NTU to split humanities and social sciences into 2 schools

NTU to split humanities and social sciences into 2 schools
Posted 31 Oct 2016 12:08 Updated 31 Oct 2016 22:14

SINGAPORE: The Nanyang Technological University (NTU) on Monday (Oct 31) announced it will split its humanities and social sciences programmes into two separate schools - the School of Humanities (SoH) and the School of Social Sciences (SSS) - from August 2017.

In its press release, NTU said students majoring in Chinese, English, History, Linguistics and Multilingual Studies and Philosophy will be admitted into SoH, while those studying Economics, Psychology, Public Policy and Global Affairs and Sociology will come under SSS.

The two new schools will be housed under the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, which also includes the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, and the School of Art, Design and Media, it added.

"The re-organisation into two schools increases flexibility for future growth and enhances opportunities for collaboration and interdisciplinary research. The new schools will also enable NTU to fulfil the evolving educational needs and aspirations of students," the varsity said.

- CNA/kk


- wong chee tat :)

Singapore's cybersecurity skills shortage: Why it matters

Singapore's cybersecurity skills shortage: Why it matters
By Linette Lim  Posted 14 Oct 2016 15:51 Updated 14 Oct 2016 16:00

SINGAPORE: In his speech launching Singapore’s national cybersecurity strategy earlier this week, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned of cyberattacks and threats “becoming more frequent and sophisticated, with more severe consequences”.

He pointed to how a cyberattack on the power grid in Ukraine last December left many Ukrainians without electricity for hours, and how hackers used malware to withdraw more than US$2 million (S$2.77 million) from ATMs in Taiwan in July this year. Closer to home, he said that there have been attacks on government networks and on the financial sector.

According to a 2014 report from Center for Strategic and International Studies, cybercrime costs Singapore an estimated S$1.25 billion annually.

Yet there is a decidedly acute shortage of IT security specialists that can be engaged to help fend off such online threats.

According to Communications and Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim, there were 15,000 vacancies in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector last year, unchanged from 2014. More than two-thirds of these vacancies, he said, were for professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) or technical specialists in areas such as development, network and infrastructure, cybersecurity and data analytics.

Additionally, 2012 data from the Economic Development Board (EDB) showed that just 0.8 per cent of Singapore’s 144,300 ICT workers were IT security specialists, with a particularly acute shortfall in the middle and senior tiers.

MANPOWER GAP HINDERING CYBERCRIME FIGHT

This is why for vendors like Quann, which hires more than 300 certified security professionals in the region, a global shortage of cybersecurity manpower means fighting cybercrime is proving to be an uphill battle.

“There is a distinct (manpower and skills) gap, and the gap has widened. The proxy for that is the wage growth that we’ve seen in this sector. Wages have gone up quite substantially in the last two to three years. Based on some reports by third-party consultancies, wages are estimated to have gone up by 20 per cent per year, over the last couple of years,” said Quann’s managing director Foo Siang-tse.

According to Mr Foo, increasing digitisation of customer and business records and the proliferation of interconnected devices have resulted in greater avenues for cybercriminals, but “until recently”, educational institutions have not expanded capacity quickly enough to keep pace with demand in the sector.

To address this, part of the national cybersecurity strategy is to boost the cybersecurity profession in a number of ways. This includes instituting clear career pathways, promoting certification, and working with the industry and institutes of higher learning to attract new graduates and convert existing professionals from related fields.

WHAT ARE THE SKILLS NEEDED?

One of these organisations is ISACA, the international professional body formerly known as the Information Systems Audit and Control Association. Its Singapore Chapter says the Government is working with industry groups like theirs to offer training and certification programmes.

“Skills that are lacking now are in the areas of intrusion detection, security architecture and analysis, security incident management, secure software development, incident response and recovery,” said Mr John Lee, President of ISACA Singapore Chapter.

“Singapore is a global financial hub with high-end manufacturing and developed service industry. The need to safeguard against a major cyber breach is paramount to prevent erosion of trust by external stakeholders.”

