Strengthening the Ties that Bind

Sometimes a talk can change your worldview and set you on a course for good.

That is what happened to Ms Lee Zi Xin, 20. When she was a Year 1 student at Nanyang Junior College, she attended a Geography lecture where she learnt about the Resource Curse theory.

The term describes a paradoxical situation in which a country possesses plenty of resources but is plagued with poverty, social implications, and even violent conflicts. These countries often rely on humanitarian aid from external stakeholders, which makes it easier for the recipient to be exploited. In the long run, the community becomes crippled and unable to fend for itself.

That day, Ms Lee remembers being deeply struck by the importance of building a resilient, self-reliant society; one that has its own safety nets, and can withstand or bounce back from shocks.

"It made me realise that there is a pressing need for individuals in a community to be empowered to work together towards addressing social issues in a value-adding way," she says.

Wanting to develop a deeper understanding of these social issues and threats, as well as how to help mitigate them, she enrolled in the Singapore University of Social Sciences' (SUSS) Bachelor of Public Safety and Security (PSS) with Crisis Management Minor programme last year.

Under the School of Humanities and Behavioural Sciences, the four-year direct honours programme aims to train professionals in the emerging field of public safety and security. It provides not only theoretical knowledge, but also training in intervention strategies in the areas of policing, emergency management, investigation, rehabilitation, crime reduction and terrorism.

Ms Lee feels that PSS and crisis management are interesting and complementary areas to study, and that the knowledge and skills gleaned could be highly applicable in the future. She says: "Even as we reap the benefits of modernisation and become more interconnected due to globalisation, society is facing increasingly destructive threats that are evolving and manifesting in different forms.

"Especially for a small country like Singapore, it is so important to understand the dynamic nature of social issues and needs. This is so that we can find sustainable, targeted, and effective multi-disciplinary approaches to prevent, respond to, and mitigate existing, emerging and unforeseen threats."

Putting Service into Practice

Another mark of a resilient society is the ability of its members to come together to solve the community's problems, and to lift one another up.

Ms Lee has been actively involved in community service since junior college. In line with SUSS' vision to be the leading university for social good, she has also had ample opportunities to be involved in many service learning initiatives.

One of the areas she is most concerned about is the building of strong community ties, especially on campus. This led her to join Project ReKnew, a student-initiated project by her fellow PSS coursemates in collaboration with Lutheran Community Care Services. The project aims to advocate for the building of respectful and constructive relationships in the community, specifically in institutes of higher learning, through restorative processes.

Another related project she participated in was Let Our Voice Run – a virtual coast-to-coast charity run also organised by Lutheran Community Care Services. The campaign focuses on raising awareness and addressing sexual harm and dating violence experienced by young adults in tertiary institutions. It aims to raise funds to train student leaders to facilitate restorative conversations on building respectful relationships and safe campus communities.

The 327km coast-to-coast run that extended across the island from Jurong to Punggol was so physically and psychologically demanding that Ms Lee almost gave up halfway. However, her friends provided her with endless encouragement, and they ended up finishing the long trek together in just seven hours.

The test in endurance taught her a hard truth. "I learnt that the road to challenging existing systems that perpetuate violence in society is tough. Halfway, we might be tempted to give up especially when we face limitations or when we incur costs for advocating change."

Such enriching experiences at SUSS have strengthened her resolve to never give up and to continue striving towards her goal of helping to build a more resilient society.

Ms Lee, who graduates in 2024, says: "I want to use the skills I have learnt and values that have moulded me to work for the public sector and contribute to Singapore's safety, security and well-being."

Source: Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

A buzzword in recent years, FinTech's relevance has risen alongside the advancement of digital technology and we see FinTech increasingly applied across varied industries, businesses and even in our everyday lives.

Witnessing the tremendous potential in FinTech, Bryan had his eyes set on a career in this upcoming field. To reach his goal, the 24-year-old decided to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Finance with Minor in Business at SUSS.

