The University Scholars Leadership Symposium (USLS) is a week-long leadership development training programme. The symposium has been designed for young persons who are committed to making this world a much better place for the human race.

Aligning strongly with the symposium’s idea of having a team of delegates demonstrating strong leadership potential as well as having a genuine appreciation for different perspectives, NTU-USP supports a team of delegates, every year, consisting of individuals with diverse interests, backgrounds and ambitions for the event.

For more information regarding the USLS, please refer to the link: https://humanitarianaffairs.org/usls.

The Virtual Fireside Chat Series is a series of talks that aims to bring about greater exchange of knowledge on a variety of topics of interest to benefit the Premier Scholars Programme students by expanding horizons, encouraging critical thinking and broaden learning beyond their curriculum.

Speakers will be invited to share their expertise and research on various topics from culture and the arts, business and entrepreneurship, philosophy, modern science and technology to politics.

It also serves as a platform for the speakers and students to interact and learn from each other, gain fresh perspectives and foster a community of curious learners.

The Majulah Lecture series is an initiative by NTU to invite an eminent speaker each year to deliver and address topics that bear Singapore’s future, issues of global concern, or discoveries that have transformative impact on society. This new lecture series represents NTU's aspiration to contribute to Singapore's development and to grow as a global university. In the 2017 lecture, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, then Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies was featured. 

​Before the lecture, our scholars alongside scholars from the other Premier Scholars' Programmes (PSP) attended closed forums where they were posed with intriguing topics and partake in discussions with lecturers in a roundtable format. The feedback, as well as discussions, were later collated and reviewed for the guest speaker as additional talking points during the NTU Majulah Lecture in 2017. 

There were a total of 4 forums being held with topics such as, "How is Singapore being affected by emerging economies?", "LGBTQIA: On Inclusive Society and Gender Identity.", "Integration of Special Needs Students in Mainstream Schools.", "Social Media and its Effect on SIngaporean Cultures and Identities.". 

The symposium was held on 11 March 2017 and organised in conjunction with the NTU-USP elective “SP0085: Gender Roles – Communication Culture”. The course offered a multidisciplinary approach to gender role studies within the context of communication, an interdisciplinary academic field that explores critical questions about the representation of gender in society. The primary goal of this course is to familiarise students with key issues, questions and debates concerning gender roles, with a particular emphasis on communication and culture. It is NTU-USP’s aim that the symposium featuring international speakers will acquaint students with perspectives about gender roles in Asia, particularly Southeast Asia.

The symposium featured a myriad of speakers from various universities and organisations such as, Australia National University (ANU), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Singapore Management University (SMU), Chulalongkorn University (CU), Association of Women for Action and Research Singapore (AWARE) and Aproposito. 

Organised by NTU-University Scholars Programme and supported by Temasek Foundation, the STEP Youth Regional Affairs Dialogue was first started in 2019 as a platform for university students in Asia to enhance their leadership skills and broaden their understanding of geopolitics.

Every year, the dialogue highlights a different topic of discussion. In 2019, the dialogue focused on 3 broad areas — Society and Culture, Economies and Economics, and Politics and Policies. This further branched out into 3 sub-areas — smart cities, transportation, and heritage. Based on their learnings on these themes, the participants prepared a final group presentation on the topic, “Utopia and Dystopia 2050”, wherein they envisioned both an optimistic and pessimistic future.

To facilitate their learnings and discussions, site visits and heritage tours were conducted around Singapore. This included guided tours to civic district tour sites like the former Fullerton Building, Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, Former Parliament House and Annex Building, and Cavenagh Bridge.

Take a peek into 2019’s dialogue and find out from the participants themselves how their experience was in the video below!

NTU Singapore and Temasek Foundation hots Asia's young leaders at regional dialogue to discuss inequality

Singapore, 4 January 2021

Some 90 student leaders from Asia are converging in person and virtually at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) this week to discuss potential solutions to the region’s social inequality at the second STEP Youth Regional Affairs Dialogue.

Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Finance delivered the keynote address today, on the second day of the Dialogue.

Held from 3 to 9 January, the Dialogue, organised by NTU and Temasek Foundation, involves young leaders analysing and proposing fresh solutions to address social inequality. Five aspects of social inequality are being discussed: businesses and occupations; culture and heritage; gender and diversity; healthcare and well-being; and knowledge.

