
Community Leadership And Social Innovation Centre (CLASIC)
The Community Leadership And Social Innovation Centre (CLASIC) of the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) curates social innovation projects carried out in collaboration with community partners.
CLASIC curates, tracks, and optimises community initiatives and projects by leveraging the interdisciplinary knowledge, expertise, and skills of SIT faculty, students, and staff across different academic clusters.
Why get involved in community projects?
At SIT, we nurture our students to be 'Grounded in the Community' because it is part of the university’s DNA. Our Centre works closely with partners and stakeholders to provide avenues for our students, who we call SITizens, to give back to society through social innovation. This includes the design of projects that complement our faculty’s expertise and their professional practice.
By being involved in community projects, students and faculty can play an important role in enhancing the quality of life for beneficiaries. At the same time, such projects also allow them to gain greater awareness of prevailing social issues.
Our vision
We envision CLASIC as an enabler of community initiatives. Our objective is to play a key role in elevating SIT as the partner of choice for community-related projects and initiatives.
What we do
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Coordinate and monitor the inclusion of social context elements in SIT’s curriculum
SIT will progressively incorporate social context elements in all its degree programmes by 2023. These elements will comprise at least 2 credits and include topics from the ‘Singapore: Imagining the Next 50 Years’ e-module; the updated UCM3001 Change Management module; or other custom modules.
The Social Innovation Project (USI2001) is a 3-credit module that forms part of the SIT-wide suite of interdisciplinary initiatives under the new Undergraduate Programme Structure that will bring students from different disciplines together. All students from the AY2022/23 cohort will be required to take the module as part of SIT’s graduation requirements.
Students taking this module will be at least Year-of-study 2 standing or have completed both the UDE1001 Introduction to Design Innovation and UDE2001 Interdisciplinary Design Innovation modules.
USI2001 aims to create opportunities for SIT students to address some of the current issues and multi-faceted challenges faced in our society using a multi-pronged, problem-solving and collaborative approach. Students will compete three e-learning micromodules, and working in teams of 3 to 5, they will plan, co-create, prototype, and present a socially innovative solution meant for a specific community group.
More information on the module will be shared during the introductory briefing to be conducted every Trimester for all students required to take the module.
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Curate community-related projects by tapping into faculty’s expertise and students’ knowledge (e.g. USI2001 Social Innovation Project module)
SIT integrates social context teaching and learning elements, activities, and projects within its academic programmes. In addition, the university also provides opportunities for SITizens to be involved in making a positive impact in the community through social innovation projects. This immersion aims to impart the SITizen-DNA, particularly ‘Grounded in the Community’, to all students.
By using the skills and knowledge gained in their learning journey at SIT on projects that promote social good, SITizens can develop meaningful interactions with the community and our community partners.
- Students can participate in social innovation projects with community partners to fulfil their required interdisciplinary requirements learning credits. These projects may comprise any local community innovation projects spearheaded by our partners or stakeholders, including:
- SIT’s Innovation and Technology Transfer (ITT) division
- Community programmes organised by our Student Life division
- YES!Programme led by a group of SIT faculty members
- CLASIC-curated projects in partnership with community and industry leaders
- CLASIC works with SIT faculty, professional officers, and staff to coordinate their involvement in these community-related projects. We also connect and collaborate with community and industry partners to curate these opportunities.
- Students can participate in social innovation projects with community partners to fulfil their required interdisciplinary requirements learning credits. These projects may comprise any local community innovation projects spearheaded by our partners or stakeholders, including:
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Connect to SIT's workplace learning and training
The National Centre of Excellence for Workplace Learning (NACE@SIT) is a partner of CLASIC and one of the centres located in SIT. NACE@SIT focuses on enhancing work processes and organisational efficiency through workplace learning and training workshops. Companies seeking to access workplace learning and training benefits can connect with NACE@SIT through our Centre.
Projects
Current Projects

Improving accessibility at Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital

Redesigning a Seniors’ Corner

Inspiring STEM education in secondary schools through SIT’s YES!Programme

Enhancing control of water usage and cost with Ecosoftt-CLASIC smart meter
Completed Projects

Encouraging healthy eating habits in children and parents through mobile app gamification

Designing a recycling receptacle to promote green living

Facilitating digital literacy to address life after retirement in seniors

Enhancing online social service programme delivery

Tech for Good 2022
Organised by Engineering Good and co-produced by SIT, Tech for Good is an annual innovation challenge that celebrates assistive technology and inclusivity.
Engineering Good is a not-for-profit organisation that focuses on improving the lives of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and low-income families through the use of infocomm technologies and engineering design.
Our team
Dr Yaacob Ibrahim (Professor)
Director, Community Leadership And Social Innovation Centre (CLASIC)
Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar (Associate Professor)
Deputy Director, Community Leadership And Social Innovation Centre (CLASIC)
Mr Dan Chia
Assistant Director, Community Leadership and Social Innovation Centre (CLASIC)
Get in Touch
Connect with us to discover how you can get started on community projects.