ranging from philosophy, and history, to classical and modern Chinese language and literature, these knowledgeable sessions painted an impressive picture of Chinese culture and civilisation.\u201d<\/p>\r\nOn what the future holds for the Department, Mr Shaun Choh, alumnus and Curator at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, said, \u201cThroughout my time working in the Chinese arts and culture industry, I have observed that many of the most astute thinkers and influential movers hail from the NUS Department of Chinese Studies. Their unique blend of global perspectives, married with deep-rooted Chinese sensibilities, has enabled them to shine in diverse arenas. My hope is for the Department to persist in moulding individuals who not only make waves in Singapore but also resonate globally.\u201d<\/p>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1541\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] The event saw some 260 university and faculty members, alumni, and members of the Singapore Chinese cultural, education and media landscape coming together to celebrate the Department\u2019s anniversary.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nThe anniversary dinner underscored a remarkable year for the Department during which a series of thought-provoking conferences were held to mark the anniversary. These included \u201cLooking Ahead: New Technology, New Society, and Chinese Language Education in Singapore\u201d<\/a> in March as well as five impactful seminars between March and August by distinguished professors that covered interesting areas such as Chinese linguistics and translation studies, classical Chinese literature, and Chinese social and intellectual history.<\/p>\r\nConcluding the series at the end of the year is the international conference \u201cPopular Nanyang: Rethinking Chinese Cultures in Post-war Singapore and Malaya\/Malaysia\u201d<\/a> in November, and a symposium on developing Chinese Studies from a Southeast Asian perspective in December<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<\/article>\r\nThis story first appeared in <\/i><\/em>NUSnews<\/a> on 28 September 2023.<\/i><\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>NUS Department of Chinese Studies marks 70th anniversary with year-long slate of events<\/a><\/h3>16 March 2023 <\/div>\r\n<\/p>\r\nProf Ong Chang Woei, Head of the NUS Department of Chinese Studies, delivering the opening address at a symposium held to mark the Department\u2019s 70th anniversary. (Photo credit: SCCC)<\/em><\/p>\r\nThere is an old Chinese saying,\u00a0ren sheng qi shi gu lai xi<\/i>, which means it is a rare and precious thing for a person to live till the age of 70. The same applies to institutions. The\u00a0NUS Department of Chinese Studies<\/a>, which turns 70 this year, is marking the momentous milestone with a year-long series of events.<\/p>\r\nOne such event was a\u00a0symposium<\/a>\u00a0on the future of Chinese education in Singapore, and how it might respond to technology and other trends. Social media, talking robots and Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT were some topics that loomed large at the event attended by 337 people at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) on 4 March.<\/p>\r\n\u201cIn the past, discussions about Chinese education in Singapore have largely revolved around Singapore becoming a predominantly English-speaking society,\u201d said NUS Chinese Studies\u2019 Department Head Professor Ong Chang Woei.<\/p>\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s important to discuss this, of course, but today we want to see if any fresh perspectives and thought-provoking insights might emerge.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<\/p>\r\nPanellists speaking at the \u201cLooking Ahead: New Technology, New Society, and Chinese Language Education in Singapore\u201d Symposium. (Photo credit: SCCC)<\/em><\/p>\r\nOne of the main themes of the discussions was the view that the online world, bolstered by AI, could help people improve their language skills. \u201c(Many) parents don\u2019t speak to their children in their mother tongue, so we'll have to depend on the robot to do it,\u201d Madam Heng Boey Hong, Director of Mother Tongue Languages at the Ministry of Education (MOE), noted wryly. MOE is working with research institute AI Singapore to create robots that can speak to pupils in Mandarin, Malay or Tamil, said Mdm Heng, one of a dozen academics, educators and members of the media who spoke at the four-hour symposium.<\/p>\r\nBesides AI, another trend is Singapore\u2019s changing demographics, given that new immigrants form an increasingly large group of the country\u2019s Mandarin speakers and the impact this would have on Chinese education, said Prof Ong, speaking at the Chinese-language event organised by his department, the SCCC, Wan Boo Sow Research Centre for Chinese Culture, and The Society of Chinese Education Singapore. \u201cIn these circumstances, what should Chinese education be like?\u201d he wondered.<\/p>\r\nBut even as we move towards using technology to aid teaching, the role of humans in the instruction should not be left aside. \u201cAs robots become more like humans, we shouldn\u2019t be teaching humans to be like robots,\u201d said Dr Kang Ger-Wen, who chairs Ngee Ann Polytechnic\u2019s Chinese Studies course. Equally vital is teaching students to be nimble, to enable them to bridge different domains, for example.<\/p>\r\nWhile there were no simple solutions to many of the questions posed at the symposium,\u00a0<\/strong>the stimulating discussions served as a promising starting point. \u201cHopefully at the Department's 140th anniversary, we would have answers to these issues,\u201d said Prof Ong.<\/p>\r\n An audience member poses questions to the panellists on stage. (Photo credit: SCCC) <\/em>A rich history<\/strong><\/p>\r\nThe symposium is part of a series of celebrations this year that will mark the Department\u2019s 70th anniversary.<\/p>\r\nThe roots of NUS\u2019 Department of Chinese Studies can be traced to two institutions. One is the former University of Singapore\u2019s department of Chinese studies, which was founded in 1953. The other is the department of Chinese language and literature at the former Nanyang University, established in 1955. When the two universities merged in 1980 to form NUS, their Chinese departments, too, became one.<\/p>\r\nToday, the Department at the\u00a0Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences<\/a>\u00a0runs more than 50 courses a year for BA and BA Honours students, in areas including Chinese linguistics, Chinese literature, Chinese history, Chinese philosophy, and translation. It also offers PhD and MA programmes, as well as Continuing Education and Training (CET) certificate courses.<\/p>\r\nIts anniversary celebrations kicked off in February with a lecture by Oxford Professor and National University of Singapore Society (NUSS) Visiting Professor Tan Tian Yuan on the \u201cliterary worlds\u201d of the Kangxi Emperor\u2019s tours to southern China. Over the next few months, there will be dialogues on topics such as translation, the classics, and Chinese intellectual history.<\/p>\r\nOther highlights include a dinner banquet in September; a conference in November titled Popular Nanyang: Rethinking Chinese Cultures in Post-war Singapore and Malaya\/Malaysia; and a symposium on developing Chinese Studies from a Southeast Asian perspective in December.<\/p>\r\nMore details of the Department\u2019s 70th anniversary activities are available\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\nThis story\u00a0<\/i>first appeared on NUSnews<\/a> on 16 March 2023.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>The Half-life of Knowledge<\/a><\/h3>05 November 2022 <\/div>\r\n\u00a0IN BRIEF | 10 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nThere is now an indisputable requisite to equip graduates with interdisciplinary knowledge and skillsets. We need both the agile lenses of interdisciplinarity as well as the deep-cutting laser of deep domain expertise. The former trains us to aim and focus the laser, while the latter allows us to cut to the heart of a problem.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1296\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] NUS strongly believes in providing interdisciplinary pathways for its students.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n| By Professor Tan Eng Chye |<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\u201cTeach a person to fish, and you may feed them for three-and-a-half years\u201d may sound less inspiring than \u201cTeach a person to fish, and you feed them for a lifetime\u201d, but the former more accurately reflects the current realities of tertiary education.<\/p>\r\nBreaking news travels at warp speed, accelerated by social media and instant messaging. In a matter of minutes, news can reach the four corners of the world. Such interconnectedness highlights the leaps made in information technology over the years while underscoring a persistent and inexorable phenomenon \u2013 the reduction of\u00a0the half-life of knowledge.<\/p>\r\nThe half-life of knowledge, coined by Fritz Machlup in 1962, refers to the amount of time elapsed before half of the knowledge in a particular field is superseded or becomes obsolete. Given the speed with which knowledge develops and is shared, it is perhaps not surprising that this value is ever decreasing in many fields.<\/p>\r\nThis phenomenon raises fundamental questions about our university degree programmes. How should a fresh graduate, filled with aspirations to change the world, deal with the harsh reality that a significant portion of their undergraduate training may be rendered irrelevant by the simple passage of time?<\/p>\r\nDistilling a degree programme is one possible, albeit drastic approach. We can consider equipping students only with evergreen core domain concepts. This training should take less time than our current degree programmes. As and when students require specific new knowledge, or need to upgrade existing knowledge, they can take short courses to bridge knowledge gaps and meet their professional needs. This type of \u201cjust in time\u201d learning, also known as\u00a0micro-credentialing,\u00a0<\/strong><\/i>helps to circumvent the shortened half-life by injecting cutting-edge knowledge at just the right time.<\/p>\r\nAnother less disruptive approach is\u00a0<\/strong>revitalisation. We can maintain the current degree programme structure, but provide avenues for graduates to return to university in the future. Such short stints of study can follow existing models for bite-sized, self-contained courses, or semester-long study periods undertaken with the support of employers.<\/p>\r\nOne certainty is that university study will cease to be just one stage of life. Instead, \u201cuniversity studies\u201d will become the de facto way of studying, with a person continually refreshing and renewing their knowledge in tandem with or in anticipation of developments in industry, society and the world.<\/p>\r\nIn anticipation of this, we created the\u00a0NUS Lifelong Learners Programme<\/a>\u00a0(or NUS L3<\/sup>), which\u00a0\u00a0promises a\u00a020-year\u00a0<\/strong><\/i>period\u00a0of student enrolment, from the point of undergraduate or postgraduate admission. In other words, a graduate of NUS can choose to come back to campus to take courses for at least 20 years from the day of matriculation.<\/p>\r\nInterdisciplinarity<\/strong>Beyond the way knowledge is acquired, we are also grappling with working in an increasingly VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) world. In such a context, can we continue to hold a siloed view of domain disciplines? In training law students, for example, we would be remiss not to show them basic programming, which can allow them to create customised commands to quickly and easily trawl through databases, with millions of legal records, to identify precedents.