The conversations are led and facilitated by professors from NTU’s University Scholars Programme and their academic peers from Asian universities, as well as leading experts and social innovators. The guest speakers include Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Singapore’s former communications and information minister and current advisor to the president of Singapore Institute of Technology, and Ms Debbie Fordyce, president of Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), a Singapore society that seeks to promote the rights and wellbeing of migrant workers.

Professor Ling San, NTU Deputy President and Provost, said, “NTU Singapore is proud to host the Dialogue this year for the second time. This year’s Dialogue takes place amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has shed light on stark inequality across the globe, such as access to healthcare, digital technology, education and jobs. As we begin to reimagine and rebuild a new post-COVID-19 world, there is no better time for us to come together and discuss these issues and provide fresh solutions to address these challenges.”

Mr Benedict Cheong, Chief Executive of Temasek Foundation International, said, “As part of our STEP Endowment programmes, Temasek Foundation is once again happy to be supporting the STEP Youth Regional Affairs Dialogue.  True to our mission, we believe that it is important to create platforms such as the Dialogue to foster international exchange, as it provides leaders of tomorrow with the knowledge and tools to work together to create a better future for the region - something that is now more pertinent than ever.”

The participating students were selected from more than 380 applicants from universities in Singapore and the region. In total, 21 countries are represented, including the 10 ASEAN economies and other Asian countries, regions and territories, such as Bhutan, China, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Taiwan.

*** END ***

Media contact:

 Feisal Abdul Rahman

Senior Assistant Director

Corporate Communications Office

Nanyang Technological University

Tel: (65) 6790 6687; Mobile: (65) 9675 1517

Email: [email protected]

 About Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

A research-intensive public university, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has 33,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Engineering, Business, Science, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, and Graduate colleges. It also has a medical school, the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, established jointly with Imperial College London.

NTU is also home to world-class autonomous institutes – the National Institute of Education, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Earth Observatory of Singapore, and Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering – and various leading research centres such as the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI) and Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N).

Ranked amongst the world’s top universities by QS, NTU has also been named the world’s top young university for the past seven years. The University’s main campus is frequently listed among the Top 15 most beautiful university campuses in the world and has 57 Green Mark-certified (equivalent to LEED-certified) buildings, of which 95% are certified Green Mark Platinum. Apart from its main campus, NTU also has a campus in Novena, Singapore’s healthcare district.

Under the NTU Smart Campus vision, the University harnesses the power of digital technology and tech-enabled solutions to support better learning and living experiences, the discovery of new knowledge, and the sustainability of resources.

For more information, visit www.ntu.edu.sg

===========

Official press release can be found here.

NTU Singapore and Temasek Foundation launch STEP Youth Regional Affairs Dialogue to develop and connect Asia’s emerging leaders

Published on: 03-Aug-2019

More than 70 outstanding young leaders from 18 Asian countries and regions are gathering in Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), for the inaugural STEP Youth Regional Affairs Dialogue that aims to build their leadership skills and geopolitical and cultural understanding. 

Organised by NTU’s University Scholars Programme and supported by Temasek Foundation, the eight-day event from 2 to 9 August also aims to foster among participants an appreciation of the complex and interconnected social, economic and political factors that are shaping Asia today and into the future. 

Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Education, is delivering the keynote address at the Dialogue’s second day today, on the topic, "Regional Efforts for an Inter-Connected World".

The undergraduate participants, who come from the 10 ASEAN countries, as well as Asian countries and regions, including Bhutan, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan, were selected to be part of the Dialogue from over 200 applicants. 

Professor Ling San, NTU Provost and Vice-President (Academic), said, "NTU is launching the inaugural STEP Youth Regional Affairs Dialogue with the aim of building a network of connections among future Asian leaders, as well as to foster an appreciation of the complex, interwoven social, economic and political developments that define Asia today, and that are shaping the Asia of tomorrow. Through this Dialogue, we hope to create mutual understanding and strengthen the bonds of friendship, particularly among Asia's potential future leaders who will reach the peak of their profession and societal influence in 20 to 30 years’ time."

