HeadHunt Brown Bag Series: Interdisciplinary Education Facilitates Paradigm Shift

The Brown Bag Series, organised by HeadHunt, aims to support Singaporeans in gaining new skills and competencies to advance their careers. NTU Academy for Professional and Continuing Education (NTU PACE) was proud to participate in this series. On 19 Mar 2025, Dr Yan Li from Nanyang Business School delivered a live webinar on the topic of ‘Interdisciplinary Education Facilitates Paradigm Shift’.

The Background of Interdisciplinary Education

Dr Yan Li began by discussing the background of interdisciplinary education. Today, education faces challenges in teaching methods, curriculum design, and the rapid evolution of industries. With the rise of disruptive technologies and fast-paced business model innovation, ecosystems and business structures are undergoing significant transformations. Amid global economic shifts and geopolitical uncertainties, this complex landscape underscores the need for interdisciplinary education to equip future leaders with the skills to navigate constant change.

Paradigm Shift: Bridging Management and Engineering

Building on this background, Dr Yan Li introduced the fundamental concept of a 'paradigm shift.' This concept highlights how the emergence of new or disruptive technologies accelerates the transformation of old paradigms, giving rise to new ones. Today, the economy and technology are deeply interconnected, and modern economics has far surpassed the scope of classical economics. Therefore, a new paradigm is needed — one that bridges management and engineering to adapt to the ever-evolving market landscape.

 

 

Master of Science in Engineering Management: Equip Engineers with Advanced Leadership

To align with this paradigm shift, the Academy for Professional and Continuing Education (NTU PACE) at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, has launched its first interdisciplinary graduate programme — the Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM).

The MSEM programme is designed to equip engineers with advanced leadership, business, and innovation skills essential for success in today’s rapidly evolving global economy. Its key focus is bridging the mindset gap between engineers and managers, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration for effective problem-solving and decision-making.

According to Dr Yan Li, the curriculum includes courses in soft skills such as leadership, decision-making, design, and systems thinking, all of which enhance engineers' strategic thinking. The programme is structured around two key components: management and decision-making, while also providing a strong foundation for engineers to navigate highly challenging engineering and business situations.

After completing the MSEM programme, students gain several key benefits. First, it equips them with strategic decision-making skills to navigate real-world engineering and business scenarios in complex and ever-evolving environments. Second, it fosters a deeper understanding of how to integrate management and engineering. Additionally, the programme offers a broader perspective on career development and contributions, providing insights from real-world engineering, business, and social contexts.

Discover Our Interdisciplinary Master’s Programme: Unlock Your Potential

Explore the MSEM programme and unlock your potential at the intersection of engineering and management. While registration is currently closed, we invite you to discover more details on our website. You can also fill out the form to receive updates and be the first to know when applications open.