The ability to think critically and exercise independent judgment are key skills required in the economy today, as well as in all kinds of social interaction.
That is why it is so important that apart from training our students to achieve academic success (in examinations), we also train them to think critically, question assumptions, seek new perspectives to problems and challenges, and apply what they have learned in the classroom to real life situations.
It is crucial that science, engineering and mathematics students look beyond their own fields of expertise to solve problems that are increasingly complex. And this applies to arts and humanities students as well, in their respective fields of endeavour.
Professor Bertil Andersson, president of Nanyang Technological University (NTU), echoed these views when he announced the establishment of two new schools for humanities and social sciences.
He said that NTU’s big push in this area “will boost students’ ability to think critically about the tough choices facing society in a rapidly changing world driven by technology, global connectedness and climate change”.
NTU students will have more course choices in terms of both breadth and depth. There will be further growth in specific disciplines and more room for interdisciplinary programmes.