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Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
NUS College draws 10,000 applications for 400 places, showing strong liberal arts interest
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Former Raffles Institution student Nor Ilhan Anakin, 21, will be taking a computing and AI degree at NUS College. SINGAPORE – Even as Yale-NUS College graduating students and alumni lament the closure of their beloved institution in June , they can take heart from the fact that a liberal arts and sciences education is very much in demand among young people in Singapore. This despite the worldwide shift towards artificial intelligence (AI) and computing degrees, alongside falling interest in liberal arts and general studies. NUS College – built on the foundations of the Yale-NUS College and University Scholars Programme – received a record number of about 10,000 applications in 2025 for the 400 places it offers every year. In 2022, when it opened for applications, 7,000 applied. An NUS College spokesman said the incoming cohort along with the first three batches form a diverse community comprising more than 30 nationalities. Of the 360 students who have already accepted places in the college for the coming academic year, starting in August, more than 30 are from local polytechnics. The rest of the Singaporeans come from all junior colleges, as well as Millennia Institute, the Singapore Sports School, School of the Arts and NUS High School of Mathematics and Science. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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The college offers a programme rooted in the interdisciplinary study and application of the natural sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities. Students take the college modules concurrently with their main degree requirements and are expected to contribute actively to learning within the small class sizes of 20 to 25. They are also required to live for two years in the residential wings of the college. Experiential learning takes place on field trips for courses such as those on marine conservation and heritage, through interaction with industry partners, and via practicums in storytelling, photography and dance. Through the college's Impact Experience projects, students form interdisciplinary teams to work on projects across Singapore, the region and beyond. Three projects are now being incubated to develop longer-term value, including Bamboobon, a bamboo sustainability initiative in Thailand, which won the NUS x Hult Prize 2025, a global competition where university students develop social enterprises to address world issues. Professor Simon Chesterman, dean of NUS College, said of the surge in applications: 'It reflects a growing appetite for an education that combines intellectual rigour with real-world relevance. We are candid to applicants that our programme is not easy and it's not for everyone. The demand that we are seeing tells us that students don't just want a degree – they want to be challenged.' On 40 per cent of the Singaporean students qualifying for needs-based bursaries, he said: 'Access and excellence must go hand in hand. We want the best students, not just the best-resourced ones.' Asked about university-bound students around the world questioning the value of a liberal arts education in the age of AI, Prof Chesterman said: 'In an age where machines can increasingly do what we once thought uniquely human, the case for a broad-based education is stronger than ever.' Incoming students echoed his comments, saying that a broad-based liberal arts education will give them an edge in the age of AI. Ms Angel Lim, 18, who intends to major in sociology, sees liberal arts as being more relevant in the age of AI. She said: 'AI raises a lot of issues, and you would need clear and critical thinking to understand the issues and see a way forward. I believe a liberal arts education will inculcate that sort of thinking in me.' She is also of the view that AI will force humans to double down on those talents and skills that only humans possess – such as creativity, empathy and cultural agility. 'Now, more than ever, we need liberal arts education to ensure that technologies help us become more fully human,' she said. Ms Naomi Ho, 20, a business studies graduate from Ngee Ann Polytechnic who is aiming for a degree in accountancy, hopes to pursue a career that will take her around the world. To prepare for this, she is bent on making full use of the opportunities for global exposure and project work at NUS College. She believes a liberal arts education will prepare her for going out into the world, adding that she is glad to see a diverse student body at NUS College, with students from different countries and education pathways. She said: 'There is value in an environment where you get opposing views and different perspectives – it's the best way to prepare yourself for a globalised world.' Former Raffles Institution student Nor Ilhan Anakin, 21, who will be pursuing a computing and AI degree, said combining it with a liberal arts education will give him an edge when he heads out to work. Mr Ilhan, who is working as a receptionist in Pan Pacific Orchard to gain people skills, said: 'No doubt AI will dominate every aspect of our lives. I feel that learning how to use AI will be the easy part. The difficult part will be using it well to benefit people and dealing with the complex issues that comes with using AI. 'That's where a liberal arts education will be useful. It will enable me to see the big picture, to question and look at issues with a different lens, before arriving at solutions. 'I strongly feel that in the age of AI, a liberal arts education can equip individuals to become effective 'translators' between AI and humans.' Dr David Leong, managing director of recruitment company PeopleWorldwide Consulting, said university-bound students combining a liberal arts education with their main areas of study are on the right track, as employers will value individuals who can leverage AI as a tool rather than a replacement for human ingenuity. He said: 'A liberal arts education excels in cultivating important skills, emphasising not just what to think, but how to think – encouraging curiosity, ethical reasoning and the ability to evaluate information critically.' Asked about opportunities for NUS students who failed to get into the college, the NUS College spokesman said the university has expanded its interdisciplinary education initiatives, and its experiential programmes – including the NUS Overseas Colleges programme for those with an entrepreneurial bent – are open to all.