Among the IHLs, the Singapore University of Technology (SUTD) only opened its doors four years ago. Professor Aditya Mathur, who oversees the university’s Information Systems Technology and Design pillar, said he has seen a rise in student enrollments and a growing number of students picking security classes.

“SUTD is not only offering courses in cybersecurity at the undergraduate level but also conducting outreach programmes aimed at raising cybersecurity awareness among secondary school students,” Prof Aditya added.

TAPPING ON EXISTING TALENT POOL

But it will be some time before these students join the workforce and contribute to the core of local cybersecurity talent. In the meanwhile, Mr Foo says Quann is doing its best to meet the manpower challenge through on-the-job training, or through converting existing IT professionals with adjacent skillsets.

The local company is one of four participating in the Cyber Security Associates and Technologists (CSAT) programme, which equips ICT professionals with three years’ working experience to pick up the requisite skills to switch sectors. The other training partners are Singtel, ST Electronics and Accel Systems and Technologies.

Some business leaders who oversee ongoing efforts to help build up Singapore's cybersecurity manpower pool include Mr Boye Vanell from BAE Systems (top-left); Quann’s Mr Foo Siang-tse (bottom-left); and Microsoft Singapore’s Ms Jessica Tan (right). (Photos: BAE Systems, Quann, Microsoft Singapore).

While Quann partners tertiary institutions like the National University of Singapore, the Singapore Management University, and Ngee Ann Polytechnic to get access to talent, others, like British multinational BAE Systems, aim to build up the cybersecurity ecosystem through collaborating with researchers and helping to incubate startup ideas.

One outcome of its partnership with Nanyang Technological University is a threat operating model designed by postgraduate students, built using BAE System’s tools and techniques.

“You need to create the interest in the industry. You do that by running research programmes, and you do that by bringing niche technology to startup companies to help close the gaps that customers face,” said Mr Boye Vanell, Regional Director of Asia at BAE Systems.

Microsoft Singapore’s Managing Director Jessica Tan, who oversaw the company’s opening of a new Transparency Center and Cybersecurity Center in Singapore this month, told Channel NewsAsia that apart from technical skills, other important attributes for cybersecurity professionals include “a growth mindset, curiosity, learning and resilience".

She said: “What is critical is building an ICT foundation in every student, which they can then extend and apply to every field they pursue, regardless of whether it is in biomedicine, behavioural economics or digital manufacturing, to name a few. ICT will touch every facet of the industry and government.”

According to Ms Tan, given that more citizens’ lives are touched by technology - at home, in schools and in the workplace - the talent pipeline of cybersecurity professionals is “both an economic and security imperative for Singapore”. This implies the difficulty in relying too heavily on foreign cybersecurity professionals to plug the gaps.

The unique nature of the industry also means it is relatively labour-intensive, and there are limits to plugging the gaps with technology like big data analytics.

 “At the end of the day, the person at the other end of the kill chain - the perpetrator - is still a human being. Notwithstanding that fact that we have our own R&D labs, we’re looking at tapping on big data and threat intelligence - if the adversary is human, we need humans on our side,” said Mr Foo.

- CNA/ll

- wong chee tat :)

7 in 10 NTU graduates secured jobs before graduation: Survey

7 in 10 NTU graduates secured jobs before graduation: Survey
By Loh Chuan Junn, Channel NewsAsia  Posted 25 Jul 2016 16:11 Updated 25 Jul 2016 18:36

SINGAPORE: Seven in 10 students from Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) graduating class of 2016 have secured jobs before graduation, according to a preliminary survey of more than 5,000 graduates conducted by the university in June.

The projected numbers are on par with those who graduated last year and higher than the cohort the year before, where about two in three landed a job before graduation.

One engineering graduate from the 2016 cohort, Mr A Saravanan received five job offers and currently works as a software engineering analyst at Accenture.

He said: "NTU has equipped me with a broad-based education, which has enabled me to approach projects with wider and better understanding. Another valuable experience was my internship at the US Air Force Academy, where I worked alongside cadets from the United States, France and Canada on programming tasks."

