싱가폴 국립대학이 예일대학교와 협연하여 만든 Yale-NUS College를 소개하고, 이를 통해 바라본 아시아 대학의 교양 교육의 현재와 미래를 진단했습니다. |
Why YNC is needed
NUS is one of the best universities in Singapore?and Asia. It is the first and largest university in Singapore. It was also ranked 34th on The Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2011. And this year NUS firstly launched a liberal arts college in Singapore as well. Professor Lily Kong, Acting Executive Vice President, Yale-NUS College (YNC), stated that the objective of establishing the college: “It is to offer a model of residential liberal arts education that will best prepare students of the highest potential for leadership and engaged citizenship in today's complex and globalised world.” As she said, today we are living in an ever-changing world; thus, leaders need not only professional knowledge but also breadth of learning.
For that kind of education, NUS contacted Yale University, one of the best universities in liberal arts education in the United States, and made a MOU (Memorandum Of Understanding) in September last year. “A substantial period devoted to general education is unusual in many universities where students ordinarily undergo specialized education in a field of study chosen before they matriculate,” said Prof. Kong. However, at YNC, the first two years will be devoted to learning diverse fields of study such as the arts, humanities, social, natural and physical sciences, and mathematics. With these cross-disciplinary studies, students will develop the ability to navigate the different fields of knowledge.
Distinctive features of YNC
The first characteristic of the college is that YNC students will learn integrated Asian and Western ideas and perspectives before concentrating on their major. Since western and eastern educational institutions will convene, students can experience an incorporated study of both Asian and Western areas. “The College will draw on the best elements of liberal arts education from the traditions in the United States, but re-shape and re-imagine the curriculum and the collegiate experience for Asia,” said Prof. Kong.
Secondly, YNC has a full residential college model, combining living and learning. There will be three residential colleges with about 330 students each adapted from Yale. “Living in dormitories, students can create a sense of community where living and learning are intentionally integrated,” said Prof. Kong.
Thirdly, pedagogy will emphasize critical thinking and classroom interaction. Most classes will be taught in seminar-style with 18 or fewer students. “Students from various countries and diverse cultures will have classes at YNC, discussing and developing their thoughts in small groups. This will definitely be an excellent stimulant to generate creative thinking,” said LAU Geok Theng, Associate Professor of NUS Business School.
Lastly, YNC students will have many opportunities to go overseas at least once during their four years through academic exchange programs, internships, research attachments and community service activities. According to The Alum NUS, the alumni magazine of NUS, YNC already ensures more than 30 internship partners in Singapore, the United States, Europe and other regions. From corporate giants such as Microsoft, Santander Bank and Coca-Cola, to global organizations such as the United Nations and World Wildlife Fund, and major Singaporean companies such as Singapore Airlines and SingTel, are among the list of the partners.
Prognosis of liberal arts education in Asia
The launch of YNC deserves to be welcomed in Asia, and worldwide. “We are hoping to introduce fundamental innovations in liberal arts education that could serve as a model for others in Asia, and that may help reshape approaches in existing institutions including Yale itself,” said Prof. Kong.
However, as previously stated, YNC is the first liberal arts college in Singapore, though NUS is one of Asia’s top universities. That is, liberal arts education hasn’t been given importance in Asia. The social structure was pointed out as the factor for why Asia has a weak liberal arts education system. “In Europe, education is accomplished by the governments. Therefore, students who grew up in that environment feel a responsibility for society because they owe it,” said Ko, In-hwan, Associate Professor of Humanitas College at Kyung Hee University. In other words, they naturally learn and acquire humanistic values which we are trying to learn from liberal arts education. “But compared to most European countries, Asian countries value quantity before quality, and no spare time to take care of the others. I think that’s why liberal arts education has not developed in Asia,” added Ko.
Nevertheless, the future of liberal arts education in Asia is bright. “A liberal arts education model is largely new to Asia. However, today, there are movements in East Asia to broaden specialized approaches to education,” said Lily Kong. The Humanitas College at Kyung Hee University is one of them. Kyung Hee University established it as the first liberal arts college in Korea this year, perceiving the need for liberal arts education. From when it was organized, it was different from existing courses. “Sometimes it takes 12 hours to have one meeting to discuss a textbook and 70 people in the meeting all had the chance to speak. If we cared only about time and money like the previous time, this process would not be acceptable,” said Ko, In-hwan. He emphasized that change is needed to make a success of liberal arts education in society as a whole. “Asian universities all have excellent students, teaching staff, and great capability to research. The only thing different from Western universities is the sense of embracing humanistic values,” said Ko.
It is true there has been no tradition of liberal arts education in Asia. However, as we’ve seen so far, change in Asia is being witnessed. Moreover, the new movements in Asia will make a new trend in liberal arts education: It’s time to carry on the revolution.