Global university with Asian heritage
Students from around the world have been heading to Singapore to pursue world-class education at the National University of Singapore (NUS), which is built upon a century-old heritage.
Consistently placed among the top 25 globally and Asia's top three by the London Times Higher Education Supplement's ranking of the world's best universities, NUS has distinguished itself as a leading university with a global orientation and quality programs.
The National University of Singapore (NUS) President Professor Shih Choon Fong and Fudan University President Professor Wang Chenghong commemorate the establishment of a joint graduate school at the Suzhou Industrial Park in June 2004. |
"For us, a global orientation is not an option - it is a necessity," says NUS President Professor Shih Choon Fong.
The community is clearly culturally diverse, as one-third of the student body is made up of international students and a high proportion of the faculty comes from overseas. Also, the curriculum and opportunities available at NUS are reflective of the school's global emphasis.
Global programs that have found popularity among students at NUS are the student exchange programs with its overseas colleges and more than 200 partner universities around the world.
Students can spend a year at Stanford University in California, the University of Pennsylvania, Fudan University in Shanghai, Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, or Stockholm's Royal Institute of Technology while engaging in full-time internships with dynamic start-up companies in the area.
The National University of Singapore (NUS) also offers students the opportunity to pursue unique joint degree programs with leading universities around the world. Whether it's a degree in engineering from the Massachusettes Institute of Technology (MIT) or an MBA with the University of California in Los Angeles, NUS encourages students to make the most of all the resources available.
Programs such as these link NUS with other top-tier universities around the world and afford NUS students the invaluable opportunity to work and learn in globally competitive environments.
The student body of the National University of Singapore reflects the growing diversity of the region and the world. |
A new program being created on campus at NUS, the residential college system, aims to bring an even more global experience to the school.
"This new residential college system, with 40 percent of the residents coming from abroad, will create a rich global learning environment for all students involved," says NUS President Professor Shih Choon Fong, who spearheaded the program.
"It will allow students to mix disciplines, cultures and geographies in and out of the classroom, helping us to create a holistic learning experience for developing cross-cultural awareness and global perspectives."
The program will consist of seven residential colleges and enroll about 5,000 students. The colleges will revolve around different themes, ranging from the environment to media, enabling students to broaden their perspectives.
This experience will emphasize English as a common language throughout the campus. With English as the language of business in Singapore and the world, it has a predominant role at NUS. Foreign students can go to NUS to learn English in a dynamic and conducive environment.
With its myriad of global opportunities, NUS has become an ideal place for Chinese students to join their international colleagues in the classroom and abroad.
"In a world of increasing cultural complexity, our students must learn to transcend boundaries of place, identity and norms, as well as bridge diverse cultures and perspectives," says Professor Shih.
"International exchange programs, overseas colleges and a diverse student community on campus help foster cross-cultural understanding, and nurture global minds."
For more information, please visit: www.nus.edu.sg
(China Daily 03/12/2007 page1)