NTU also stated in a media release on Monday (Jul 25) that many of its students benefited from internships. Around 11 percent of those surveyed have been employed by their internship companies, and almost 18 per cent received job offers from where they interned.

More than 9,100 students will receive their Bachelor's and higher degrees across 18 convocation ceremonies from Monday till Aug 2.

The first ceremony saw the pioneer batch of graduates from three programmes - the Renaissance Engineering Programme (REP), the University Scholars Programme (USP) and the History Programme - receive their degrees. Dr Wee Cho Yaw, UOB Chairman Emeritus presided over the ceremony. Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung was also present.

The ceremony also saw NTU confer the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering on Professor Sir David Payne from University of Southampton, in recognition for his significant contributions to the field of telecommunications.

Renowned Singaporean master potter and ceramicist Iskandar Jalil was also conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters for his accomplishments in pottery and his service in education.





- CNA/am


- wong chee tat :)

NTU don joins engineering elite

NTU don joins engineering elite

Prof Er developed a computer program that helps submarines filter out surrounding noise in order to quickly and accurately identify target objects, such as enemy subs, in any direction.

As a primary school pupil in the 1960s, Er Meng Hwa spent many of his days helping his father at their fresh-fish stall near the Singapore River.

The ability to gut fish and pick out the choicest cuts at the market is probably not one of the talents you would associate with a professor of engineering, but being a fishmonger gave him the kind of hands-on learning one can't get in school.

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And that eventually led Professor Er, 60, vice-president of international affairs at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), to engineering innovations that have transformed people's lives.

Today, he stands alongside Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs and other luminaries honoured in a London exhibition of the greatest engineers the world has ever seen.

He is the only Singaporean among 126 people who was honoured in a recently launched exhibition of the world's most influential engineers at the new London headquarters of Britain's Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Last year, he was also awarded a medal of excellence by The Institution of Engineers, Singapore, and The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in the United States, for major contributions to research and education while holding key appointments at NTU.

In his younger days, he enjoyed helping his mother in the kitchen, happily analysing such culinary considerations as how much salt to add and how to mix the salt evenly in the food.

"It's a bit like engineering - you can experiment on the temperature, the duration, and sometimes you can overcook things."

At school, however, Prof Er did not always do well. It was only at Tuan Mong High School that he experienced a turning point from a "naughty" kid to a diligent one after getting a bad report card. He later became head prefect.

Subsequently, his stint in the Singapore Armed Forces helped set a direction for his career.

As a signals officer, he gained an appreciation of both the theory and practical challenges of operating signal sets in the field, and it reinforced his belief that engineering was a good choice for him. He went on to study engineering at the National University of Singapore.

His skills in solving real-world engineering problems were further honed at Hewlett-Packard, where, as an engineer in charge of production lines, he was given the freedom to make decisions on the ground to improve efficiency.

"We were given the full responsibility even to redesign the circuits if necessary," he said.

By the time Prof Er found himself at the University of Newcastle Australia for his doctoral research in 1982, engineering was but second nature to him.

He developed a novel computer program that helped submarines filter out surrounding noise in order to quickly and accurately identify target objects, such as enemy subs, in any direction.

Part of his work was patented in 1986, a year after he received his doctorate. The techniques he developed have wide applications today, such as reducing interference in the modern communications systems that keep society humming.

But his initial approach to the problem did not end well. After almost four months of hard work with computer simulations and data analysis, it finally dawned on him that it was not going to work.

"I decided to just throw it away," he said, and to tackle the problem with a different mathematical formulation.

He also signed up for a course on an engineering topic called functional analysis, but found himself utterly lost in the jumble of mathematical equations on the blackboard.

When he realised it was because he lacked prior knowledge of something called geometric analysis, he bought the textbook and caught up with the class, eventually scoring a distinction in the exam.

After he joined the faculty at NTU, Prof Er took pains to ensure that his students have a solid foundation in the fundamental principles of engineering, which he said is important for breaking new ground. Otherwise the students "try to jump straight in without understanding the basics".