<\/p>\r\nDeep domain expertise is like a laser \u2013 a focused beam of knowledge that can cut through dense problems. However, real-world issues are increasingly multifaceted and ill-defined, often lacking a clear vulnerable spot at which a laser beam can be aimed.<\/p>\r\nAs a mental experiment, consider the challenge of introducing autonomous electric vehicles to a city. This proposition involves urban design, city planning, the law, and engineering for accessibility. We can form a multidisciplinary team of experts, where each member is a domain expert, to tackle the issue. However, in all likelihood, we will encounter misalignment between domains, simply owing to differences in problem-solving methodology, thinking models or even nomenclature.<\/p>\r\nIf we liken domain training to equipping students with specific lenses through which they can see and focus on information to solve a problem, then interdisciplinarity suggests that we should train students to operate across more than one domain. By educating them in core ideas from multiple domains and providing opportunities to apply their knowledge in authentic settings, students with interdisciplinary training can switch domain lenses as needed, solving problems using novel and unorthodox approaches that transcend domains.<\/p>\r\nTo be clear, we are not advocating for dismantling deep domain training. Rather, we recognise that there is now an indisputable requisite to equip graduates with interdisciplinary knowledge and skillsets. We need both the agile lenses of interdisciplinarity as well as the deep-cutting laser of deep domain expertise. The former trains us to aim and focus the laser, while the latter allows us to cut to the heart of a problem.<\/p>\r\nNUS strongly believes in providing interdisciplinary pathways\u00a0for our students. In 2020, we created the\u00a0College of Humanities and Sciences<\/a>\u00a0(CHS) to provide an enhanced interdisciplinary undergraduate experience for students of the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. CHS undergraduates can choose between deep domain training or the flexibility of interdisciplinary training of varying breadth and depth in modules offered by both faculties. Continuing our efforts to pave more interdisciplinary pathways for students, in 2021, we merged the School of Design and Environment and the Faculty of Engineering to form the\u00a0College of Design and Engineering<\/a>. More recently, NUS launched\u00a0NUS College<\/a>, Singapore\u2019s first honours college offering pathways to more than 50 majors across a half dozen degree programmes. The aim of NUS College, as explained by its inaugural dean, Professor Simon Chesterman, \u201c[is to offer] broad, interdisciplinary competencies that equip students for life, along with the opportunity to dive deep into areas in which you are passionate.\u201d<\/p>\r\nTo quote Charles Dickens, \u201cIt was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.\u201d Indeed,\u00a0our experiences with the global pandemic and its effects on education over the past two years have given us the rare opportunity to engage in deep reflection and introspection. Witnessing the breakdown of resistance to adopting and adapting technology for teaching and learning during this time, we should be emboldened to re-examine and revolutionise some of our established, and perhaps outmoded, notions of how to offer higher education.<\/p>\r\nAbout the Author<\/strong><\/p>\r\nProfessor Tan Eng Chye is President of the National University of Singapore. A passionate academic and educator, Prof Tan is a member of the World Economic Forum\u2019s Global University Leaders\u2019 Forum, as well as Singapore\u2019s Future Economy Council, which is tasked with driving the growth and transformation of the country\u2019s future economy.<\/i><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\nThis article was first published in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 supplement and<\/i>\u00a0first appeared in <\/i>NUSNews<\/a> on<\/i> 4 November 2022.<\/i><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>Call for Nominations | FASS Inspiring Mentor Award 2022<\/a><\/h3>06 October 2022 <\/div>\r\nIN BRIEF | 3 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nWe invite NUS FASS members of staff to nominate the colleagues who have served as their truly inspiring mentors - who have gone beyond the call of duty to positively impact their work and life - for FIMA 2022 honours.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nClick through image below (or just write to fassmentoraward@nus.edu.sg<\/a>) to file your nomination.<\/p>\r\n<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>NUS FASS Faculty and Alumni Bag Top Literary Awards<\/a><\/h3>02 September 2022 <\/div>\r\n\u00a0IN BRIEF | 3 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nProfessor Wang Gungwu (NUS History<\/a>) and two FASS alumni - Yeow Kai Chai (NUS English, Linguistics and Theatre Studies<\/a>) and Wong Koi Tet (NUS Chinese Studies<\/a>) - won in three separate categories, and Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo (NUS English, Linguistics and Theatre Studies<\/a>) was presented with the SBC Achievement Award at the 2022 Singapore Literature Prize ceremony held on 25 Aug 2022 at the Victoria Theatre..<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n <\/p>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1194\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Award recipients of the 2022 Singapore Literature Prize include (from left) Professor Wang Gungwu, Mr Yeow Kai Chai, Mr Wong Koi Tet and Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nProfessor Wang Gungwu and two NUS\u00a0Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences<\/a>\u00a0(FASS) alumni, Yeow Kai Chai and Wong Koi Tet, won in three separate categories at the 2022 Singapore Literature Prize ceremony held on 25 Aug 2022 at the Victoria Theatre. At the same ceremony, Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo was presented with the SBC Achievement\u00a0Award\u00a0by Guest-of-Honour Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law,\u00a0in recognition of his significant contributions to the literary arts scene in Singapore.<\/p>\r\nThe Singapore Literature Prize was established in 1992 by the Singapore Book Council and is Singapore's oldest ongoing literary award in all four official languages. This year's Singapore Literature Prize saw 12 winners picked from almost 200 submissions, with 35 local and foreign judges giving recognition and affirmation to the best literary works by Singapore writers.<\/p>\r\nPassing Stories on to the Next Generation<\/strong><\/i>University Professor at NUS FASS, Prof Wang, a renowned historian and leading public intellectual, was named this year's Singapore Literature Prize winner for Creative Nonfiction in English. He made history by becoming one of the two oldest winners of the Singapore Literature Prize at 91 years old, along with literary pioneer Suratman Markasan, also 91, who won for Creative Nonfiction in Malay.<\/p>\r\nProf Wang co-authored his winning book,\u00a0Home is Where We Are<\/i><\/a>, with his late wife Margaret Wang, journaling his university education in Singapore and the UK, and the early years of his career as an academic, capturing the excitement, ambition and choices of a generation that saw it their responsibility to build the new nations of Southeast Asia.<\/p>\r\nHome is Where We Are<\/i>\u00a0is the second part of his memoirs after\u00a0Home is Not Here<\/i>, an account of his younger days which he spent in three different countries before entering university.<\/p>\r\nProf Wang said Margaret and him had hoped that their book will inspire other parents and families to do likewise and write their stories to pass on history, heritage and valuable lessons to the next generations.<\/p>\r\nSharing his thoughts on the prize, Prof Wang said, \"My family and I are honoured with this recognition. The inspiration for\u00a0Home is Where We Are<\/i>\u00a0came from my late wife, Margaret. She regretted not knowing more about her mother and, 20 years ago, wrote her story to our children. She wrote so well and the children liked her story so much that they turned to me for my story. I eventually did.\"<\/p>\r\n\"Years later, I was persuaded to publish this story of my childhood as\u00a0Home is Not Here<\/i>.\u00a0My Singapore friends asked why I stopped before my joining the University of Malaya and before meeting Margaret. That led me to frame my book around what Margaret had earlier written,\" he recalled. \"With her agreement and my family's approval, the second book answered the question, 'Where then is home?' with Margaret's answer, 'Home is where we are', and that became the title of the second book.\"<\/p>\r\nProf Wang was\u00a0conferred the NUS Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters<\/a>\u00a0for his dedication to Sinology, remarkable intellect, trailblazing vision, and other public contributions in July this year.<\/p>\r\nTwo Alumni Bag Top Poetry Prizes<\/strong><\/i>Mr Yeow, an NUS FASS alumnus and renowned poet, fiction writer and editor, won the Singapore Literature Prize for Poetry in English. His poetry collection titled\u00a0One to the Dark Tower Comes<\/a>, published in 2020, is a personal and collective quest to uncover answers to life, death, grief, happiness, and the violence wrought on one another.<\/p>\r\nA former journalist, and director of the\u00a0Singapore Writers Festival from 2015 to 2018, Mr Yeow graduated with a Master of Arts from NUS FASS in 1999. This is his first Singapore Literature Prize win.<\/p>\r\nReflecting on his win, Mr Yeow said, \"I'm heartened by the recognition for my third book\u00a0One to the Dark Tower Comes<\/i>. Much of my own poetics has its foundation in my undergraduate years taking\u00a0English Language and Literature<\/a>\u00a0at FASS, getting inspired by actual poets, including seniors like Boey Kim Cheng and academics such as professors Edwin Thumboo, Arthur Yap, Lee Tzu Pheng and Leong Liew Geok.\"<\/p>\r\n\"A particular course on Contemporary American Literature by Dr Gilbert Adair was especially life-changing and opened up my eyes to more avant-garde approaches, and so I gave heartfelt thanks to him, and all at the department who have enriched my creative journey,\" he added.<\/p>\r\nFellow NUS FASS alumnus, Wong Koi Tet, took home his third Singapore Literature Prize, this year for for Creative Nonfiction in Chinese for his book,\u00a0Little Things<\/i><\/a>. The book is a collection of 50 non-fiction pieces of prose published in his personal column in\u00a0local Chinese daily,\u00a0Lianhe Zaobao<\/i>,\u00a0charting what he cites as his personal journey through the years.<\/p>\r\nDescribing his book, Mr Wong said, \"Little Things<\/i>\u00a0originated as a column I wrote for the local Chinese newspaper for a period of two years. It is both literally and symbolically about the small objects that are familiar and common to all of us. Though this book won the Singapore Literary Prize, life is not about winning, but as in the title of my book, those little things that we cherish and hold dear to our hearts. Books are one of the little things that matter the most.\"<\/p>\r\nMr Wong had a double win at the 2020 Singapore Literature Prize in both the Fiction in Chinese and Creative Nonfiction in Chinese categories.<\/p>\r\nA former journalist as well, Wong graduated with a Bachelor's degree with honours in\u00a0Chinese Studies<\/a>\u00a0from NUS FASS in 1998.<\/p>\r\nA Lifetime of Contribution to Singapore's Literature and Arts Scene<\/strong><\/i>Prof Thumboo was NUS' longest serving Dean of FASS from 1980 to 1991 and was the first Chairman and Director of the University's\u00a0Centre for the Arts<\/a>\u00a0from 1993 to 2005. He is currently Emeritus Professor, a position he has held since retiring from full-time teaching in September 1997. Prof Thumboo was awarded the Distinguished Arts and Social Sciences Alumnus Award by the faculty in 2016 in recognition of his outstanding contributions as a poet, scholar, academic leader and champion of Singapore literature.