CNA
18-06-2025
- Health
- CNA
Commentary: I am 86 and have dementia, but I still have much to give
SINGAPORE: I am now 86 years old, and I have Alzheimer's disease – a type of dementia. But I still have much to give. I can still sing, play mahjong and even write. As a matter of fact, I'm now in the midst of writing my memoir. I hope that by sharing my story, I will be able to inspire others facing similar challenges and encourage a more inclusive and supportive environment for people with dementia. LOST IN THE DARK In Singapore, about one in 11 people aged 60 years and above are living with dementia, according to a 2024 study by the Institute of Mental Health. This corresponds to about 74,000 older adults living with dementia in Singapore. As our population continues to age, this number is expected to increase to 152,000 by 2030. I used to have a good memory, which came in handy during my teaching career especially when it came to teaching thousands of kids over the decades. I began my career after my O-Levels at 16 years old, teaching maths at schools across Singapore before furthering my education. I later became the discipline master of Raffles Institution, and then principal of Commonwealth Secondary School and, subsequently, Bedok North Secondary School. Suffice it to say, education has been my life's calling. For me, the changes came quietly, almost unnoticeably at first. I would forget where I placed my keys and sometimes, where I parked my car, but I thought this was a normal part of ageing. One evening though, as I drove home from my tutee's house – a route I'd travelled countless times before – the roads felt strangely unfamiliar. I found myself driving in circles, feeling uncertain and unsettled. Eventually, I found my way back, but the incident scared me. I decided it was time to go for a check-up. What followed was a series of tests and eventually my worst fears were confirmed – I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. THE DIAGNOSIS The diagnosis was a blow to my sense of self. Frustration, disappointment and helplessness settled in as I tried to process my new reality. They told me this disease would slowly take away my sharpness, my speech and my independence - parts of me I thought I'd always have. Although I've tried to stay positive, it hasn't always been easy. Over time, I've struggled to recall names and places. I also take a longer time to think through and resolve problems. Tasks I once performed with ease, such as operating a remote control, now require extra effort because the different buttons can be confusing. There's also the fear of rejection – the worry that others might not understand me or may grow frustrated at having to repeat themselves. Some friendships have quietly slipped away because I can no longer recall the people, our bond, or the moments we once shared. But I've learned to navigate these challenges by surrounding myself with supportive family and friends who celebrate my victories, big and small. LIVING WITH THE DISEASE Not long after my diagnosis, I was referred to Dementia Singapore, the leading social service agency in specialised dementia care. There, I found a community that understands my situation. Through activities like memory cafes, exercise programmes and even opportunities to become an advocate for others, I'm reminded that life shouldn't have to stop because of my diagnosis. I've also learned strategies to help manage the progression of the condition. For example, I follow a structured daily routine to create a sense of stability and familiarity. Around the house, I keep a whiteboard as a visual reminder, where I jot down appointments and tasks to keep myself organised. Most importantly, I stay active by sharing my experiences as a co-facilitator at Voices for Hope, a programme that aims to empower people living with dementia and their care partners on a self-advocacy journey. In 2021, I wrote a poem called Forget Me Not that encapsulates my experience living with this condition. It was published by Dementia Singapore in 2023. WHAT I WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW Here's what I want people to understand. People with early-stage dementia can be active, engaged and lead fulfilling lives. We just need a little understanding and patience. To those newly diagnosed, I would like to say: don't despair, stay positive, continue engaging in activities you love and explore ways to manage your condition. Life doesn't stop with a diagnosis; it simply takes a different path. For care partners, I urge you to be patient, accepting and most importantly, respectful. Give your loved ones space to find ways to improve their cognitive abilities and encourage independence and support without being overprotective. This is a partnership, not a one-way street. That's why I prefer the term 'care partner' over 'caregiver'. It carries the warmth and understanding that we're in this together, working hand in hand. At this stage, dementia may change how we experience our journey, but the treasures of past still often remain accessible. While new information becomes harder to retain, it hasn't diminished our capacity to connect with others and live a life full of purpose.