But being a good engineer goes beyond just being good at engineering.

Prof Er, who won singing competitions in school and has designed the logos for some of NTU's schools and research institutions, said: "It deals with not just machines but also people and society. We really need creative talent to come into the engineering profession.

"Even in writing a computer program, you need a certain elegance. It's not just a matter of writing the code but how to make the code run efficiently and be free of bugs."

linyc@sph.com.sg

- wong chee tat :)

A-Level results: 93.1% score at least 3 H2 passes, best results since curriculum change in 2006

A-Level results: 93.1% score at least 3 H2 passes, best results since curriculum change in 2006

The 13,582 students who sat for the examination last year bettered the previous best set by the 2014 cohort, where 91.4 per cent achieved the same standard of passes.

By Holly Matthews
Posted 04 Mar 2016 15:30 Updated 04 Mar 2016 23:32

SINGAPORE: Last year’s cohort of GCE A-Level students scored the best results since the curriculum was changed in 2006, with 93.1 per cent scoring at least three Higher 2 (H2) passes, with a pass in General Paper or Knowledge and Inquiry.

The 13,582 students who sat for the examination last year topped the previous best set by the 2014 cohort, where 91.4 per cent achieved the same standard of passes.

The A-level curriculum was revised in 2006, with the first cohort of candidates taking their examinations in 2007. The pass percentage has steadily increased since then, with 87.5 per cent of the 2007 cohort achieving a similar standard of passes.

School candidates received their results at their schools on Friday at 2.30pm. Private candidates will receive their results by post, or they can use their SingPass account to obtain their results at the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board’s website from 2.30pm on Friday.

Students can now use their A-Level results to apply to the five local universities. For the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore University of Technology and Design and Singapore Management University, the application deadline is April 1st, while the Singapore Institute of Technology closes its online application on March 18.

- CNA/cy

- wong chee tat :)

More working spaces for start-ups in Singapore to be built

More working spaces for start-ups in Singapore to be built

JTC Corporation will be creating more space to groom Singapore's start-up companies under its LaunchPad initiative. It will add three new blocks of buildings in one-north to house 250 start-ups.

SINGAPORE: Industrial estate manager JTC Corporation will be creating more space to groom Singapore's start-up companies under its LaunchPad initiative. Three new blocks of buildings will be built in one-north to house 250 start-ups.

This adds 12,000 square metres of space to three existing start-up blocks, which were officially launched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (Jan 23).

The next 'LaunchPad' will be in the vicinity of JTC's CleanTech Park, next to the Nanyang Technological University.

The idea is to promote collaboration between start-ups and varsity research experts.

Commenting on the 'LaunchPad' initiative, Mr Lee said the Government is trying to help entrepreneurs have a hassle-free and easier time starting businesses. He said start-up friendly environments facilitate connections between like-minded individuals and companies.

Mr Lee said entrepreneurs keep the economy productive and vibrant by providing jobs and opportunities, and described 'LaunchPad's' opening as 'another major milestone' for the local start-up scene.

90 per cent of the three existing 'LaunchPad' blocks have been taken up by startups, incubators and Venture Capitalists. By 2017, 'LaunchPad' will be able to house up to 750 start-ups.

- CNA/dl

- wong chee tat ):

New treatment for glaucoma unveiled

New treatment for glaucoma unveiled

Researchers from NTU and the Singapore Eye Research Institute have developed a new treatment for glaucoma.

Liposomal Latanoprost - a new safe and effective treatment for glaucoma. (Credit: Singapore Eye Research Institute)

SINGAPORE: A new treatment for glaucoma may mean that patients can do away with the use of daily eye drops.

Unveiled on Tuesday (June 3), the treatment involves a painless injection to the front of the eye which delivers millions of nano-sized capsules – thousands of times smaller than a speck of dust – that release anti-glaucoma drugs slowly over six months.

Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to the eye's optic nerve and could lead to blindness.

Jointly developed by scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the Singapore Eye Research Institute, the new therapy has undergone a pilot study with six patients. Researchers said it has yielded exceptional results, and has been both safe and effective in the treatment of glaucoma.

