- NUS College showcases 40+ student projects at first Impact Festival
- Students tackle real world issues across Southeast Asia
- Projects focus on sustainability, ecotourism, and education
Students from NUS College (NUSC) are turning theory into impact through real world projects showcased at the college’s first Impact Festival. As part of NUSC’s signature Impact Experience (IEx) programme, over 40 student teams worked with local and regional communities to tackle real issues in areas like sustainability, education, and community development.
The IEx programme, a key part of the NUSC curriculum, runs over two years and brings together students from different academic fields to solve challenges across Singapore and Southeast Asia. It emphasizes applying academic knowledge to practical, often complex, community needs.
One group travelled to Huay Pakkoot village in northern Thailand, known for its elephant community, to support ethical ecotourism. They installed road signage, produced a documentary, and created English resources for villagers to communicate with tourists. The team also documented local wildlife as part of an environmental education archive.
Another group tackled food waste in Singapore by partnering with agri-startup Corridor Farmers and Fairmont Hotel. They turned 100kg of kitchen waste into compost for urban and community gardens. To extend their project’s impact, the team also created a children’s book to teach families about composting.
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“NUSC is not just about learning in the classroom”, said Professor Simon Chesterman, Dean of NUSC. “It’s about using that knowledge to work with communities and create change”.
According to Vice-Dean Daniel Goh, most IEx projects now focus on socio-economic and environmental issues, especially in communities affected by climate and development challenges.
By combining academic learning with real-world engagement, NUSC is building a new generation of students equipped to lead with knowledge, empathy, and action.
