SINGAPORE: A record 9,066 students are graduating from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) this year.
And the cohort is riding on the waves of a tight job market, with two-thirds already securing employment.
Brothers Harry and Henry Zhuang have just been conferred their Digital Animation degrees and will be working in the same company.
"Actually we are quite surprised that the company is going to hire both of us. But he ensured that we are going to work on two different projects," said Henry, who graduated from NTU's School of Art, Design & Media.
Harry said: "I think there are jobs available. It's whether you're willing to work or not."
The brothers make up two-thirds of a cohort that have secured jobs before graduating.
In a preliminary study conducted by the university, it was also found that the top five earners from NTU's Class 2011 are drawing entry-level salaries of above $10,000.
NTU's new president predicts a significant proportion would be living and working abroad. The challenge then is to ensure future graduates have the competitive edge in a globalised job market.
"I think we've got to change the curriculum to increase communication skills. Apart from being good mechanical engineers, physicists or biologists, you have to learn social skills, cultural intelligence, because the work market is international," said NTU's president Professor Bertil Andersson.
"Many people say, for example, the SMU students are much better at communicating than NTU. I don't know if that's true, but certainly we should make the NTU students better in communication, having more social and international skills," he added.
Professor Andersson, who succeeded Professor Su Guaning whose term lasted eight years, was giving his first convocation speech. Professor Su was also conferred the title of President Emeritus.
- CNA /ls
And the cohort is riding on the waves of a tight job market, with two-thirds already securing employment.
Brothers Harry and Henry Zhuang have just been conferred their Digital Animation degrees and will be working in the same company.
"Actually we are quite surprised that the company is going to hire both of us. But he ensured that we are going to work on two different projects," said Henry, who graduated from NTU's School of Art, Design & Media.
Harry said: "I think there are jobs available. It's whether you're willing to work or not."
The brothers make up two-thirds of a cohort that have secured jobs before graduating.
In a preliminary study conducted by the university, it was also found that the top five earners from NTU's Class 2011 are drawing entry-level salaries of above $10,000.
NTU's new president predicts a significant proportion would be living and working abroad. The challenge then is to ensure future graduates have the competitive edge in a globalised job market.
"I think we've got to change the curriculum to increase communication skills. Apart from being good mechanical engineers, physicists or biologists, you have to learn social skills, cultural intelligence, because the work market is international," said NTU's president Professor Bertil Andersson.
"Many people say, for example, the SMU students are much better at communicating than NTU. I don't know if that's true, but certainly we should make the NTU students better in communication, having more social and international skills," he added.
Professor Andersson, who succeeded Professor Su Guaning whose term lasted eight years, was giving his first convocation speech. Professor Su was also conferred the title of President Emeritus.
- CNA /ls
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