NUS launches part-time BTech programmes

The National University of Singapore (NUS) yesterday launched three part-time degree programmes - in business analytics, cyber security and software engineering - amid growing demand for professionals in these sectors.

These Bachelor of Technology (BTech) programmes will be offered from August by the School of Continuing and Lifelong Education (Scale) in partnership with the School of Computing at NUS.

Scale is expected to take in about 160 students in total for the three programmes. The school is also introducing seven undergraduate certificate courses in information and communications technology (ICT) which are eligible for SkillsFuture credits.

They cover foundations in computing, computing for systems and application development, cyber security, software engineering, business analytics foundations, digital analytics and institutional analytics.

NUS said the new programmes were introduced "to meet the increasingly high demand for professionals in data analytics, information security and software engineering in Singapore".

These sectors were identified as important growth areas to enable a more productive and competitive information-driven economy as Singapore moves towards its goal of becoming a Smart Nation, said NUS.

Professor Wei Kwok Kee, dean of Scale, said: "The BTech programmes are designed to be highly relevant to industry, which will prepare students with the competencies to ride this new ICT wave and take their careers further."

He said Scale is expanding its efforts in support of the national SkillsFuture movement as the school marks its first anniversary.

The BTech programmes will be taught by academics from the School of Computing as well as industry professionals. Lessons will be delivered in a combination of online learning and face-to-face classes to cater to working adults.

NUS said the curriculum caters to students with and without a computing background, or work experience in the IT industry.

Students can opt for the BTech programmes to help them make a career change from a non-IT sector, while flexibility within the curriculum will mean students with relevant experience in the sector can graduate faster.

These new programmes build upon Scale's existing BTech offerings in engineering, expanding from the current five specialisations to eight.

There are currently about 1,000 adult learners pursuing BTech programmes in the five engineering specialisations. Registration for all three new BTech programmes, as well as the undergraduate certificate in foundations in computing, is open until June 13.

A preview session will be held on June 3 at NUS University Town.

For more information, go to scale.nus.edu.sg

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 24, 2017, with the headline NUS launches part-time BTech programmes. Subscribe