Cross-disciplinary learning at GXT 2012

By Timothy Fang

Year 2, University Scholars Programme and Political Science


All delegates, organisers and participants of the symposium on 2 Aug at the University Town Plaza Auditorium


Provost Prof Tan Eng Chye and USP Deputy Director Dr Lo Mun Hou presented the medals to the winning team comprising Yang Yanjie (PKU), Li Ling (NUS USP), Maris Tebecis (ANU), Nicholas Chua (NUS USP) and Zac Neulinger (ANU). Their proposal was "Empowering Consumers for a Food Secure Future"


A team in action at the final symposium

The Global Cross-Disciplinary Tournament (GXT) 2012 was hosted on campus at the University Scholars Programme (USP)'s Cinnamon College from 26 July to 4 August 2012. Twenty students from four universities under the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU) umbrella - NUS (organised by USP), Australian National University, Peking University and University of Oxford - came together to discuss real-world problems related to this year's theme, "The Future of Cities".

I was Co-Director of Communications for the event. I also spearheaded and led a committee of 15 responsible for its execution. The GXT 2012 started with a virtual development phase which spanned five weeks. In four cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural teams, students met over the Internet to discuss their ideas and produce a synthesis report detailing those ideas and proposed solutions.

When they came to Singapore and NUS, the delegates were treated to an array of programmes designed to enrich their understanding of the various issues facing cities today. These programmes included seminars by USP and NUS faculty members such as Professor Michael Douglass from the Asia Research Institute, Dr Patrick Daly from USP and Mr Sivasothi from the Department of Biological Sciences. Government officials from the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts and Centre for Liveable Cities (Ministry of National Development) also presented Singapore's local challenges in developing a liveable city-state in Asia.

The students also embarked on field trips to Bollywood Veggies, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Esplanade Theatres by the Bay, the Marina Bay/Central Business District and a heritage walking tour of the Joo Chiat/Katong area.

The key event in their visit programme was the GXT Final Symposium,where these delegates presented their cross-disciplinary solutions. A 150-strong audience was present, including our Guest-of-Honour for the afternoon, Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) & Provost. In addition, there were guests from the IARU Secretariat, International Relations Office, Office of Environmental Sustainability, USP and NUS faculty members; Dr Boaz Boon, Senior Vice-President (Research) at CapitaLand, and officers from the Ministry of National Development and the Public Service Division.

As one of the student organisers for the event, I thought it was a refreshing experience to interact with delegates of a truly international character, and also to witness the cross-disciplinary interaction between students of different disciplines. It's interesting to see a Mongolian student who is studying in China getting to know someone from Germany studying in the United Kingdom; the interaction truly crosses boundaries and barriers. In addition, it was heartening to see the hard work and dedication put in not just by the delegates, but by fellow members of the organising committee as well. I was especially happy to witness the organising committee offering their best hospitality to our guests, providing them with a most memorable 10-day experience at NUS and in Singapore.

25 October 2012