Mr Benedict Cheong, Chief Executive of Temasek Foundation International, said, “Through our STEP series of programmes, Temasek Foundation brings together youth leaders from across Asia to bond together and learn from each other. The programmes cover areas such as leadership, science and technology, as well as sports and culture. Through the STEP Youth Regional Affairs Dialogue, we hope that participants will gain a deeper appreciation of the inter-connectedness of Asian communities in areas such as the economy and regional affairs. The participants will also have a wonderful opportunity to build lasting friendships across borders.”

As part of the programme, participants will get to meet their peers from the region, and engage with internationally renowned professors and experts on the key themes of Society and Culture, Economies and Economics, and Politics and Policies. They include Professor Joseph Liow, Dean of NTU's College of Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences; Mr Eduardo Pedrosa, Secretary-General of Pacific Economic Cooperation Council; and Mr Paul Tan, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of National Arts Council.

The participants will also get to learn more about Singapore’s challenges and opportunities confronting smart cities, mass transport, and cultural heritage through educational visits at the Housing & Development Board, Jewel Changi Airport and National Heritage Board. 

Temasek Foundation is supporting this programme through its STEP Endowment. The STEP Endowment focuses on leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, science, technology, environmental sustainability, and social and cultural activities, to enable young people in Asia to build bridges of friendship, goodwill and understanding.

*** END ***

Media Contacts

About Nanyang Technological University

A research-intensive public university, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has 33,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Engineering, Business, Science, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, and Graduate colleges. It also has a medical school, the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, set up jointly with Imperial College London.

NTU is also home to world-class autonomous institutes – the National Institute of Education, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Earth Observatory of Singapore, and Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering – and various leading research centres such as the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI) and Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N).

Ranked 11th in the world, NTU has been placed the world’s top young university for the past six years. The University’s main campus is frequently listed among the Top 15 most beautiful university campuses in the world and it has 57 Green Mark-certified (equivalent to LEED-certified) building projects comprising more than 230 buildings, of which 95% are certified Green Mark Platinum. Apart from its main campus, NTU also has a campus in Singapore’s healthcare district.

For more information, visit www.ntu.edu.sg

About Temasek Foundation

Temasek Foundation supports a diverse range of programmes that uplift lives and advance communities in Singapore and beyond. These are made possible through non-profit philanthropic endowments, gifted by Temasek and managed by the Temasek Foundation under its respective mandates.

For more information, visit www.temasekfoundation.org.sg.

===========

Official press release can be found here.

Last updated: 04 October 2022

The Global Undergraduate Awards is the world’s leading undergraduate awards programme which recognises top undergraduate work, shares this work with a global audience and connects students across cultures and disciplines. Out of all the entries submitted yearly, the best 10% of work is shortlisted as Highly Commended, and the top submission in this category is deemed the Regional Winner.

It is our greatest pleasure to congratulate 3 of our NTU-USP scholars for landing a spot in these categories!

Regional Winners

Congratulations to Ng Xin Le and Shantini Rajasingam for claiming the Regional Winner Award in each of their categories!

Xin Le, from Art History was announced as the Regional Winner in the category of Art History & Theory, while Shantini, from Sociology was announced as the Regional Winner in the category of Social Sciences: Sociology & Social Policy.

Highly Commended

Congratulations also to Ang Wei Xiang from Philosophy whose work was shortlisted as the best 10% of entries submitted, and listed as Highly Commended in the category of Social Sciences: Sociology & Social Policy.

Congratulations to all of you, we are so proud of you and your hard work!

Congratulations to Professor Peng Hwa Ang (NTU–USP Director, 2021– Present) for being awarded the Public Service Star at the National Day Awards 2022!

Professor Ang's award is in recognition of his role as Vice-President of the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) Central Committee, where he has worked to improve the environment for all consumers in Singapore. Prof Ang says he knows of many instances of consumers being able to get redress because of the work done by CASE and he hopes that others will also step up to volunteer for such organisations.

Read more about it here.

HSBC Private Banking Case Challenge 2020

Our heartiest congratulations to our NTU-USP scholars for emerging 1st Runner Up in the recent HSBC Private Banking Case Challenge 2020!