The new nanomedicine is also expected to benefit the elderly, who often forget to use the daily eye drops, leading to their conditions worsening.

The researchers estimated that at least 10 per cent of blindness from glaucoma is directly caused by patients not adhering correctly to prescribed medications.

- CNA/cy

- wong chee tat :)

8 in 10 fresh graduates get full-time job within 6 months

8 in 10 fresh graduates get full-time job within 6 months

By John Leong
POSTED: 28 Feb 2014 18:30

SINGAPORE: About eight in 10 graduates from the three autonomous universities in Singapore found a full-time job within six months.

This was slightly fewer than in 2012.

It was one of the findings of a poll of some 10,500 graduates who were in the market for a job.

The survey was conducted by the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the Singapore Management University (SMU).

Fresh graduates with engineering or accountancy-related qualifications were particularly in demand across the board, while others included business, nursing, and maritime studies.

Meanwhile, the average gross monthly salary among those in full-time jobs was about S$3,200.

The median gross monthly salary was about S$3,000.

This was comparable to what they received in 2012.

SMU graduates generally led the way, with average starting salaries hitting nearly S$3,500.

Among graduates from courses requiring practical training, nearly 98 per cent found full-time employment last year.

These were in areas such as law, medicine and architecture.

On average, they earned a monthly starting salary of about S$4,600, nearly S$100 more than in 2012.

- CNA/xq

- wong chee tat :)

Denial of tenure to NTU associate professor sparks outcry

By Shah Salimat |

• 
  An outcry over academic freedom in Singapore has been sparked after an outspoken professor for journalism in Nanyang Technological University was denied tenure (Yahoo! file photo)  less 

An outspoken associate professor for journalism in Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has been denied tenure, sparking an outcry and raising questions over academic freedom in Singapore.

Cardiff University professor Karin Wahl-Jorgensen tweeted Saturday morning that Cherian George, associate professor at NTU’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI), was denied tenure “on the grounds of quality of teaching and research”.

In subsequent tweets, Wahl-Jorgensen, who revealed that she was one of the reviewers for George’s case, said she was “outraged” at the decision not to grant him tenure, and that it could have been “because he sometimes expressed political opinions”.

An adjunct senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies and former journalist with The Straits Times, George has spoken out against media control and has been critical of the ruling People’s Action Party. He joined NTU in 2004.

Wahl-Jorgensen alluded to NTU’s decision being detrimental “for academic freedom” and said it raised “big question marks about international collaborations” with Singapore and NTU.

She said also said George’s application was “watertight” and believed the board’s decision “made no sense on grounds of research and teaching”.

Tenure would give him the contractual right not to have his position terminated without just cause. George was previously denied tenure once in 2009.

Petition started

In reaction to the news, an online petition was set up by final-year WKWSCI student Bhavan Jaipragas to urge the NTU board to “affirm (George’s) stellar teaching credentials and disclose the reasons behind the decision to deny his tenure”. The petition had 308 signatures as of press time, shy of the 350 mark set by the petition.

“We felt it was very important any impression that Dr George's teaching skills were sub-par had to be quickly demolished. We also want the school and university to… categorically dispel claims of curtailment of academic freedom in NTU,” said Jaipragas to Yahoo! Singapore.

Jaipragas said he heard of the news from several sources over the weekend, before such tipoffs were confirmed by Wahl-Jorgensen’s tweets. He said he will deliver hard copies of the petition with the list of signatories to four key members of the NTU leadership, including NTU president Bertil Andersson.

In one of the petition’s comments, associate professor William Ray Lengenbach, head of media at Sunway University College, said, “Cherian George is a significant regional intellectual and his views on Singapore politics should have no bearing on his tenure. If there indeed is government pressure on the university's decisions, it is time for academic staff and administration to stand up against such pressures.”

Among the students who have spoken out against the alleged grounds, alumnus Johnson Zhang commended George for being friendly and knowledgeable. “To say that the quality of Dr George's teaching was 'sub-par' would be an insult to us graduates who had the honour of learning from him,” said Zhang.

