What opportunities do integrative studies unlock

By the SMU Corporate Communications team

27 Aug 2024

Singapore Management University (SMU) redefined career readiness with its innovative Bachelor of Integrative Studies, launched through its College of Integrative Studies (CIS) in 2022. This August, 44 students embarked on their second year of undergraduate studies with curated majors that position them well for future jobs in industries that are in constant flux.

Students of the Bachelor of Integrative Studies programme offered by CIS are given flexibility to design their own majors while gaining real-world industry exposure. They are aware that with the mandate to tailor their education in ways that meet the specific needs of modern industries, they will be graduating with unique majors such as Artificial Intelligence and Finance, Urban Development Governance and Intercultural Communications in Contemporary Media, that could accelerate them on career paths that are still nascent.

From the start, CIS students partake in plentiful opportunities to engage with industry stakeholders, which allow them to gain valuable insights into sectoral trends shaping the future of work. From industry projects and internships to mentorship programmes, students get to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges whilst building an invaluable network of professional contacts. These interactions enhance one's understanding of the dynamic demands of the job market as well as to significantly boost their career readiness and employability. By the time they graduate, CIS students are industry-savvy and equipped with the practical skills needed to thrive in the world of work

"We clearly see the benefits in our industry of enabling students to better understand the challenges of integrative learning with a deferred major declaration, as well as providing strong mentorship from academic and industry perspectives in the Individualised Major programme," said Mr Edmund Lin, Chairman of Southeast Asia, Bain & Company.

Ms Fang Eu-Lin, Partner and Sustainability & Climate Change Leader, PwC Singapore, who shared positive sentiments towards CIS graduates, commented, "CIS graduates recognise real-world future problems, and they possess the passion and ability to design their own curriculum in response to these problems. I truly believe that CIS graduates will make an impact in the world when they graduate from their programmes."

Within the first year of her undergraduate journey, Jamie Yau found integrative learning to be a solid jumping off point for opening multiple doors to career opportunities.

"One thing that really surprised me was how ready and accepting the industry was for this bold concept of interdisciplinary education," said Jamie. "When I applied for summer internships within the philanthropic sector, I was surprised to find a fair number of offers on the table. Although it has only been my first year, I have also grown to appreciate finding times where I can draw back my academic learnings to explain challenges in my role."

Jamie is a passionate advocate of AI safety and youth development. Having volunteered with Cyber Youth Singapore (CYS) as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Partnerships Officer, as well as with the ASEAN Business Youth Association, Jamie has accumulated a wealth of experience in forming society-focused and financially strategic alliances between companies and charities. The gratifying results of such projects stimulated her passion for philanthropy.

Commenting on her experience in shaping her individualised major in Philanthropic Management, Jamie said: "One big positive has been my genuine fulfilment in my education. I love every module that I take and feel energised when I find a way to re-apply the concepts and theories I learn into Philanthropy or my work with CYS. Initially, it feels strange when you get this much freedom to learn, but that feeling quickly disappears when weeks pass in the blink of an eye."

As part of her individualised major in Philanthropic Management, Jamie will examine the evolving philanthropy landscape and driving impactful societal changes, particularly in the area of estate planning. By leveraging on the interdisciplinary nature of learning at CIS, the active volunteer and recipient of the SMU Global Impact Scholarship Award intends to equip herself with skillsets that go beyond traditional approaches.

For student Raine Chiew, the Bachelor of Integrative Studies programme likewise opened a realm of possibility. The singer-songwriter was offered an invaluable opportunity of a summer camp at Berklee College of Music.

"CIS has been wonderfully open in accommodating my interests to fit my individualised major," said Raine. "This included facilitating a summer camp at Berklee College of Music as part of my overseas experience at SMU. I am extremely grateful to have my mentors in CIS for their patience in guiding me in designing a personalised major that truly excites me."

Having released seven singles on major music streaming platforms such as Spotify, Raine is a homegrown talent who is making a mark in the sector. With the rise of Asian culture in western media, her individualised major of Ethical Marketing through the Arts examines ethical marketing techniques to ensure cultural sensitivity while staying true to artists' intentions of sharing their art.

CIS undergraduate, Zachary Tay, added that the individualised major offers flexibility which is not available at other universities. Sharing his choice of CIS, Zachary said: "There are many fields which I am interested in and it was difficult to decide. The Bachelor of Integrative Studies allows me to have the best of all options, combining different fields into a cohesive and compelling degree."

"The flexibility of the programme is a huge positive," shared Zachary. "The ability to combine different fields, tailoring the degree to your strengths and interests, is a game changer - it allows you to decide on something because you feel it is important, not because it is part of a curriculum plan. This is invaluable in staying motivated, since interest makes even the most complicated, challenging work fascinating, which in turn helps with understanding and retention."

As a person with disabilities, Zachary credited the support provided by the faculty and seniors, as well as the hospitality and kindness of those within the SMU community, as huge factors in his decision to pursue his undergraduate degree with CIS. Living with cerebral palsy meant that he has had to deal with prejudice from others, where people assumed that his inability to walk and need for help with some activities meant that he was mentally impaired.

"Thankfully, my classmates at SMU had no such preconceptions and treated me as they would another student, right from the start," shared Zachary. "It was refreshing to be treated with respect and have my input valued, and that eventually made me feel confident enough to come out of my shell and make some friends."

Zachary is majoring in Artificial Intelligence-Driven Accessibility in Business, where he will examine the ways to leverage technology to drive positive change and promote accessibility and inclusivity. According to Zachary, the support provided by CIS faculty and seniors along the way has been excellent.

"All the flexibility in the world would not matter if there was no support provided, and the decisions I had to make would have been terrifying if I had to make them on my own." Said Zachary. "Thanks to the help I have received, I have been able to work out what I needed each step of the way, which eased the worries I would have had regarding fulfilling the requirements of the programme."

Sabrina Lee, who is currently pursuing an individualised major in Technology for Cultural Development, was drawn to the Bachelor of Integrative Studies programme for the focused skillset that she would gain. According to Sabrina, culture could play an essential role in nurturing the social fabric of the increasingly diverse Singapore community. Her choice of major is designed to delve into the ways of harnessing technology to promote cultural development in Singapore.

Commenting on the appeal of the programme, Sabrina said: "While applying for university courses, I found it tough to narrow down my options, as having to choose just one of the many courses I was interested in seemed to be a compromise. With CIS, I realised that I could handcraft a degree incorporating all my interests, while ensuring that it is suited to the industry's needs."

The badminton athlete from Singapore Sports School is a recipient of the CIS-exclusive Mind the Gap Scholarship. Established in 2023, the Mind the Gap Scholarship aims to encourage academic excellence and ambition among the undergraduates at the College of Integrative Studies. The Mind The Gap Fund is supported by an anonymous Singaporean donor who hopes that recipients will eventually pay it forward and help the needy when they are able to in the future.

Commenting on how the CIS curriculum nurtures graduates who are adept at responding to the dynamic needs of industry and society, Mr Hian Goh, Founder & General Partner, Openspace Ventures said: "To be a changemaker in the world, you need to think differently. And the only way to innovate and disrupt is to synergise different ideas and concepts, thus creating new ways of doing things. I've been working with SMU and its graduates for a while, and I've been consistently impressed with their energy and drive to succeed. The College of Integrative Studies, I believe, is a game changer for creating trailblazers who will help define the future and create a better world in the years to come."