ASU signs Memorandum of Understanding with Singapore's Nanyang Technological University

<p><em>Creates collaborations and scholarly exchanges in a variety of academic disciplines.</em><br /><br />Arizona State University recently entered into an agreement with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore – a country with roughly the population of metro Phoenix, or about 4.5 million people.<br /><br />This parliamentary republic has experienced an unheralded economic and technological boom in the 21st century, but is only now looking at ways to extend its creativity through innovative approaches to education – approaches similar to those being taken at ASU and enhanced by ongoing collaboration between the two universities. The partnership was recently formalized through a memorandum of understanding.<br /><br />The principal aim of this new joint initiative is to promote research collaborations and scholarly exchanges in the fields of business, management, art, design and media. <br /><br />Michael Crow, ASU president, and Su Guaning, NTU president, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on September 13, 2007. Representatives from ASU, Governor Janet Napolitano’s office and the Arizona Board of Regents accompanied Crow, including ASU Vice President for Global Engagement, Anthony (Bud) Rock.<br /><br />“NTU is inviting students to explore their individual expression and creativity – things that we take for granted in the U.S. are now being cultivated in new ways through their School of Art, Design and Media,” says Rock.<br /><br />This new school aims to transform Singapore into a global media city. By educating artistic, creative and innovative talent through self-discovery and global education, NTU hopes to promote Singapore’s creative culture and identity, setting apart original creative products designed by local artists. <br /><br />“Creativity—particularly, the power of narrative—promotes global understanding and connects ideas with the power of human emotions and cultural traditions. Whether telling an entrepreneurial story, a science narrative, or fiction, creative storytelling – whether in words, new media or technology – enhances impact and engages diverse, regional and global audiences,” says Jewell Parker Rhodes, endowed chair and artistic director for global engagement at the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing.<br /><br />The ASU-NTU agreement also provides a platform to arrange cooperative activities on topics that may include:<br /><br />- Promotion of student exchange<br />- Collaboration in the area of biosensors<br />- Partnership between Nanyang Business School of NTU (NBS) and ASU, including developing linkages between the Nanyang Executive MBA program at NBS, the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU and the ASU School of Global Management and Leadership, for the purpose of offering collaborative and joint programs and degrees.<br /><br />The two institutions also will consider the potential of establishing a joint Global Immersion Program that uses a combined internship/course of study model to provide students with a dynamic set of academic and networking opportunities, potentially within the framework of Skysong, ASU’s Innovation Center, or at a business in the Phoenix metro area.<br /><br />“The program would draw from ASU’s rich entrepreneurial community, deep connections with local and global businesses and enterprises, and a broad array of courses focused on entrepreneurship and innovative risk-taking,” says Rock.<br /><br />Nanyang Technological University is a research-intensive university with globally acknowledged strengths in science and engineering. Its 12 schools are organized under a four-college structure, and two autonomous entities, the National Institute of Education and S Rajaratnam School of International Studies. NTU boasts more than 20,000 undergraduates and 8,700 graduate students and is ranked among the top 20 technology universities in the world today by The Times Higher Education Supplement 2006.</p><separator></separator><p># # #<br /><br /><em>The Office of the Vice President for Global Engagement leads ASU in advancing globally by establishing and maintaining strong relationships, supporting globally-focused programs of study, research and student mobility, and creating international strategic partnerships with key institutions around the world. For more information, visit www.asu.edu/global.<br /></em><br />MEDIA CONTACT:<br />D.D. Kullman, ddkullman@asu.edu<br />(480) 727-8269 direct line / 480-294-8781 Blackberry<br /><br />Office of the Vice President for Global Engagement<br />Arizona State University<br />Tempe, Arizona USA<br />www.asu.edu/global</p&gt;