The Department of History presents a Lim Chong Yah Visiting Professor Public Lecture titled “Soldiers’ Photography and the Great War” conducted by Professor Jay Winter. Prof Winter will discuss the consequences of the Kodak revolution in the technology of war photography.
Join us at LT 13 on Tuesday, 27 October from 6.30 PM t0 8.00 PM. The lecture is open to all. Please register at hishelp@nus.edu.sg by Tuesday, 20 October 2015.
14 October 2015
Berita Harian
Associate Professor Hussin Mutalib, Department of Political Science, has released a Malay translation of his book titled Singapore Malays: Being Ethnic Minority and Muslim in a Global City-State.
The translated edition is 1.5 times thicker than the English edition. However, the content remains the same; Assoc Prof Hussin discussed the definition and source of the ‘Malay plight’ as well as the future of Malays in the book.
The translated copy is currently sold at $23.50.
13 October 2015
The Korea Times
This was an article contribution by Associate Professor Shin Jang-Sup from the Department of Economics at NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, in which he analysed a possible move by China of introducing a Tobin tax.
Tobin tax was first proposed by James Tobin after the collapse of the Bretton Woods System in 1972 as a means to deter short-term speculation, not to increase tax revenues or affect normal currency transactions.
It can also be understood as a minimum measure to decrease the power of the common enemy of emerging markets so that they can focus more on improving their national and social well-being.
Despite its good rationale, the Tobin tax has not been implemented in the last four decades.
Assoc Prof Shin further shared the four reasons as to why China had the unique capacity to introduce a Tobin tax with less fear in comparison with the rest of the emerging market countries.
He opined that if international institutions as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are really concerned with the well-being of emerging markets, they should also support China’s move toward introducing a Tobin tax so that other emerging markets can follow suit.
To read the full article, click here.
The Tata Crucible Campus Quiz Singapore Edition returns for its 9th run this year. The quiz, seeks to engage the sharpest young minds on the subject of international business, in an intellectually stimulating manner. Its invigorating rounds makes it the ultimate test of business intelligence with the best of infotainment encouraging lateral associations, speed of thought and out-of-the-box thinking.
Participants will stand a chance to win a cash prize of S$12,000.* There are also exciting prizes to be won for the audience as well.
Date: Wednesday, 28th October 2015
Venue: University Cultural Centre Hall
*Terms and conditions apply.
For registration and more information, click here.
8 October 2015
TODAY
In an article contribution by Associate Professor Winston Chow, Department of Geography, he discussed how a changing climate could influence the likelihood of future regional haze occurrences. Assoc Prof Chow observed that while the concern is on the causes and impacts of the haze, we should also not neglect the impact of climate change. He highlighted that there is evidence indicative of a future climate favouring more frequent transboundary haze episodes.
He suggests adopting two approaches towards reducing the negative impact of haze. ASEAN stakeholders should increase societal capacity in adapting to haze through authoritative and accurate health advisories as well as pledging carbon-curbing actions that limit global temperature increases.
In a nutshell, anticipating likely increases in future haze events and adapting accordingly could be a sensible, complementary and effective option for all affected stakeholders in the long run.
To read the full article, click here.
Three distinguished alumni from the Department of Social Work – Ms Koh Wah Khoon, Dr S Vasoo and Mr Udhia Kumar – were the inaugural recipients of the Ann Wee NUS Social Work Alumni Award.
The Awards were given out on 22 September 2015 at an event held in conjunction with the annual Appreciation Tea for the Department’s Field Educators.
The Award, launched at the Faculty’s 85th Anniversary Dinner celebrations in November 2014, recognises alumni who have made major contributions to the social work education and practice.
It was also affectionately named after Mrs Ann Wee, the longest serving Head of Department of Social Work, who has inspired many with her selfless contributions to the sector. Dr Rosaleen Ow, Head of Department of Social Work, says, “the award is for alumni with a similar spirit to Mrs Wee who ‘serves without seeking rewards, give without seeking recognition’, in their work for more than 20 years.’”
One of the recipients, Ms Koh Wah Khoon, Senior Director at Singapore Children’s Society Family Service Centre (Yishun), dedicates her award to the people she has had the pleasure to work with namely Singapore Children’s Society, other social service practitioners, donors as well as supporters.
On her hopes for the social service sector in Singapore, Ms Wah Khoon acknowledges that social problems and sufferings will always be present in the society.
Despite that, she hopes the “social service sector would keep its ears to the ground so as to stay relevant to the changing needs of our people. That social service practitioners remember that social work is the gift of self, involving person to person transactions in order to bring about desired outcome for our clients.”
Dr S Vasoo, Associate Professorial Fellow at the Department, shares his sentiments about the sector as well. In essence, he feels that there is a need to adopt a more preventive and developmental approach while dealing with client populations as there is a tendency for social workers to take on a remedial approach instead.
“Such an orientation does not help to deal with the prevention of human breakdown,” he says.
He suggests that “It will be cogent for our human service professionals to help individuals and families to be inoculated with good human values, social skills and to be encouraged to acquire relevant industrial skills.”
Additionally, contributions can be more effective when more helping hands are involved in community development and community building.
Lastly, the current social work curriculum should be strengthened to equip trainees with invaluable skills such as the ability to anticipate social issues and problems to ensure a more dynamic social work profession.
“In understanding and analysing these aspects, they can develop a clearer sense of service direction for their organisations and make in-roads into areas where there are potential needs to be met and take proactive steps to tackle them,” he says.
Mr Udhia Kumar, Executive Director at Thye Hua Kwan Family Service Centre @ Tanjong Pagar, looks forward to more respectful sharing sessions with the Southeast Asian region and beyond.
“We should propagate or come up with our own indigenous models to uplift the community as the social service sector in Singapore is truly a unique one. We can share this knowledge or approaches with other nations who need not necessarily emulate us but adapt the approaches in a way that best benefits them. Likewise, we can also learn from other nations and I look forward to more of such sessions in the future,” he says.
The celebrations concluded with an Appreciation Tea for the field educators. Certificates and acrylic awards were also presented to various field educators and organisations for supervising students at the Department. Click here to see the full list of recipients.
Congratulations to all the winners!
Thursday, 1 October 2015
Lianhe Zaobao
In a commentary article, Associate Professor Ong Chang Woei, FASS Department of Chinese Studies, discussed the factors that led up to the opposition parties’ poor performance at the General Elections.
He opined that ineffective communication of their position and their inability to convince voters of their political ideals had resulted in the poor performance.
Assoc Prof Ong Chang Woei added that it is not due to a lack of suggestion of alternative policies or of them blindly copying the policies of the ruling party.
