14
May
2014
|
16:10
Asia/Singapore

Grade-free semester for most NUS freshmen, with industry attachments for Engineering and Computing students

Initiatives are among changes being made to education framework to further enhance quality of education and to better prepare future-ready graduates

The National University of Singapore (NUS) today announced that the University will be implementing several new initiatives this year to further enhance the quality of the NUS educational experience and preparation of the University's graduates for the changing nature of work in the future.

Professor Tan Eng Chye, Deputy President (Academic Affairs) & Provost, said: “Many talented Singaporean students – including most of the top 10 per cent of each birth cohort – come to NUS. Our students go through a distinctive educational experience that is comprehensive, robust and highly regarded. NUS graduates are much sought after by employers, both in Singapore and overseas.

What we are aiming to accomplish with these new initiatives is to enable our students to fully focus on optimising their learning outcomes while at NUS. At the same time, we want to ensure that our students are 'future-ready' for the unique challenges of the 21st century workplace, in Singapore and overseas.”

In the recent QS World University Rankings by Subject released in February 2014, a rise in international employer reputation was seen across 18 of the 27 subjects applicable to NUS. In particular, employers rated highly, graduates from NUS programmes in computer science & information systems, chemical engineering, civil & structural engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering.

In Academic Year 2014/15, NUS will be introducing additional initiatives to further enhance student learning outcomes, as well as the career-readiness of its students:

A. Enhancing the quality of an NUS education

• Grade-free first semester

NUS will be implementing a grade-free first semester for first-year undergraduates who are on the modular system, starting with the 2014/15 cohort. This new initiative will be available to an estimated 6,000 freshmen in Arts & Social Sciences, Business, Computing, Design and Environment, Engineering, Music, Nursing and Science. These students will have the flexibility to opt for a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grading for first semester modules. Students would be given a specific grade for their performance in these modules; those who prefer to keep the grade can opt to count the grade towards their Cumulative Average Point (CAP).

Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Yale-NUS College already have grade-free systems in place. Further, the Faculty of Law is also implementing a grade-free system tailored to its non-modular curriculum for its first-year undergraduates in the new academic year. In total, the grade-free first semester will be available to close to 6,700 NUS freshmen from August 2014.

• New General Education curriculum

NUS will introduce a new General Education (GE) curriculum in Academic Year (AY) 2015/16, where students will be required to read three GE modules including one module each from the pillars of Human Cultures and Endeavours, Quantitative Reasoning, and Thinking and Expression; and a Singapore Studies module.

The revised GE structure, when implemented, will offer a more structured approach to broaden the intellectual base of students, and help develop skills necessary for life-long inquiry and learning.

B. Nurturing future-ready graduates

• Industry attachments

Internships and industry attachments are currently offered to NUS students through various programmes managed by offices such as the NUS Career Centre, NUS Overseas Colleges and the respective Faculties and Schools. Students have the flexibility to plan their educational pathways, and many are voluntarily taking up internships to gain practical work experience. Our students have benefited greatly from the University's strong partnerships with a wide range of industry players.

To augment the current efforts, the University will take a phased approach toward formalising industry attachments as an integral part of the NUS undergraduate experience. Starting with students who are admitted in AY 2014/15, all Engineering and Computing students will be required to complete industry attachments as part of the undergraduate curriculum. The University will work closely with industry partners to organise constructive internships for some 1,800 students each year to gain practical work experience and better understand the needs and demands of the workplace. The initiative will be extended to other Faculties and Schools progressively.

• Expansion of the role of NUS Career Centre

The role of the NUS Career Centre will be expanded from its current role of preparing students for future careers, to proactively enhancing the employability of NUS graduates and facilitating job placements. Details on these new programmes will be shared in due course.

• Ridge View Residential College to admit pioneer batch of 200 students

Ridge View Residential College (RVRC) is a new and unique residential learning experience for NUS undergraduates focusing on career preparation and student exposure to industry. The year-long residential programme will be open to freshmen from Arts and Social Sciences, Engineering, Computing, Design and Environment, and Science. The College will run seminars, visits as well as a mentorship scheme to provide students with opportunities to engage and interact with industry players. RVRC will admit its pioneer cohort of 200 students in AY2014/15, and is expected to take in 600 students per year from AY2016/17 onwards.

“Collectively, these new initiatives strengthen the high quality, global and Asian educational experience for NUS students. They also enhance the preparedness of our students for their future careers in Singapore and beyond. High academic standards and rigour, a global and Asian experience, as well as real-world relevance will continue to be hallmarks of an NUS education,” said Prof Tan.