Professor Jean Yeung (NUS Sociology Department and Research Leader of ARI Changing Family in Asia Cluster), Director of the Centre for Family and Population Research, was interviewed on 
BBC’s Asia Business News on January 27th 2016 discussing the connection between economic growth and birth rates in Asia, commenting on the falling birth rates in the region and government policy in Indonesia as well as other Asian nations aimed at reducing fertility rates. Prof Yeung noted that “there is no clear link between population policy and economic growth” and that the focus of current policies is to reduce infant mortality and improve sexual health. She added that it is important for Indonesia to focus on the human capital of the population and the fact that it has a healthy age structure now is a plus.
Month: January 2016
The call of peace
24 January 2016
Lianhe Zaobao
In an article contribution by Associate Professor Thang Leng Leng, Department of Japanese Studies, she discussed efforts by the Hiroshima Singapore Association to promote peace, such as initiating cultural exchanges at grassroots level.
Graduate Opening at Pacific Conferences
Pacific Conferences (www.conferences.com.sg) specialises in organising business conferences aimed at providing interactive, insightful information and analysis about issues facing businesses in Asia-Pacific.
We believe in providing maximum returns to our speakers, delegates and partners and are dedicated to providing total customer care. We strive for every conference to make a long lasting impact on our attendees through the provision of insightful information, practical case studies, in-depth discussion, and intimate networking opportunities. Over and above all, we take great pride in being a catalyst for the growth of all businesses and individuals. Our client and speaker portfolio include leaders from various industries in both local and foreign markets as well as Fortune 500 companies.
Are you bold, entrepreneurial, creative and dynamic? Do you have a flair for discovering new business trends? Can you take on new challenges? Above all, do you love meeting people? If you believe that you possess these traits (or more), then we at Pacific Conferences would love to talk to you.
The Conference Producer is responsible for developing quality conference programmes targeted at senior executives in the Asia Pacific region. It involves:
– conducting market research to identify hot issues
– drafting programme topics
– recruiting qualified speakers
– copywriting
– vetting presentation materials
– performing on site event duties etc.
The Conference Producer will need to work closely with colleagues in the Administration and Marketing department to deliver a successful conference.
Requirements:
– University graduate with excellent interviewing & research skills
– High interest in analysing new markets & discovering business needs
– Aptitude for digesting a high level of information in a short space of time
– Able to write compelling sales copy & communicate with senior executives
– Strong academic background with good grades in English
– Ambitious & creative in developing ideas into events
– Possess entrepreneurial aptitude with determination to succeed
– Thrive on pressure and pride on making a difference
– Able to handle multiple projects concurrently and meet tight deadlines
Interested?
Please email to recruit@conferences.com.sg with :
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- Photo
- Current Salary
- Expected Salary
FASS Internship Programme
Happy New Year and Greetings from the FASS Dean’s Office! We trust you have had a great start to another semester. The Faculty is embarking on a new internship programme called the FASS Internship Programme (FASS IP). The FASS IP is open to NUS students whose first major is in FASS. There are three modules in this programme:
FAS2550 FASS Exposure Internship. This module is offered to students who, have completed an internship (from AY2014/15 onwards). You may register this module in any subsequent regular semester, including your final semester. This module is a 2 MC UE module to recognise your internship effort. The deadline to register this module for AY2015/16 Semester 2 is 5 Feb 2016 (Friday). All you have to do is to follow the instructions in this webpage. Internships performed in AY2015/16 Semester 2 would be acknowledged under this module.
FAS2551 FASS Internship and FASS2552 FASS Extended Internship. Students who are planning to intern during the forthcoming AY2015/16 Special Term and subsequent semesters will benefit from these two modules. You are expected to source internships and secure them on your own. To find out more about the FASS Internship Programme, please visit http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/studentlife/fassip.html. The Faculty will use the new Arts/Social Sciences Internship Management System (AIMS) to connect you with your Academic Advisor and manage written work for these modules (Work Plan, Journals and Reports). It also contains internships that are pre-approved for the FASS IP. Internships for FASS IP are approved on a rolling basis so check back often.
A/Prof Loy Hui Chieh, Vice-Dean (External Relations & Student Life), will be conducting a briefing for FASS students who wish to embark on internship, called “An Internship for Me?”. Present at the briefing will be key people in the Faculty who will assist you in your journey. The briefing will be held on 28 Jan 2016, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, AS7-01-17 Seminar Room B. A light meal will be served.
Please sign up HERE by 25 Jan.
Apply now for a teaching position with MOE!
Calling out to all final year students interested to be a General Education Officer (Teacher)!
MOE will be opening an exclusive application window just for you! Shortlisted candidates will be given priority and interviewed earlier than the official window publicised on our website.