“As someone who has worked with Dr George for close to two decades, I am dumbfounded by the news. I don't know of many professors in NTU who give as much to the students, even fewer who have clear vision of how a great journalism department in an university can be and should be,” said WKWSCI photojournalism lecturer Tay Kay Chin in a post on Facebook.

George declined comment when approached by Yahoo! Singapore.

When contacted by Yahoo! Singapore, an NTU spokesperson said the institution will issue a statement Tuesday.

Last year, the issue of academic freedom was raised in relation to the launch of the Yale-NUS College, a partnership with Yale University and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Yale members passed a resolution expressing their concern restriction of civil liberties in Singapore.

- wong chee tat :)

NTU president to step down June 30 next year

NTU president to step down June 30 next year
By Mustafa Shafawi | Posted: 18 October 2010 1419 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 Dr Su Guaning

 
SINGAPORE: Nanyang Technological University (NTU) president Su Guaning has announced he would not seek a new term when his current term ends on June 30 next year.

NTU said current provost professor Bertil Andersson would be appointed president-designate from January 1, 2011 and would take over officially from July 1, 2011.

Dr Su, who has spent eight years at NTU, said it would be difficult for him to put down a burden that has also been a joy and a source of energy.

However, building a world-class university is a marathon relay that requires the passing of the baton, he added.

He said he looked forward to devoting more time to his family and personal interests, as well as focusing more on the students and leadership as a professor in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and through his continued engagement in Nanyang Business School.

Education Minister Ng Eng Hen, in a statement, thanked Dr Su for his significant contributions.

Dr Eng said under Dr Su's leadership, NTU has been transformed from a teaching university focused on engineering, into a university with strengths in education and research, and with a distinctive character as a university grounded in science, technology and management.

Three new schools - School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and School of Art, Design and Media - were added, expanding NTU's offerings.

NTU has also won competitive funding from the National Research Foundation and the Ministry of Education to set up two Research Centres of Excellence, namely the Earth Observatory of Singapore and Singapore Centre for Environmental and Life Sciences Engineering.

Dr Ng said these additions put NTU at the forefront of catalysing scientific breakthroughs, technological advances and capability development for the Singapore economy.

Chairman of the NTU Board of Trustees Koh Boon Hwee said the board is grateful to Dr Su for his transformational leadership.

-CNA/wk

Uni Rankings

What do you think?

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调查：经济好转 大学毕业生起薪要求上升

调查：经济好转 大学毕业生起薪要求上升 

®Copyright MediaCorp

调查显示，随着经济情况好转，本地大学毕业生对起薪的要求也更高。

职 业咨询机构JobsFactory今年4月，通过互联网，对来自本地3所大学的将近4千600名毕业生，进行调查后发现，他们今年的平均起薪要求为2千 920多元，比去年高出百分之4.2。其中，获得二等荣誉甲以上的毕业生的基本薪金要求更高，达到3千零89元，比去年增加将近百分之5。


- wong chee tat :)

8,000 students graduate from NTU this year

8,000 students graduate from NTU this year
By Rekha/ Jeremy Koh

SINGAPORE: This year's graduating cohort is the largest ever from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

The 8,000 students include those from the pioneer cohort of the School of Art, Design and Media, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.

Singapore's President, SR Nathan, who is also the chancellor of NTU, attended the convocation ceremony on Thursday.

NTU's president, Su Guaning, said the university will be addressing the future challenges that it will be facing at an upcoming workshop.

His comments followed Education Minister Ng Eng Hen's recent observation that NTU should seek to distinguish itself in some fields, to be among the world's best universities.

- CNA/y

- wong chee tat :)

NTU Graduating Class Of 2009

- wong chee tat :)

Grads & Money

Which grads earn the most? (and here)

By LIEW HANQING

FRESH graduates from the economics degree programme of the Singapore Management University (SMU) are among the best paid in their peer group, with a median starting salary of $3,300.

Those with distinctions fare even better. The corresponding figure for them is $3,750.

