A recipient of the bond-free Nanyang Scholarship, Mr Edmund Chew, 24, was part of the third batch to enrol in Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Renaissance Engineering Programme (REP) in 2013.

NTU REP, a Premier Scholars Programme, integrates engineering, science, business, technology management and the humanities. It awards two degrees concurrently upon graduation — a Bachelor of Engineering Science with specialisation in a preferred engineering discipline by NTU’s College of Engineering and a Master of Science in Technology Management.

Candidates complete this fully residential programme in fourand- a-half years, which includes overseas study and internship opportunities.

“What attracted me to enrol in NTU REP was the chance to do my overseas exchange at Imperial College London in my third undergraduate year and the programme’s focus on broad-based learning, in which greater emphasis is placed on a holistic education and not just on one field of study,” notes Mr Chew.

From July to September 2015, he went to Abingdon, United Kingdom for his summer internship at an oil additives company.

He recounts: “There was a strong culture of mutual respect for every team member — from the most senior to the most junior. Even though I was an intern who was just there for a short time, my supervisor treated me as a worthy team player who deserved to be engaged in meaningful work.”

From October 2015 to June last year, he did his overseas exchange at Imperial College London.

Mr Chew’s experience in London taught him more than just academia. He also learnt many important life skills and dealt with the occasional bout of homesickness — living abroad was an important aspect of maturing as a young adult, he says.

He adds: “I also enjoyed taking the module Pharmaceutical Process Development at Imperial College. It was taught by Dr Clemens Brechtelsbauer who had years of experience practising as a chemical engineer in major pharmaceutical companies.

“He made theoretical concepts practical by providing numerous case studies from his vast experience. He also invited several leading chemical engineers to share their experiences during lectures.

“It was fascinating to hear their first-hand accounts of problems faced in pharmaceutical plants and the daily lives of chemical engineers.”

Vibrant campus life
The small REP cohort is a closeknit community that stays in the same cluster halls throughout the programme and takes most classes together.

“Whenever we have a problem, be it academic or non-academic, we always lend a supportive hand to one another,” says Mr Chew.

There are also events organised across REP cohorts, where students gather to share about their life, hobbies, work and study experiences — or just to mingle.

NTU’s dedicated and talented faculty members also inspire Mr Chew.

His favourite module was Chemical Engineering Unit Operations 1, taught by Assistant Professor Samir Hemant Mushrif and Dr Suraj Vasudevan. They made the module interesting and thought-provoking and made sure everyone understood the concepts thoroughly, he says.

For something different, Mr Chew also joined a stock trading competition organised by CIMB Bank in 2015 with his first-year hall roommate. They attained the highest percentage returns on investment and clinched first position.

He will graduate in December this year. He recalls: “Looking back, living on campus as an NTU REP scholar makes for a meaningful and memorable student life. It is a real privilege having my young adult years formed in the company of friends for life.”