NUS introduces lifelong learning initiative for alumni
140 modules available for free to alumni in first year of pilot initiative
Singapore, 8 May 2017 – The National University of Singapore (NUS) has introduced a new lifelong learning initiative for its alumni to take up courses at the University over the next three years, as part of NUS’ efforts in promoting lifelong learning. In the first-year pilot phase that begins this August, a total of 140 modules spanning a wide range of subject areas from computing and engineering to science and business will be open to NUS alumni.
Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost, said, “We are excited to welcome our alumni back to school, as we continue our efforts to support the national SkillsFuture movement, and make lifelong learning a critical part of our DNA.
“With the rapidly changing world, our graduates have to learn and adapt as they develop their careers, and in tandem with that, our mental construct of a university education has to change. NUS hopes to further engage our extensive network of 278,000 alumni by providing new and progressive courses and programmes, to continually enhance the capabilities and competencies of our students and graduates. Our initiative is an encouragement for our alumni, new and old, to start adopting this lifelong learning mindset.”
The 140 modules are offered by eight schools and faculties at the University, namely the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, NUS Business School, School of Computing, School of Design and Environment, Faculty of Engineering, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Faculty of Science, and the School for Continuing and Lifelong Education (SCALE). Close to 770 places will be available for NUS alumni. The majority of the courses on offer are at the postgraduate levels, but the wide ranging selection also includes undergraduate modules. The University may expand the course offerings after the pilot phase.
Some interesting modules on offer include:
- Prescribed Text in Literature (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)
- Financial Risk Management (NUS Business School)
- Pricing Models and Strategy (NUS Business School)
- Phenomena and Theories of Human-Computer Interaction (School of Computing)
- Massive Data Processing Techniques in Data Science (School of Computing)
- Integrated Building Design (School of Design and Environment)
- Machine Vision (Faculty of Engineering)
- TechLaunch – Experiential Entrepreneurship (Faculty of Engineering)
- Social Entrepreneurship (Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy)
- Materials for Chemical Engineers (SCALE)
- Mechanics of Solids (SCALE)
- Stem Cell Biology (Faculty of Science)
- Nutritional Biochemistry (Faculty of Science)
The three-year initiative will begin with a one-year pilot from August 2017 to July 2018, during which the modules will be available for free to NUS alumni. In the subsequent two years, course fees — which range about $3,000 to $3,500 per module — will continue to be waived, with only a Student Services Fee of $261.85 payable per semester. NUS alumni can take up to two modules over the next three years, from 1 August 2017 to 30 July 2020, limited to one module per semester to open up learning opportunities for more NUS alumni.
Alumni enrolled in these modules will study alongside current NUS students during regular term time, which typically runs from August to December, and January to May. Priority in signing up for these modules will still be given to current NUS students, with no more than 10 per cent of each class comprising alumni. Sign-ups for NUS alumni will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Interested NUS alumni can browse the course catalogue and apply for courses online from today at http://scale.nus.edu.sg/programmes/AlumniLifelongLearning.html. Applications close on 31 May 2017.