<\/p>\r\nThe SBC Achievement Award was bestowed on Prof Thumboo at the 2022 Singapore Literature Prize ceremony to mark his achievements not only as a writer but also as an educator and mentor, and his tremendous efforts to help to shape the literary arts scene in Singapore.<\/p>\r\nProf Thumboo has been hailed the unofficial poet laureate of Singapore and was the first recipient of the Cultural Medallion for Literature in 1979, widely recognised as the pinnacle arts award for dance, theatre, literature, music, photography, art and film in Singapore.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThis story first appeared in <\/i>NUSNews<\/a> on 2 September 2022.<\/i><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>Commencement 2022: Kickstarting a Season of Celebration and Achievement<\/a><\/h3>07 July 2022 <\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0IN BRIEF | 10 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/strong><\/strong>NUS celebrates the milestone accomplishments of 13,975 graduates through 28 in-person ceremonies<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\t[caption id=\"attachment_1161\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Commencement celebrates the resilience and tenacity of the Class of 2022, a cohort which has spent much of its NUS education in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/strong>[\/caption]<\/p>\r\nA long-awaited season of celebration is officially under way, with the inaugural ceremony of Commencement 2022 marking the milestone achievements of some 200 Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences<\/a>\u00a0(FASS) graduates, and seeing the conferment of two Honorary Graduates, Professor Tommy Koh and Professor Wang Gungwu.<\/p>\r\nTaking place at the University Cultural Centre, the ceremony kicked off bright and early on 6 July to an effervescent buzz of anticipation from the graduates and their loved ones, inaugurating a total of 28 in-person ceremonies to be held over the following 10 days.<\/p>\r\nIn keeping with the Commencement traditions and the proud ceremonial heritage of NUS, the ceremony showcased the pageantry of the Ceremonial Procession, the fanfare, and playing of the National Anthem, all culminating in the highlight of the ceremony-the presentation of graduates. Graduates from the Class of 2022 celebrated their achievements amid the applause of family and friends, a momentous apogee of their time in NUS.<\/p>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1160\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Resilience and boldness - these are the qualities that will avail graduates in a greatly changed post-COVID landscape, said NUS President Prof Tan Eng Chye in his speech.<\/strong>[\/caption]<\/p>\r\nSpeaking at the ceremony, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye reflected on the qualities needed for graduates to thrive in today's dynamic environment: an attitude of resilience and adaptability to overcome challenges, and a willingness and boldness to view problems as opportunities, exercise creativity, and apply their skills and knowledge to create solutions.<\/p>\r\n\"For the Class of 2022, you are crossing the threshold into a wider world of dynamic change and great possibilities, but also of discomforting uncertainty,\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\"But I am fully confident that the NUS graduates of today share the same ethos of excellence and service to community of generations past. In time to come, you will undoubtedly make your own unique contributions, and become the vanguard in elevating our collective prosperity and well-being.\"<\/p>\r\n
\r\nOfficially 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.<\/p>\r\nThe 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.<\/p>\r\nNUS 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.\"<\/p>\r\nShe 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.<\/p>\r\nDriving real-world impact through interdisciplinary innovation<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\r\nCSSH is led by Co-Directors Professor Atreyi Kankanhalli from the\u00a0NUS School of Computing<\/a>\u00a0and Professor Peter Millican from the\u00a0NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences<\/a>. The Centre supports both seed funding for emerging ideas and larger projects, all designed to generate real-world impact.<\/p>\r\nProf 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.\"<\/p>\r\nSince 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.<\/p>\r\nAmongst 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.<\/p>\r\nUsing 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.<\/p>\r\nAnother 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.<\/p>\r\nIn 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.<\/p>\r\nProf 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.\"<\/p>\r\nHe 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.<\/p>\r\n<\/article>\r\n\r\nThis story\u00a0first appeared in <\/em>NUSnews<\/a> on 4 March 2026.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>Revered Song Nian\u2019s work returns to NUS Department of Chinese Studies<\/a><\/h3>28 September 2024 <\/div>\r\n\r\n\tIN BRIEF | 10 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nA report in Lianhe Zaobao<\/em> (25 September 2024, Fukan, p3).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\nClick through image below to read this piece.<\/a><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\nThis story first appeared in <\/em>Lianhe Zaobao\u00a0and\u00a0<\/em>NUSNews<\/a>\u00a0on 25 September 2024.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div><\/div>Ideas Festival 2024: Shining a Spotlight on the Importance of Social Science and Humanities Research on Society<\/a><\/h3>04 April 2024 <\/div>\r\nIN BRIEF | 5 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nLaunched on 20 March 2024 with Minister for Education Mr Chan Chun Sing as the Guest of Honour, this festival was organised by the Autonomous Universities (AUs) in Singapore and is supported by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC). It features 13 events over a month-long period.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1734\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] SSRC Advisor and NUS University Professor Wang Gungwu highlighted the importance of SSH research in enriching our understanding of social issues. \/ Photo credit: Ray Photography<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nHow does research in the social sciences and humanities impact our world? This is a question the inaugural \"Ideas Festival 2024 - Insights from the Humanities and Social Sciences\" seeks to address as it delves into the intricate challenges confronting Singapore and the region amid a period of disruptive change by drawing on the works of the local Social Science and Humanities (SSH) research community.<\/p>\r\nLaunched on 20 March 2024 with Minister for Education Mr Chan Chun Sing as the Guest of Honour, this festival was organised by the Autonomous Universities (AUs) in Singapore and is supported by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC). It features 13 events over a month-long period.<\/p>\r\nAt the launch event, SSRC Advisor Professor Wang Gungwu who is also NUS University Professor, highlighted the importance of SSH research in enriching our understanding of social issues, which are inherently complex and dynamic, shaped by historical developments and disrupted by the latest technological advances.<\/p>\r\nAgainst this backdrop, he urged more work to be done to understand Singapore's multicultural society and the complex environment in which it exists. One approach is to encourage researchers to consider having Co-Principal Investigators from a mix of academic disciplines in the humanities, social science as well as the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. \"What I envisage is that research proposers are open-minded to different perspectives that could lead them to something fruitful they did not expect to find. A variety of insights coming from scholars with different backgrounds makes that possible.\"<\/p>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1733\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Guest of Honour, Minister for Education, Mr Chan Chun Sing, delivered a speech at the Ideas Festival. \/ Photo credit: Ray Photography<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nEchoing the importance of SSH research, particularly in a STEM-focused world, Professor Elaine Ho, Chair of the Ideas Festival Organising Committee and Vice Dean of Research at the\u00a0NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences<\/a>, said at the sidelines, \"Social science and humanities research is very much part of our everyday lives,\" citing examples such as mental health and children's health outcomes, which are concerned with the behavioural dynamics within society. \"Social science and humanities researchers have these kinds of insights that can help us to improve the way that we try to better society,\" she noted. \"There has been much more attention given to STEM research subjects in the Singaporean landscape\u2026but where the opportunity lies for both the STEM subjects as well as social science and humanities is by coming together.\"<\/p>\r\nThe festival features more than 50 researchers across a spectrum of expertise in SSH sharing key insights on a range of topics. These include the impact of digital acceleration and disruptive technologies like the metaverse and artificial intelligence (AI) on childhood, an inclusive future of work, new forms of social interactions, as well as fake news and misinformation in the media. It will also touch on strengthening support for mental health and well-being through a whole-of-society approach, such as leveraging family and social circles to support the well-being of individuals across various stages of their lives.<\/p>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1732\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Social science and humanities researchers from the six AUs in Singapore listening on to the speeches delivered at the launch. \/ Photo credit: Ray Photography<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nAcknowledging how the scholarship of social science and humanities in Singapore has made significant progress, Chairman of the SSRC, Mr Peter Ho, said, \"You just need to look at the span of interesting projects in the universities and research institutes to get a sense. Public sector agencies have also taken greater interest, indicating the increasing traction of the social sciences and humanities among policy researchers (and) policymakers. By bringing together researchers across the universities and research institutions, the Ideas Festival clearly signals that the research ecosystem is vibrant and thriving.\"<\/p>\r\nNUS is the host of two events at the festival. The first, \"Gazing into the Metaverse<\/a>\", which was held on 26 March 2024 looked at how the metaverse - a world of avatars, digital twins and digital currencies - will be built, how it will be curated, who will use it, and how it will transform our everyday lives. The roundtable examined the key questions, implications and themes that researchers in the social sciences and humanities are now asking about this next stage in our digital journey, particularly in Asia.<\/p>\r\nThe other, \"Foundations of Home-Based Work<\/a>\", will take place on 12 April 2024 and will explore the spatial, social and technological dimensions of home-based work (HBW) in Singapore. This is done through looking at considerations such as the policy framework surrounding this type of work and exploring the following questions: who is involved in it; what kind of living do they make; in which housing types and neighbourhoods is this work occurring; and the pathways for accommodating HBW in our lives through design and policy recommendations.