Study tour to Singapore transforms postgraduate learning

The Teh Hong Piow Faculty of Business and Finance (THP FBF) recently extended its postgraduate learning overseas to the heart of Singapore’s world-renowned universities, from 18 to 20 December 2025. The postgraduate students, accompanied by THP FBF Dean Assoc Prof Dr Au Yong Hui Nee and Department of Marketing Head Dr Choy Johnn Yee, embarked on the Business, Research and Innovation Study Tour: Short-term Mobility Study Programme, visiting three leading institutions, namely the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), the National University of Singapore (NUS), and the Singapore Management University (SMU).

The programme’s primary objective was to provide the postgraduate students with a balanced combination of academic exposure, research insight, and international learning experience, in line with the programme’s emphasis on business, research, and innovation. Through the visits, the participants explored how international campuses cultivate innovation, research excellence, and student success.

Dr Au Yong emphasised, “This programme is intentionally designed to become a gateway to global academic culture, provide opportunities to see research in action, offer real exposure to industry-relevant learning, and enable our students to build confidence, networks, and independence. These were achieved when they walked through research facilities, sat in discussion sessions, and engaged directly with academics.”

At SUSS, the UTAR delegates were welcomed by Deputy Director of the International Office Assoc Prof Dr Dianna Chang, Deputy Head of Programme from the School of Business Assoc Prof Dr Yuan Xuchuan, Head of Career Development from the SUSS Student Success Centre Ms Sarah Neo Bao Ling, and Deputy Head of Entrepreneurship from the SUSS Student Success Centre Ms Toh Xin Yi. They learnt how the university blends applied education, industry relevance, and lifelong learning. Discussions also touched on entrepreneurship, research engagement, and the importance of connecting classroom knowledge to real-world challenges. These were insightful topics that helped prepare the postgraduate students for their own careers.

Lunch at the SUSS cafeteria served as another opportune platform to discuss the yearly collaboration of the study tour between UTAR and SUSS. The discussion was attended by Head of Partnerships & Development Ms Jessie Tan Sze Hui, and Dr Yong Ming Li, as well as Assoc Prof Dr Sin Harng Luh, from the College of Interdisciplinary & Experiential Learning.

The tour continued to NUS, where the scale and diversity of the campus left a strong impression on the UTAR delegates. They were accompanied by an NUS academic from the Departments of Ophthalmology, Anatomy and Biomedical Engineering, who is also a proud first-batch graduate of UTAR’s Bachelor of Science (Hons) Biomedical Science, Dr Daniel Teh Boon Loong. He provided an engaging overview of NUS’s history, mission, and vision, before leading the delegates through several key academic and research facilities. Highlights included the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum; the Yong Siew Toh (YST) Conservatory of Music; the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, a member of the National University Health System (NUHS); and the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies. Through the tour, the delegates experienced first-hand how a world-class university integrates interdisciplinary education, cutting-edge research, and professional training.

The final stop was SMU, with the tour hosted by Prof Dr Tan Wee Liang from the Lee Kong Chian School of Business, who guided the group through key university facilities, including the Student Services Hub and the university library. They learnt how SMU supports students through a student-centric environment and strong academic mentorship. A dedicated discussion was also held, which centred on building a strong research profile, offering practical insights into publishing, academic growth, and becoming confident researchers. As it highlighted personal discipline, strategic planning and continuous skills development, the interaction provided a valuable perspective for postgraduate students, primarily in relation to steering academic expectations and enhancing research productivity.

The programme concluded with a relaxed recreational visit around Singapore, where students travelled by public bus and MRT, experiencing the local culture through everyday transport. The delegates also enjoyed dinner at Singapore’s most famous food court, Lau Pa Sat (“Old Market” in Hokkien), before heading to the iconic Merlion Park, ending the day under city lights in a memorable setting. For some, it may be their first time combining international travel, academic networking, campus exploration, and cultural immersion in a single experience, but collectively, the programme positively impacted the postgraduate students. They strengthened their academic perspectives, international awareness, and understanding of research-oriented institutional practices, shaping them into globally aware, research-driven, industry-ready, and culturally confident individuals.

UTAR’s commitment to designing programmes that open doors to new campuses, bold ideas and memorable learning journeys was clearly demonstrated through this initiative. This serves as a testament to the University’s dedication to making education accessible beyond borders.