Education is at the core of our role as a university. We are committed to preparing our students for a complex world, and nurturing our employees to fulfill their potential. Talent is our bedrock, and we seek to nurture it in inclusive and accessible ways.
Our key areas of impact
DEVELOPING FUTURE-READY TALENT
The workplace of the future demands resilience and adaptability. It requires talented individuals who can think and work across multiple domains, and who are keen to reskill and upskill. Each semester, NUS strives to nurture these traits and capabilities in over 40,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students who participate in almost 4,000 modules across 17 faculties and schools.
Our Undergraduates
0
undergraduates
enrolled annually>0%
of total university enrolment
in Singapore
0.0%
graduation rate
0.0%
first-year retention rate
Data represents the average between Jan 2016 – Dec 2019
Graduate Employability
-
0 in 0
NUS students find employment within
six months of graduation
Based on Joint Autonomous Universities Graduate Employment Survey
AY2016 – AY2019
-
0 in 0
students access the employment resources
at Centre for Future-Ready Graduates
Ranked
-
0th
for employability in the Global Employability Ranking and Survey 2020
The Global Employability Ranking and Survey is the largest and longest running ranking of global employability worldwide. Through this survey, NUS joins the ranks of universities like the California Institute of Technology, Harvard University, the University of Oxford and the University of Tokyo in global employability.
-
NUS graduates commanded an
0% premium
in mean gross monthly salary compared to graduates from other local autonomous universities in 2019
-
Graduate Employment Rate1
-
Graduate Mean Income
(gross monthly in SGD)
1 Percentage of students within the same cohort who found employment within six months of graduation
* Includes graduates on the SGUnited Traineeships Programme
** Full-time permanent employment
Rethinking education
The jobs of the future require problem-solvers who see solutions in the spaces between disciplines and integrate insights across different fields. At NUS, we have always nurtured adaptability and resilience in our students. We continue to champion interdisciplinary learning.
Pioneering interdisciplinary learning
The new College of Humanities and Sciences, launched in December 2020, enables student-centric pathways with more choice and flexibility. More than 2,000 undergraduate students will be admitted every year into the College. Students will have access to more than 1,000 modules offered by both the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Science, based on a curated curriculum. This unique pedagogy will be reinforced with experiential learning, which gives students real-world experience and increases their market relevancy.
“Students will learn to harness and integrate knowledge, insights, skills and experiences across disciplines, and be more proficient in presenting informed solutions to the multifaceted problems they will face in their future careers.”
Professor Tan Eng Chye
NUS President
Shaping the future workforce
Classroom education at NUS is reinforced with internships, fieldwork and capstone projects. Such experiential learning helps our students acquire skills and knowledge for the future of work and explore their passions.
Nurturing the next generation of community leaders
The Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme (CTPCLC) was established in 2011 with generous gifts from Mr Chua Thian Poh, a philanthropist and business leader. The programme aims to groom the next generation of community leaders to address social challenges. To date, about 500 students have partnered with more than 100 community organisations and acquired hands-on experience in community development work.
CTPCLC gave me the opportunity to read the module on social entrepreneurship. Coupled with the heightened awareness of different marginalised communities through my involvement in the interest hubs, these experiences led me to think about using entrepreneurship to address social issues in Singapore. I went on to do an internship with a social enterprise start-up, which further increased my interest to embark on my social entrepreneurship journey.
Mr Lim Wei Jie
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Class of 2017Co-Founder, Foreword Coffee
Providing a global learning experience
We provide our students with a plethora of opportunities to live, study and work abroad. This global learning experience nurtures their cross-cultural adaptability and equips them to thrive as citizens of the world.
Our global initiatives include, among others:
- Student Exchange Programme
- International Summer/Winter and International Research Attachment programmes
- Study Trips for Engagement and Enrichment
“The Student Exchange Programme was definitely a great experience. I have gained so much more than I expected, learnt a great deal about American/Mexican culture, lived with people whom I initially didn’t know, and ultimately, I feel that this experience has shaped me into a much more independent person.”
