Professor Ho Teck Hua, the fifth President of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), today announced the University’s new ambition to address the global opportunities and challenges brought about by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).
At the heart of this endeavour is a boost in AI education, research, and innovation efforts to nurture socially conscious AI talent and develop human-centric AI solutions.
Among the new academic offerings this year are the interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science in AI and Society degree programme, the Turing AI Scholars Programme, and a Minor in AI for all undergraduates.
In the pipeline are more undergraduate and postgraduate offerings in AI and computing to uplift the digital capabilities of NTU graduates and the broader workforce.
These initiatives are in line with Singapore’s refreshed national AI strategy to triple the AI talent pool, develop a trusted AI ecosystem, and use AI to drive innovation and economic growth.
NTU’s big push in AI will allow the University to continue to attract and retain the best and brightest minds, cementing its position as a world-class university in its next phase of growth, said Professor Ho, who joined NTU in April 2023.
Prof Ho, who is also the Founding Executive Chairman of AI Singapore, said: “As AI becomes pervasive, Singapore needs more top AI scientists and engineers who possess the right minds, hearts, and hands to design, program, and deploy ethical and human-centric AI solutions – a team of AI superheroes working to make Singapore a smarter nation. As a leader in AI research with close ties to industry, NTU is uniquely positioned to bring together the best minds in the field for this purpose.”
Cultivating “AI superheroes”
AI is a truly game-changing technology. It has the potential to deliver substantial benefits to society but could cause serious harm if it is used in a socially irresponsible manner.
Building on NTU’s existing strengths in AI, data science, and computing, the University will develop new undergraduate offerings in these areas, starting with the Bachelor of Science in AI and Society degree programme.
This highly competitive, four-year interdisciplinary programme will have an inaugural intake of 60 students in August this year. Students will study courses that provide them with the necessary mathematical and computing foundations to design and develop high quality AI solutions.
At the same time, they will learn about potential misuses of AI that can result in greater inequality, hiring biases, and the propagation of misinformation.
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of AI and Society degree programme can apply to join the new, highly competitive Turing AI Scholars Programme, which will have a first-year intake of 30 students.
Named in honour of Alan Turing, the father of modern computer science and AI, the premier scholars programme is open to students in Computer Science, Data Science and AI, and AI and Society. It is designed to nurture exceptionally talented students who want to advance AI research and develop cutting-edge solutions to change the world for the better.
Turing AI scholars will get to conduct research in their second year under the supervision of a distinguished professor in AI. These students will spend their third year overseas, with one semester of study at a top university, and one semester at an internship with an AI industry leader.
Building career resilience in a future powered by computing and AI
Recognising the need to help the broader student population thrive in a future powered by computing and AI, NTU will introduce a Minor in AI programme, which will be available to all undergraduates.
Students will learn how AI and data science can be applied to solve problems in different domains. They will have the flexibility to choose interdisciplinary electives depending on their majors or interests. This will help make students more career resilient in an AI-driven world.
The new minor comes on top of NTU’s mandatory modules on digital literacy as part of its Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core curriculum.
In addition, NTU is developing industry-relevant continuing education programmes in computing and data science to equip the broader workforce in Singapore with digital skills in order to enhance their career resilience.
Some of the newly introduced educational programmes include:
- Bachelor of Technology in Computing, a part-time Work-Study Degree Programme for working professionals looking to pivot to or progress within the information and digital technologies sector.
- Master of Science in Blockchain, which emphasises understanding and applying blockchain technologies in areas such as finance, banking, supply chain, and healthcare in AI.
- FlexiMasters in Cybersecurity and Digital Trust, a tie-up between NTU and Mastercard to equip adults with the skills and technologies used in cybersecurity.
Prof Ho said: “There is no doubt that AI will increasingly affect more facets of our society. Everyone needs to develop a basic understanding of it so we can come to a consensus on how AI should be used. AI must be human-centric to help everyone to realise their full potential. AI should also be used for the greater social good. NTU is well positioned to create an ecosystem to help people prepare for the changes brought about by AI.”
Showcasing new creative possibilities with AI
In line with the University’s big push towards AI, the latest issue of NTU’s award-winning campus magazine, HEY! was entirely co-created with generative AI technologies.
The cover features a human persona, Hailey, who transforms seamlessly into an augmented reality (AR) video when scanned using an AR app. The NTU editorial team also used AI in copyediting, drafting headlines and captions, writing stories from interview transcripts, and generating photos and illustrations.
The issue shines a spotlight on how AI is being taught, developed, and applied across disciplines at NTU, from engineering to the humanities and social sciences, as well as in various technological and creative projects.
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