Postgraduate Research Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core (PGR ICC) course
The Postgraduate Research Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core (PGR ICC) course at NTU is aligned with the NTU 2025 Education Strategy and focuses on the 3Cs expected of all NTU graduates: Character, Competence and Cognitive Agility.
In today's rapidly evolving world, technological advancements and changing work environments demand a new approach to education. Our ICC courses emphasize key transferable skills and address global challenges through an interdisciplinary and collaborative learning model.
Designed to enhance the academic and professional skills of our doctoral candidates, the course prepares them for their research endeavours and beyond.
GP8000: Artificial Intelligence Literacy
Course information
| Course Coordinator | Assoc Prof Kwoh Chee Keong |
| Course Code | GP8000 |
| Course Title | Artificial Intelligence Literacy |
| Academic Units | NA (Non-credit bearing) |
| Contact Hours | 9 |
| Grading | Pass/Fail |
| Course Start | Aug 2024 |
| Target Audience | Compulsory for PhD (Aug 2024 Intake onwards), Optional for Master’s by Research (subject to vacancy availability) |
Online Lectures and Quizzes
There are 4 online modules comprising 9 recorded lectures and 8 compulsory quizzes (flipped classroom). There will be no classes (online or onsite) for the lectures.
Group Project
The independent group projects (about 5-6 students per project) will take up 60% of the overall passing score of the course.
- Compulsory Online Briefing Session (Week 3): Gain an overview of the group project, review outlines, and connect with your group members.
- Optional Tutorials (Weeks 6 & 9): Designed to support project collaboration and provide opportunities to consult with tutors.
- Compulsory In-Person Tutorials in Weeks 11 and 12 (2 x 2 hours): Deliver your group presentations and engage in facilitated discussions. Assessments will include individual contributions to the group project
2. Course Aims
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy course aims to give an overview of AI tools, ethical issues as well as applications in both STEM and HSS. This is to equip the postgraduate students with knowledge of AI since AI is fast becoming an integral component for all industries.
3. Intended Learning Outcome
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- Explain what Artificial Intelligence (AI) is about and appreciate its relevance and importance for IT and society.
- Describe the human cognitive organization in problem-solving and appreciate the ethics involved in the application of AI techniques.
- Be equipped with the knowledge of the societal impact and governance complexity and apply the appropriate solutions when using AI.
- Understand the different emerging AI applications in STEM and HSS and the use of these tools to increase work productivity.
- Be aware of the ethical issues and complications when using AI.
4. Course Lectures (Online)
Module 1: Basics of artificial intelligence (1h lecture) with compulsory quiz
Module 2: Emerging applications (2h lectures)
- Complete first 5 compulsory lectures on applications of AI with compulsory quizzes; and
- Choose one topic from the two options provided for the last two lectures (no quiz involved).
Module 3: Ethics and artificial intelligence (1h lecture) with compulsory quiz
Module 4: Societal impact and governance (1h lecture) with compulsory quiz
A minimum score of 70% is required to pass each individual quiz, and the overall passing threshold for the quizzes is set at 70%. The quizzes will contribute 40% to the total course grade.
5. Tutorial Sessions
- Compulsory: 2-hr tutorial sessions in week 3, 11, and 12.
- The tutorials in Week 6 and Week 9 are optional. These sessions are facilitated for groups to collaborate on their projects and consult with tutors if necessary.
- Group project presentations and facilitated discussions, including assessments of individual contributions to the group
project, will be conducted during the tutorials in Week 11 and 12.
FAQs for GP8000: Artificial Intelligence Literacy
1. Course Registration
a. How am I registered for the ICC Courses?
b. Can I decide on the study year and semester I wish to do the ICC course?
- The ICC course is compulsory, and you are required to complete it before your Qualifying Examination (QE).
- You are strongly encouraged not to defer and follow the curriculum plan to ensure that you take this course in time before your QE.
- Any deferment must be approved by the School with strong justifications and Graduate College must be informed.
- School must seek approval from Graduate College for more than 2 deferments.
- You will have to complete the course before QE otherwise your QE will be delayed.
- You should approach your School should you have queries related to course registration.
c. Can I drop the ICC courses?
The ICC course is compulsory, and you are required to complete and pass it before your QE. You are not allowed to drop the ICC courses.
d. Can I swap my classes? How can I swap classes? When can I swap classes?
- There will be a single, fixed schedule for all tutorial classes per intake, meaning class swaps will not be allowed. It is your responsibility to ensure you do not enrol in any other course which schedule may conflict with GP8000.
- You should approach your School should you have queries related to course registration or wish to deviate from your study plan. Please note that this is subjected to vacancy availability and approval.
e. Can I register if I am a Master by Research student or am matriculated as PhD student before Aug 2024?
Please express your interest to your School to be placed on the waitlist. With the School’s endorsement, you will be put on the waitlist, and we will notify you if a vacancy becomes available. Please note that this is a non-credit bearing course. Therefore, this course will be an elective that is outside of your Coursework requirement.
f. Do I need to take GP8000 course if I have just converted to PhD from Master by Research program?
Only PhD students who are matriculated from Aug 2024 onwards need to take GP8000 course. This means If you are matriculated before Aug 2024 as a Master by Research student and have later converted to PhD, you will not need to take the course. If you are matriculated from Aug 2024 onwards and have converted to PhD, you would need to take the course.
a. Is attendance for all ICC tutorial classes compulsory?
Attendance is compulsory for the tutorials that are indicated as compulsory. Absence from class without an MC, hospitalisation leave or officially approved Leave of Absence (LOA) will affect your overall course grade.
b. What should I do if I am absent from the tutorial classes?
- Absence from class must be covered by an MC, hospitalisation leave or officially approved LOA.
- Email your tutor and course coordinator to inform them of your absence with the attached documentary proof (e.g. MC, hospitalisation leave, approved LOA) by Friday of Week 13.
- You will also have to submit your MC to your School to get official approval for a short LOA.
- Informing your tutors, course coordinator, or Graduate College of your absence will not be accepted without the aforementioned documentation.
a. How is the ICC course graded?
The ICC course is a non-credit bearing, pass-or-fail module. The components of the assessment are:
| Assessments (40%) | Group Project (60%) |
Students are required to watch the videos and complete all MCQ assessment quizzes to check their understanding of the concepts and information covered in the videos. | The allocated group of 5-6 students from at least 2 Colleges form a Team. The team will select one of the real-life problems they encounter and work on developing an AI solution for this problem. |
The passing mark is 70%. Students are given two attempts for each MCQ test, and the higher score will be recorded. | The team will submit a Problem-Solving Analysis to demonstrate their understanding, identify the problems and validate probable causes for these problems before developing a viable solution. |
Each team will give a 15-minute presentation on the problem and suggested solution to the class. | |
Students can contribute their expertise in finding solutions and apply their problem-solving, critical and creative thinking, teamwork and presentation skills. | |
Components for this group project:
|
b. What happens if I fail the ICC course?
- Students who fail must re-take the course immediately in the following semester.
- Students must complete the course before QE, failing which the QE will be delayed.
Who do I approach if I have general PGR ICC course-related questions?
For inquiries about course registration and the appropriate semester to take your ICC course, please consult your School.
General PGR ICC course-related questions can be directed to Graduate College office at GradCollege@ntu.edu.sg.
Who should I write to if I have feedback to provide?
- Email the Graduate College office at GradCollege@ntu.edu.sg.
- All feedback will be taken seriously, and any identifying information will be kept strictly confidential to protect your identity