The NUS Office of Admissions (OAM) is continuing to work with the NUS Career Centre to organise the NUS-LEAD programme for NUS Scholars, designed to develop the leadership potential of NUS students and help identify their strengths as well as address many of the key challenges faced by 21st century societies.

The programme consists of a series of practical workshops taught by highly qualified professionals to equip scholars with knowledge on areas such as leadership and authenticity, communications, influencing and leading teams, global intelligence and project management skills.

Following the workshops, participants will spearhead and embark on a 6-month hands-on project that addresses issues pertaining to social, cultural, economic or environmental sustainability. Participants will identify the project, make funding proposals, provide solutions, and implement and execute the projects under the guidance of experienced and senior mentors who are leaders in their respective industries.

The NUS Scholar OCIP is aimed at holistically developing the NUS Scholars into all-rounded individuals ready for the global workplace, as well as encourage scholars to give back to the community and inculcate in scholars a sense of social responsibility and volunteerism. In Dec 2012 and Jan 2013, three teams of scholars embarked on trips to Phnom Penh Cambodia and Bandung Indonesia as volunteers for the Water for Life and Words on Wheels Projects launched by SIF under their Direct Service Projects.

The Water for Life Project aims to bring clean drinking water to villages and in doing so, reduce the mortality rate attributed to water-borne diseases and enhance the overall quality of life for people in developing communities. Participating scholars were involved in work such as the installation of bio-sand water filters to designated village households. Meanwhile, the Words on Wheels Project is a mobile library project which aims to help local communities develop educational activities and promote a culture of reading and self-learning. Participating scholars conducted reading, storytelling and other English learning activities to enrich the experience of participating students.

2011 NUS Scholar Overseas Community Involvement Programme (OCIP) at Siem Reap Cambodia

The NUS Scholar OCIP is aimed at holistically developing the NUS Scholars into all-rounded individuals ready for the global workplace. During the 2011 December vacation, two teams, each consisting of 11 NUS scholars and 2 accompanying OAM staff, embarked on 2 trips to Siem Reap Cambodia as volunteers for the Water for Life Project launched by SIF under their Direct Service Projects.

The main objective of the Water for Life project was to bring clean drinking water to villages in Siem Reap Cambodia and in doing so, reduce the mortality rate attributed to water-borne diseases and enhance the overall quality of life for people in developing communities.  Participating scholars were involved in work such as the installation of bio-sand water filters to designated village households, as well as the building of a cement pathway for the Dan Run Health Centre.

NUS Scholars OCIP as such seeks to encourage scholars to give back to the community and serves to inculcate in the scholars a sense of social responsibility. It also provides the participating scholars with a wider international exposure. 

40 scholars headed to Kota Tinggi, Johor from the 12-14 July 2011 to embark on a 3-day-2-night leadership training and personal development camp. The theme of the camp was centred on Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, aimed at cultivating greater productivity, improving communication and strengthening personal as well as interpersonal effectiveness in the scholars.

The camp sought to provide a platform for all NUS scholars to network and bond, to foster in them a stronger sense of identity, and to retain a core team of scholars who can introduce and lead more initiatives and activities as a NUS Scholars Community.