History

CCDS Main Entrance - Far View

The College of Computing and Data Science (CCDS) is Nanyang Technological University, Singapore’s 6th and newest academic college.

The College’s roots began in the 1980s as a humble ‘computer maintenance engineering’ subject.

In 1988, NTU, then known as Nanyang Technological Institute (NTI), set up the School of Applied Science (SAS) and introduced Singapore’s very first computer engineering degree programme – ‘Computer Technology’ the following year.

In 1994, the programme’s title was changed to ‘Computer Engineering’ and in 1999, the B.A.Sc. programme was established as a four-year Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) degree.

In year 2000, SAS was renamed as School of Computer Engineering (SCE). In 2004, a new four-year degree programme B.Eng in Computer Science was launched.

In 2016, the school was re-branded as School of Computer Science and Engineering (SCSE) to accurately reflect its diverse and niche strengths.

In 2018, the flagship interdisciplinary Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) was launched, as a joint programme with the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS).

In May 2024, the College of Computing and Data Science (CCDS) was formed by combining SCSE with other related disciplines in NTU. 

 

CCDS Main Entrance - Near View

This strategic initiative comes at an exciting time, as computing, data science and artificial intelligence (AI) reshape our world. Among the new academic offerings are the Bachelor of Computing in AI and Society, the Turing AI Scholars Programme, and a Minor in AI for all NTU undergraduates, and more in the pipeline to uplift the digital capabilities of NTU graduates and the broader workforce. These initiatives are in line with Singapore’s refreshed national AI strategy to triple the AI talent pool, develop a trusted AI ecosystem, and use AI to drive innovation and economic growth.

Standing tall as a College, CCDS is recognised worldwide as a premier research institution with top universities, multinational corporations and R&D institutions as its research collaborators and funding partners.

Today, we are ranked 2nd for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and 2nd for Computer Science by U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities, 2024; 8th for Data Science and AI, and 9th for Computer Science and Information Systems by QS World University Rankings, 2024. Our flagship MSAI degree is recognised as world’s “Top 6 master’s degree programmes” by Techopedia, 2024; and DSAI is listed as “Top 10 Best AI and Data Science Undergraduate Courses” by Forbes, 2021.

 

TIMELINE


1988 - NTU School of Applied Science Building

1988

School of Applied Science (SAS) was set up introducing Singapore’s very first computer engineering degree programme.

1992 - Prof Harcharn Singh with President Cham Tao Soon

1991 & 1992

Respectively, two additional disciplines were incorporated within SAS – Materials Engineering and Information Studies.

1994 - SAS Computer Engineering

1994

The main programme title was changed as Computer Engineering.

1999 - SAS BEng Programme

1999

The B.A.Sc. Computer Engineering and Materials Engineering programmes were established as four-year Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) programmes.

Year 2000 - SCE & MSE Building

2000

SAS was renamed as School of Computer Engineering (SCE) and the division of materials engineering was elevated into a school (MSE).

2004 - BEng Computer Science

2004

A new programme, B.Eng in Computer Science was launched.

2016 - Re-branded as School of Computer Science and Engineering (SCSE)

2016

Re-branded as School of Computer Science and Engineering (SCSE).

2018 - SCSE 30th Anniversary

2018

SCSE celebrated its 30th Anniversary.

Video
2018 - Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) degree programme

2018

Marking the 30th anniversary, the flagship Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) degree programme was launched. Forbes listed DSAI as worlds’ Top 10 undergraduate courses in DS and AI in 2021.

2023 - SCSE 35th Anniversary

2023

SCSE celebrated its 35th Anniversary.

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2023 - Prof Angela Goh Career Development Professorship

2023

The Angela Goh Career Development Professorship was launched to commemorate the institution’s 35th year of establishment.

2024 - Establishment of College of Computing and Data Science (CCDS)

May 2024

The College of Computing and Data Science (CCDS) was established.

Aug 2024 - CCDS AI Programmes

August 2024

CCDS launches 3 academic offerings - Bachelor of Computing in AI and Society, the Turing AI Scholars Programme (TAISP), and a Minor in AI for all NTU undergraduates.

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