Students who enrol at the National University of Singapore (NUS) in the new academic year will be able to design their own modules and better pursue their passions.
From August 2019, all NUS undergraduates will get to choose what they want to learn, how they learn and who they learn from, for one portion of their curriculum.
Under the optional Design-Your-Own-Module (DYOM) initiative, undergraduate students may take up to four modular credits from their electives to pursue subjects that contribute to their personal and professional growth.
They will play a role in selecting course materials, assignments, and assessment criteria, under the guidance of an NUS faculty mentor.
“The exciting new Design-Your-Own-Module initiative dramatically broadens the range of modules offered by NUS and will better prepare our students for lifelong learning," said Professor Ho Teck Hua, NUS Senior Deputy President and Provost. "Students can now pursue knowledge in niche areas currently not offered by NUS courses and access top university courses as well as teaching by industry leaders."
He added that the DYOM initiative empowers students to customise their learning experiences. "While the modules might not be directly related to a student’s discipline, the knowledge learnt will complement NUS’ rigorous academic curriculum as well as the existing general education modules to give our students a more enriching and stimulating educational experience."
In the new academic year, NUS is opening its door wider – to talented polytechnic graduates who have demonstrated strong entrepreneurial abilities while pursuing their polytechnic education.
The university is working with the five polytechnics in Singapore to receive nominations of graduating students who have displayed a strong entrepreneurial inclination during their diploma studies. This includes, among other things, active participation in entrepreneurship-related programmes while at their polytechnics.
NUS expects to consider up to 200 nominated polytechnic students in total, with each polytechnic nominating up to 40 students.