In this challenge, Team Mayday Capital, consisting of (from left to right) Jonathan Soh from Business and Master of Science in Financial Engineering, Oong Li Yin, Ada Lim, and Raynold Lim from Accountancy and Business, put their macroeconomics and wealth management knowledge to the test. The team bested 167 teams in Singapore to finish in the Top 2.

Being a part of the NTU-USP programme has given them multiple opportunities to work together and foster a strong collaborative attitude. “Despite having limited time to prepare the deliverables in each round, our team dynamic allowed us to pull through,” recalled Jonathan.

Our NTU-USP scholars are also grateful for the support from their mentors at HSBC and their professors at Nanyang Business School for equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve this success.

Read more about the case competition here.

NUS-SGX Stock Pitch Competition 2021

Our heartiest congratulations to our NTU-USP scholars: Huang Guangci, Paxton Ong, Tay Wee Kuang and their team mate Wang Weiduo for emerging 1st Runner Up in the seventh edition of the NUS-SGX Stock Pitch Competition 2021.

The Challenge is an initiative that connects the academic and corporate worlds of equity research and investment management, and aims to encourage the younger generation to consider investing early. 

Competing against 120 teams, the NTU team formed not only students from the business school, managed to put together their knowledge and worked together to present their best during the competition. 

We would like to thank their spirit and dedication in the competition.

Unilever's UniCon2020 Team Challenge

“NTU-USP has always encouraged us to explore beyond our curriculum, and this competition gave me the chance to do exactly that.” – Ang Wan Qi.

NTU-USP Scholar Ang Wan Qi (Year 3 Environmental Earth Systems Science) won first place in Unilever's UniCon2020 Team Challenge with her sustainable business ideas! To Wan Qi, this was the perfect opportunity to venture outside her comfort zone. She believes that NTU-USP’s intellectually stimulating interdisciplinary curriculum guided her through the competition and gave her a winning start. With her teammate Serena, she developed a sustainable living business plan for the Kranji Countryside Association aimed at reducing impact on the environment.

Read up more about their competition here.

Jayne Ong

Congratulations to our very own NTU-USP scholar, Jayne Ong Zu Hua who has ​won a King's College London 2018/19 Semester 1 Excellence Scholarship of £500!​​ 

Read more about her journey here.​

Amanda Chang

​​​​​​​​​Congratulations to our very own NTU-USP scholar, Amanda Chang who has ​won a King's College London 2017/18 Semester 2 Excellence Scholarship of £1,250!​​

​"I just feel really humbled and thankful! London is a city that is very different from Singapore and I didn't expect my feelings and experiences to be relatable, so it was heartening to know that these reflections could strike a chord with some of those who read it." – Amanda Chang​

Here's Amanda (second from right) with the other recipients of the scholarship.​

​​Taking It In; Taking It Slow

I still remember arriving at Heathrow airport in the wee hours of a January morning, shivering in a long-sleeved top, exhausted after a 14-hour flight but running on the adrenaline of being in a new country – and not just for a short-lived holiday this time. London was somewhere I’d always dreamed of studying since I came here on a school trip when I was fifteen, and to me, the whole Study Abroad experience that awaited me was still very much unreal. What was real, though, was my eagerness as I waited at my student residence on check-in day with two massive luggages, a duvet and a pillow in tow, more ready than ever to move into my home for the next 6 months.

Despite both being cities, London is incredibly different from Singapore where I come from and there were many things I needed to get used to. I said goodbye to my usual T-shirt and shorts combo (the weather in Singapore hovers around 30°C all-year round) and instead piled on multiple layers of clothing, communicated with my family and friends back home at awkward timings because of the 8-hour time difference, and always walked – a lot (because every time I tap my Oyster card my heart still breaks a little). But if anything, I gained a newfound appreciation for getting to places on foot because it really made me look at where I was going and appreciate the sights and sounds a little more. Gradually, 30-minute walks became the norm, made bearable by the sweat-free cold and especially enjoyable during golden hour and on rare days with blue skies.

