Interested in making a change in Singapore and interacting with prominent community leaders?

Then take that first step and join us at the inaugural Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Symposium!

National University of Singapore Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Symposium 2011
Organized by Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme, National University of Singapore, and supported by University Scholars Programme, National University of Singapore

Date: November 2, 2011 Time: 3:00 pm Venue: Chua Thian Poh Hall, University Town, National University of Singapore

3:00 pm 3:30 pm

Registration Welcome Address by Professor Tan Tai Yong, Vice Provost, National University of Singapore Keynote Speech by Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of National Development, and Mayor, South East District

3:40 pm

4:10 pm

Session 1: Community Building and Leadership: The Role of Academia Speakers: Professor Maureen Pagaduan, Chairperson, Department of Community Development, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, The Philippines Professor Nirja Mattoo, Chairperson, Centre for Development of Corporate Citizenship, S P Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai, India

5:10 pm 5:20 pm

Tea Break Session 2: Community Building and Leadership: The Practice Speakers: Dr Jockin Arputham, President, National Slum Dwellers Federation, Mumbai, India, and President, Shack/Slum Dwellers International Ms Alma Elezovic, Balkan Coordinator, Global Childrens Organization, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina Mr Mark Hecker, Executive Director, Reach Incorporated, Washington DC, United States of America

7:00 pm

Closing Remarks by Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, followed by Dinner

About the Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme

The Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme in National University of Singapore (NUS) aims to develop Singapores next generation of community leaders. These future leaders will not only be intellectually engaged with social and community issues in Singapore, but will also be passionate about addressing social and community challenges. They will be tomorrows change makers, driven by a sense of true calling to mobilize the community to collectively solve social problems. Each year, a small number of NUS undergraduates drawn from the various faculties and schools will be admitted into the Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme. The students admitted into this programme will participate in the following activities: (i) Credited modules Each student will be required to take at least 2 modules from a slate of modules relevant to the topic of Community Leadership. Possible module offerings include Virtue and Leadership, Reflective Practice in Leadership, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation, and Community Development. These modules will provide students with the theoretical grounding to better appreciate the characteristics and motivations of community leaders, as well as the potential impact of community development and social entrepreneurial efforts.

(ii) Research projects The students will form project teams and engage in research on topical social issues. Examples of possible research topics include poverty, chronic unemployment, ageing and the elderly, youth, disabilities, mental health, gambling, and marginalization and social exclusion. These research projects will be student-led and -driven. However, the student project teams will receive guidance from academics, as well as practitioners from the social service sector. Each year, the findings of these research projects will be presented at a symposium and also published as an edited volume. Such research opportunities will enable students to analyze pertinent social issues, critically evaluate public policies that aim to address these issues, and propose alternative solutions. (iii) Attachments Each student will be required to engage in a 40-hour attachment with a social service organization. The attachment will enable the student to initiate a project with his/her host organization, thereby adding value to the organization. Examples of possible projects include public education activities, fundraisers, social audits of organizational impact, and pilot tests of new programmes. Such attachments will sensitize students to the challenges that social service organizations face in responding to beneficiaries needs, promoting public awareness of social issues, meeting stakeholder expectations, and mobilizing financial, human and other resources. More importantly, these attachments will also provide an avenue for students to develop values such as sensitivity, empathy and compassion. (iv) Talks and workshops An In Conversation series will be launched. Outstanding local and overseas community leaders, social service organization leaders, social entrepreneurs, and academics will be invited to conduct talks and workshops for students. Through their conversations and interactions with outstanding practitioners and academics, students will learn of the best practices in community development, and be inspired to initiate community involvement programmes. When the students successfully complete the requirements of the Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme, they will each be presented with a certificate. The Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme is made possible with a generous gift from Mr Chua Thian Poh to NUS. The Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme is supported by the NUS University Scholars Programme.