Singapore University of Social Sciences

The objective of OEL325 Public Security in the Asia-Pacific is to provide students with the opportunity to understand and acquire the skills to address security-related concerns on a global scale. The complex, interconnected network of humans and their activities has resulted in a diverse range of security threats and multi-dimensional causes. These security-related challenges require inter-disciplinary collaboration and innovative approaches. Factors such as demographic change, technological breakthroughs, global power shifts, rapid urbanisation, climate change and resource scarcity have dramatic impact on public security management that transcends national boundaries. To achieve global security in a rapidly changing world, it is necessary to engage and collaborate with public, private and people sectors. This course is designed to highlight the different roles placed by the community in the ensuring public security. This is achieved through a combination of experiential learning, e-learning, classroom activities, and participation in overseas trips to countries based in Asia Pacific. By visiting law enforcement agencies and intervention centres, students will be able to examine and assess the effect of various programming and intervention strategies from a socio-cultural lens. These visits will allow the students to observe and critically consider the application of principles into practices. By working with researchers and experts from different universities, students will also be able to identify the differences in the administration of public security from economic and cultural perspectives. Part of this course aims for student to engage with local practitioners in host countries on public security related projects. With visits to educational, security and community agencies in host countries, students are exposed to various techniques and strategies to address a range of public security threats, from cybersecurity to violent extremism. By doing so, students will be able to deliberate the impact of historical, economic, and socio-cultural factors in the development of global public security and security strategies. The experiences intend to strengthen the students’ ability to reflect on the universal value of public security and the need to work in unity to prevent catastrophic events.