The first few days of school were marked by an overreliance on Google Maps as I made my way to the Strand campus and tried to get to my classes on time. My friends and I bought enough meal deals from Tesco before deciding that it was time to learn to cook, and were proud of ourselves when the results weren’t too shabby. Living with flat mates was definitely a new experience for me and I found it so interesting to meet and live with people from various backgrounds and exchange stories and conversations – mostly in the kitchen where we run into each other all the time. I started missing food from home more quickly than I thought I would but thankfully, the stash of instant food I brought could somewhat satisfy my cravings. In every way, it felt like I was starting a life on my own, and I found myself relishing the newfound independence.

Embracing Interaction in and out of the Classroom

I think one of the best things about London is the sheer volume of museums that exists, and the fact that they are free to enter is really the cherry on the cake. From the very beginning when I was exploring my options, one of the modules that immediately intrigued me was Museums of London: A Cultural History. Back home, most of the classes I took were confined to classrooms or lecture theatres, so it was really refreshing to have the museum become our place of learning; to think beyond the artefacts themselves and consider the curatorial work happening behind-the-scenes.

We also had a focus group activity and an object handling session at the British Museum where we got to examine several Greek pots and artefacts in close detail and sketch them. To me, it was really fascinating to interact with these artefacts beyond the usual restrictive glass cases and actually hold them in my hands.

A huge difference between King’s and my home university is the level of participation in class, and I have to admit it was a bit of a culture shock for me. Being used to silent lectures and tutorials where the professor would be the only one doing the talking, I was surprised at how much my peers here readily initiated discussion. This made me a little uncomfortable at first because I felt that I was supposed to speak up like everyone else, but I was still not used to offering my opinions in front of the whole class.

Yet, hearing what everyone else had to say only proved to be so interesting, especially in my film modules where people could pick up on different details in the film and bounce their ideas off one another. I actually took two film modules because I was eager to watch more films, especially older ones and those from less prevalent genres in contemporary society (such as film noir) that I wouldn’t usually be exposed to. In such a subjective field, it was fun to see how far certain analyses could go and how the same scene could yield so many different interpretations.

Having this culture of speaking up in class really enriched and shaped the way I understood and appreciated these films, and I started to share my thoughts whenever I felt that I had constructive ideas to offer. I still can’t say that I actively speak up in class now, but I’m a lot less nervous whenever I do and I’ll definitely be raising my hand more often when I’m studying back home.

The Center of Attractions!

There’s no doubt that London is one of the world’s greatest cities, which makes living in central London amazing because all the major events come right to your doorstep. The Lumiere London light festival happened right at the beginning of Study Abroad and it was really convenient because we could reach the different art installations just by walking from our residence. Back in January, the sun set at about 4.30pm (to my initial horror) so it was beautiful to see the town area come alive in the dark with vibrant light fixtures and intricate animations projected onto building facades. But it was also rather amusing because of the ambiguity of what was or wasn’t an artwork – we could have been eagerly photographing a neon sign that had always been there.

Of course, London is huge and it’s impossible to walk everywhere (however much you might wish to exercise or save money), but it’s easy to just hop onto the tube and be transported to different neighbourhoods to explore. If you’re aching to travel further beyond London, there are many fun day-trips just a short train ride out of the city as well! We went to Brighton in February and besides the amazing hash and gelato, it was really nice to get some fresh air and feast our eyes on greenery and ocean views for a change.

Besides the benefit of centrality, staying at a residence has also been really fun because of the opportunities to try new sports and activities. My first Boxfit class is one that I vividly remember and was not mentally prepared for. I mean, we were probably just going to go through some introductory boxing techniques in the study room and call it a day, right? The moment class started, I had no time or energy to process how wrong my expectations were because the instructor was yelling at us to do squats and burpees, throw harder punches and kick faster, and I still don’t know how I managed to pull through that class. Even though my muscles ached for days after that, I still found myself going back repeatedly because the exercise was actually really fun and rewarding – in any case, the preferable alternative to my sedentary winter lifestyle. I tried Yoga for the first time as well, and was pleasantly surprised to find out that it wasn’t simply about flexibility, but involved a lot of balance, coordination and concentration too. In retrospect, stepping out of my comfort zone and taking advantage of these opportunities to experience new activities was really fulfilling, and turned out for the best!

An Experience Fit for a King (… or King’s?)

