Fujitsu-SMU Urban Computing and Engineering Corp. Lab (UNiCEN) at SMU and Service Management Institute at Sichuan University (SCU) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on long-term research collaboration and talent development in Big Data and Urban Logistics.

The MOU was inked by Director of UNiCEN Professor Lau Hoong Chuin and Professor Luo Li, Director of SCU’s Institute of Service Management on 29 August 2016 at the 17th Singapore-Sichuan Trade and Investment Committee (SSTIC) meeting in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province.

Under the MOU, both parties will also explore the setting up of an Urban Logistics Management Institute, organising mutual visits and joint workshops for master’s degree students, doctorate students and researchers based on the relevant research topics.

Also at the SSTIC meeting, the SMU School of Information Systems (SIS) and University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), a research-intensive university in Sichuan province, entered into a MOU for high calibre UESTC undergraduates to enroll in SMU Master of IT Business (MITB) programme after completing their first three years of undergraduate studies at UESTC.

The MOU for the SMU-UESTC 3+1.5 Fast-Track MITB Programme was signed by SIS Associate Dean for Postgraduate Professional Education Associate Professor Michelle Cheong and Vice Dean of UESTC School of Management and Economics Professor Zhang Junqiang.

Under the terms of the MOU, UESTC undergraduate students who have completed the third year of their undergraduate degree programme at UESTC may apply for conditional admission to the MITB Programme offered by SIS. Successful candidates will receive an offer of admission to the MITB Programme upon commencing the final year of their undergraduate degree programme. Upon completion of the SMU-UESTC 3+1.5 Fast-Tracked MITB Programme, students will be conferred a Bachelor degree in Business Management, Economics, Computer Software or Engineering from UESTC and a MITB degree from SMU.

The first intake of the SMU-UESTC 3+1.5 Fast-Tracked MITB Programme in August 2016 has attracted two high calibre students. Up to 20 students from UESTC will be admitted.

The SMU-UESTC MOU followed the signing of a MOU by SMU and UESTC with International Enterprise Singapore to collaborate on an Info-Communications Technology (ICT) Global Talent Network (GTN) programme which was also signed at the SSTIC meeting. The ICT GTN aims to create a platform to enable Singapore ICT companies to tap on ICT talents in strategic locations for growth.

This three-party MOU allows for cooperation in facilitating internship placements with Singapore ICT companies for students studying at SMU’s Masters programmes in Singapore; placement of UESTC’s students/alumni for immediate job opportunities offered by Singapore ICT companies in China; and facilitating internship placements in China with Singapore ICT companies for UESTC’s students studying in China.

[Caption: Director of UNiCEN Prof Lau Hoong Chuin, Prof Wang Xu of Chongqing University, and Marc Dragon, CEO of Y3 Technologies, signed an MOU to strengthen strategic cooperation, enhance international academic interactions and technology exchanges on 2 September 2016.]

On 2 September 2016, SMU, Chongqing University (CQU) of China and Y3 Technologies Pte Ltd signed an MOU to jointly establish a big data logistics laboratory and nurture talent in big data analysis. The three parties will jointly work on projects that align with the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative (which is the third Singapore-China government-led project), including multi-modal logistics and city logistics. 

Under the terms of the MOU, the three parties will explore the establishment of a “Logistics Big Data Lab” to conduct theoretical research and develop applications for the logistics data collection and analysis so as to promote the development of logistics industry in Chongqing.  The lab will be located at CQU.

Additionally, CQU will invite Y3 as guest lecturers and SMU faculty as visiting professors to lecture on product application cases and data analysis, as well as the application of cutting-edge knowledge. Y3 will hire strong CQU graduates, while SMU will consider enrolling outstanding CQU students for internships as well as its Masters or PhD programmes.

Chongqing University is renowned for its strong capabilities in the scientific research of supply chain management, logistics information and technology. Y3 Technologies Pte Ltd is a logistics software and solution provider in Singapore.

[Featured photo: Prof Lau Hoong Chuin (seated, sixth from left) and Associate Prof Michelle Cheong (seated, fourth from left) at the signing ceremony held during the 17th Singapore-Sichuan Trade and Investment Committee meeting on 29 August 2016 during which 12 Singapore organisations inked 15 MOUs and agreements with their Sichuan counterparts. The signing was witnessed by Singapore’s Acting Minister for Education (Schools) and Senior Minister of State for Transport, Ng Chee Meng (standing, sixth from right), Sichuan Vice-Governor Zhu Hexin (standing, seventh from left), and Minister for Manpower Lim Swee Say (standing, seventh from right).] {Photo: IE Singapore}