<\/p>\r\nOn 17 April 2024, the University will also co-organise \"Singapura Before Raffles: Early Modern Asia in the Global Renaissance<\/a>\", which will discuss how early modern Singapore and Asia played important roles in shaping global ideas about maritime trade, global commerce, international law, political governance, and literary and artistic advancement. It will draw on new and exciting interdisciplinary research from teachers and scholars across Singapore's universities and the wider Asia region.<\/p>\r\nThe Ideas Festival 2024 runs till 19 April 2024. More information can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThis story by the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences first appeared in NUSNews<\/a> on 3 April 2024.<\/i><\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>NUS Chinese Studies Celebrates 70 Years of Education and Research<\/a><\/h3>28 September 2023 <\/div>\r\nIN BRIEF | 7 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe NUS Department of Chinese Studies<\/a>' deep roots trace back to 1953 when the former University of Singapore\u2019s Department of Chinese Studies was founded. Since then, it has grown to be recognised as one of the leading institutions in the field of Chinese Studies and Chinese Language globally, as well as a major centre in the Southeast Asian region..<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1544\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Joining Head of Department Prof Ong Chang Woei (third from right) on stage for the cake-cutting ceremony at the celebrations was NUS President Prof Tan Eng Chye (fourth from right). The other participants included former and current faculty, staff and students from NUS Chinese Studies (from left): Prof Kenneth Dean, Prof Yung Sai-shing, Ms Teo Jia Yu, Mdm Lillian Low, Prof Wong Yoon Wah, Assoc Prof Wong Sin Kiong, and Ms Ooi Huey-en.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nA dinner to mark the NUS Department of Chinese Studies\u2019 70th anniversary saw some 260 university and faculty members, cherished alumni, as well as prominent members of the Singapore Chinese cultural, education and media landscape coming together to celebrate the Department\u2019s past, present and future on 23 September 2023.<\/p>\r\nThe Department\u2019s deep roots trace back to 1953 when the former University of Singapore\u2019s Department of Chinese Studies was founded. Since then, it has grown to be recognised as one of the leading institutions in the field of Chinese Studies and Chinese Language globally, as well as a major centre in the Southeast Asian region.<\/p>\r\nProfessor Ong Chang Woei, Head of Department of Chinese Studies and an alumnus, said \u201cThe Department\u2019s evolution is intrinsically intertwined with Singapore\u2019s history, and it has drawn from this rich heritage to shape its vision and developmental trajectory across the decades. We firmly believe that as an integral part of Singapore's Chinese language education ecosystem, the Department of Chinese Studies at NUS must continue to play a role in leading society towards the future at the academic and intellectual levels.\u201d<\/p>\r\nToday, the Department\u2019s academic rigour combines the strengths of classical and modern Chinese Studies to promote research and study in such key areas as Chinese linguistics, Chinese literature, Chinese history, Chinese philosophy, and Chinese-English translation.<\/p>\r\nDrawing on examples of how the Department has expanded over the years, Prof Ong said it now offers elective bilingual and English courses, as well as interdisciplinary courses such as those combining economics and history, and works closely with various institutions and organisations to design courses that allow students to gain a deeper understanding of the local Chinese community.<\/p>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1543\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] A special project entitled \u201cA Rejuvenating Department: Memories, History, Direction \u2013 The 70th Anniversary of the Department of Chinese Studies at NUS\u201d was announced at the dinner.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nThe dinner also saw the announcement of a special project entitled \u201cA Rejuvenating Department: Memories, History, Direction \u2013 The 70th Anniversary of the Department of Chinese Studies at NUS\u201d that charts the Department\u2019s key developments and milestones. Historical photos, news clippings and documents, as well as close to 70 hours of oral interviews with 14 former department heads, teaching faculty and alumni, were meticulously compiled and condensed into a new publication and website<\/a> to give the public impressive insights into the Department\u2019s 70-year history.<\/p>\r\nAmong those who participated in the oral interviews was Mdm Tan Chin Hwa, who is an alumna and former Head of Department of Mother Tongue at Hwa Chong Institution as well as former Chinese Language Curriculum Specialist at MOE. The project, she observed, is a significant endeavour, as it \u201coffers a panoramic picture of an important chapter in our history and can be viewed as a valuable resource to shed light on the impact and development of Chinese language education in Singapore\u2019s history.\u201d<\/p>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1542\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] A dinner guest reading the publication that charts the Department throughout its 70-year history, including key developments and milestones pre- and post-merger.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nGuests were also treated to a trip down memory lane with a video montage of the Department\u2019s key milestones and events. Reminiscing about her time in school, Mdm Tan shared, \u201cI remember enjoying Chinese Studies sessions in a cosy classroom filled with lots of memorable and joyful moments. Featuring an array of subjects ranging from philosophy, and history, to classical and modern Chinese language and literature, these knowledgeable sessions painted an impressive picture of Chinese culture and civilisation.\u201d<\/p>\r\nOn what the future holds for the Department, Mr Shaun Choh, alumnus and Curator at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, said, \u201cThroughout my time working in the Chinese arts and culture industry, I have observed that many of the most astute thinkers and influential movers hail from the NUS Department of Chinese Studies. Their unique blend of global perspectives, married with deep-rooted Chinese sensibilities, has enabled them to shine in diverse arenas. My hope is for the Department to persist in moulding individuals who not only make waves in Singapore but also resonate globally.\u201d<\/p>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1541\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] The event saw some 260 university and faculty members, alumni, and members of the Singapore Chinese cultural, education and media landscape coming together to celebrate the Department\u2019s anniversary.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nThe anniversary dinner underscored a remarkable year for the Department during which a series of thought-provoking conferences were held to mark the anniversary. These included \u201cLooking Ahead: New Technology, New Society, and Chinese Language Education in Singapore\u201d<\/a> in March as well as five impactful seminars between March and August by distinguished professors that covered interesting areas such as Chinese linguistics and translation studies, classical Chinese literature, and Chinese social and intellectual history.<\/p>\r\nConcluding the series at the end of the year is the international conference \u201cPopular Nanyang: Rethinking Chinese Cultures in Post-war Singapore and Malaya\/Malaysia\u201d<\/a> in November, and a symposium on developing Chinese Studies from a Southeast Asian perspective in December<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<\/article>\r\nThis story first appeared in <\/i><\/em>NUSnews<\/a> on 28 September 2023.<\/i><\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>NUS Department of Chinese Studies marks 70th anniversary with year-long slate of events<\/a><\/h3>16 March 2023 <\/div>\r\n<\/p>\r\nProf Ong Chang Woei, Head of the NUS Department of Chinese Studies, delivering the opening address at a symposium held to mark the Department\u2019s 70th anniversary. (Photo credit: SCCC)<\/em><\/p>\r\nThere is an old Chinese saying,\u00a0ren sheng qi shi gu lai xi<\/i>, which means it is a rare and precious thing for a person to live till the age of 70. The same applies to institutions. The\u00a0NUS Department of Chinese Studies<\/a>, which turns 70 this year, is marking the momentous milestone with a year-long series of events.<\/p>\r\nOne such event was a\u00a0symposium<\/a>\u00a0on the future of Chinese education in Singapore, and how it might respond to technology and other trends. Social media, talking robots and Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT were some topics that loomed large at the event attended by 337 people at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) on 4 March.<\/p>\r\n\u201cIn the past, discussions about Chinese education in Singapore have largely revolved around Singapore becoming a predominantly English-speaking society,\u201d said NUS Chinese Studies\u2019 Department Head Professor Ong Chang Woei.<\/p>\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s important to discuss this, of course, but today we want to see if any fresh perspectives and thought-provoking insights might emerge.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<\/p>\r\nPanellists speaking at the \u201cLooking Ahead: New Technology, New Society, and Chinese Language Education in Singapore\u201d Symposium. (Photo credit: SCCC)<\/em><\/p>\r\nOne of the main themes of the discussions was the view that the online world, bolstered by AI, could help people improve their language skills. \u201c(Many) parents don\u2019t speak to their children in their mother tongue, so we'll have to depend on the robot to do it,\u201d Madam Heng Boey Hong, Director of Mother Tongue Languages at the Ministry of Education (MOE), noted wryly. MOE is working with research institute AI Singapore to create robots that can speak to pupils in Mandarin, Malay or Tamil, said Mdm Heng, one of a dozen academics, educators and members of the media who spoke at the four-hour symposium.<\/p>\r\nBesides AI, another trend is Singapore\u2019s changing demographics, given that new immigrants form an increasingly large group of the country\u2019s Mandarin speakers and the impact this would have on Chinese education, said Prof Ong, speaking at the Chinese-language event organised by his department, the SCCC, Wan Boo Sow Research Centre for Chinese Culture, and The Society of Chinese Education Singapore. \u201cIn these circumstances, what should Chinese education be like?\u201d he wondered.<\/p>\r\nBut even as we move towards using technology to aid teaching, the role of humans in the instruction should not be left aside. \u201cAs robots become more like humans, we shouldn\u2019t be teaching humans to be like robots,\u201d said Dr Kang Ger-Wen, who chairs Ngee Ann Polytechnic\u2019s Chinese Studies course. Equally vital is teaching students to be nimble, to enable them to bridge different domains, for example.<\/p>\r\nWhile there were no simple solutions to many of the questions posed at the symposium,\u00a0<\/strong>the stimulating discussions served as a promising starting point. \u201cHopefully at the Department's 140th anniversary, we would have answers to these issues,\u201d said Prof Ong.