King’s is in the heart of the city, which means that it’s not just super accessible, but surrounded by many beautiful places as well. There’s ice-skating at Somerset House in winter, the view from the Waterloo Bridge on the way to school is one that I never tire of, and I absolutely love the South Bank area. I remember once, my friend and I wandered to the bank on a random weekday afternoon and it was just bustling with activity even though there was no apparent occasion. In the golden evening light, a man skillfully made giant bubbles as children scrambled to pop them, people quietly perused hundreds of titles at a book fair under the bridge and a twinkling carousel carrying both the young and old tirelessly spun round and round. If you have an hour or two to kill between classes, you never have to worry about having nothing to do because there’s always something round the next corner. We were even lucky enough to get the chance to see the South Bank magically covered in snow! Although it melted away in a few days as if it never happened, it’s a view I’ll never forget.

I remember a time when I was grabbing a quick bite between classes at the Strand campus, and two students sat beside me and started conversing enthusiastically in a foreign language. Even though I didn’t understand their exchange, somehow I found myself feeling pretty intrigued. I already knew that London is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, but it only struck me then how much King’s is a reflection of this diversity. I’ve met peers ranging from those from my home country to those living on the other side of the planet, and it’s really nice to strike a chord of familiarity with fellow Singaporeans who relate to missing hawker food while simultaneously expanding my horizons and learning about the culture of countries I’ve never visited.

King’s also has a great variety of classes to choose from, and I figured that Study Abroad was the best time to try modules I wouldn’t typically have taken but that interest me. So I decided to explore film and classics modules that are rarely found back home, as well as a linguistics module, which is an area I haven’t previously ventured into. Initially, I was worried about dealing with linguistics software because I’m terrible at technology in general, but the professor was so patient that even I was able to follow along – and that’s saying a lot. All in all, I’ve had such a great learning experience because of the support and affirmation the professors at King’s offer. I fondly remember this film lecture before reading week where my professor brought snacks to class and I stuffed myself with custard cream biscuits as we watched short films… that was a really good week.

​Amanda Chang Hui Bin​​​
NTU-USP
Year 2 / Communication Studies

---

Dated 11 June 2018

Hong Huishi

​​​​​​​​​Congratulations to our very own NTU-USP scholar, Hong Hui Shi who has ​won a King's College London 2017/18 Semester 1 Excellence Scholarship of £1,250!
​
Enjoy reading about her time at King’s, as well as, the adventures and insights into the wonderful city of London! ​

The Three-Kilometers that Started It All 

My first day in London is still as vivid as ever: 15th September 2017, 10 in the morning, deadbeat from the prior month of travels around Europe, me, struggling to get my 40kg luggage onto the train from Paris towards London. If there was one thing I wanted more than anything else, it was to hibernate on my perfectly new bed that I was so sure was waiting for me in London… or so I thought. 

Congratulations to our NTU-USP graduates Bryan Chua and Jessica Heng for their fantastic accomplishment at the National Youth Film Awards 2020!

“The jury applauded the polished cinematography, and unrestrained approach to a story not often told.”

Bryan and Jessica’s Final Year Project documentary 'Baby Boy' took home the Special Mention Award in the National Youth Film Awards (NYFA) 2020! The film was also nominated in four categories - Best Documentary, Best Directing, Best Editing, and Best Cinematography.

Bryan and Jessica have plans to screen the film in the cinemas as soon as it’s safer to do so. In the meantime, you can sign up for our mailing list to receive updates of future screenings and watch our trailer at https://bit.ly/babyboyfilm.

Watch this interview Jessica did with National Youth Film Awards.

C​​​ongratulations to our scholars, Chua Zong Xuan (Bryan) and Esther Rim on the nomination and screening of "Dear America" as one of the best films at the 7th Tri-Co Film Festival 2018!

Both Bryan and Esther spent a semester at the Bryn Mawr College in the United States under the NTU-USP Study Abroad programme, ​where they were presented with an opportunity to create and submit their film to ​to the Festival.

"In some ways, “Dear America” is Rahmat-Ali’s love letter to the United States of America. Throughout the film, he sings a heartfelt gratitude for the safety and solace America has provided. Yet, there is a lot more to his story. Rahmat-Ali gives us rare insight into the everyday difficulties of a new immigrant, yet conveying it with heart and optimism.