A Head Start in Finance

Bryan's interest in finance started in secondary school where he learnt how investments can help to offset the consequences of inflation. That interest eventually led him to pursue a Diploma in Banking and Financial Services at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

As part of the team that organised the Singapore FinTech Festival during his internship with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, his interaction with FinTech companies further ignited his passion for the subject.

"I was able to see and experience how Singapore remains as a global financial hub through its innovations and collaborations. As we continue to grow in this digital economy, the financial industry never ceases to excite me through its innovations, allowing us to reach a wider community and provide opportunities for those who were previously unserved. I feel the finance industry is one that helps to fulfil the financial aspirations of others, allowing them to achieve their goals," shared Bryan.

Head, Heart and Habit

In search of a place that could develop the skills needed for him to excel in finance, Bryan prioritised SUSS over the other Autonomous Universities (AU) in Singapore because of its comprehensive syllabus, rigorous curriculum, as well as the values that SUSS instils in its undergraduates.

"What stood out for me was SUSS' core philosophy of Head, Heart and Habit, values which I strongly believe in," asserted Bryan.

"As Singapore's first institute for lifelong learning, I believe that it will equip me with the relevant skills, allowing me to adopt a growth mindset in this ever-changing environment. Beyond equipping students with the academic knowledge, SUSS also ensures that students make their mark in the community."

One of the soft skills advocated at SUSS is independent learning, evident in the manner in which lessons are taught.

"Modules are conducted across a span of six weeks and include quizzes which we complete beforehand. This really pushes me to be a self-directed learner and has changed my learning approach from depending solely on my professors to studying and exploring beyond my textbook. This has cultivated a habit of self-directed learning which can be applied beyond my time at SUSS," he explained.

An Active Community Leader

Activities beyond the classroom have also enhanced Bryan's student experience at SUSS tremendously.

The SUSS Scholar is a track curator at the Inter-University Student Leader Forum, a teaching assistant for SUSS' public speaking module, a treasurer for the university's Youth Expedition Programme, and a student leader for many orientation and student programmes, just to name a few.

Expressing his heart for service to the community, Bryan said, "These activities have allowed me to give back to the SUSS community and for us to grow as one SUSS family."

Notably, Bryan is the founding president of the SUSS FinTech Interest Group.

"My inspiration came from seeing how SUSS is really focused in this area. Beyond our curriculum where FinTech modules are taught, the university has a dedicated team of faculty members who work closely with the industry," said Bryan.

Case in point: SUSS raises its commitment to deliver high-quality research, public education, and policy advocacy for inclusivity in the FinTech sector for the benefit of society by establishing the Node for Inclusive Fintech (NiFT) and the SUSS Inclusive FinTech Fund.

Reflecting SUSS' 3H philosophy of Head, Heart and Habit, NiFT draws its expertise from selected faculty members across SUSS' five schools and their collective publications and programmes so that students like Bryan can continually hone their FinTech-related skills through seminars, conferences and workshops organised by NiFT. At the same time, the fund aims to support FinTech and blockchain initiatives that meet the university's objective to bridge academia and industry, and harness the potential of blockchain technology to bring about financial integration and inclusion for the greater good of society.

"With the continual support from faculty members, I was inspired to start a platform where SUSS students could grow and learn together in a safe environment," he replied, when asked on the objectives of the SUSS FinTech Interest Group. "By doing so, I hope to connect like-minded individuals to initiate projects and collaborate with industry players to make our mark on society."

Making His Mark for the Greater Good

It is quite evident from his co-curricular activities and career aspirations that Bryan is driven by a greater purpose, which is to serve the masses using his skills and knowledge.

"As the financial industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace, I hope to be able to give back to the student community through various means such as mentorship, to better equip and prepare students to excel in this industry," he shared.  "It's not just about receiving, but to also give back whenever you can – that's the SUSS spirit."