9 November 2006

Producing top-notch professionals for the Digital Media industry

NUS will offer a new Concurrent Degree Programme in Interactive Digital Media between the School of Computing and the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) at Carnegie Mellon University in the US. The programme is offered with scholarship support from the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) under its National Infocomm Scholarship scheme. IDA's Chief Executive Officer, Mr Chan Yeng Kit said that the collaboration is of strategic significance for Singapore because it will produce top notch Infocomm professionals to fuel the development of digital media and entertainment industry in Singapore.

INTERACTIVE DIGITAL MEDIA: From left: CMU President Jared L Cohon, NUS President Shih Choon Fong and CEO, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore Chan Yeng Kit signing the agreement leading to the launch of the new Concurrent Degree Programme.

Commencing in August 2007, the new programme allows students to obtain a Bachelor of Computing in Communications and Media (BComp C&M) degree from NUS and a Master of Entertainment Technology (MET) degree from CMU in five years. Successful applicants will spend 3.5 years in NUS to complete the bachelor degree and spend the next 1.5 years at campuses of the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC-Global) located in the US, Australia and Korea to complete the MET degree. If the degrees are pursued separately, the BComp programme takes four years to complete, and the MET, two years. The NUS School of Computing plans to admit up to 20 students per intake. The first intake of students will study at the ETC in January 2011.

CREATIVITY AT PLAY: A video on the CMU Entertainment Technology Center being played at the official launch.

Besides getting both degrees on a fast track, students will also graduate with a portfolio as the programme emphasises project work. Said Dr Jared L Cohon, President of Carnegie Mellon University: "The joint venture will create new opportunities for well-prepared students from NUS' School of Computing to come to the Entertainment Technology Center for graduate study, enabling these students to contribute to the global entertainment technology industry."

NUS President Professor Shih Choon Fong said that the University is pleased to collaborate with Carnegie Mellon and IDA to offer aspiring interactive digital media professional opportunities, space and challenges to pursue their passion and hone their creative and technical skills. "This partnership to nurture talent in interactive and digital media will advance NUS' aim to play a vital role in Singapore's push to build strengths in this strategic area," he said.

Professor Shih also revealed that Interactive Digital Media will be an area of focus for the University's new residential colleges — a global village with a diversity of cultures and talents, with facilities that will act as common ground for developing social and intellectual bonds. Academic programmes within the colleges will complement the offerings of Faculties and Departments, preparing students for life and the workplace.