New NUS centre to spur innovations in urban systems

It will use interdisciplinary approach on subjects like planning, governance of cities

- Gena Soh

The National University of Singapore (NUS) opened a new centre on Thursday that plans to offer a new interdisciplinary major to turn students into thinkers who can come up with innovative solutions within complex urban systems.

The new major to be offered – NUS Cities – will tie together the disciplines of architecture, engineering and public policy, among others, to teach students how these various disciplines have interacted to create well-known examples of public spaces today.

The new centre, housed within the NUS College of Design and Engineering (CDE), will hold classes in subjects like the planning and governance of cities – which will be taught interactively through case studies and role-playing.

The major and the new centre, which will also offer master’s and potentially doctoral degree programmes on urban systems thinking, are part of NUS’ broader push for interdisciplinarity.

The college was established in 2021 through the merger of the Faculty of Engineering and the School of Design and Environment.

The new major will be the 15th one offered under the CDE, and more details on the course will be announced at a later date.