The semestral welcome tea for new graduate research students was held on 3 August 2011.  The Vice-Dean and Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies, Assoc Prof Shirlena Huang and Assoc Prof Bruce Lockhart introduced the new students to graduate life at FASS.  The section on graduate life ended with a quiz which drew much laughter and saw many hands being shot up in a bid to win the prize – a backpack-cum-laptop bag!  Other presentations touched on Graduate Student Exchange opportunities, the FASS Research Clusters, the NUS Career Centre and the Graduate Students’ Society.  Steering committee members of the FASS Research Clusters were also present to answer any questions students had on the Clusters over tea.  Over 80 students attended the session and had a great time mingling with each other and staff from the Faculty.  A student was overheard saying she thought it was just a simple tea session and never imagined she would get so much out of the session – getting a chance to speak to the faculty members and especially learning more about the Research Clusters!

– FASS Graduate Studies Unit