<\/p>\r\n An audience member poses questions to the panellists on stage. (Photo credit: SCCC) <\/em>A rich history<\/strong><\/p>\r\nThe symposium is part of a series of celebrations this year that will mark the Department\u2019s 70th anniversary.<\/p>\r\nThe roots of NUS\u2019 Department of Chinese Studies can be traced to two institutions. One is the former University of Singapore\u2019s department of Chinese studies, which was founded in 1953. The other is the department of Chinese language and literature at the former Nanyang University, established in 1955. When the two universities merged in 1980 to form NUS, their Chinese departments, too, became one.<\/p>\r\nToday, the Department at the\u00a0Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences<\/a>\u00a0runs more than 50 courses a year for BA and BA Honours students, in areas including Chinese linguistics, Chinese literature, Chinese history, Chinese philosophy, and translation. It also offers PhD and MA programmes, as well as Continuing Education and Training (CET) certificate courses.<\/p>\r\nIts anniversary celebrations kicked off in February with a lecture by Oxford Professor and National University of Singapore Society (NUSS) Visiting Professor Tan Tian Yuan on the \u201cliterary worlds\u201d of the Kangxi Emperor\u2019s tours to southern China. Over the next few months, there will be dialogues on topics such as translation, the classics, and Chinese intellectual history.<\/p>\r\nOther highlights include a dinner banquet in September; a conference in November titled Popular Nanyang: Rethinking Chinese Cultures in Post-war Singapore and Malaya\/Malaysia; and a symposium on developing Chinese Studies from a Southeast Asian perspective in December.<\/p>\r\nMore details of the Department\u2019s 70th anniversary activities are available\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\nThis story\u00a0<\/i>first appeared on NUSnews<\/a> on 16 March 2023.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>The Half-life of Knowledge<\/a><\/h3>05 November 2022 <\/div>\r\n\u00a0IN BRIEF | 10 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nThere is now an indisputable requisite to equip graduates with interdisciplinary knowledge and skillsets. We need both the agile lenses of interdisciplinarity as well as the deep-cutting laser of deep domain expertise. The former trains us to aim and focus the laser, while the latter allows us to cut to the heart of a problem.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1296\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] NUS strongly believes in providing interdisciplinary pathways for its students.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n| By Professor Tan Eng Chye |<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\u201cTeach a person to fish, and you may feed them for three-and-a-half years\u201d may sound less inspiring than \u201cTeach a person to fish, and you feed them for a lifetime\u201d, but the former more accurately reflects the current realities of tertiary education.<\/p>\r\nBreaking news travels at warp speed, accelerated by social media and instant messaging. In a matter of minutes, news can reach the four corners of the world. Such interconnectedness highlights the leaps made in information technology over the years while underscoring a persistent and inexorable phenomenon \u2013 the reduction of\u00a0the half-life of knowledge.<\/p>\r\nThe half-life of knowledge, coined by Fritz Machlup in 1962, refers to the amount of time elapsed before half of the knowledge in a particular field is superseded or becomes obsolete. Given the speed with which knowledge develops and is shared, it is perhaps not surprising that this value is ever decreasing in many fields.<\/p>\r\nThis phenomenon raises fundamental questions about our university degree programmes. How should a fresh graduate, filled with aspirations to change the world, deal with the harsh reality that a significant portion of their undergraduate training may be rendered irrelevant by the simple passage of time?<\/p>\r\nDistilling a degree programme is one possible, albeit drastic approach. We can consider equipping students only with evergreen core domain concepts. This training should take less time than our current degree programmes. As and when students require specific new knowledge, or need to upgrade existing knowledge, they can take short courses to bridge knowledge gaps and meet their professional needs. This type of \u201cjust in time\u201d learning, also known as\u00a0micro-credentialing,\u00a0<\/strong><\/i>helps to circumvent the shortened half-life by injecting cutting-edge knowledge at just the right time.<\/p>\r\nAnother less disruptive approach is\u00a0<\/strong>revitalisation. We can maintain the current degree programme structure, but provide avenues for graduates to return to university in the future. Such short stints of study can follow existing models for bite-sized, self-contained courses, or semester-long study periods undertaken with the support of employers.<\/p>\r\nOne certainty is that university study will cease to be just one stage of life. Instead, \u201cuniversity studies\u201d will become the de facto way of studying, with a person continually refreshing and renewing their knowledge in tandem with or in anticipation of developments in industry, society and the world.<\/p>\r\nIn anticipation of this, we created the\u00a0NUS Lifelong Learners Programme<\/a>\u00a0(or NUS L3<\/sup>), which\u00a0\u00a0promises a\u00a020-year\u00a0<\/strong><\/i>period\u00a0of student enrolment, from the point of undergraduate or postgraduate admission. In other words, a graduate of NUS can choose to come back to campus to take courses for at least 20 years from the day of matriculation.<\/p>\r\nInterdisciplinarity<\/strong>Beyond the way knowledge is acquired, we are also grappling with working in an increasingly VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) world. In such a context, can we continue to hold a siloed view of domain disciplines? In training law students, for example, we would be remiss not to show them basic programming, which can allow them to create customised commands to quickly and easily trawl through databases, with millions of legal records, to identify precedents.<\/p>\r\nDeep domain expertise is like a laser \u2013 a focused beam of knowledge that can cut through dense problems. However, real-world issues are increasingly multifaceted and ill-defined, often lacking a clear vulnerable spot at which a laser beam can be aimed.<\/p>\r\nAs a mental experiment, consider the challenge of introducing autonomous electric vehicles to a city. This proposition involves urban design, city planning, the law, and engineering for accessibility. We can form a multidisciplinary team of experts, where each member is a domain expert, to tackle the issue. However, in all likelihood, we will encounter misalignment between domains, simply owing to differences in problem-solving methodology, thinking models or even nomenclature.<\/p>\r\nIf we liken domain training to equipping students with specific lenses through which they can see and focus on information to solve a problem, then interdisciplinarity suggests that we should train students to operate across more than one domain. By educating them in core ideas from multiple domains and providing opportunities to apply their knowledge in authentic settings, students with interdisciplinary training can switch domain lenses as needed, solving problems using novel and unorthodox approaches that transcend domains.<\/p>\r\nTo be clear, we are not advocating for dismantling deep domain training. Rather, we recognise that there is now an indisputable requisite to equip graduates with interdisciplinary knowledge and skillsets. We need both the agile lenses of interdisciplinarity as well as the deep-cutting laser of deep domain expertise. The former trains us to aim and focus the laser, while the latter allows us to cut to the heart of a problem.<\/p>\r\nNUS strongly believes in providing interdisciplinary pathways\u00a0for our students. In 2020, we created the\u00a0College of Humanities and Sciences<\/a>\u00a0(CHS) to provide an enhanced interdisciplinary undergraduate experience for students of the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. CHS undergraduates can choose between deep domain training or the flexibility of interdisciplinary training of varying breadth and depth in modules offered by both faculties. Continuing our efforts to pave more interdisciplinary pathways for students, in 2021, we merged the School of Design and Environment and the Faculty of Engineering to form the\u00a0College of Design and Engineering<\/a>. More recently, NUS launched\u00a0NUS College<\/a>, Singapore\u2019s first honours college offering pathways to more than 50 majors across a half dozen degree programmes. The aim of NUS College, as explained by its inaugural dean, Professor Simon Chesterman, \u201c[is to offer] broad, interdisciplinary competencies that equip students for life, along with the opportunity to dive deep into areas in which you are passionate.\u201d<\/p>\r\nTo quote Charles Dickens, \u201cIt was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.\u201d Indeed,\u00a0our experiences with the global pandemic and its effects on education over the past two years have given us the rare opportunity to engage in deep reflection and introspection. Witnessing the breakdown of resistance to adopting and adapting technology for teaching and learning during this time, we should be emboldened to re-examine and revolutionise some of our established, and perhaps outmoded, notions of how to offer higher education.<\/p>\r\nAbout the Author<\/strong><\/p>\r\nProfessor Tan Eng Chye is President of the National University of Singapore. A passionate academic and educator, Prof Tan is a member of the World Economic Forum\u2019s Global University Leaders\u2019 Forum, as well as Singapore\u2019s Future Economy Council, which is tasked with driving the growth and transformation of the country\u2019s future economy.<\/i><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\nThis article was first published in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 supplement and<\/i>\u00a0first appeared in <\/i>NUSNews<\/a> on<\/i> 4 November 2022.<\/i><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>Call for Nominations | FASS Inspiring Mentor Award 2022<\/a><\/h3>06 October 2022 <\/div>\r\nIN BRIEF | 3 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nWe invite NUS FASS members of staff to nominate the colleagues who have served as their truly inspiring mentors - who have gone beyond the call of duty to positively impact their work and life - for FIMA 2022 honours.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nClick through image below (or just write to fassmentoraward@nus.edu.sg<\/a>) to file your nomination.<\/p>\r\n<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>NUS FASS Faculty and Alumni Bag Top Literary Awards<\/a><\/h3>02 September 2022 <\/div>\r\n\u00a0IN BRIEF | 3 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nProfessor Wang Gungwu (NUS History<\/a>) and two FASS alumni - Yeow Kai Chai (NUS English, Linguistics and Theatre Studies<\/a>) and Wong Koi Tet (NUS Chinese Studies<\/a>) - won in three separate categories, and Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo (NUS English, Linguistics and Theatre Studies<\/a>) was presented with the SBC Achievement Award at the 2022 Singapore Literature Prize ceremony held on 25 Aug 2022 at the Victoria Theatre..