The Singapore University of Social Sciences (Abbreviation: SUSS) is the sixth autonomous university in Singapore.
It aims to champion lifelong learning, offers degrees primarily in the domain of social sciences and disciplines that promotes human and community development. The university's predecessors were the SIM Open University Degree Programme and subsequently SIM University under the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) Group. It is now under the ambit of the Ministry of Education (Singapore) (MOE).
SUSS academia is organized into five schools, one college and five centres. The schools are classified into the School of Arts and Social Sciences, the School of Business, the School of Human Development and Social Services, the School of Law and the School of Science and Technology that jointly offers more than 60 degree programmes. U College is dedicated to the development of curricula and programmes for full-time students. The five centres are C-three (Counselling), Centre for Applied Research, Centre for Chinese Studies @ SUSS, Centre for Continuing and Professional Education and Teaching and Learning Centre.
The university collaborates with local and overseas academic partners in curriculum development, teaching, exchange programmes and research. The university also collaborates with local, overseas industry partners and statutory boards of the Singapore Government to develop industry related courses, provide study scholarships, sponsorships, study resources, recognition, industrial attachment placements and work opportunities.
As of 2014 the patron of the university is the President of Singapore, Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam. The Chancellor of the university is Dr Aline Wong. The Founding President of the university is Professor Cheong Hee Kiat, who was a former deputy president of Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The Provost of the university, Professor Tsui Kai Chong, was the Vice Provost of Graduate Education at the Singapore Management University (SMU).
The university is currently located at SIM HQ, Clementi Road (Clementi, Singapore). SUSS also uses external premises to conduct lessons.
Video Singapore University of Social Sciences
History
Open University, United Kingdom
In 1992, SIM was selected by the MOE to run the Open University Degree Programme (OUDP), in collaboration with Open University, United Kingdom (OUUK). In 1994, the first batch of SIM OUDP's 900 students studied only among three degree programmes. In 1998, the first graduation ceremony with 334 was graced by former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore Dr Tony Tan.
In 2002, OUDP attaining accreditation status and was renamed Singapore Institute of Management's Open University Centre (SIM-OUC) as one of SIM's autonomous entity.
Establishment of SIM University
In 2005, SIM received the mandate from MOE to form SIM University (UniSIM), Singapore's then fourth university committed to forging upgrading opportunities for working adults. UniSIM took over more than 6,500 students from SIM-OUC studying in over 40 programmes. SIM-OUC students who graduated from 2006 and onward were given a choice between a UniSIM or OUUK degree.
Professor Cham Tao Soon, the first Chancellor and Chairman of UniSIM, was involved in the establishment of the university. He recounted the challenges and achievements in training part-time faculty members who are strong in industrial knowledge but may not teach equally well. This led to the set up of the Teaching and Learning Centre. He persuaded faculty members to adopt online teaching and advanced e-learning. Strives were also made in gaining public's trust in the university's credibility.
Government Subsidy
In 2008, Singapore Government granted tuition fees subsidy of up to 40% to eligible Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents (PR) UniSIM undergraduates. In 2011, government subsidy was increased up to 55% of tuition fees. In 2012, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced during National Day Rally 2012 that similar to autonomous universities in Singapore, UniSIM part-time students are eligible for government bursaries and loans.
Full-time Programmes
In 2012, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced during National Day Rally 2012 that UniSIM will launch full-time publicly funded degree programmes in 2014. New programmes offered by UniSIM will take on the applied degree pathway that will heavily emphasize on practice-oriented teaching. The first intake of full-time students were from the Accountancy, Finance and Marketing programmes.
Singapore's Third Law School
In 2013, during UniSIM Convocation 2013, Education Minister Mr Heng Swee Keat announced that UniSIM was selected to house Singapore's third law school. Senior Minister of State for Law, Ms Indranee Rajah chaired the Steering Committee for the Establishment of the UniSIM Law School.
In 16 February 2016, Ms Indranee Rajah, the Law Ministry and UniSIM jointly held a press conference to announce that UniSIM Law School (USL) will fill the shortfall in law practitioners in the areas of family and criminal law. This is done through offering 80% of Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Juris Doctor (JD) programmes to mid-career professionals such as paralegals, law enforcement officers and social workers.
In January 2017, UniSIM School of Law received its first batch of 60 law students.
Autonomous University: Singapore University of Social Sciences
In 2015, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced during National Day Rally 2012 that UniSIM will become the republic's 6th universities to participate in the Government's plan to increase the number of publicly funded university places.
