NUS launches bond-free Master’s sponsorship for employees

The National University of Singapore (NUS) has launched, for the first time, a new Master’s degree sponsorship scheme for staff to pursue postgraduate studies at NUS as a means of upskilling and upgrading. The new initiative, which underscores the University’s commitment to invest in the career growth and professional development of its employees, was announced internally to all NUS staff earlier this week.

Under the new NUS Master’s Sponsorship scheme, executive and administrative (E&A) staff[1] at NUS who have been with the University for at least three years, and fulfill other eligibility criteria[2], may apply for a full tuition fee sponsorship to pursue a relevant non-government subsidised[3] part-time Master’s degree programme offered by one of NUS’ 16 colleges, faculties and schools[4]. The sponsorship award is bond-free. Admission to the relevant Master’s degree programme is based on merit, and NUS employees are subject to the same admission requirements as all other applicants.

NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye said: “NUS is committed to fostering a strong culture of lifelong learning amongst our employees. The new NUS Master’s Sponsorship scheme complements our existing initiatives in empowering our employees to deep-skill and upskill at all stages of their professional life. By making available such learning and development opportunities, we want to enable our employees to be future-ready and fulfill their career aspirations with NUS.”

Five in 10 NUS E&A staff are digital and AI-literate

The NUS Master’s Sponsorship scheme is the latest in a sustained rollout in recent years of staff-focused professional development programmes by the University to help its over 5,000 E&A staff further their professional development and upgrade their skills. These initiatives include:

• The Talent Development Sponsorship Scheme, which was introduced in 2021 and offers subsidies of up to S$20,000 for eligible staff who wish to pursue relevant Executive, Graduate, or Professional Certificates and Qualifications and part-time NUS Bachelor programmes, as well as non-NUS part-time Master’s degree programmes offered by other reputable Institutes of Higher Learning.
• The Skills Transformation Fund, set up in 2021 and topped up yearly, allows eligible employees to offset fees for relevant Continuing Education and Training courses, job-related training, and courses leading to NUS Professional or Graduate Certificates, to support their journey of continuous learning.
• University-wide skills upgrading programmes, such as the Data Literacy Programme (DLP) introduced in 2020, and the Artificial Intelligence Competency Course (AICC) introduced in early 2021, which have helped to equip E&A staff with emerging skills and perspectives needed to thrive in a digital future. To date, over 50% of NUS E&A staff have completed DLP, and over 45% have completed AICC.

NUS’ Chief People Officer Mr Kevin Chua said: “At NUS, our people are our greatest asset. As the future of work continues to evolve, we believe in providing a wide range of opportunities to help our staff learn continuously across a wide range of areas, as well as adopt new and emerging skillsets. This will help them to develop the necessary agility, adaptability, and flexibility to navigate the complex economy and global disruptions that increasingly characterise the workplace of the future. All the programmes and policies we have put in place, including the new NUS Master’s Sponsorship scheme, underscore the University’s deep commitment in preparing our staff to embrace the future economies, and empowering them to take charge of their lifelong learning.

[1] Excludes faculty and research staff.

[2] These include a good track record of strong work performance, and endorsement by the employee’s Head of Department.

[3] NUS has a separate scheme offering concessionary rates on tuition fees for NUS employees who wish to enrol in government-subsidised Master’s programmes.

[4] The list of self-funded (non-government subsidised) NUS Master’s degree programme can be found here.