If you feel teaching is your calling, apply by 9 Feb at moe.gov.sg/uniapplication!
Find out more at the MOE booth at NUS Career Fair on 1 Feb!
Children will forever be the future of humanity
17 January 2016
Lianhe Zaobao
In an article contribution by Associate Professor Koh Khee Heong, Department of Chinese Studies, he commented on global conflicts and children.
Assoc Prof Koh noted that the core of Chinese culture is Confucian, which condemns violence, and that its long complex history has been grounded in virtue and humanity, which respects the value of life, believes in reason and mourns for the loss of innocent young lives.
Advisors Alliance Regional Case Competition 2016
Advisors Alliance is calling for all creative, bright minds and problem solvers to join the inaugural Advisors Alliance Regional Case Competition (AARCC).
Gather your best team players in cracking a management case challenge to stand a chance to win attractive cash prizes, an internship with a leading financial advisory group, and the chance to compete on the international stage!
What’s in store:
This case competition welcomes entries from students of all faculties in NUS, NTU and SMU. Participating teams of 3 members each would tackle problems that top management handle in a bustling and exciting industry, and be exposed to the work that experts in the field perform. The rigorous case training provided would also be a great opportunity for learning and personal development. The finalists would be given the opportunity to compete overseas and attend a seminar by a world-class speaker in Boracay on an all-expenses paid trip!
The prize:
The top three teams can look forward to attractive cash prizes of $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000 respectively.
What are you waiting for? Sign up today! Visit www.facebook.com/aarcc2016 for more details and sign up at http://tinyurl.com/AARCC16 by 14 February 2016.
Deadline extended for Textual Landscapes of Singapore Literary Challenge!
Good morning, NUS!
The Singapore Research Nexus (SRN) has extended the deadline to Textual Landscapes of Singapore! Submissions to our Literary Challenge will be accepted until Friday, 29 January 2016.
Don’t miss this deadline; send your writing in now!
For more details and the full T&Cs click here.
Symposium on Social Security with Nobel Laureate, Peter Diamond
The Symposium on Social Security saw Nobel Laureate and Professor of Economics at MIT Peter Diamond and other esteemed experts weighing in on Singapore’s Central Provident Fund (CPF) pension system. The Symposium was held on 12 January by the Singapore Centre for Applied and Policy Economics (SCAPE) and Next Age Institute.
The panel comprised Prof Diamond; Assoc Prof Chia Ngee Choon, Department of Economics and co-director of Next Age Institute; Prof Joseph Cherian, Director of the Centre for Asset Management, Research & Investments; and Mr Marcus Kok, Principal Pension Consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers Asia Actuarial Services.
There was a shared consensus among the panellists that the interest rate for CPF’s Ordinary Account (OA) could be tweaked in the light of rising interest rates in the United States. There were several recommendations that would ensure that the CPF remains relevant and beneficial for Singaporeans.
Assoc Prof Chia opined that the returns of the sovereign wealth fund GIC could be included when devising the formula that determines the OA rate. She added that despite the suggested tweak in the formula, the legislated 2.5 per cent floor rate for OA should still be maintained. However, she noted that more study is still needed in this area.
At the panel discussion, Prof Diamond suggested the inclusion of low investment charges and inflation-hedged pay-outs in the pension system. He shared that these are the key characteristics of a good social security system.
Prof Cherian highlighted the importance in ensuring that a person’s retirement income is “safe, adjusted for inflation and guaranteed”. He advocated a safety net in which a certain portion is kept in safe assets such as the national annuity scheme, CPF Life.
The Symposium also featured sharing sessions by the panellists. Prof Diamond spoke about his research on public pension systems of countries while Assoc Prof Chia discussed the gaps and policy intervention of the DC pension design. Last but not least, Prof Cherian shared tips on how to have a generally worry-free retirement.
The conference was reported in the Straits Times and Business Times. Click here or here for the respective articles.
Participate in the Future-Ready Singapore Essay Competition #1
Dear Students,
The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy would like to invite you to participate in “Present(ing) Futures”, an exercise in crowdsourcing futures. “Present(ing) Futures” taps on the wisdom of the crowds to explore different aspects of the Singaporean condition, and to identify the possible, assess the probable, and articulate the preferred futures of the different issues we will have to face as a society.
You are required to contribute your ideas via an essay response to the following question:
“What are the limitations and challenges of Singapore’s economic growth model? And what reforms and transformations do you think are required to overcome those limitations and challenges, particularly in terms of productivity and innovation?”
Visit the following LINK for more details of the competition, along with the terms of conditions, entry form and a case study on productivity. Please feel free to contact Ms Hawyee Auyong (hawyee@nus.edu.sg) if you have any further queries about the challenge.
Up to five of the most commended essays will be offered a prize of S$2,000 each and could be published in an edited volume by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.