U Roundup

Text: Sadia Roohi and Derek Rodriguez

Investing in knowledge

Thinking of getting your master’s degree? Here’s some good news for you. At his fireside chat at NTU Alumni Homecoming 2023, NTU President Prof Ho Teck Hua announced incentives to encourage alumni to return to NTU for their master’s. These include a 10 per cent discount in course fees for all alumni and associate alumni, a S$5,000 subsidy for Singaporeans and permanent residents, and an additional subsidy of up to S$5,000 for postgraduate students eligible for financial aid.

Meet the donors

As part of NTU’s donor stewardship programmes, corporate visits were organised for student beneficiaries and recipients of the Agilent Technologies STEM Undergraduate Bursary and Wee Cho Yaw Future Leaders Awards in May and August 2023 respectively. During the visits, the students had the opportunity to network with the organisations’ representatives and visit their remises, including Agilent’s manufacturing facilities. The Wee Cho Yaw Future Leaders Award was established by United Overseas Bank Limited.

Student recipients of the Wee Cho Yaw Future Leaders Awards with UOB and NTU representatives.

Agilent bursary beneficiaries presenting their thank you cards to Agilent Technologies representatives.

Green Honour

There’s yet another feather in NTU’s green cap. The European Chamber of Commerce, Singapore (EuroCham Singapore) has presented NTU with an award in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments category of the EuroCham Sustainability Awards. The University was the only Institute of Higher Learning among the 35 finalists, which consisted of companies of both Singaporean and European origins. NTU was recognised for its multi-faceted approach in sustainability investments, from research innovation, infrastructure upgrade, adopting innovative technologies, to education, and community engagement.

Ms Tan Aik Na (left), NTU Senior Vice-President of Administration, receiving the award on behalf of the University from Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Mr Heng Swee Keat (middle).

Healing the digital age

It’s becoming more vital for healthcare professionals to be literate in the use of digital health solutions and artificial intelligence-powered medical technologies that are getting increasingly deployed in the healthcare sector. Starting from next year, students at NTU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine will benefit from a refreshed curriculum enhanced with tech-enabled tools like a virtual reality heart and custom-built e-simulators for drug prescription. An expanded scope in medical humanities will also ensure our young doctors can navigate difficult situations with competence and compassion.

Enriching student life

NTU students can now receive greater support in their academic, welfare and career needs, thanks to a S$1.75 million gift from AIA Singapore which will drive education, research and innovation at NTU. To commemorate the gift, the University has renamed the canopy stage at NTU’s North Spine “The AIA Canopy”, signifying both organisations’ dedication in encouraging active and healthy lifestyles among students while celebrating moments of joy with their loved ones and the NTU community.

For a sustainable tomorrow

Mapletree Investments has gifted S$675,000 for NTU to establish the Mapletree Sustainability Programme, which consists of annual lectures and undergraduate scholarships. Slated to start in 2024, the lecture series will be organised by NTU's Asian School of the Environment (ASE) and feature world-leading experts to raise greater awareness on key environmental, social and governance issues. Scholarships will be awarded to two NTU undergraduates pursuing full-time degrees in sustainability-related courses each year to nurture future sustainability leaders.

Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman of Mapletree (fifth from left), and Prof Adam Switzer from NTU ASE (fourth from left) with Mapletree and NTU representatives.

The future on display

Visitors to NTU’s inaugural technology roadshow got a glimpse of future technology that might be poised to shape the world. Over 60 NTU startups and spin-offs showcased innovations in domains such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, biotechnology, robotics, space and sustainability solutions. Gracing the event was Minister of State for Trade and Industry, and Culture, Community and Youth Ms Low Yen Ling (NBS/1996).

 

This article first appeared in issue 4 of U, the NTU alumni magazine.