Sustained Improvement for a Sustainable Future

31 Oct 2024 — A unique interdisciplinary Master's Degree that seamlessly integrates the expertise of six NUS faculties and schools, the National University of Singapore (NUS) Master of Science (Environmental Management) (MEM) programme has grown from strength to strength since its inception more than 20 years ago. In that time, the programme has continued to evolve to meet the needs of students, employers and the field.

Most recently, the curriculum was comprehensively revised to provide flexible learning options and to expand the scope of content it covers, which now spans a wide range of subjects across multiple disciplines. In fact, the revisions to the programme led to it being identified by the University Sustainability and Climate Action Council in 2022 as a strategic programme and NUS flagship course in sustainability.

Associate Professor Eddie Lau, Academic Director, MEM, sits down with us to share more about the revisions the programme has undergone, as well as the sustainability initiatives that the University has embarked upon.

The MEM programme has been around for decades, and the world has changed a lot in that time. How has the programme maintained its relevance?

When the programme was first created in 2001, it was established with the assistance of lecturers from various NUS schools and faculties. Currently, the programme is managed by the School of Continuing and Lifelong Education, in partnership with the NUS Business School, College of Design and Engineering, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Law and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy as curriculum and content providers.

Despite facing a disruptive and challenging future, the aims of the programme remain steadfast: to equip our students with the skills and knowledge needed to tackle environmental management issues confidently and competently. Aided by feedback, surveys and data, we have continuously enhanced the programme to meet the changing demands of the environmental management field.

The revision of the programme was aimed at catering to the skill demand for the future economy in both the Singapore and global markets. We have strengthened several curriculum areas and revamped courses to address the demand for new skills and programme objectives. For instance, it is now widely recognised that buildings consume a significant amount of energy and emit carbon. In response to this, a new course called ‘Well & Green Built Environment’ was introduced to impart the fundamental principles of human-centric design for sustainable buildings, teaching students how they can balance energy efficiency with the comfort and well-being of occupants.

We have also introduced more flexible learning options for students, allowing them to learn at their own pace and in a manner that best suits their needs. A variety of learning options, including online, face-to-face, and hybrid modes of instruction has been included in the programme.

In summary, the revisions to the MEM programme are a step towards ensuring that the programme remains relevant and up-to-date in the ever-changing global landscape. The revised programme will provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to tackle the complex challenges of environmental management.

What opportunities does the MEM programme offer to students in terms of applying their learnings in class to solve problems in the real world?

A six-month-long course, “Capstone Project for Environmental Management", has been introduced into the core curriculum to provide students with practical and project-based learning opportunities. It was specifically designed to enable students to apply the knowledge they have acquired in a hands-on, practical setting.

To secure a continuous pool of real-world projects for students to work on in their Capstone Projects, we have established close collaborations with the University Campus Infrastructure (UCI) central unit, as well as other organisations. The pairing with UCI helps us identify ongoing projects on the NUS campus that students can participate in and contribute to. Apart from this, we also have capstone project partnerships with other organisations, such as the National Environmental Agency, NEC Corporation and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), to name a few.

Through these collaborations, MEM students have a range of real-world projects to work on, providing them with valuable hands-on experience within their field of study.

NUS has been a sandbox for testing environmental management techniques and strategies. For example, the University has announced that its built environment would be used as a hub for sustainability-related research through the Campus as A Living Lab at NUS (CALL@NUS) initiative. Can you share more details about such efforts with us?

NUS boasts several locations that exemplify its commitment to sustainable development, such as the Net Zero Energy Building (SDE4) and others. These constructions emphasise not only energy sustainability, but also provide ample social spaces for human interactions that promote well-being.

Environmental management does not only focus on nature, but also our place in it. It is a complex field of study and area of practice that involves multiple stakeholders and a multidisciplinary perspective. It encompasses various spatial scales, from local to global, and diverse objectives, including controlling the direction and pace of development, optimising resource utilisation, minimising environmental degradation, and preventing environmental disasters.

Do you have any parting words for students looking to apply to the MEM programme or aspiring to work in the field of environmental management?

The effects of human-induced climate change are causing widespread disturbances in nature, which are adversely affecting billions of people worldwide. Even as concerted efforts to mitigate potential risks are being made, there is an urgent need to take decisive action to address the escalating threats.

The harmful consequences of heatwaves, droughts, and floods have already surpassed the tolerance thresholds of flora and fauna, leading to mass mortalities among various species such as trees and corals. These extreme weather conditions are concurrent, causing a cascade of effects that are increasingly difficult to manage. Furthermore, they have exposed millions of people, including individuals in Singapore and Asia, to severe food and water shortages.

Against this backdrop, professionals and experts employed in the Green Economy are no longer just metaphorically but literally working to save the world. It is only natural then that we do our best to empower them with the most up-to-date, most relevant skills and knowledge, so that they may achieve that monumental undertaking.

Through its multi-disciplinary approach to collaborative instruction, the revised MEM programme aims to train graduates for an increasingly complex and disruptive world. The programme's interdisciplinary perspective is unique and taps on deep expertise of six NUS academic units in areas pertinent to environmental and sustainability management. It is a testament to NUS's commitment to providing high-quality education that meets the evolving needs of students, industries, and society at large.