New Paper
08-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
S'pore triathlete Ben Khoo smashes his own national Ironman record in Hamburg
Battling the choppy waves and cold wind, Singapore triathlete Benjamin Khoo struggled at the start of the Ironman race in Hamburg, Germany, on June 1. But the 34-year-old pushed through the swim leg in the Alster Lake, made up ground on the bicycle before completing the marathon to clock 8hr 49min 46sec. In the process, he smashed his own Singapore record of 9:02:24, set at the Ironman Copenhagen race in August 2023. The Ironman race comprises a 3.8km swim, 180km bicycle ride and 42km run. Khoo, a business executive in the chemicals sector, said: "There was a thunderstorm, so the race was delayed, and we were afraid that that might affect the conditions. "I didn't have a very good swim and the swim was longer than expected - 4km instead of 3.8km - but I was quite happy to make time on the bike. "So I went much, much faster than I expected. And then I got off the bike, I was like, 'okay, more or less there already'. "I just need to finish a marathon conservatively, and I will be able to break the record with quite a comfortable buffer." Triathlon Association of Singapore president Paul Rachmadi said Khoo "delivered a monumental race". He added: "Smashing his previous best of 9:02:24, Ben continues to redefine the limits of endurance, discipline and dedication. "An extraordinary achievement and a powerful inspiration to the next generation of triathletes in Singapore." In April, Khoo had also competed in the Singapore leg of the T100 triathlon series at Marina Bay, where he finished as the quickest Singaporean in the open category. The T100 is a shorter event, with participants completing a 2km swim, 80km bike race and 18km run. Khoo said: "The intensity of racing is higher (for the T100) and in Singapore, the course is also much more difficult, because it's hot... it requires a lot more fitness and skill, whereas the Ironman is more of a test of endurance. "They always say that the Ironman only begins at the last 10km of the marathon, which is not true. It's a nine-hour race… But the last 40 to 50 minutes are incredibly hard. With 14km to go, my body shut down. So I couldn't run fast, couldn't take in nutrition, which was difficult. "It was not a race against the rest of the field but a race against the clock. So I'm always checking the clock, looking at the total time." Khoo was introduced to multi-sport racing at Raffles Institution, where he participated in adventure racing - running and cycling - as part of his Boys' Brigade co-curricular activity. After secondary school, he dabbled in triathlon and first represented Singapore in the Under-23 category of the Asian Triathlon Championships in Taiwan in 2011. Khoo, who holds a master of science in management science and engineering from Stanford University, said he chose the Ironman Hamburg race as it is known to be a fast course, adding: "The age group world record was set there last year, and this year the pro women world record was also set there." Having lowered his own national record in Germany, Khoo is eyeing something else closer to home. He is hoping to be part of the national duathlon team for the Dec 9-20 SEA Games in Thailand. "The Ironman is a nine-hour race, whereas the SEA Games format for me would be 20 minutes," he said. "It's a real transformation of systems and I have to change from a long and slow athlete to high octane and pretty much a sprint. It will take some time to transform the body, so that will be my focus for the next six months."

Straits Times
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Singapore triathlete Ben Khoo smashes his own national Ironman record in Hamburg
Benjamin Khoo clocked 8 hours 49 minutes and 46 seconds in Hamburg on June 1 to break his own Singapore record in the Ironman race. PHOTO: COURTESY OF BENJAMIN KHOO SINGAPORE – Battling the choppy waves and cold wind, Singapore triathlete Ben Khoo struggled at the start of the Ironman race in Hamburg, Germany, on June 1. But the 34-year-old pushed through the swim leg in the Alster Lake, made up ground on the bicycle before completing the marathon to clock 8 hours 49 minutes 46 seconds. In the process, he smashed his own Singapore record of 9:02:24, set at the Ironman Copenhagen race in August 2023. The Ironman race comprises a 3.8km swim, 180km bicycle ride and 42km run. Khoo, a business executive in the chemicals sector, said: 'There was a thunderstorm, so the race was delayed, and we were afraid that that might affect the conditions. 'I didn't have a very good swim and the swim was longer than expected – 4km instead of 3.8km – but I was quite happy to make time on the bike. 'So I went much, much faster than I expected. And then I got off the bike, I was like, 'okay, more or less there already', I just need to finish a marathon conservatively, and I will be able to break the record with quite a comfortable buffer.' Triathlon Association of Singapore president Paul Rachmadi said Khoo 'delivered a monumental race'. He added: 'Smashing his previous best of 9:02:24, Ben continues to redefine the limits of endurance, discipline and dedication. 'An extraordinary achievement and a powerful inspiration to the next generation of triathletes in Singapore.' In April, Khoo had also competed in the Singapore leg of the T100 triathlon series at Marina Bay, where he finished as the quickest Singaporean in the open category. The T100 is a shorter event, with participants completing a 2km swim, 80km bike race and 18km run. Khoo said: 'The intensity of racing is higher (for the T100) and in Singapore, the course is also much more difficult, because it's hot and it's hilly, so it requires a lot more fitness and skill, whereas the Ironman is more of a test of endurance. 