<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n <\/p>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1194\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Award recipients of the 2022 Singapore Literature Prize include (from left) Professor Wang Gungwu, Mr Yeow Kai Chai, Mr Wong Koi Tet and Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nProfessor Wang Gungwu and two NUS\u00a0Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences<\/a>\u00a0(FASS) alumni, Yeow Kai Chai and Wong Koi Tet, won in three separate categories at the 2022 Singapore Literature Prize ceremony held on 25 Aug 2022 at the Victoria Theatre. At the same ceremony, Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo was presented with the SBC Achievement\u00a0Award\u00a0by Guest-of-Honour Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law,\u00a0in recognition of his significant contributions to the literary arts scene in Singapore.<\/p>\r\nThe Singapore Literature Prize was established in 1992 by the Singapore Book Council and is Singapore's oldest ongoing literary award in all four official languages. This year's Singapore Literature Prize saw 12 winners picked from almost 200 submissions, with 35 local and foreign judges giving recognition and affirmation to the best literary works by Singapore writers.<\/p>\r\nPassing Stories on to the Next Generation<\/strong><\/i>University Professor at NUS FASS, Prof Wang, a renowned historian and leading public intellectual, was named this year's Singapore Literature Prize winner for Creative Nonfiction in English. He made history by becoming one of the two oldest winners of the Singapore Literature Prize at 91 years old, along with literary pioneer Suratman Markasan, also 91, who won for Creative Nonfiction in Malay.<\/p>\r\nProf Wang co-authored his winning book,\u00a0Home is Where We Are<\/i><\/a>, with his late wife Margaret Wang, journaling his university education in Singapore and the UK, and the early years of his career as an academic, capturing the excitement, ambition and choices of a generation that saw it their responsibility to build the new nations of Southeast Asia.<\/p>\r\nHome is Where We Are<\/i>\u00a0is the second part of his memoirs after\u00a0Home is Not Here<\/i>, an account of his younger days which he spent in three different countries before entering university.<\/p>\r\nProf Wang said Margaret and him had hoped that their book will inspire other parents and families to do likewise and write their stories to pass on history, heritage and valuable lessons to the next generations.<\/p>\r\nSharing his thoughts on the prize, Prof Wang said, \"My family and I are honoured with this recognition. The inspiration for\u00a0Home is Where We Are<\/i>\u00a0came from my late wife, Margaret. She regretted not knowing more about her mother and, 20 years ago, wrote her story to our children. She wrote so well and the children liked her story so much that they turned to me for my story. I eventually did.\"<\/p>\r\n\"Years later, I was persuaded to publish this story of my childhood as\u00a0Home is Not Here<\/i>.\u00a0My Singapore friends asked why I stopped before my joining the University of Malaya and before meeting Margaret. That led me to frame my book around what Margaret had earlier written,\" he recalled. \"With her agreement and my family's approval, the second book answered the question, 'Where then is home?' with Margaret's answer, 'Home is where we are', and that became the title of the second book.\"<\/p>\r\nProf Wang was\u00a0conferred the NUS Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters<\/a>\u00a0for his dedication to Sinology, remarkable intellect, trailblazing vision, and other public contributions in July this year.<\/p>\r\nTwo Alumni Bag Top Poetry Prizes<\/strong><\/i>Mr Yeow, an NUS FASS alumnus and renowned poet, fiction writer and editor, won the Singapore Literature Prize for Poetry in English. His poetry collection titled\u00a0One to the Dark Tower Comes<\/a>, published in 2020, is a personal and collective quest to uncover answers to life, death, grief, happiness, and the violence wrought on one another.<\/p>\r\nA former journalist, and director of the\u00a0Singapore Writers Festival from 2015 to 2018, Mr Yeow graduated with a Master of Arts from NUS FASS in 1999. This is his first Singapore Literature Prize win.<\/p>\r\nReflecting on his win, Mr Yeow said, \"I'm heartened by the recognition for my third book\u00a0One to the Dark Tower Comes<\/i>. Much of my own poetics has its foundation in my undergraduate years taking\u00a0English Language and Literature<\/a>\u00a0at FASS, getting inspired by actual poets, including seniors like Boey Kim Cheng and academics such as professors Edwin Thumboo, Arthur Yap, Lee Tzu Pheng and Leong Liew Geok.\"<\/p>\r\n\"A particular course on Contemporary American Literature by Dr Gilbert Adair was especially life-changing and opened up my eyes to more avant-garde approaches, and so I gave heartfelt thanks to him, and all at the department who have enriched my creative journey,\" he added.<\/p>\r\nFellow NUS FASS alumnus, Wong Koi Tet, took home his third Singapore Literature Prize, this year for for Creative Nonfiction in Chinese for his book,\u00a0Little Things<\/i><\/a>. The book is a collection of 50 non-fiction pieces of prose published in his personal column in\u00a0local Chinese daily,\u00a0Lianhe Zaobao<\/i>,\u00a0charting what he cites as his personal journey through the years.<\/p>\r\nDescribing his book, Mr Wong said, \"Little Things<\/i>\u00a0originated as a column I wrote for the local Chinese newspaper for a period of two years. It is both literally and symbolically about the small objects that are familiar and common to all of us. Though this book won the Singapore Literary Prize, life is not about winning, but as in the title of my book, those little things that we cherish and hold dear to our hearts. Books are one of the little things that matter the most.\"<\/p>\r\nMr Wong had a double win at the 2020 Singapore Literature Prize in both the Fiction in Chinese and Creative Nonfiction in Chinese categories.<\/p>\r\nA former journalist as well, Wong graduated with a Bachelor's degree with honours in\u00a0Chinese Studies<\/a>\u00a0from NUS FASS in 1998.<\/p>\r\nA Lifetime of Contribution to Singapore's Literature and Arts Scene<\/strong><\/i>Prof Thumboo was NUS' longest serving Dean of FASS from 1980 to 1991 and was the first Chairman and Director of the University's\u00a0Centre for the Arts<\/a>\u00a0from 1993 to 2005. He is currently Emeritus Professor, a position he has held since retiring from full-time teaching in September 1997. Prof Thumboo was awarded the Distinguished Arts and Social Sciences Alumnus Award by the faculty in 2016 in recognition of his outstanding contributions as a poet, scholar, academic leader and champion of Singapore literature.<\/p>\r\nThe SBC Achievement Award was bestowed on Prof Thumboo at the 2022 Singapore Literature Prize ceremony to mark his achievements not only as a writer but also as an educator and mentor, and his tremendous efforts to help to shape the literary arts scene in Singapore.<\/p>\r\nProf Thumboo has been hailed the unofficial poet laureate of Singapore and was the first recipient of the Cultural Medallion for Literature in 1979, widely recognised as the pinnacle arts award for dance, theatre, literature, music, photography, art and film in Singapore.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThis story first appeared in <\/i>NUSNews<\/a> on 2 September 2022.<\/i><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>Commencement 2022: Kickstarting a Season of Celebration and Achievement<\/a><\/h3>07 July 2022 <\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0IN BRIEF | 10 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/strong><\/strong>NUS celebrates the milestone accomplishments of 13,975 graduates through 28 in-person ceremonies<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\t[caption id=\"attachment_1161\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Commencement celebrates the resilience and tenacity of the Class of 2022, a cohort which has spent much of its NUS education in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/strong>[\/caption]<\/p>\r\nA long-awaited season of celebration is officially under way, with the inaugural ceremony of Commencement 2022 marking the milestone achievements of some 200 Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences<\/a>\u00a0(FASS) graduates, and seeing the conferment of two Honorary Graduates, Professor Tommy Koh and Professor Wang Gungwu.<\/p>\r\nTaking place at the University Cultural Centre, the ceremony kicked off bright and early on 6 July to an effervescent buzz of anticipation from the graduates and their loved ones, inaugurating a total of 28 in-person ceremonies to be held over the following 10 days.<\/p>\r\nIn keeping with the Commencement traditions and the proud ceremonial heritage of NUS, the ceremony showcased the pageantry of the Ceremonial Procession, the fanfare, and playing of the National Anthem, all culminating in the highlight of the ceremony-the presentation of graduates. Graduates from the Class of 2022 celebrated their achievements amid the applause of family and friends, a momentous apogee of their time in NUS.<\/p>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1160\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Resilience and boldness - these are the qualities that will avail graduates in a greatly changed post-COVID landscape, said NUS President Prof Tan Eng Chye in his speech.<\/strong>[\/caption]<\/p>\r\nSpeaking at the ceremony, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye reflected on the qualities needed for graduates to thrive in today's dynamic environment: an attitude of resilience and adaptability to overcome challenges, and a willingness and boldness to view problems as opportunities, exercise creativity, and apply their skills and knowledge to create solutions.<\/p>\r\n\"For the Class of 2022, you are crossing the threshold into a wider world of dynamic change and great possibilities, but also of discomforting uncertainty,\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\"But I am fully confident that the NUS graduates of today share the same ethos of excellence and service to community of generations past. In time to come, you will undoubtedly make your own unique contributions, and become the vanguard in elevating our collective prosperity and well-being.\"<\/p>\r\n
<\/article>\r\nThis story first appeared in <\/i><\/em>NUSnews<\/a> on 28 September 2023.<\/i><\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>NUS Department of Chinese Studies marks 70th anniversary with year-long slate of events<\/a><\/h3>16 March 2023 <\/div>\r\n<\/p>\r\nProf Ong Chang Woei, Head of the NUS Department of Chinese Studies, delivering the opening address at a symposium held to mark the Department\u2019s 70th anniversary. (Photo credit: SCCC)<\/em><\/p>\r\nThere is an old Chinese saying,\u00a0ren sheng qi shi gu lai xi<\/i>, which means it is a rare and precious thing for a person to live till the age of 70. The same applies to institutions. The\u00a0NUS Department of Chinese Studies<\/a>, which turns 70 this year, is marking the momentous milestone with a year-long series of events.<\/p>\r\nOne such event was a\u00a0symposium<\/a>\u00a0on the future of Chinese education in Singapore, and how it might respond to technology and other trends. Social media, talking robots and Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT were some topics that loomed large at the event attended by 337 people at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) on 4 March.<\/p>\r\n\u201cIn the past, discussions about Chinese education in Singapore have largely revolved around Singapore becoming a predominantly English-speaking society,\u201d said NUS Chinese Studies\u2019 Department Head Professor Ong Chang Woei.<\/p>\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s important to discuss this, of course, but today we want to see if any fresh perspectives and thought-provoking insights might emerge.