Ms Marilyn Yong
School of Design and Environment, Class of 2020
Student Exchange Programme
>0
international partner universities in
>0
countries
>0
students enrolled in international programmes
from AY2016 – AY20190%
increase from the previous
four-year period
PROMOTING A CULTURE OF LIFELONG LEARNING
Continual learning and growth is key to thriving in today’s fast-changing world of disruptive innovation. We seek to be partners to our students and the greater public in their journey of lifelong learning. The School of Continuing and Lifelong Education, established in 2016, provides further momentum to our efforts in championing and innovating Continuing Education and Training. In 2019, we partnered with the global online education portal edX to offer a range of courses to learners around the world.
Continuing Education and Training
Number of Continuing Education and Training days conducted at NUS
CY – Calendar Year
Provided
>0
people with continuing education
opportunities since 2016
>0
students took up continuing education programmes at NUS
>0
participants in corporate education courses
>0
people took up free publicly available NUS Massive Open Online Courses
AY2016 – AY2020 (Dec 2020)
Reskilling for a digital world – a journey of continuous education
In 2019, Ms Florence Ong lost her job in sales due to organisational restructuring. She found a position in a consultancy firm that required new digital marketing skills. To prepare for this role, she enrolled in the Professional Certificate Programme in Digital Sales. Florence learnt how to strategically utilise marketing software and applications. She has since been able to effectively drive sales digitally, adding value to her new role.
I have close to 25 years’ experience in Sales and Business Development across various industries, and pride myself on my commitment to lifelong learning. Enrolling in the Professional Certificate Programme in Digital Sales prepared me with knowledge and skills in marketing and analytics for a digital world.
Ms Florence Ong
PROVIDING INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION
NUS provides equal opportunities to students of all backgrounds. We offer an array of financial aid schemes both directly and in partnership with the Ministry of Education and other organisations; no student will be denied admission to the University because of his or her financial circumstances.
Financial Aid
-
S$0.0M
in financial aid provided, benefitting
0%
of each cohort
0
undergraduates received financial aid per academic year, on average
AY2016 – AY2020 (Dec 2020)
Benefitting from bursary support
Growing up in a big family with limited means, Mr Lim Chong Tee usually played with pre-loved toys, even if they were not in working order. “I’d usually spend some time after school trying to make them work again, using whatever materials that were available,” he said. This experience stood him in good stead and paved the way for Wateroam, the social enterprise he co-founded while at NUS.
While studying at NUS, Chong Tee had to teach multiple tuition classes to earn his allowance. He also took on various leadership roles, mentored international students and provided free tuition to underprivileged children. With the NUS Donated Bursary, he was able to bring some balance to his university life.
With the bursary, I was able to give fewer tuition classes every week, put more energy into developing my academic, technical and entrepreneurial skills, and have more time with my family on weekends.
Mr Lim Chong Tee
Faculty of Engineering, Class of 2016Co-founder, Wateroam
Supporting students through COVID-19
Two funds have been specially set up to help NUS students whose families have been financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic:
- The NUS Students Solidarity Fund: Provides a one-time grant of S$400 to students in need of immediate support. It was set up in April 2020 with an initial sum donated by alumni and the NUS community
- The NUSSU Unity Relief Fund of S$200,000: Launched by the NUS Students’ Union (NUSSU), it provides a one-time disbursement of S$250 for affected undergraduates.
NUS Students Solidarity Fund
-
S$0.0M
raised from the NUS community, benefitting
>0
students
As at 31 Dec 2020
Fostering diversity, equity and inclusion
We value diversity and strive to provide an inclusive education. The Office of Student Affairs and the student community organise various initiatives to raise awareness of our diversity and inclusion agenda, such as:
- Diversity and Inclusion grant to support projects that foster an inclusive campus culture
- NUS Enablers, a peer-support group for students with disabilities, which also raises awareness of disability inclusion on campus
- Respect and Consent Workshop, which aims to educate the NUS community about an inclusive and respectful campus/workplace culture
- SG Kaki Programme, which pairs international students with local NUS students to promote intercultural friendship
We also reach out to students with special needs through:
- Disability Support Office, which supports students with disabilities and special education needs
- NUS Centre for Future-Ready Graduates, which assists with internship requests and job opportunities
- Special Education Needs Fund, for the use of Assistive Technology devices and/or support services
EMPOWERING OUR EMPLOYEES
Our ability to deliver impactful education, research and innovation, and administration rests on our dedicated community of 13,000 diverse and capable staff. To help them grow professionally, we offer various avenues for career advancement and self-improvement.
