The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and MY CN Hub, an established educational and cultural consultancy, have joined hands to co-launch the inaugural SUSS - MCH Success Academy in Beijing, China today.
The Academy will serve as a key nexus for academic and industry partners in Singapore and China to catalyse partnerships geared towards unlocking new experiential learning and real-world training opportunities for students and professionals alike. Grounded on the SUSS commitment to lifelong learning and creating social impact, the Academy will also groom well-rounded future leaders who can excel and make positive contributions in the rapidly evolving world.
The launch was held at the Zhongguancun Z-Innoway today, in a ceremony witnessed by Mr Mr Lin Jiayi, Counsellor (Political), Head of Political Section, Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan, First Secretary (Political), Ms Ammily Lim Xin Bei, First Secretary (Information), from the Singapore Embassy in Beijing, and Mr Ma Chao, Beiing Cuihu Sci-Tech Development. Over 60 guests from Singapore and representatives from institutions and industry partners in Beijing attended the event.
MY CN Hub will work closely with SUSS to develop student and executive programmes while collaborating on research and projects, with a focus on building an entrepreneurship mindset and future career readiness amongst students. To elevate cross-learning and entrepreneurial journeys for students, several programmes will be opened to students in from pre-tertiary and tertiary institutions in Singapore and China to encourage further opportunities for co-learning and innovation.
The Academy in Beijing will promote experiential learning and industry-focused training, including entrepreneurship and work attachment initiatives across multiple fields in China. The Academy offers two distinct tracks, Personal Success and Professional Success, to unlock individual potential and cultivate mindsets for lifelong learning. One key initiative under the Academy in Beijing is the Overseas Work Attachment (OWA) programme. Students will undergo a transformative two to six-month internship experience across diverse sectors, including with emerging companies in Beijing’s tech hub of Zhongguancun and gain exposure to Shanghai's finance environment, the supply chain landscape in Dalian and Hainan’s business sector. This immersive opportunity provides real-world insights, cross-industry exposure and valuable mentorship, enhancing students' competitiveness and global employability.
In addition, as part of the SUSS Venture Builder Programme, the Academy will coordinate a two-week immersion in Beijing for the July 2024 run. Trainees will work with impact startups in local incubators and learn how to set up a company in China, adapt their ideas to the local market, and meet potential partners, customers and investors.
The Academy will also leverage the SUSS expertise in adult and workplace learning to create professional training and development solutions. Executive and graduate programmes by SUSS will be made directly available to industry partners in China. SUSS will also partner with local institutions to customise training programmes to boost their capability growth for the future.
Professor Tan Tai Yong, President of SUSS, said, "SUSS going regional is part of our strategic growth to extend our impact and partnerships from Singapore. China is one such prime location that we plant our success academies, through our long-time partnership with MY CN Hub, to benefit students and enterprises from both nations. The Academy will offer dynamic overseas programmes in the form of study trips and internships to entrepreneurship experiences for students to gain a holistic, future-ready education. It will also serve a dual function of raising professional competences of corporates through agile training and development. We look forward to working closely with our Chinese partners to expand our education circle in the region.”
As a strategic partner for SUSS in Beijing, MY CN Hub has a strong history of nurturing cross-cultural connections and championing innovative educational journeys.
Mr Timothy Liu, CEO of MY CN Hub, said, "We are delighted to witness and be a part of the SUSS expansion into China. We take great pride in our role as strategic partners with SUSS in China's capital, Beijing. Our commitment is to establish an outstanding platform that fosters talent and facilitates communication between both China and Singapore. We believe that the Success Academy will create a significant impact in this area. With SUSS as a strategic partner, we hope to enhance and expand executive and professional training opportunities, as well as creative business solutions to a wider audience."
SUSS has collaborated with partners in China on various programmes in the country that enhance the professional readiness of its students. Since 2017, about 80 Singapore students have been placed on overseas work attachments ranging from six to 24 weeks in various cities in China, including Beijing and Shenzhen.
One of the distinctive courses is a credit-bearing Industry Based Study Programme (IBSP) developed in collaboration with Taobao Education. The programme allows students to delve into the latest technologies employed in e-commerce while gaining insights directly from industry practitioners. More than 250 students from SUSS and other Institutes of Higher Learning in Singapore have participated in the programme since its inception in 2019. While the programme pivoted to a virtual format in 2020, it will restart as an onsite programme in China this year, under the Beijing Success Academy.
SUSS is actively extending its regional educational circle by launching the Success Academy in China and across Asia. The Academy will open in Shenzhen tomorrow, in collaboration with the Bay Area Network. Last week, SUSS partnered with the Embassy Education in Ho Chi Minh City to launch the Academy in Vietnam, the first of several academies in Southeast Asia. Plans are underway to establish the Academy in Indonesia and Thailand next year.
For more information, please visit: www.suss.edu.sg/success-academy.