Our decision to tell his story stems from the booming conversation surrounding immigration laws in America and the increased need to remind the public of the individual lives that depend on these laws. It is easy to join the collective mass in a movement against immigrants without pausing to think what it entails for the involved parties. Rahmat-Ali’s resilience and humble disposition remind us of what it means to be a citizen of the world - to perceive one another as equally valuable, and to look beyond the man-made borders.

We are extremely thankful to Rahmat-Ali and his friend Amir for allowing us into their lives. They were welcoming from the onset of our production, going out of their way to accommodate our shoots. They were not just good film subjects; they were also our good friends. We are also grateful for the constructive feedback and critiques that we got from our Prof Vicky Funari, as well as our classmates from​ The Documentary Body: Advanced Media Production. Their encouragement had led to the relative success of our project.

Lastly, we would also like to extend our gratitude and appreciation for NTU-USP’s Study Abroad Programme that made our overseas exchange possible. Attending Bryn Mawr College has allowed us to enrol in courses available in other liberal arts colleges like Haverford College and Swarthmore College due to the tri-co system that the three schools share. This has led us to take up the documentary class in Haverford College which resulted in this documentary being produced. Our experience in the States has certainly broadened our perspectives in the way we interact and view the rest of the world, and taught us what it means to be a global citizen."

– Bryan Chua & Esther Rim

Watch their film here!

Log-line​

A Pakistani immigrant tells the story of his journey to America as we observe his job as a humble food cart vendor in Philadelphia.

Synopsis

“Dear America” is a short documentary giving a peek into the life of Pakistani immigrant Rahmat-Ali as a food cart vendor in Philadelphia. It describes his journey to America and the difficulties that he has to face as a newly arrived immigrant. Nonetheless, he maintains an optimistic disposition towards his situation and looks to pursue a better life in America for him and his family.

About the Filmmakers

Bryan ​​​​Chua Zong Xuan (Director / Producer / DOP) 

Bryan is primarily involved as a Director of Photography and Producer. In 2017, he produced and filmed the short documentary Koon Seng Road for the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Architectural Heritage Award Short Film Fest. It garnered more than 600 views on YouTube, which led to the People’s Choice Award. Strong reviews from URA and college professors helped Bryan secure the 2nd prize in the film festival. That same year, Bryan produced and filmed another short documentary, The Underdogs, which was later used by NTU Animal Lovers’ Society as promotional material. This later sparked his interest in speaking out on social issues through the camera lens. 

Esther Rim Shi Ai (Director / Producer / DOP) 

Esther is an aspiring Producer who is currently pursuing a Communications degree at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. In her coursework, she has produced a variety of film types, including TVCs, narrative shorts, and a documentary that clinched 3rd place in the Urban Redevelopment Authority Architectural Heritage Award Short Film Fest. She has a vast interest in media communications and hones talents in broadcast, journalism and integrated marketing. She is passionate about film and social justice. 

About the Film Festival

The Tri-Co Film Festival was founded in 2012, showcasing exemplary film and media work by students at Haverford, Bryn Mawr, and Swarthmore colleges. Highlighting the diversity of media production within the Tri-Co, the programme seeks work that demonstrates creativity, craft, and intentionality across a variety of genres and aesthetics.

2018 Jurors/Programmers: Shari Frilot and Sosena Solomon

2018 Festival Director: Harlow Figa ​

Chua Zong Xuan (Bryan) & Esther Rim Shi Ai

NTU-USP

Year 2 / Communication Studies​

---

Dated 12 June 2018

Extracted from: https://blogs.haverford.edu/tricofilmfest/

Photos courtesy of Holden Blanco ‘17 and the Haverford Communications Office

Annemarie Goh clinches second place at DISCOVER URECA 2018

Heartiest congratulations to our very own NTU-USP scholar, Annemarie Goh on clinching second place in the Social Sciences category for the DISCOVER URECA Poster Exhibition &​​ Competition​ 2018!

