23 January 2008

The National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School and NUS’ Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) today announced the launch of new double degree programmes. Starting in August 2008, this programme would enable students to pursue a Master in Business Administration (MBA) along with a Master in Public Policy (MPP) or a Master in Public Administration (MPA).

“In an increasingly borderless world where multifaceted skills are in great demand, it is imperative for graduates to be educated in multiple disciplines so as to gain a competitive advantage in the global marketplace,” said Professor Kulwant Singh, Interim Dean for NUS Business School.

“Students of business as well as public policy can look forward to being grounded with the foundations of good business management knowledge as well as the unique insights in handling the rigours of policy making. It will be a one-of-a-kind learning experience that prepares them to take on greater leadership roles, whether in the private or public sector.”

Combining the strengths of both the institutions, the double degree programme will be highly attractive to individuals with an interest in understanding and influencing how public policy choices are made, as well as experienced professionals who wish to enhance their leadership and managerial capabilities.

“The private and public were once thought to be mutually exclusive sectors. Now, we see more interaction between the two,” said Professor Kishore Mahbubani, Dean of Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. “Government policies, for example, can have significant impact on the growth of businesses. Corporations on the other hand, are getting involved in the provision of public services. Talented individuals are also leading the way by switching between the two. With such trends continuing, the double degree programmes will give students the versatility that they need.”

Students can complete the dual degrees in 2 to 3 years instead of the usual time frame of 3-4 years, if they were to earn the degrees separately.

Another feature of this collaboration is the flexibility to start at either of the two Schools. Students taking these programmes have the freedom to begin their study either at the NUS Business School or Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, depending on their schedules.

This unique double-degree programme also represents the two Schools’ commitment to innovation and staying relevant to the needs of today's new marketplace. It will appeal to organisations and corporations keen to develop their high-potential managers on a leadership track.

About NUS Business School

Established in 1965, NUS Business School is known for its focus in providing management thought leadership from an Asian perspective, enabling our students and corporate partners to leverage on the best global knowledge and deep Asian insights to drive business growth in Asia and around the world. This combination of global knowledge and Asian insights is reflected in all aspects of our research, teaching and industry outreach. As Asia’s Global Business School, NUS Business School is a leading authority on business in Asia. The School has consistently received top rankings in the Asia-Pacific region by independent publications and agencies, such as Financial Times, Economist Intelligence Unit, and QS Top MBA, in recognition of the quality of our programmes, our faculty’s research as well as our graduates. We have a top research faculty that is close to practice; more than 2,500 BBA, MBA, Executive MBA, and PhD students; more than 2,000 annual participants in Executive Education programmes; and over 45,000 alumni who are in diverse organisations and positions of leadership throughout the world.

About Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy

The LKYSPP builds on the rich legacy of the NUS Public Policy Programme, which was established in 1992 in collaboration with Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. The school continues to maintain its strong partnership with Harvard.

Established as an autonomous school of the NUS on 16th August, 2004, it is the first institution to bear Minister Mentor Lee’s name and the first educational institution in Southeast Asia dedicated to teaching public policy in English.

The mission of the LKYSPP is to provide opportunities for the education and training of the next generation of Asian policy-makers and leaders, with the objective of raising the standards of governance throughout the region, improving the lives of people and in so doing, also contribute to the transformation of Asia.

For further information, please contact:

Ms Koh Pei Key
Corporate Development & Communications Manager
NUS Business School
National University of Singapore
Tel: (65) 6516 7056
Email:

Ms Chin Yeok Tsui
Executive, Corporate Development
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
National University of Singapore
Tel: (65) 6516 6197
Email:

Ms Premadevi Perumal
Corporate Relations Officer, Media Relations
Office of Corporate Relations
National University of Singapore
Tel: (65) 6516 6391
Email: