External Relations
Connecting Academia with the World: Building Partnerships, Driving Impact.
Welcome to the External Relations page of the NTU School of Social Sciences. This section highlights our dedication to building and nurturing relationships beyond the university. By engaging with the community, industry, partner universities, and government bodies, we aim to create impactful collaborations that enhance learning, research, and societal contribution.
Explore our initiatives and partnerships that connect academic excellence with real-world applications and community development.
Empowering Change: Graduation Project Funding in Community Service & Funding
The late Mr Jek Yeun Thong left behind a legacy that reminded many Singaporeans of the sacrifices our pioneer political leaders made to build a harmonious multi-cultural society we enjoy today. Whether as an activist, journalist, diplomat or politician, Mr Jek’s life was marked by qualities of humility, sincerity, dignity, honesty, and compassion for the disadvantaged and vulnerable.
To cherish the legacy of Mr Jek Yeun Thong, NTU established the Jek Yeun Thong Community Development Fund at the School of Social Sciences at NTU to honour the late pioneer leader Mr Jek Yeun Thong for his contribution to the disadvantaged and marginalised, with a generous donation from his widow, Madam Huang Kek Chee.
This Fund will enable undergraduates to conduct field research into critical social issues our community faces, and to experience working with the less fortunate through internships with social service organisations in the non-profit sector. It will also support discourse of critical social issues through public seminars by faculty at NTU.

Jessa Gan is the inaugural recipient of the JYT Community Fund award for her graduation project. She will give a brief presentation about her graduation project – basically, what got her interested in working on this project about the Persons with Disabilities community, what the findings from her GP were and takeaways that the community at large should know about, etc.
Click here to view the video.
Interested to Apply for Graduation Project to be funded from Jek Yeun Thong Community Development Fund?
The Jek Yeun Thong Community Development Fund was established in 2019 through generous donations by family & friends of Jek Yeun Thong. The fund aims to develop students in community service and engagement.
Eligibility
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Application Period
The application period is from August to first week of November. Look out for the call for application in your inbox in August/early September. |
Application Process
The Selection Committee will prioritize eligible projects based on considerations such as: timeliness and relevance of the topics; diversity of the research projects; projects that will not be feasible without the funding; and communities in need. |
Receipt of Fund
Each project will receive a lump sum grant of $1000. Student(s) receiving the fund have to keep all the receipts and also keep a record of expenditures for post-activity review and auditing purposes. These receipts and record of expenditures must be submitted to the UG Office at the end of the project. |
Guidelines for Use of Fund
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Interested to Apply for Internship to be funded from Jek Yeun Thong Community Development Fund?
The Jek Yeun Thong Community Development Fund is donated in 2019 by family & friends of Jek Yeun Thong. The purpose of the fund is to develop students in community service and engagement in Singapore, by supporting Third Year students performing Structured Social Service internships in Community and Non-profit Organisations for ten (10) weeks.
Eligibility
The Selection Committee will prioritize supporting applications from bursary holders, those who are receiving other forms of financial aid, and those who have financial needs due to extenuating circumstances. If selected, financial aid records or other records showing financial need must be provided for verification. |
Application Process
The application period is from January to April each year. Students must complete and submit the application form to SSS UG Office at least six weeks before the start of internship. Students will be notified of the application result in end May. |
Selection Criteria
Applicants shall be considered based on strong academic results, with priority given to those with financial needs. Applicants who demonstrate a passionate concern for community and humanity will be strongly favoured. |
Receiving of Fund
Up to $2000 (based on ten weeks of internship) will be awarded to each selected applicant. The awarded amount will depend on the duration of the internship and the amount of the stipend provided by the internship organization. We will review the amount to be awarded on a case-by-case basis and inform awarded applicants accordingly. Half of the total amount will be credited to awardees’ GIRO accounts in June. The rest of the amount will be credited to their GIRO accounts upon satisfactory completion of their internship along with the submission of reflections (not more than 500 words) and the supervisor form. The students will have to provide their bank details for the funds to be transferred to their bank accounts. |
Industry Engagement
Industry engagement plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between academia and the professional world, providing students and faculty with valuable opportunities for growth and collaboration. Through internships, students gain hands-on experience, applying classroom knowledge to real-world challenges while building essential skills and professional networks. Additionally, faculty research initiatives foster partnerships with industry leaders, facilitating the exchange of innovative ideas and advancing practical solutions to current industry problems. These collaborations ensure that both students and faculty remain at the forefront of industry trends, helping to shape a future workforce that is well-equipped to meet the evolving demands of various sectors.
Industry Engagement Day
The inaugural Industry Engagement Day was held on 25 May 2023, aiming to strengthen the partnership between NTU and industry leaders. Organized by the NTU Career & Attachment Office (CAO), the event welcomed representatives from prominent organizations such as ST Engineering, DSO National Laboratories, Espressif Systems, Marvell Technology, and Singtel. Attendees explored booths hosted by various schools at the Nanyang Auditorium, participated in presentations by CAO, and enjoyed a networking lunch, followed by school discovery tours.




Useful Links
Internship Programmes
Click here to learn more about the internship programmes at School of Social Sciences.
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