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<\/p>\r\nPanellists speaking at the \u201cLooking Ahead: New Technology, New Society, and Chinese Language Education in Singapore\u201d Symposium. (Photo credit: SCCC)<\/em><\/p>\r\nOne of the main themes of the discussions was the view that the online world, bolstered by AI, could help people improve their language skills. \u201c(Many) parents don\u2019t speak to their children in their mother tongue, so we'll have to depend on the robot to do it,\u201d Madam Heng Boey Hong, Director of Mother Tongue Languages at the Ministry of Education (MOE), noted wryly. MOE is working with research institute AI Singapore to create robots that can speak to pupils in Mandarin, Malay or Tamil, said Mdm Heng, one of a dozen academics, educators and members of the media who spoke at the four-hour symposium.<\/p>\r\nBesides AI, another trend is Singapore\u2019s changing demographics, given that new immigrants form an increasingly large group of the country\u2019s Mandarin speakers and the impact this would have on Chinese education, said Prof Ong, speaking at the Chinese-language event organised by his department, the SCCC, Wan Boo Sow Research Centre for Chinese Culture, and The Society of Chinese Education Singapore. \u201cIn these circumstances, what should Chinese education be like?\u201d he wondered.<\/p>\r\nBut even as we move towards using technology to aid teaching, the role of humans in the instruction should not be left aside. \u201cAs robots become more like humans, we shouldn\u2019t be teaching humans to be like robots,\u201d said Dr Kang Ger-Wen, who chairs Ngee Ann Polytechnic\u2019s Chinese Studies course. Equally vital is teaching students to be nimble, to enable them to bridge different domains, for example.<\/p>\r\nWhile there were no simple solutions to many of the questions posed at the symposium,\u00a0<\/strong>the stimulating discussions served as a promising starting point. \u201cHopefully at the Department's 140th anniversary, we would have answers to these issues,\u201d said Prof Ong.<\/p>\r\n An audience member poses questions to the panellists on stage. (Photo credit: SCCC) <\/em>A rich history<\/strong><\/p>\r\nThe symposium is part of a series of celebrations this year that will mark the Department\u2019s 70th anniversary.<\/p>\r\nThe roots of NUS\u2019 Department of Chinese Studies can be traced to two institutions. One is the former University of Singapore\u2019s department of Chinese studies, which was founded in 1953. The other is the department of Chinese language and literature at the former Nanyang University, established in 1955. When the two universities merged in 1980 to form NUS, their Chinese departments, too, became one.<\/p>\r\nToday, the Department at the\u00a0Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences<\/a>\u00a0runs more than 50 courses a year for BA and BA Honours students, in areas including Chinese linguistics, Chinese literature, Chinese history, Chinese philosophy, and translation. It also offers PhD and MA programmes, as well as Continuing Education and Training (CET) certificate courses.<\/p>\r\nIts anniversary celebrations kicked off in February with a lecture by Oxford Professor and National University of Singapore Society (NUSS) Visiting Professor Tan Tian Yuan on the \u201cliterary worlds\u201d of the Kangxi Emperor\u2019s tours to southern China. Over the next few months, there will be dialogues on topics such as translation, the classics, and Chinese intellectual history.<\/p>\r\nOther highlights include a dinner banquet in September; a conference in November titled Popular Nanyang: Rethinking Chinese Cultures in Post-war Singapore and Malaya\/Malaysia; and a symposium on developing Chinese Studies from a Southeast Asian perspective in December.<\/p>\r\nMore details of the Department\u2019s 70th anniversary activities are available\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\nThis story\u00a0<\/i>first appeared on NUSnews<\/a> on 16 March 2023.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>The Half-life of Knowledge<\/a><\/h3>05 November 2022 <\/div>\r\n\u00a0IN BRIEF | 10 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nThere is now an indisputable requisite to equip graduates with interdisciplinary knowledge and skillsets. We need both the agile lenses of interdisciplinarity as well as the deep-cutting laser of deep domain expertise. The former trains us to aim and focus the laser, while the latter allows us to cut to the heart of a problem.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1296\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] NUS strongly believes in providing interdisciplinary pathways for its students.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n| By Professor Tan Eng Chye |<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\u201cTeach a person to fish, and you may feed them for three-and-a-half years\u201d may sound less inspiring than \u201cTeach a person to fish, and you feed them for a lifetime\u201d, but the former more accurately reflects the current realities of tertiary education.<\/p>\r\nBreaking news travels at warp speed, accelerated by social media and instant messaging. In a matter of minutes, news can reach the four corners of the world. Such interconnectedness highlights the leaps made in information technology over the years while underscoring a persistent and inexorable phenomenon \u2013 the reduction of\u00a0the half-life of knowledge.<\/p>\r\nThe half-life of knowledge, coined by Fritz Machlup in 1962, refers to the amount of time elapsed before half of the knowledge in a particular field is superseded or becomes obsolete. Given the speed with which knowledge develops and is shared, it is perhaps not surprising that this value is ever decreasing in many fields.<\/p>\r\nThis phenomenon raises fundamental questions about our university degree programmes. How should a fresh graduate, filled with aspirations to change the world, deal with the harsh reality that a significant portion of their undergraduate training may be rendered irrelevant by the simple passage of time?<\/p>\r\nDistilling a degree programme is one possible, albeit drastic approach. We can consider equipping students only with evergreen core domain concepts. This training should take less time than our current degree programmes. As and when students require specific new knowledge, or need to upgrade existing knowledge, they can take short courses to bridge knowledge gaps and meet their professional needs. This type of \u201cjust in time\u201d learning, also known as\u00a0micro-credentialing,\u00a0<\/strong><\/i>helps to circumvent the shortened half-life by injecting cutting-edge knowledge at just the right time.<\/p>\r\nAnother less disruptive approach is\u00a0<\/strong>revitalisation. We can maintain the current degree programme structure, but provide avenues for graduates to return to university in the future. Such short stints of study can follow existing models for bite-sized, self-contained courses, or semester-long study periods undertaken with the support of employers.<\/p>\r\nOne certainty is that university study will cease to be just one stage of life. Instead, \u201cuniversity studies\u201d will become the de facto way of studying, with a person continually refreshing and renewing their knowledge in tandem with or in anticipation of developments in industry, society and the world.<\/p>\r\nIn anticipation of this, we created the\u00a0NUS Lifelong Learners Programme<\/a>\u00a0(or NUS L3<\/sup>), which\u00a0\u00a0promises a\u00a020-year\u00a0<\/strong><\/i>period\u00a0of student enrolment, from the point of undergraduate or postgraduate admission. In other words, a graduate of NUS can choose to come back to campus to take courses for at least 20 years from the day of matriculation.<\/p>\r\nInterdisciplinarity<\/strong>Beyond the way knowledge is acquired, we are also grappling with working in an increasingly VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) world. In such a context, can we continue to hold a siloed view of domain disciplines? In training law students, for example, we would be remiss not to show them basic programming, which can allow them to create customised commands to quickly and easily trawl through databases, with millions of legal records, to identify precedents.<\/p>\r\nDeep domain expertise is like a laser \u2013 a focused beam of knowledge that can cut through dense problems. However, real-world issues are increasingly multifaceted and ill-defined, often lacking a clear vulnerable spot at which a laser beam can be aimed.<\/p>\r\nAs a mental experiment, consider the challenge of introducing autonomous electric vehicles to a city. This proposition involves urban design, city planning, the law, and engineering for accessibility. We can form a multidisciplinary team of experts, where each member is a domain expert, to tackle the issue. However, in all likelihood, we will encounter misalignment between domains, simply owing to differences in problem-solving methodology, thinking models or even nomenclature.<\/p>\r\nIf we liken domain training to equipping students with specific lenses through which they can see and focus on information to solve a problem, then interdisciplinarity suggests that we should train students to operate across more than one domain. By educating them in core ideas from multiple domains and providing opportunities to apply their knowledge in authentic settings, students with interdisciplinary training can switch domain lenses as needed, solving problems using novel and unorthodox approaches that transcend domains.<\/p>\r\nTo be clear, we are not advocating for dismantling deep domain training. Rather, we recognise that there is now an indisputable requisite to equip graduates with interdisciplinary knowledge and skillsets. We need both the agile lenses of interdisciplinarity as well as the deep-cutting laser of deep domain expertise. The former trains us to aim and focus the laser, while the latter allows us to cut to the heart of a problem.<\/p>\r\nNUS strongly believes in providing interdisciplinary pathways\u00a0for our students. In 2020, we created the\u00a0College of Humanities and Sciences<\/a>\u00a0(CHS) to provide an enhanced interdisciplinary undergraduate experience for students of the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. CHS undergraduates can choose between deep domain training or the flexibility of interdisciplinary training of varying breadth and depth in modules offered by both faculties. Continuing our efforts to pave more interdisciplinary pathways for students, in 2021, we merged the School of Design and Environment and the Faculty of Engineering to form the\u00a0College of Design and Engineering<\/a>. More recently, NUS launched\u00a0NUS College<\/a>, Singapore\u2019s first honours college offering pathways to more than 50 majors across a half dozen degree programmes. The aim of NUS College, as explained by its inaugural dean, Professor Simon Chesterman, \u201c[is to offer] broad, interdisciplinary competencies that equip students for life, along with the opportunity to dive deep into areas in which you are passionate.\u201d<\/p>\r\nTo quote Charles Dickens, \u201cIt was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.\u201d Indeed,\u00a0our experiences with the global pandemic and its effects on education over the past two years have given us the rare opportunity to engage in deep reflection and introspection. Witnessing the breakdown of resistance to adopting and adapting technology for teaching and learning during this time, we should be emboldened to re-examine and revolutionise some of our established, and perhaps outmoded, notions of how to offer higher education.<\/p>\r\nAbout the Author<\/strong><\/p>\r\nProfessor Tan Eng Chye is President of the National University of Singapore. A passionate academic and educator, Prof Tan is a member of the World Economic Forum\u2019s Global University Leaders\u2019 Forum, as well as Singapore\u2019s Future Economy Council, which is tasked with driving the growth and transformation of the country\u2019s future economy.