A new collaboration agreement between Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and University of Glasgow (UofG) will see the roll out of three SIT-UofG joint degrees in academic year 2019.

Following a strategic alliance with SIT, University of Glasgow Singapore (UGS) was launched in 2011 with two degree programmes, around 100 students, and three staff based at SIT@NP Building in Singapore. It was UofG’s first subsidiary outside Scotland in its 560-year history.

Seven years on, UofG in partnership with SIT currently delivers a portfolio of five UofG degree programmes in Mechanical, Aerospace and Computing Science disciplines, as well as two joint degree programmes in Civil Engineering and Nursing.

The new collaboration will merge all previous agreements between the two universities to deliver five joint undergraduate degree programmes from academic year 2019 onwards, namely:

• BEng (Hons) in Aerospace Engineering - NEW
• BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering
• BSc (Hons) in Computing Science - NEW
• BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering - NEW
• BSc (Hons) in Nursing

Emphasis on Emerging Technologies

The new joint degree in Aerospace Engineering is a three-year degree programme which aims to equip students with application-oriented training in aerospace engineering in Singapore’s context, with an emphasis on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications. It will also be the first aerospace undergraduate programme that specialises in unmanned systems, an area of growth in Singapore’s aviation and aerospace sector.

Designed to support the government’s initiative to transform Singapore into a Smart Nation, the joint degree in Computing Science is the first computing programme offered by an autonomous university in Singapore that specialises in Internet of Things (IoT). The three-year programme encompasses a broad-based curriculum which combines knowledge from IoT, software engineering, data analytics, cyber security and machine learning.

The three-year Mechanical Engineering programme provides two specialisation tracks, namely in Design and Mechatronics. The Design specialisation focuses on the concepts of digital manufacturing and design, while the Mechatronics specialisation trains students in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) used for automation and robotics, unmanned systems, and co-bot design.

All SIT-UofG joint degrees will feature the Integrated Work Study Programme (IWSP) where students will work and train in companies related to their specialisation to enhance their skills. In addition, students are required to complete the Overseas Immersion Programme in Glasgow, United Kingdom to gain cross cultural awareness on industry best practices.

Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, UofG with Professor Tan Thiam Soon, President, SIT at the collaboration agreement signing ceremony in Glasgow.

Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, UofG said: “It gives me the greatest of pleasure to sign an agreement which will ensure deeper collaboration with the Singapore Institute of Technology. This event marks an important milestone in the development of the University of Glasgow’s long-standing partnership with SIT. Despite the geographical distance between our two institutions, I feel we have developed a very close relationship through our fruitful and successful partnership. It is always a pleasure to welcome SIT colleagues to Glasgow and whenever any of us visit SIT the warmth of the welcome we receive there makes it a ‘home from home’.”

Professor Tan Thiam Soon, President, SIT added: “Building on the success of our existing collaboration with University of Glasgow, we are pleased to offer niche, specialised programmes focusing on emerging technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles, Internet of Things, and digital manufacturing. These new joint degree programmes will bring together the best of what our two institutions have to offer. As a university of applied learning, SIT will equip its students with industry-relevant skills and knowledge to confidently meet future challenges in the digital economy.”

Representatives from UofG and SIT at the signing ceremony.