In our third edition, we worked with the College of Integrative Studies (CIS), Dato' Kho Hui Meng Career Centre (DKHMCC), and the Office of the Registrar (RO). 

  

The following feedback was raised: 

(i) To RO 

• Many students are unaware of the available curriculum planning tools  

• Many students prefer to approach their friends to be informed about academic policies / information. 

(ii) To CIS 

• Many students are receptive to creating their own second major programme 

(iii) To DKHMCC 

• Lack of publicity and awareness of its initiatives 

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RO

A. Issue on lack of awareness of curriculum planning tools'

• RO and IITS are in the midst of planning for an upcoming project to integrate the curriculum planning tools to help students plan ahead and have greater visibility on the requisites for courses being planned as well as the projected graduation timeframe. 

• RO is still in the phase of project planning and finding out suitable software applications that are available in the market. A tender will be drawn up to invite potential vendors to present their solutions. The project team hopes to kick start the project proper by Mar/Apr 2023. This project is likely to be at least a year-long in duration. 

• As part of the project, RO and IITS will also study the feasibility of identifying and suggesting courses that they might want to consider which could shorten their graduation timeframe (double counting). 

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B. Issue on the misinformation that may come with seeking informal sources for academic information 

• It is not ideal to be checking with friends as academic policies may change affecting certain cohorts of students onwards 

• OBI, SSH, RO and IITS have embarked on a project to review and improve the SMOO SMOO Chatbot to provide more targeted answers and to integrate an enquiry form that would classify and direct the enquiry to the right party for response. 

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DKHMCC

With the below two initiatives, DKHMCC hopes to increase publicity and awareness to build better traction with students. 

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1. Increased online-presence via social media : @sgsmucareercentre  

• DKHMCC has started our inaugural step to have a presence on Social Media, using Instagram. 

• As part of our social media strategy, this was  implemented on 1st September and would feature thrice-weekly posts. A total of 11 slated for 1st Sep 2022, to start.  As required  for all external facing communiques, the postings were pre-approved by SMU’s Office of Corporate Communications and Media or OCCM. We are happy to report the draft  postings were commended by OCCM for their clarity and aesthetics, and they  subsequently approved DKHMCC’s use of Instagram on 26 Aug 2022 for our IG launch on 1 Sep 2022. 

 

2. Increased physical presence via Walk-in Coaching at SSH 

• Starting Monday 15th August 2022, DKHMCC initiated a manned desk at SSH to facilitate a closer access for students to walk-in and have their adhoc, career-related questions answered by the Career Coach on duty. There is signage indicating “Walk-In Career Coaching” at the SSH Entrance. 

• The desk at SSH is manned Mondays to Fridays and offers two timings: 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm.   

• The desk is also within a small room which can be closed to ensure others are not distracted by the conversations, and for privacy. 

• This initiative hopes to brand DKHMCC’s coaching and help students to be more aware of Career Coaching as a method to help better prepare students for internships and, eventually, their desired career destination in the world of work. 

• Student may continue to seek one-on-one Career Coaching which continues to be offered either in-person/on-campus or online via MS Teams. Appointments will continue to be booked by students via OnTRACII. (All students are permanently assigned a Career Coach from Year 1 till 3 years after they’ve graduated) 

• The manned desk at SSH would continue into Term 2 AY 2022/2023 (up to before the  April 2023 exams). Thereafter, DKHMCC shall  gauge its continuance thereafter based on the take-up/ usage. 

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DKHMCC continues to be responsive to feedback, and looks forward to students making use of the two initiatives DKHMCC has implemented. 

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CIS

The College of Integrative Studies is now offering an Individualised Second Major (ISM). This ISM enables you to create a theme and second major title around your own interests and career aspirations and allows you to choose mods from across all SMU’s schools. Applications open annually in spring for year 1 students to apply to commence in their second year. For more information, see: https://cis.smu.edu.sg/faq#q4