NCPA Summer School 2026 Concludes Successfully at NTU
The Nanyang Centre for Public Administration (NCPA) successfully concluded its 2026 Summer School at the NTU campus on 11 July, after a week-long programme. Under the theme Innovation Management and Economic Decision-Making in Asia, the programme brought together 55 outstanding second- and third-year undergraduates from the School of Public Affairs at Zhejiang University and the School of Public Affairs at Xiamen University.
Built around three key components, academic lectures, project-based workshops, and cultural immersion, the summer school aimed to deepen students' understanding of governance in Asia, inspire their interest in public policy research, and further strengthen educational collaboration and talent exchange between NCPA and its partner universities in China.
The academic programme featured two lectures by NCPA faculty members. Dr Celia Lee, Senior Research Fellow, spoke on ASEAN Centrality and the Belt and Road Initiative: A Whole-ASEAN Approach, providing an in-depth analysis of ASEAN's regional cooperation framework and the opportunities for China–ASEAN collaboration. Dr Xie Taojun, Lecturer, delivered a session on Financial Economics: The Time Value of Money, introducing students to the fundamental principles of financial decision-making through a combination of theoretical concepts and practical case studies. Both sessions combined academic rigour with practical relevance and prompted lively discussions among participants.
One of the highlights of the programme was the specially designed Design Thinking Workshop, where students worked in teams to develop solutions to challenges associated with ageing societies. Through activities such as user profiling, role-playing, and scenario storytelling, the teams translated their ideas into testable prototypes before presenting their solutions. Faculty members from NTU, Zhejiang University, and Xiamen University jointly evaluated the presentations, praising the students' creativity, teamwork, and willingness to explore new approaches. They also encouraged participants to apply the research methods and practical perspectives gained during the programme in their future studies and professional careers.
Beyond the classroom, students took part in a series of cultural visits across Singapore. At the Asian Civilisations Museum, they explored the history of Asian cultural exchanges and the Maritime Silk Road through its extensive collection of historical artefacts. They also visited Merlion Park and Gardens by the Bay, where they experienced Singapore's vision of a "Garden City" that integrates urban development, technology, and nature. The visits offered valuable insights into urban planning, public space design, and sustainable development, while broadening the students' international perspectives and understanding of Singapore's approach to urban governance.
On the evening of 10 July, NCPA hosted a closing dinner for all participants. In his closing address, Assoc Prof Wang Jue, Director of NCPA, commended the students for their enthusiasm and active participation throughout the programme, and encouraged them to continue exploring issues related to public governance in their future academic and professional pursuits. Faculty representatives and student delegates from Zhejiang University and Xiamen University also shared their reflections on the programme, before both sides exchanged commemorative gifts in appreciation of their friendship and collaboration.
NCPA remains committed to building an open, diverse, and high-quality global network for educational cooperation. This year's Summer School not only gave students from leading Chinese universities the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of NCPA and broaden their academic perspectives, but also further strengthened partnerships between the participating institutions. Looking ahead, NCPA will continue to enhance its programmes and expand its international partnerships, welcoming more outstanding students from universities around the world to future Summer Schools and contributing to international academic exchange and the development of future public governance leaders.