'They always say that the Ironman only begins at the last 10km of the marathon, which is not true. It's a nine-hour race… But the last 40 to 50 minutes are incredibly hard. With 14 km to go, my body shut down. So I couldn't run fast, couldn't take in nutrition, which was difficult. 'It was not a race against the rest of the field but a race against the clock. So I'm always checking the clock, looking at the total time.' Khoo was introduced to multi-sport racing at Raffles Institution, where he participated in adventure racing – running and cycling – as part of his Boys' Brigade co-curricular activity. After secondary school, he dabbled in triathlon and first represented Singapore in the Under-23 category of the Asian Triathlon Championships in Taiwan in 2011. Khoo, who holds a master of science in management science and engineering from Stanford University, said he chose the Ironman Hamburg race as it is known to be a fast course, adding: 'The age group world record was set there last year, and this year the pro women world record was also set there.' Having lowered his own national record in Germany, Khoo is eyeing something else closer to home. He is hoping to be part of the national duathlon team for the Dec 9-20 SEA Games in Thailand. 'The Iron Man is a nine-hour race, whereas the SEA Games format for me would be 20 minutes,' he said. 'It's a real transformation of systems and I have to change from a long and slow athlete to high octane and pretty much a sprint. It will take some time to transform the body, so that will be my focus for the next six months.' Melvyn Teoh is a sports journalist at The Straits Times. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Kaska Watkins adds another gold medal to her haul as RI reclaim A Div netball crown
Raffles Institution's Kaska Watkins taking aim during the National School Games A Division netball final. She scored 20 out of 24 shots in the 45-40 win over Anglo-Chinese Junior College. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Kaska Watkins adds another gold medal to her haul as RI reclaim A Div netball crown SINGAPORE – Competing in the National School Games swimming finals in April, Raffles Institution's (RI) Kaska Watkins collected a total of four medals – including a relay gold. Transferring that athleticism from the pool to the court, she added another gold to her haul on May 28. The goal attack played a key role as RI defeated defending champions Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) 45-40 at Our Tampines Hub to reclaim the A Division netball title that they last won in 2023. Kaska converted 20 out of the 24 shots she attempted, putting up an impressive 83.3 per cent shot conversion rate. The 17-year-old had claimed silver medals in the 50m freestyle and 4x50m medley relay on April 24, before adding a gold in the 4x50m free relay and a 100m free bronze a day later. But the water sport has given her more than just medals. 'Swimming has given me a strong core,' said Kaska, who is of English nationality. 'So whenever my teammates pass me the ball, I can grab it at different directions. Also, when I do weight training in swimming, I work on my legs and it helps me jump higher.' However, standing at 1.73m, she knew it would be difficult going up on the court against ACJC's goalkeeper Alyssa Tan, who is taller at 1.78m, prompting a different offensive approach. 'We knew we couldn't do any high balls because she (Alyssa) would intercept it, so I had to try holding her (back) so that I would block her off and get the ball,' said Kaska. RI coach Chng Li Li, 53, added: 'The AC (defence) is much taller than my shooters. We cannot play high, so we had to play the low balls (along the floor).' RI were without their first-choice centre Wang Yun Xi, who had to attend the International Biology Olympiad at Nanyang Technological University. Reserve centres Caitlin Ong and Emily Loi took turns to deputise in her place, and they both performed admirably. 'I played three quarters (in total) in the preliminary round, so this was definitely quite an overwhelming moment for me when I stepped on court,' said Emily, 17, who started the final as a substitute. Centre Emily Loi (in black, holding the ball) played well in place of their absent first-choice centre Wang Yun Xi. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM 'Even though our main centre wasn't here, it doesn't mean that our team won't be able to play well. We are still a team overall so we'll all be working together,' she said. RI started the game on the front foot, leading 13-8 after the first quarter. A combination of turnovers high up the court and neat interplay saw them take a commanding 25-18 advantage into half-time. ACJC fought back in the third quarter as they sought to narrow a 32-28 deficit. But it was ultimately too little too late as RI closed the game out to avenge last season's defeat in the final, where they lost 44-43 to ACJC. RI captain Lim Ruici , 18, said: 'The team was really hungry this year. I think our team's focus was enjoying the game because that is when we are at our best.' RI celebrating with the trophy after winning the A Div netball final. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM ACJC captain Keira Baptista was on the sidelines after a full anterior cruciate ligament tear and a partial medial collateral ligament tear ruled her out for the season. 'At first, I felt very helpless that I wouldn't be there for my team physically on court, but regardless I made sure that they knew that I would have their back,' said the 18-year-old. On-court captain Alyssa said RI played a good game and deserved their win. 'We fought hard and no matter the outcome, I think we put in our best effort today,' added the 18-year-old. In the third-place play-off, Victoria Junior College beat Eunoia Junior College 48-35. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.