Title: But They All Look The Same To Me

Supervisor: Dr Rebecca Michelle Nichols​

"​When I first heard about the news, it was not even from the original email, but from a forwarded email from my supervising faculty (Dr Becky), and fr​om my friends’ congratulatory texts. This would not have been possible without the support of those around me. Thank you to Dr Becky, whose guidance helped to create a smooth telling of the research project’s story, and whose speedy and helpful replies to my many drafts shaped the poster to be what it had finally become. Special thanks to my very encouraging friends, who came down to support me during the exhibition when I was a nervous wreck, and for the smallest yet most important things, like casually reminding one another of deadlines and ea​sily missable details​. Also, thank you to my parents who cheerfully gave fresh perspectives on the poster, ​​improving its re​​​adability. ​I am truly grateful for the support, and to have had this opportunity to learn and grow."​​

– Annemarie Goh​

Annemarie Goh

NTU-USP

Year 2 / Psychology

---

In NTU, URECA stands for the Undergraduate Research Experience on CAmpus, a university-wide programme to cultivate a research culture among the most academically able second and third year undergraduates. Though young by international standards, it is a unique opportunity for NTU undergraduates to touch, feel and experience research at a level not available elsewhere. These undergraduates will be given the coveted title of NTU President Research Scholar (NTU PRS).

Dated 21 May 2018

Extracted from: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/ureca/publications-and-awards/Documents/AY17-18%20URECA%20Poster%20Winners%20list.pdf

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Goh Duo Geng receives the Schwarzman Scholarship

Congratulations to our Alumni Goh Duo Geng, who was recently selected as one of the Class of 2022 Schwarzman Scholars.

Schwarzman Scholars is one of the world's most prestigious graduate fellowships located at Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Scholars pursue a Master's degree in Global Affairs with a core curriculum focused on three pillars: leadership, China, and global affairs. Beyond the classroom, Scholars gain exceptional exposure to China and access to important relationships through internships, mentors, high-profile speakers, and world-renowned faculty members.

Duo Geng graduated from NTU in 2018 and he reflects on his journey in NTU-USP and what led him to apply for the Schwarzman Scholars program.

"While preparing for the application, I invested a lot of time into reflecting on what mattered to me most, what difference I wanted to make in the world, and how the program would help me get there. I spoke to professors, friends, and mentors (past and present) to share my reflection journey which helped to crystalize my application. The NTU-USP office also provided support by sharing key pointers with Prof Geraldine Chen who wrote one of my recommendation letters.

Taking a step back, one of the key reasons why I applied for the Schwarzman Scholars program (over a traditional MBA program) was because I enjoyed the multi-disciplinary approach adopted by NTU-USP. NTU-USP also gave me the opportunity to meet peers from diverse backgrounds and satisfy my curiosity with its breath of modules (from programming to psychology to ethics); these aspects are what I look forward to the most in joining the 6th cohort of Schwarzman Scholars. Most importantly, my closest friends from the NTU-USP were also essential thought partners throughout my application (and personal growth) journey – I could not have done it without them." 

NTU-USP is very proud of Duo Geng and we wish him all the best in this new journey!

---

Dated December 2020

Loh Xinpeng clinches the Undergraduate Awards 2017

Title: The Age of Digital Medicine: dehumanizing the medical practice for a more egalitarian approach towards healthcare
Supervisor: Asst Professor Graham John Matthews

The topic on doctor-patient relationships often pales in comparison to the physiological outcome of a consultation, and only became more apparent to me after having gained exposure to it during a NTU-USP discussion seminar. Being a biomedical researcher myself, the experience of writing this paper led me to realizing the dangers of a solely biomedical based model of disease and ultimately, I found myself at times taking a stand against my major. The most complex needs and challenges in today's world can no longer be addressed from a singular disciplinary source, and healthcare is no exception. Hence, I gained a deeper sense of appreciation for societal, ethical and economic factors that too contribute to the medical practice. The experience of attending the UA summit has also broadened my thinking and highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary dialogue across cultures and geographical boundaries. The opportunity of interacting with many industrial experts and academia professionals on this occasion also presents new avenues for me to further my passion for research overseas after graduation. Above all, my greatest takeaway from this summit was the diverse number of meaningful friendships forged. Networking with these young researchers have given me new perspectives on their culture, language, what constitutes a great education and all the difference a small, hopeful desire to improve the human condition can make.

Loh Xinpeng
NTU-USP
Year 4 / Biology Sciences with a second major in Chemical Biology

---

Dated January 2018