SUSS launches SUSS LifE -- a unique brand of education, where LifE represents Lifelong and Experiential Learning

SUSS LifE will be spearheaded by our new College of Lifelong and Experiential Learning (CLEL) and caters to learners' needs before, during and after their university education

SINGAPORE, Sept. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) launched SUSS LifE, our lifelong and experiential learning brand of education, to provide Singaporeans with opportunities to develop themselves to their fullest potential throughout their life.

Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry & Ministry of Education, Mr Chee Hong Tat, launched SUSS LifE on Saturday, 8 September, 12 pm at SUSS campus along Clementi Rd. The event was held in conjunction with SUSS Open House, where our student ambassadors, prospective students, alumni, faculty and industry partners converged.

SUSS, as a pioneer educational institution focused on lifelong learning and differentiated by our broad admission criteria, multiple learning pathways and diverse learning environment, has continually provided learners across ages and stages of life equal opportunities to develop their potential to the fullest throughout life.

SUSS LifE, where LifE represents Lifelong and Experiential Learning, is a natural extension of SUSS's mission to provide a holistic education throughout one's course of life ('before', 'during' or 'after' university education). It is meant to meet the evolving training needs of our workforce in a dynamic and disruptive business environment.

Prof Cheong Hee Kiat, President, SUSS shared his excitement, "We are very happy to unveil SUSS LifE, which represents a uniquely SUSS brand of education. We believe that learning enriches life, and life enriches learning.

"SUSS LifE embodies our open, inclusive admissions approach that offers learning journeys for individuals across a wide range of ages and backgrounds, and enables the learning experience to be smooth, seamless, inclusive and rewarding. It is in line with our mission to provide lifelong education and strengthen the University's position in the national SkillsFuture movement."

Special SUSS lifelong learning credit

In celebration of the launch of SUSS LifE, Prof Cheong also announced a special SUSS lifelong learning credit of S$500 for SUSS alumni when they enrol for new courses with SUSS. It can be used in tandem with SUSS's existing alumni schemes (please refer to Annex A for ACE and ACE+ schemes) and the national SkillsFuture credit.

There is no expiry date for the learning credit.

College of Lifelong and Experiential Learning (CLEL)

SUSS LifE will be spearheaded by the university's new College of Lifelong and Experiential Learning (CLEL), which will have three sub-units:

a.         Centre for Continuing and Professional Education
b.         Centre for University Core
c.         Centre for Experiential Learning

The new CLEL will consolidate SUSS's various lifelong learning and experiential activities such as CET courses, common core courses, work-study initiatives, work attachments, overseas exposure programmes and service learning in a new College to cater to learners' to facilitate a lifelong journey of learning. It will work closely with the Schools to:

a.         Offer advanced standing courses to NSmen as well as junior college and polytechnic students;
b.         Conduct student teambuilding activities and leadership training;
c.         Offer new SUSS Core courses to streamline and replace the current Common Curriculum, University Core and Social Science Core courses;
d.         Keep in touch with the alumni, government and industry to track the learning needs of potential, current and past students;
e.         Deliver CET, service learning and experiential learning courses;
f.          Prepare students for work attachments and job placements;
g.         Offer global courses to Singaporean and foreign students; and
h.         Run Professional Conversion Programmes.

Besides providing a greater visibility to the University's participation in the SkillsFuture initiative and its strong support for lifelong learning, the formation of CLEL is expected to result in synergies from the pooling of resources as well as the integration and coordination of their functions to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness.  It will allow courses run by the three sub-units within CLEL to be offered to learners before, during and long after university education.

Open House

On 8 September 2018, SUSS also held its bi-annual Open House to welcome our prospective students as well as families and friends. They were able to gain valuable insights from attending the programme briefings conducted by faculty members and enrichment talks by industry practitioners.

Visitors also had a fulfilling day interacting with our student and alumni ambassadors, who shared about the University's practice-oriented education, and flexible learning environment. They had a peek into the life of a typical SUSS student.

With over 70 degree programmes and 1,200 courses in diverse disciplines, prospective students were able to find an education that best fuels their ambitions, no matter their life stage. Some lucky visitors also walked away with attractive prizes for participating in the games, quizzes and contests.

About the Singapore University of Social Sciences

Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) is one of Singapore's six autonomous universities and its mission is to provide lifelong education that equips learners to serve society. Home to more than 15,000 students, SUSS provides an applied education that targets both fresh school leavers and adult learners, with a focus on the social sciences. It adopts a flexible and practice-focused learning approach and offers more than 70 degree programmes in various disciplines. Eligible students taking SUSS undergraduate programmes enjoy government subsidies and access to government bursaries, tuition fee loans and study loans. For more information on Singapore University of Social Sciences, please visit www.suss.edu.sg.

Annex A

About SUSS's ACE Scheme

The Alumni Continuing Education (ACE) programme is an existing scheme that offers SUSS alumni 20% course fee concession. The concession is applicable to all programmes, including CET modular courses, offered by the University unless specified otherwise. Terms and conditions can be found at: http://www.suss.edu.sg/Alumni/Pages/FurtherEducation.aspx

To encourage further education and upgrading, SUSS alumni will enjoy an additional 30% course fee concession for the first two master's courses when they enrol for a Graduate Diploma and/or Master's programme with the University. For other terms and conditions, please refer to: http://www.suss.edu.sg/admissions/Graduate-Admissions/TuitionFee/Pages/Concession.aspx

About SUSS's ACE+ Scheme

This is an existing scheme where eligible SUSS graduates can enjoy a maximum of two "free" modular courses (up to 10 Credit Units) at the University taken within two years after graduation. This scheme encourages our new graduates to continue on the learning path they have taken in a mode that they are familiar with. The scheme will apply to graduates who have completed their degree programmes as of July 2014. For other terms and conditions, please refer to: http://www.suss.edu.sg/CET/Pages/Alumni-Continuing-Education-(ACE)-Scheme.aspx

SOURCE Singapore University of Social Sciences