In 12 October 2016, Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) and Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Ong Ye Kung announced that the Government has invited UniSIM to become Singapore's sixth autonomous university. Subsequently, in 11 November 2016, the SIM governing council voted in favour to bring the university under the ambit of MOE.
Restructuring Process: Singapore University of Social Sciences
From 17 March 2017, UniSIM was renamed SUSS and became Singapore's sixth autonomous university under the ambit of MOE. It was no longer a member of the SIM Group. The autonomous status was officially awarded by the Singapore government on 11 July 2017. SUSS will reissue uniSIM certificates in the name of SUSS for recognition purposes and other uses. However, a statement will indicate that the qualification was obtained from UniSIM under the ambit of Singapore Institute of Management.
Subsequently, the University will restructure to retain a "limited offering" in business and engineering programmes while increase its offerings in social science programmes. All programmes will have curricular considering the social impacts on the community and have to partake a compulsory module in social sciences.
Maps Singapore University of Social Sciences
Campus
The main campus of SUSS is at SIM HQ (Clementi Road), 461 Clementi Road, Singapore 599491. SUSS uses external premises at BCA Academy, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute, NTUC Centre, Physical Education & Sports Teacher Academy, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore Centre for Chinese Language, Singapore Polytechnic and Singapore Sports Hub to conduct lessons as well.
A 6-metre tall artwork by sculptor Sun I-Yu named 'Celebrate The Extraordinary' stands on the right side of Richard K.M. Eu Block C. The sculpture was created for the 2015 Southeast Asian Games and donated to SUSS after the event. The sculpture's raised hands pays homage to Singapore's racial diversity and harmony. The hands by the side represent outreach to the local communities and the world. The sculpture has a 'heart' and lighted up when one of the hands by the side was touched.
Admission
Applicants must be Singapore citizens or Singapore permanent residents.
The minimum education requirement is a GCE 'A' level, or local Polytechnic Diploma, International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or NUS High School Diploma certification. Applicants with good SAT1 scores may be considered for admission. Certain programmes may require additional admission requirements.
The part-time programmes require applicants to acquire two years of full-time work experience, completed full-time National Service for male applicants or current employed on a full-time basis and be at minimum 21 years old.
Academic schools
The university currently offers more than 60 degree programmes through five schools.
School of Arts and Social Sciences
The School offers first and only translation & interpretation bachelor's degree programmes in Singapore. It deliver a range of programmes in languages, literatures, social sciences and translation. Additionally, the school provides certification for Professional Interpreters.
School of Business
The School offers a diverse range of Business and Management programmes.
The Bachelor of Accountancy is accredited by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA).
School of Human Development and Social Services
The School offers a range of programmes in Counselling, Early Childhood Education, Human Resource Management and Social Work. It offers Singapore's first counselling degree programmes at the undergraduate and postgraduate level, first early childhood bachelor's degree as well as the first Gerontology programme at the postgraduate level.
School of Law
The School of Law is Singapore's third law school and offers four year LLB and JD programmes. Both the LLB and JD programmes are recognised degrees under the Legal Profession Act and qualified persons with a minimum GPA of 3.5 are eligible to sit for the Bar Examinations.
The school also offers Master of Taxation in collaboration with the Tax Academy of Singapore.
School of Science and Technology
The School of Science and Technology offers a range of programmes in Aerospace, Building, Engineering, Military Studies and Technology.
The Bachelor of Building and Project Management is accredited by the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers (SISV) and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The BSc Facilities and Events Management is accredited by the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) and the RICS.
The BEng Aeropsace Systems is undergoing full accreditation and BEng Electronics is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Board (EAB) of Singapore, Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES).
Centres
C-three (Counselling)
Centre for Applied Research
The Centre for Applied Research (CFAR) undertakes, administers and facilitates research and related activities. It also serves as an incubation centre for research programmes and projects. CFAR, being SUSS's knowledge hub, maintains a repository of the knowledge output of all faculty, staff and students.
The Centre, headed by the Director of Research, also runs a seminar series to showcase the research output of SUSS.
Centre for Chinese Studies @SUSS
The Centre for Chinese Studies @SUSS (CCS @SUSS), previously known as UniSIM Centre for Chinese Studies (UCCS), serves as the university's one-stop resource centre to monitor trends and developments in the wider Chinese-speaking world to aid in making necessary adjustments in curriculum development and academic activities.
Centre for Continuing and Professional Education
Teaching and Learning Centre
See also
- List of universities in Singapore
References
External links
- Singapore University of Social Sciences
- UC
- SIM Campus Development
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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