Taking Root: Curtin Singapore's New Home In Singapore Science Park

Community Business

Published On Thu, 21 Jul 2022

After close to 14 years at Jalan Rajah, Curtin Singapore has found a new home at The Alpha in the Singapore Science Park. We speak to Pro Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Linley Lord to find out more about the big move.

If you’ve ever had to move houses or relocate abroad, you’d know how draining the whole process can be. Everything has to be sorted and packed, only to be sorted and unpacked again in a new, unfamiliar environment.

Now imagine having to relocate a community as large as an entire university cohort—even the thought of it sounds daunting to us. So when Curtin Singapore made the decision to move in to The Alpha at Singapore Science Park (SSP), we knew there had to be something about the area that would make this move worth the effort.

Curtin University is Western Australia’s largest university, known for its strong focus in research and innovation. Apart from its main campus in Perth, Curtin University has a number of global campuses all over the world, including one in Singapore, which officially opened in November 2008 as a standalone institution at Jalan Rajah. Curtin University’s staff and students have participated in many high-profile research projects in astronomy, biosciences, economics, mining and information technology, and is globally recognised for its strong connections with industry.

That said, maybe it’s SSP’s vibrant pool of tenants and the potential opportunities for collaboration that drew Curtin Singapore in. Or perhaps it’s the many formal and informal amenities scattered around SSP that enticed them. To find out what sparked the decision to relocate, we sat down with Pro Vice-Chancellor and President of Curtin Singapore, Professor Linley Lord, for a chat about the university’s future plans, and what it is they love most about SSP.

Casual spaces like the Student Connect facilitate interactions among students, and is a conducive place for discussions and collaborations to take place. Image courtesy of Curtin Singapore.

On sunny days, the Campus Courtyard makes for a great hangout spot in between classes, or a good place to enjoy a quiet alfresco lunch. Image courtesy of Curtin Singapore.

Stronger partnerships and engagement with industry

Perth’s Curtin University is known for having a strong research arm, and their Singapore campus is no exception. In 2020, the Curtin Singapore ASEAN Centre was established as an umbrella for research activities in conjunction with researchers at other Curtin campuses and Curtin’s key strategic partners. The Centre’s focus is on building research networks to address key challenges in Singapore and the ASEAN region, in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

With a diverse pool of tenants within The Alpha and the larger SSP, there will be many opportunities for Curtin Singapore’s staff and students to interact with researchers and professionals, and strengthen their engagement with industry. This could come in the form of internship opportunities, work-based project attachments, or even collaborative research. “We are keen to explore opportunities for collaboration with other SSP tenants, whether in terms of technology, marketing products, or working with organisations on the future of work,” Prof Linley shares. But no matter the type of partnership explored, Professor Linley says that it’s all about “building productive relationships” with fellow tenants, and in relocating to the SSP, this opportunity is presented in a very practical way.

Though tenants each occupy their own private units, there are common spaces within The Alpha, like an in-house cafeteria and lounge areas at the main foyer, that could potentially provide students, staff, and tenants alike the opportunity to meet and network. Exciting, especially for students looking to build a career in the industry after graduation.

Curtin Singapore’s new Student Unihub is set to be the go-to spot for students to destress after a long day of classes. Image courtesy of Curtin Singapore.

Curtin Singapore's new library will be fitted with computer stations, meeting booths, learning pods, study tables, and sofas for both study and leisurely reading. Image courtesy of Curtin Singapore.

All-new courses and programmes

Like most other universities, Curtin Singapore offers a number of different courses and degree programmes for students, with majors ranging from communications to commerce, and even nursing and computing. But following their move to the SSP, Prof Linley shares that Curtin Singapore will be developing its research expertise by offering new courses and programmes in the areas of information technology, data security, and cyber security.

“Our aim is to expand the range of courses that we offer so that we can meet current and emerging needs for skills and talent,” Prof Linley says. “We are also building our research capacity and capability, and will offer Doctorate programmes as well as our current degree programmes with a focus on research that is relevant to Singapore and the ASEAN region.”

In Curtin Singapore’s current list of postgraduate courses, there are only Masters programmes, as well as graduate certificates and diplomas, so the introduction of new Doctorate programmes would help to grow the university’s network of students and researchers, making it a more vibrant, dynamic community. It could also mean more meaningful collaborations between tenants and researchers, which is something else to look forward to.

“I think what’s most important in any university campus is that there has to be both formal and informal learning spaces, because these enable students to not only develop their knowledge, but also develop friendships that will last long after their formal studies have been completed,” Prof Linley shares.

Of the many new amenities that will be set up in the new campus, one of the main ones to look forward to is the distributed learning room. This space allows students and faculty alike to interact and work with fellow colleagues and students at Curtin Perth in real-time.

“Students in Singapore will have the opportunity to work with their counterparts in Perth on case studies, business challenges, and team assessments. Guest lecturers in Singapore can also share their knowledge and expertise with students in Perth and vice versa,” says Prof Linley.

(L to R) Some of the amenities available in the wider Singapore Science Park is an outdoor gym, swimming pool, and barbecue pits. Images courtesy of Singapore Science Park.

Outside of Curtin Singapore’s new campus, SSP also houses many different types of amenities and facilities for tenants and the general public. These include outdoor and indoor gyms, a swimming pool, and barbecue pits, which Prof Linley says will “no doubt be made good use of by Curtin’s student clubs”.

Of course, there’s so much more to SSP than meets the eye, and even Prof Linley admits that they’re still easing into the new space, and are looking forward to taking their time to explore the available amenities, facilities, and other organisations in the area. Likewise, we can’t wait to see what exciting collaborations and research projects Curtin Singapore will bring to the SSP’s table.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Follow us on Facebook @SingaporeSciencePark and Instagram @yourWorkplaceCommunity, or even subscribe to our newsletter - your Workplace Community to receive latest updates on our tenant engagement activities.