MoU with National University of Singapore
On 27 July 2022, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between NUS College of Design and Engineering (CDE) and Trimble Solutions SEA Pte Ltd to formalise the commitment of both parties. The MOU will strengthen the partnership and incorporate more of Trimble’s technology and solutions into our curriculum.
Professor Aaron Thean, Dean of NUS College of Design and Engineering, presented the signed MOU alongside Professor David Chua Kim Huat, Director, Digital Urban Infrastructure Laboratory, NUS CDE, with Dr Thomas Phang, Area Director of Trimble Solutions SEA and Jari Heino, Vice President and General Manager of Trimble Finland.
Since 2015, Trimble Solutions SEA has started teaching Building Information Model (BIM) elective modules at our college. Trimble plays a pivotal role in the transformation of our programme in Digital Design and Construction – in BIM & Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) – with $1.4 million in-kind support in hardware and software licenses. Besides industry knowledge, Trimble also provides our students with hands-on solutions. They introduced engagement projects like the Annual Tekla Challenge for our students to compete in real-life projects.
“The Tekla Challenge is a very good activity for us to have a real workplace scenario to design buildings”, said Kuroshima Cruz Ken John Ronson, one of the first-prize winners in the Tekla NUS Student Challenge of 2021. The industry experience is beneficial to our students, which taught them to work in teams, be more effective and productive and, most of all, be ready for the workforce.
Associate Professor Daniel Chua, Vice Dean Development, reiterates that the signing of the MOU will further strengthen the engagement of our students and academics with the industry and encourage more innovation. A fully equipped Digital Lab will be completed soon to equip our students to acquire more digital skills in Robotics, Augmented-, Virtual and Mixed-Reality to transform the design and construction of the built environment and improve the quality of urban life.