SMU's economics programme is among several local undergraduate courses with a 100 per cent overall employment rate for recent graduates.

Prospective students can now have a better idea of which local degree programmes offers the best pay, thanks to data released by the Ministry of Education (MOE)for the first time this year.

Its Graduate Employment Survey is based on responses from recent graduates of the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and SMU.

The survey tracks employment data of graduates six months after graduation. The survey results are available on MOE's website, www.moe.gov.sg, on the 'post-secondary education' page.

The information available includes overall employment rates as well as mean and median gross monthly salaries of graduates, organised according to the degree courses offered by each university. (See table right.)

For example, about 90 per cent of mechanical engineering graduates from NUS were employed six months after graduation, with a median gross monthly salary of $2,965.

However, the economy and employment conditions have worsened since these graduates got their jobs. A spokesman for MOE said it would publish the results of the GES annually.

'The data gives prospective students a general indication of the employment conditions of the graduates from the various degree courses offered by our local universities,' he said.

He added that MOE decided to publish the survey results to help students make informed course decisions.

The survey was conducted on graduates who completed their studies between May and June last year and entered the labour market by 1 Nov.

Point of reference

Said the spokesman: 'We understand employment conditions may have changed since, but we hope that the data may still be useful as one point of reference for the students.'

The survey covers most available degree courses, but omits data from law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture, as graduates in these subjects must first undergo professional training.

Most students The New Paper spoke to felt the information was useful for those trying to choose a course of study.

Said Tan Ying Quan, 18, who has applied to both local and overseas universities: 'The information is useful because it allows students to gauge the viability of their studies in the current job market.'

He added that the availability of such employment data would prevent students from having unrealistic expectations of their starting salaries or the likelihood of securing employment upon graduation.

But undergraduate Yvonne Poon, 20, said the starting salary is just one factor that most prospective students look at when selecting a possible future career.

'When it comes to the crunch, surely pay doesn't matter that much - aptitude and passion is more important,' she said.

'You cannot brainwash yourself into developing a liking for, say, the highest- paying job around.'

Undergraduate Joanne Chia, 22, said she felt the information would help job hunters have a good idea of what to expect when they enter the job market.

She said: 'There are still quite a number of undergraduates who don't have an accurate idea of what entry-level pay to expect.

'This information would help moderate their expectations and hopefully help them pick their jobs wisely.'

She added that it would be useful if information such as the names of big-name employers, and the number of graduates they hire from each local university, are published as well.

'That would give us a good idea of our chances of being employed by the more sought-after companies,' she said.




What do you think of the survey?

- wong chee tat :)

Singapore's public universities will not raise tuition fees this year

Singapore's public universities will not raise tuition fees this year

SINGAPORE: The National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU) announced in separate statements on Friday that they would not be raising tuition fees this year.

NUS said it is deferring the planned adjustments to its tuition and hostel fees for one academic year. This means both new and existing students will pay the current rates. A review will be made at the end of the year.

The university has also stepped up its efforts to help needy students. The eligibility criteria for financial assistance have been adjusted to enable more Singaporean students to qualify.

NTU will be pumping S$2.2 million more to fund its bursaries and work-study scheme, bringing the total amount available to S$12.48 million. There will also be no change in tuition fees for current students.

Any fee increase for new undergraduates will be deferred and the university will review the situation in the next academic year.

At the same time, SMU has deferred any revision to its tuition fees for a year.

To help those in need, the university is offering more than 200 bond-free scholarships to new undergraduates. This means an average of one in eight freshmen will get a chance to be awarded a scholarship.

In addition, one in six will benefit from a wide range of financial assistance, from study grants to book allowances.


- CNA/so

- wong chee tat :)

Universities publish grade profiles as guide for course applicants

Universities publish grade profiles as guide for course applicants
By Sufian Suderman, TODAY | Posted: 13 February 2009

SINGAPORE: The days when junior college and polytechnic students engage in the guessing game - will they or won't they get a place in a coveted varsity course - may be over.

