Scene and Heard
NTU Singapore Tops Times Higher Education Young University Rankings
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has once again secured the top spot in this year’s Times Higher Education Young University Rankings, maintaining its first position from last year. This ranking lists the world’s best universities that are aged 50 years old and younger, with NTU being the only Singapore university featured.
The University’s strong performance is attributed to its strengths in teaching and research environment, which take into account the learning environment, research volume, and institutional reputation. NTU also excelled in international outlook, industry income, patents, and the quality of research. These indicators reflect citation impact, research strength, and research influence.
NTU President Professor Ho Teck Hua said: “As a young institution, we have been able to move quickly and make bold decisions to push the frontiers of research and education. NTU’s retention of the top spot in this year’s Times Higher Education Young University Rankings reflects the talent and success of our faculty and students, and our commitment to teaching and research excellence.”
This year’s rankings assessed 673 universities from 79 countries and regions, using the same methodology as the Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings. Institutions were evaluated based on teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook, with weightings recalibrated to reflect the profile of missions of young universities.
SIT Launches First-of-its-kind Centre for AI in Collaboration With NVIDIA
The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) has unveiled its new Centre for AI, built in collaboration with NVIDIA. This centre aims to accelerate AI adoption across industries and develop an AI talent pipeline, supporting Singapore’s goal of tripling the number of AI practitioners within the next five years.
The Centre for AI provides end-to-end technological support and innovative solutions, with co-supervision by experts from SIT and NVIDIA. It assists industry partners with customising and refining foundational and generative AI models, fostering the development of cutting-edge AI applications to meet specific needs.
SIT students enrolled in Infocomm Technology programmes and Industrial Doctorate and Industrial Master programmes are now working on real-world AI projects using NVIDIA technologies, enhancing their skills and competencies.
Professor Susanna Leong, Vice President (Applied Research) at SIT, said: “As AI continues unlocking new capabilities for industries across the world, we look forward to forging ahead in nurturing talent and building the competencies of the next generation for the thriving AI industry. The inauguration of this Centre, built in collaboration with NVIDIA, symbolises our dedication to fostering an AI ecosystem of creators and users for businesses and talents to thrive on the global platform to address the evolving landscape of generative AI.”
The Centre has begun interim operations at SIT@NYP Building while its permanent location in the Punggol Digital District is being constructed. SIT has embarked on more than 10 industry projects leveraging AI in collaboration with NVIDIA. These range from protein discovery, social science, computer vision, large language models, digital twins and industrial metaverse, and more.
IBF Launches Golden Jubilee ITE Scholarship With Internship Opportunities in the Financial Sector
The Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) has launched the IBF Golden Jubilee ITE Scholarship to mark its 50th anniversary. The scholarship, which includes a S$3,000 study award and a five-month internship with a financial institution, is a collaborative effort between IBF, the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), and 13 financial institutions.
The Guest-of-Honour, Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Trade and Industry and Deputy Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said, “ITE graduates are an important part of our talent pipeline. This scholarship will expand Possibilities within the financial sector for ITE students through internships, catalyse Partnerships between financial institutions and ITE, and reframe Perspectives by advocating for skills-based hiring to recognise the potential of ITE talent. This will allow ITE students to gain industry exposure and explore career opportunities in the financial sector.”
A total of 50 scholarships will be awarded to eligible final-year ITE students. These students will gain industry exposure, acquire practical skills, and engage with industry practitioners and mentors. The initiative will help financial institutions understand the potential value of ITE students.
The scholarship also aims to create stronger partnerships between IBF, ITE, and financial institutions. They will explore the feasibility of a new Work-Study Diploma in financial services, offering students practical work experience alongside academic credentials.
At the launch, IBF, ITE, and the 13 participating financial institutions signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) to solidify their commitment to providing scholarship and internship opportunities to ITE students.
SUSS Graduates Continue to Shine Amid Challenging Job Market
Despite the challenging job market due to the weaker economic climate of 2023, graduates from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) have shown remarkable resilience.
According to the annual Joint Autonomous Universities Graduate Employment Survey (JAUGES), close to nine in 10 SUSS full-time graduates were employed within six months of their final exams, with close to eight in ten securing full-time positions. Disciplines such as Supply Chain Management and Accountancy boasted employment rates exceeding 94%.
The survey, conducted jointly by SUSS and other Autonomous Universities, had a 75% response rate, with 587 out of 781 full-time graduates from the Class of 2023 participating.
The respondents were from diverse programmes including Early Childhood Education, Human Resource Management, Social Work, Accountancy, Business Analytics, Finance, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management.
The mean and median gross monthly salaries for those in full-time permanent employment increased to $3,986 and $3,700, respectively, up from $3,833 and $3,600 in 2022. Additionally, some graduates pursued meaningful endeavours through or alongside part-time roles.
Professor Tan Tai Yong, President of SUSS, said: “SUSS is proud to witness our graduates’ resilience and adaptability amid a challenging economic landscape and competitive job market.
The increase in salaries for those in full-time employment reflects employers’ recognition of our students’ qualifications and industry-relevant skillsets. Moreover, it is equally inspiring to see many of them embracing meaningful pursuits beyond traditional employment. In embodying SUSS’ ‘Dream, Dare, Do’ ethos, our graduates shape their futures with purpose and passion.”
