More academic options for new students

The new additions, which include an extended internship programme and interdisciplinary second majors, are aimed at widening career options.

By Alfred Chua

PHOTO: NTU

In a slew of tie-ups with its industry partners, NTU announced today (17 Feb) five new academic offerings catered for the incoming batch of freshmen.

These new majors and specialisations are: a second major in Biomedical Structural Biology, a second major in Society and Urban Systems, an International Trading Programme, a Business Analytics Programme, and an extended internship programme — the Experiential Semester Programme — for Accountancy majors. These courses will see an average of 20 to 30 students per intake.

At a press conference to launch the offerings, Senior Associate Provost (Undergraduate Education) Professor Kam Chan Hin said that these offerings were the result of working with NTU’s industry partners.

“There are a lot of opportunities and (a high) demand for fresh talent in these industries, and we feel this is one way to make our students more future-ready,” added Prof Kam.

He said that the new courses also “leverage on our interdisciplinary expertise across colleges and schools”.

One such example is the Second Major in Society and Urban Systems, jointly offered by both the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, and the College of Engineering. This programme will be offered to students doing Civil, Electrical & Electronic, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering degrees.

Prof Khoo Li Peng, Associate Dean (Undergraduate Studies) at the College of Engineering, said that the programme — the first for a Singapore public university — was a collaboration between the school and various local ministries, including the Ministry of National Development, and the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.

Another programme that sees NTU working with industry players is the International Trading Programme, which is offered as a specialisation for engineering students pursuing a second major in Business.

The Nanyang Chronicle understands that the course will also be open to students who are doing first majors in Maritime Studies, as well as Business (with a specialisation in Banking and Finance).

NTU will partner International Enterprise (IE) Singapore to offer the International Trading Programme, and it hopes to produce “at least 100 graduates a year,” said Assoc Prof Low Kin Yew.

The Associate Dean (Undergraduate Academic) at the Nanyang Business School (NBS) added that IE Singapore will provide initial funding for the programme.

Longer internships

Meanwhile, students entering the NBS Accountancy degree programme can now spend a semester undergoing internship and still graduate in three years.

The Experiential Semester Programme will make up academic credits that come from prescribed elective courses.

Currently, NBS students have to fulfill a professional attachment programme of 10 to 12 weeks. The tweak in internship length was the result of feedback from both internship companies and students, who expressed that they wanted longer internship periods, noted Prof Low.

He also said that students in the Experiential Semester Programme will also have the opportunity to work at “premier companies”.

The Chronicle understands that plans are underway to extend the Experiential Semester Programme to its undergraduate Business majors too.