For the first time, all three public universities - Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore Management University (SMU) - have published their lists of "grade profiles" for A-level students and "grade point average (GPA)" for polytechnic students to help them assess their chances of getting into the various undergraduate courses offered by the universities.

For example, for NUS' 2008 admission exercise, students who were offered places to its law and medicine faculties generally scored 4As for three H2 and one H1 subjects.

The move comes following calls by various quarters in recent years for the universities to be more transparent about their entry requirements.

Students interviewed by TODAY welcomed the publication of the lists - but some wondered if even more information could be released.

Second-year polytechnic student Gerlynn Chan, 18, said: "The universities should have done this a long time ago. However, certain courses like the Mass Communication course from NTU also require you to take several tests and interviews ... so I think they should provide more of such information regarding such aspects."

JC student Chua Han Wee, 19, who is waiting for his A-level results, feels that "grades should not be the only consideration".

"Consistency of a student's performance in co-curricular activities (CCAs) should also be taken into account." he added.

Mr Alan Goh, SMU's director of undergraduate admissions, said the grade profiles are meant to be "an indicative guide". All applicants are assessed on "SMU's holistic selection process, which includes their academic standing and CCA achievements". (here * Ed: Info may change)

An NUS spokesperson said: "The exact requirements will vary depending on the specific course and is ultimately determined by the strength of the applicant pool each year."

The publication of grade profiles has made students such as 18-year-old Khalid Khan realise that they need to study harder if they want to earn a place in the university.

The polytechnic student in media and communication said: "I'm now coming to year 3. This means I've got only a year to get a minimum of GPA 3 to have a higher chance of entering any of these local universities."

For more information, visit the universities' respective websites.

- TODAY/fa

- wong chee tat :)

Survey shows most firms still hiring fresh graduates

Earlier, one of my friends ask me about my plans after graduation. We chatted a bit and we agreed that the job market in Singapore does not look that good because of the recession. But, can we make a difference?

Let's look at the article below:


Survey shows most firms still hiring fresh graduates (See video)
By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia Posted: 05 January 2009 2113 hrs

Survey shows most firms still hiring fresh graduates

SINGAPORE: Thousands of fresh graduates are expected to enter the Singapore job market this year, flooding a labour pool that is seeing more retrenchments. Industries that are still hiring include accounting, engineering and sales.

Josh Goh, senior manager, Corporate Communications, The GMP Group, said: "The situation has changed. Fresh grads need to prepare themselves. They need to dress appropriately; they need to portray a very enthusiastic, willing-to-learn attitude."

Recruitment agencies said preparation, experience and presentation will help give applicants a winning edge, so internship and knowledge about the company and job matter.

One also has to be prepared to accept a salary range that is on average about 5 to 15 per cent lower than last year.

Despite widespread hiring freezes, a recent survey of some 120 firms by the National University of Singapore (NUS) showed that 90 per cent of these companies will take in fresh graduates. The survey covered industries such as manufacturing, finance, transport and the public sector.

The Singapore Management University (SMU) said some students are delaying their graduation to explore more internships. More have also gone to career service centres for advice, especially those who are hoping to find a job in banking or finance.

Universities, in turn, have revved up their outreach activities.

Loh Pui Wah, director, Career and Attachment Office, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), said: "We are approaching companies such as new and emerging industries that traditionally do not hire fresh graduates. We are also targeting the SMEs, so we are aggressively going out to them to discuss employment opportunities and inviting them to NTU."

Some students, however, remain unfazed about the challenges ahead. Economics major Lim Wensi, who is graduating from SMU in July, is feeling upbeat about getting a job in the tourism sector.

He said: "I'm not overly anxious about not getting a job because I feel there are still jobs out there, especially in the tourism industry. I'm also prepared to do contract work, part-time work during this time until the economy picks up. Well, the back-up plan would be to go overseas to do a Masters."

Observers said contract work can build up crucial job experience until a permanent position comes along.


- CNA/so

What are your thoughts? Hope 2009 is a good year! All the best to those graduating in 2009!

- wong chee tat :)