Knowledge Enterprise Online

Infusing global cultures in NUS

- Koh Eng Beng


MUSIC EXCHANGE: NUS President Prof Shih Choon Fong (centre) trying his hand at world percussion music with Prof Loh Hong Sai, Acting Director, International Relations Office (left) and NUSSU President, Donald Koh (right). Inset: Assoc Prof Tan Teck Koon, Dean of Students also joins in the rhythm. STUDENTS in cheongsam, sari, ao dai, and kimono, transformed the Central Library Forum into a mini-global village. The occasion was In-Fusion 2008, an international fiesta showcasing the diverse cultures in NUS. Themed Connections, the fiesta aims to encourage greater cross-cultural exchanges among the cosmopolitan mix of over 32,000 students from 88 countries through a spectrum of activities such as cultural performances and international food tasting session.

NUS faculty and staff led by NUS President Prof Shih Choon Fong, gamely joined the students at the Drum Circle to perform percussionist tunes using instruments from around the world. The collaborative efforts signify unity in diversity. "The theme for In-Fusion this year - Connections - is about how we can be brought together through our differences. Instead of focusing on differences as a means to divide, we should see our differences as a means to connect," said Prof Shih.


FASHION PARADE: Students in traditional costumes worldwide. For instance, Kyohei, a Japanese exchange student at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, forged new friendships over a treat of "multi-layered sticky rice cake" from Malaysian students. And Cynthia New, a local fourth-year Engineering undergraduate, can now connect better with her foreign friends, having learnt to speak a few phrases of various foreign languages at the international bazaar.

Said Prof Shih: "In-Fusion is an opportunity to experience the world without ever getting out your passport. It is perhaps the most affordable round-the-world trip one can get!"

Holding mega events to make a global difference

THE TWOHILLS: Natalya Twohill (centre), a first-year USP student from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Founder and President of UNYAS, with brothers, Paul (left) of the Singapore Idol fame, and Edmund. AN increasing number of NUS students are initiating mega conferences in a bid to make the world a better place. Coming up in October, the Energy Crossroads Asia Pacific 2008 aims to bring together policymakers, non-governmental organisations, entrepreneurs, academics, and student activists to explore the potential of clean energy. The event is led by NUS Overseas College alumni Chean Yujun, 4th-year Mechanical Engineering student, and Sriram Krishnan, 5th-year Electrical Engineering student.

Last year, the United Nations Youth Association of Singapore (UNYAS) and the University Scholars Programme (USP) Club successfully organised the inaugural Global Education Seminar. The UNYAS is founded by Natalya Twohill, a first-year USP student from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, to create awareness and a platform for Singapore youth to tackle global issues such as poverty and gender inequality.

Said Natalya: "You'll find that you can actually make a difference to this world in a 'weird' way - by just sharing information with a random group of people, we can motivate them to take up the challenge of helping people."

She gave the example of her elder brother Edmund who now devotes his life to helping people after hearing about her fulfilling experience. Edmund, 4th-year USP student with the Department of History, sits on the committee of UNYAS and Youth.SG online portal.

Natalya often speaks at overseas conferences and network with Non-Governmental Organisations to source for voluntary opportunities for UNYAS. She hopes to work for the UN in future.

Top Asian team at global business challenge

BEST IN ASIA: From left: Mohammed Zafar Ali, Shreyas Subbaraya, Chandana Sunder and Sriram M B. NUS' MBA team beat more than 270 Asian teams to emerge the best in the continent at Cerebration 2008 -- an annual global business challenge organised by the NUS Business School.

The team finished second overall among the more than 450 participating teams from 200 business schools worldwide. HEC Montreal team emerged the champion, with the London Business School and McGill University completing the final field of four.

The NUS team comprises Sriram M B, Shreyas Subbaraya, Chandana Sunder and Mohammed Zafar Ali.

Now in its fourth year, the competition gives MBA students a chance to devise global business expansion strategies for participating Singapore companies -- Brewerkz Restaurant and Microbrewery, Expressions International and Qian Hu Corp. Each team had to study its chosen firm and come up with strategies based on the firm's unique profile and target market.

This is the second straight year that the NUS team has finished second in the competition, reflecting the School's global ranking of the top 100 business schools for its MBA program.