<\/i><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\nThis article was first published in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 supplement and<\/i>\u00a0first appeared in <\/i>NUSNews<\/a> on<\/i> 4 November 2022.<\/i><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>Call for Nominations | FASS Inspiring Mentor Award 2022<\/a><\/h3>06 October 2022 <\/div>\r\nIN BRIEF | 3 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nWe invite NUS FASS members of staff to nominate the colleagues who have served as their truly inspiring mentors - who have gone beyond the call of duty to positively impact their work and life - for FIMA 2022 honours.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nClick through image below (or just write to fassmentoraward@nus.edu.sg<\/a>) to file your nomination.<\/p>\r\n<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>NUS FASS Faculty and Alumni Bag Top Literary Awards<\/a><\/h3>02 September 2022 <\/div>\r\n\u00a0IN BRIEF | 3 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nProfessor Wang Gungwu (NUS History<\/a>) and two FASS alumni - Yeow Kai Chai (NUS English, Linguistics and Theatre Studies<\/a>) and Wong Koi Tet (NUS Chinese Studies<\/a>) - won in three separate categories, and Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo (NUS English, Linguistics and Theatre Studies<\/a>) was presented with the SBC Achievement Award at the 2022 Singapore Literature Prize ceremony held on 25 Aug 2022 at the Victoria Theatre..<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n <\/p>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1194\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Award recipients of the 2022 Singapore Literature Prize include (from left) Professor Wang Gungwu, Mr Yeow Kai Chai, Mr Wong Koi Tet and Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\nProfessor Wang Gungwu and two NUS\u00a0Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences<\/a>\u00a0(FASS) alumni, Yeow Kai Chai and Wong Koi Tet, won in three separate categories at the 2022 Singapore Literature Prize ceremony held on 25 Aug 2022 at the Victoria Theatre. At the same ceremony, Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo was presented with the SBC Achievement\u00a0Award\u00a0by Guest-of-Honour Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law,\u00a0in recognition of his significant contributions to the literary arts scene in Singapore.<\/p>\r\nThe Singapore Literature Prize was established in 1992 by the Singapore Book Council and is Singapore's oldest ongoing literary award in all four official languages. This year's Singapore Literature Prize saw 12 winners picked from almost 200 submissions, with 35 local and foreign judges giving recognition and affirmation to the best literary works by Singapore writers.<\/p>\r\nPassing Stories on to the Next Generation<\/strong><\/i>University Professor at NUS FASS, Prof Wang, a renowned historian and leading public intellectual, was named this year's Singapore Literature Prize winner for Creative Nonfiction in English. He made history by becoming one of the two oldest winners of the Singapore Literature Prize at 91 years old, along with literary pioneer Suratman Markasan, also 91, who won for Creative Nonfiction in Malay.<\/p>\r\nProf Wang co-authored his winning book,\u00a0Home is Where We Are<\/i><\/a>, with his late wife Margaret Wang, journaling his university education in Singapore and the UK, and the early years of his career as an academic, capturing the excitement, ambition and choices of a generation that saw it their responsibility to build the new nations of Southeast Asia.<\/p>\r\nHome is Where We Are<\/i>\u00a0is the second part of his memoirs after\u00a0Home is Not Here<\/i>, an account of his younger days which he spent in three different countries before entering university.<\/p>\r\nProf Wang said Margaret and him had hoped that their book will inspire other parents and families to do likewise and write their stories to pass on history, heritage and valuable lessons to the next generations.<\/p>\r\nSharing his thoughts on the prize, Prof Wang said, \"My family and I are honoured with this recognition. The inspiration for\u00a0Home is Where We Are<\/i>\u00a0came from my late wife, Margaret. She regretted not knowing more about her mother and, 20 years ago, wrote her story to our children. She wrote so well and the children liked her story so much that they turned to me for my story. I eventually did.\"<\/p>\r\n\"Years later, I was persuaded to publish this story of my childhood as\u00a0Home is Not Here<\/i>.\u00a0My Singapore friends asked why I stopped before my joining the University of Malaya and before meeting Margaret. That led me to frame my book around what Margaret had earlier written,\" he recalled. \"With her agreement and my family's approval, the second book answered the question, 'Where then is home?' with Margaret's answer, 'Home is where we are', and that became the title of the second book.\"<\/p>\r\nProf Wang was\u00a0conferred the NUS Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters<\/a>\u00a0for his dedication to Sinology, remarkable intellect, trailblazing vision, and other public contributions in July this year.<\/p>\r\nTwo Alumni Bag Top Poetry Prizes<\/strong><\/i>Mr Yeow, an NUS FASS alumnus and renowned poet, fiction writer and editor, won the Singapore Literature Prize for Poetry in English. His poetry collection titled\u00a0One to the Dark Tower Comes<\/a>, published in 2020, is a personal and collective quest to uncover answers to life, death, grief, happiness, and the violence wrought on one another.<\/p>\r\nA former journalist, and director of the\u00a0Singapore Writers Festival from 2015 to 2018, Mr Yeow graduated with a Master of Arts from NUS FASS in 1999. This is his first Singapore Literature Prize win.<\/p>\r\nReflecting on his win, Mr Yeow said, \"I'm heartened by the recognition for my third book\u00a0One to the Dark Tower Comes<\/i>. Much of my own poetics has its foundation in my undergraduate years taking\u00a0English Language and Literature<\/a>\u00a0at FASS, getting inspired by actual poets, including seniors like Boey Kim Cheng and academics such as professors Edwin Thumboo, Arthur Yap, Lee Tzu Pheng and Leong Liew Geok.\"<\/p>\r\n\"A particular course on Contemporary American Literature by Dr Gilbert Adair was especially life-changing and opened up my eyes to more avant-garde approaches, and so I gave heartfelt thanks to him, and all at the department who have enriched my creative journey,\" he added.<\/p>\r\nFellow NUS FASS alumnus, Wong Koi Tet, took home his third Singapore Literature Prize, this year for for Creative Nonfiction in Chinese for his book,\u00a0Little Things<\/i><\/a>. The book is a collection of 50 non-fiction pieces of prose published in his personal column in\u00a0local Chinese daily,\u00a0Lianhe Zaobao<\/i>,\u00a0charting what he cites as his personal journey through the years.<\/p>\r\nDescribing his book, Mr Wong said, \"Little Things<\/i>\u00a0originated as a column I wrote for the local Chinese newspaper for a period of two years. It is both literally and symbolically about the small objects that are familiar and common to all of us. Though this book won the Singapore Literary Prize, life is not about winning, but as in the title of my book, those little things that we cherish and hold dear to our hearts. Books are one of the little things that matter the most.\"<\/p>\r\nMr Wong had a double win at the 2020 Singapore Literature Prize in both the Fiction in Chinese and Creative Nonfiction in Chinese categories.<\/p>\r\nA former journalist as well, Wong graduated with a Bachelor's degree with honours in\u00a0Chinese Studies<\/a>\u00a0from NUS FASS in 1998.<\/p>\r\nA Lifetime of Contribution to Singapore's Literature and Arts Scene<\/strong><\/i>Prof Thumboo was NUS' longest serving Dean of FASS from 1980 to 1991 and was the first Chairman and Director of the University's\u00a0Centre for the Arts<\/a>\u00a0from 1993 to 2005. He is currently Emeritus Professor, a position he has held since retiring from full-time teaching in September 1997. Prof Thumboo was awarded the Distinguished Arts and Social Sciences Alumnus Award by the faculty in 2016 in recognition of his outstanding contributions as a poet, scholar, academic leader and champion of Singapore literature.<\/p>\r\nThe SBC Achievement Award was bestowed on Prof Thumboo at the 2022 Singapore Literature Prize ceremony to mark his achievements not only as a writer but also as an educator and mentor, and his tremendous efforts to help to shape the literary arts scene in Singapore.<\/p>\r\nProf Thumboo has been hailed the unofficial poet laureate of Singapore and was the first recipient of the Cultural Medallion for Literature in 1979, widely recognised as the pinnacle arts award for dance, theatre, literature, music, photography, art and film in Singapore.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThis story first appeared in <\/i>NUSNews<\/a> on 2 September 2022.<\/i><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>Commencement 2022: Kickstarting a Season of Celebration and Achievement<\/a><\/h3>07 July 2022 <\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0IN BRIEF | 10 min read<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/strong><\/strong>NUS celebrates the milestone accomplishments of 13,975 graduates through 28 in-person ceremonies<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\t[caption id=\"attachment_1161\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Commencement celebrates the resilience and tenacity of the Class of 2022, a cohort which has spent much of its NUS education in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/strong>[\/caption]<\/p>\r\nA long-awaited season of celebration is officially under way, with the inaugural ceremony of Commencement 2022 marking the milestone achievements of some 200 Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences<\/a>\u00a0(FASS) graduates, and seeing the conferment of two Honorary Graduates, Professor Tommy Koh and Professor Wang Gungwu.<\/p>\r\nTaking place at the University Cultural Centre, the ceremony kicked off bright and early on 6 July to an effervescent buzz of anticipation from the graduates and their loved ones, inaugurating a total of 28 in-person ceremonies to be held over the following 10 days.<\/p>\r\nIn keeping with the Commencement traditions and the proud ceremonial heritage of NUS, the ceremony showcased the pageantry of the Ceremonial Procession, the fanfare, and playing of the National Anthem, all culminating in the highlight of the ceremony-the presentation of graduates. Graduates from the Class of 2022 celebrated their achievements amid the applause of family and friends, a momentous apogee of their time in NUS.<\/p>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1160\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Resilience and boldness - these are the qualities that will avail graduates in a greatly changed post-COVID landscape, said NUS President Prof Tan Eng Chye in his speech.<\/strong>[\/caption]<\/p>\r\nSpeaking at the ceremony, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye reflected on the qualities needed for graduates to thrive in today's dynamic environment: an attitude of resilience and adaptability to overcome challenges, and a willingness and boldness to view problems as opportunities, exercise creativity, and apply their skills and knowledge to create solutions.<\/p>\r\n\"For the Class of 2022, you are crossing the threshold into a wider world of dynamic change and great possibilities, but also of discomforting uncertainty,\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\"But I am fully confident that the NUS graduates of today share the same ethos of excellence and service to community of generations past. In time to come, you will undoubtedly make your own unique contributions, and become the vanguard in elevating our collective prosperity and well-being.\"<\/p>\r\n