Our Employees
>0
staff have completed leadership, management,
and career and professional development training
Financial Year (FY) 2016 – FY2020 (Dec 2020)
0
staff participated in the
Data Literacy Programme in 2020
~0
staff have taken up tuition assistance
for degree courses
Financial Year (FY) 2016 – FY2020 (Dec 2020)
0%
staff who feel their career goals
can be achieved at NUS
Organisational Agility Survey, Mar 2020
Advancing careers and professional growth
We champion learning among our staff, as it is critical for both career advancement and self-development. Besides existing professional development programmes, Executive and Administrative employees can take advantage of a guided learning pathway rolled out in 2020. Designed with future-readiness in mind, this pathway includes a Data Literacy Programme and Artificial Intelligence Literacy Programme. Besides growing a culture of data literacy in NUS, these programmes are aimed at developing a pool of staff who will be able to support data analytics at the University.
Grooming emerging talent
We develop young talented academics by providing them with the resources they need to thrive in their early careers. These resources include:
-
Overseas Graduate Scholarship and Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship
Nurture high calibre Singaporean talents for a career in academia by supporting their doctoral studies abroad. Upon completion, they are expected to compete for a position as an assistant professor on the tenure track.
49 awardees
-
Development Grant
Provides additional resources to young Singaporean academics early in their research career, sharpening their competitive edge amid an international cohort.
35 awardees
-
Inauguration Grant
Offers a S$200,000 cash grant to attract Singaporean academics to join the University as pre-tenure track assistant professors, as part of efforts to build a strong bench of Singaporean faculty.
14 awardees
-
Presidential Young Professorship Scheme
Provides grant funding of up to S$1 million for research, as well as funding for supporting activities in both STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and non-STEM (business, economics, law, art, humanities and social sciences) research fields.
22 awardees
CY2016 – CY2020
We also offer a dedicated full-time educator track to attract faculty members who approach teaching as a scholarly practice, empowering them to innovate teaching practices and contribute to pedagogical knowledge. The Educator Development Fund, set up in 2020, further incentivises them to develop their expertise and educational leadership.
Award-winning electronic skin
Assistant Professor Benjamin Tee is a Presidential Young Professorship (PYP) awardee from NUS Engineering. He leads a team of scientists to develop electronic skin for use in robotics and prosthetic devices.
Electronic skin is transparent, stretchable, touch-sensitive and self-healing. It has a variety of applications, from water-resistant touchscreens to aquatic soft robots. It also has the potential to reduce electronic waste.
Assistant Professor Tee’s team has paired this self-healing electronic skin with another of their innovations, the Asynchronous Coded Electronic Skin (ACES) – an artificial nervous system capable of detecting touch more than 1,000 times faster than the human sensory nervous system – to create a new smart skin that gives prosthetic users a better sense of touch. Other potential applications include developing intelligent robots that can perform disaster recovery tasks or take over more mundane operations, such as packing in warehouses.
Millions of tonnes of electronic waste from devices like broken mobile phones or tablets are generated globally every year. We are hoping to create a future where electronic devices made from intelligent materials can perform self-repair functions to reduce the amount of electronic waste in the world.
Assistant Professor Benjamin Tee
Faculty of Engineering
Creating a best-in-class administration
To create a best-in-class and future-ready administration, NUS embarked on an Organisational Excellence initiative in 2018 to support the University’s strategic goals in four key domains:
- Corporate (Human Resources, Information Technology, Finance and Procurement)
- Academic
- Research
- University Campus Infrastructure
The Organisational Excellence initiative has also spurred talent development.
- Since 2018, 37 high-potential individuals have been seconded to the Organisational Excellence Transformation Unit from units
across the University. After a year, they move on to new appointments with valuable experience from cross-functional university-wide projects. - The 18-month rotational NUS Associate Management Programme has provided opportunities for 22 young graduates who bring fresh perspectives to key projects that support administrative transformation.
The Organisational Excellence initiative has created an agile and more progressive work culture. It has also led to productivity increase and substantial cost savings through professionalising our employees and automating and digitalising work processes.
In 2020
0
Organisational Excellence projects
were completed0
staff were professionalised
from 75 units0
new and upgraded major systems to improve
administrative functions were introduced