EVENTS & OTHER HAPPENINGS
CDE Open Day 2026 opens doors to future possibilities
What could your future at CDE look like?
At CDE Open Day 2026, prospective students and their families stepped into a day full of discovery, creativity, and possibility — experiencing first-hand what life at the College of Design and Engineering could look like.
At the programme booths, visitors explored different majors, second majors, and minors across CDE’s 10 departments while some also joined a free-and-easy tour of the Innovation and Design Hub to learn more about the Innovation & Design Programme.
They viewed senior projects from Architecture and Landscape Architecture, toured cutting-edge research spaces with Biomedical Engineering, and checked out exciting student innovations from Electrical and Computer Engineering. Chemical Engineering welcomed students into discussions and lab tours, while Civil and Environmental Engineering brought ideas to life through hands-on sensor-making workshops and sustainability showcases.
At Mechanical Engineering, prospective students caught robotics demos in action and even built a simple autonomous car. Industrial Design created opportunities to connect directly with faculty and leadership, while The Built Environment shared more about Infrastructure and Project Management, student life, and future career pathways. Industrial & Systems Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering also opened up conversations through AMA sessions and tours, giving students the chance to ask questions and picture themselves here.
More than just an open house, it was a chance to connect, explore, and experience the energy, innovation, and community at the heart of CDE.
Master of Science in Maritime Technology and Management (MSc MTM) at Singapore Maritime Week 2026
Industrial Systems Engineering and Management (ISEM)'s Master of Science in Maritime Technology and Management (MSc MTM) programme participated in Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2026, bridging academic rigour with the evolving needs of the maritime industry.
At the Talent Pavilion, MTM Student Ambassadors actively engaged industry professionals and prospective applicants - sharing insights on the programme’s specialised curriculum and diverse career pathways. Their ability to translate complex maritime concepts into meaningful conversations reflects the strong practical grounding and professionalism developed through the programme.
The programme booth also received a visit from Mr Baey Yam Keng, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth. In his discussion with Dr Li Haobin, Academic Director of the MTM programme, he highlighted the importance of developing talent who can navigate complexity, integrate cross-disciplinary knowledge, and make evidence-based decisions.
By bringing together education, research, and industry practice, the MTM programme continues to equip graduates to contribute meaningfully to a rapidly transforming maritime landscape.
CDE AI workshop sparks new ideas for smarter work
CDE staff came together for an AI Workshop that marked the start of a new community of CDE AI advocates.
The session brought together CDE colleagues across departments and NUS IT to explore and learn how AI can help address real workplace challenges. From AI-Create and AI-Flow to demos on workflow automation and information extraction, participants got a practical look at how AI is evolving from chat-based tools into solutions that can support end-to-end processes.
A key highlight was the consultation and brainstorming segment, where teams shared their pain points and explored possible use cases with IT and CDE colleagues. Ideas ranged from grants administration and onboarding to bursary reporting, student claims processing and communications analytics. What emerged clearly was that many of these challenges have strong AI potential.
More importantly, the workshop created space for meaningful exchange between colleagues — grounding AI possibilities in real workflows, user needs and operational realities.
The session ended on a strong note of optimism, with participants welcomed into the CDE Staff AI Community of Practice and invited to submit ideas for further review and prioritisation.
Fan Jing from Graduate Programmes shared, “This workshop is a great bridge between operational reality and technical potential. Engaging directly with the NUS IT team allowed us to transform our daily workflow bottlenecks into clear, AI-driven opportunities. Witnessing the robustness of the NUS AI platform firsthand has provided us with more than just tools—it has given us the clarity and the confidence to integrate these advancements into our work with purpose.”
CDE staff unites for a greener tomorrow
80 CDE staff members came together to participate in ‘Edible Garden City’ Farm Tour and Hands-On Microgreens Workshop, showing their commitment to sustainability and community over two exciting days in April.
During the Farm Tour, staff learned about the challenges of food security and sustainability in Singapore's agriculture and explored worm composting and other practices. In the workshop, participants grew various microgreens, fostering teamwork and creativity while taking home their own punnets to nurture.
Unlocking the secrets to a healthy lifestyle: Insights from Dr Patrick Tan (UHC)
70 CDE staff members attended a health and wellness talk by Dr Patrick Tan from the University Health Centre (UHC), which explored the key elements of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The session covered topics including blood pressure, nutrition, exercise, sleep, weight management, health screenings, family medical history, mental well-being, and the effects of alcohol and smoking. Through practical insights and discussions, participants gained a deeper understanding of how everyday choices can support long-term health and well-being.
OSL Employers Appreciation Event
Internships do more than complement classroom learning — they help students discover what engineering looks like in practice. At the recent Employers Appreciation Event, the Office of Student Life (OSL) brought together more than 40 industry partners to recognise the vital role they have played in our engineering undergraduates’ internship experiences.
In his opening address, Associate Professor Darren Chian, Vice Dean of Student Life, said, “Creating a strong talent pipeline takes collaboration, and we are thankful to our industry partners for being an important part of this journey. Their guidance and support help prepare our students for the opportunities and challenges ahead.”
Following updates from the Careers and Internships Team, Associate Professor Dr. Prahlad Vadakkepat from the NUS Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) shared about the Bachelor of Engineering Robotics and Machine Intelligence (BEng RMI) programme, which was launched last year. A highlight of the event was the presentation of the Internship Impact Award to a select group of industry partners:
- AMD (Singapore)
- Applied Materials South East Asia
- CPG Corporation
- DSO National Laboratories
- GSK
- Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (HMGICS)
- Micron Technology Singapore
- Rolls-Royce Singapore Hub
- Singapore Refining Company Private Limited
- Synapxe
These award recipients were recognised based on consistently positive student feedback on the strong mentorship and meaningful learning experiences gained during their internships. Year 4 Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) student Harini Ravichandran reflected on her internship experience with Applied Materials, “It allowed me to apply what I had learnt to real semiconductor research challenges. Beyond the technical experience, it also broadened my understanding of the semiconductor ecosystem, with industry events giving me a better understanding of how research and technology development fit within the larger business landscape.”
The event concluded with a networking session, where partners connected with faculty and staff to learn more about our various academic programmes and to explore future collaborations.
HIGHLIGHTS
UPCOMING AND ONGOING EVENTS!
CDE Summer School 2026
Do you have an inquisitive mind? Are you a problem solver? Then CDE Summer School is for you! The 3D2N experience will allow you to experience design and engineering through inspiring lectures and hands-on workshops. Event Details Date: 3-5 June 2026 Time: 9am to 6pm Location: College of Design and Engineering, NUS Registration Fee: $50 (Non-refundable) Optional Hostel Fee: $135 (Non-refundable) This event is open to all pre-university students in local Junior Colleges, International Baccalaureate, NUS High School and Polytechnic schools in Singapore There are limited spaces available! So don’t miss out! Head to https://bit.ly/CDESummerSchool2026 to sign up now! Registration closes on 25 May 2026 at 2359 hours!


