Testimonial
As a proud Pioneer of Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), I will always be grateful to the university for fostering in me the critical thinking, innovation and interdisciplinary skills crucial in today’s workforce — especially in entrepreneurship. SUTD’s collaborative learning environment, dedicated faculty and emphasis on design thinking and real-world application provides a holistic, 21st-century pedagogical experience. SUTD has not only shaped my technical expertise but ingrained a grit mindset — the resilience and adaptability needed to navigate the ever-evolving business landscape; allowing me to turn challenges into opportunities. All in all, an invaluable education that has been instrumental in propelling my career.
Aditya Batura, ISTD Alumni (Class of 2015), Co-Founder & CEO, Codomo Pte Ltd
SUTD has equipped me with a solid technical foundation and practical application of concepts, allowing me to put them to use when I joined GovTech to develop citizen-centric products. In the increasingly complex world we live in today, multifaceted problems can no longer be solved within a single area of expertise. SUTD has helped me broaden my skill sets in collaborating with cross-functional teams, understanding and solving complex problems as well as exploring innovative approaches to meet user needs. Working on multidisciplinary projects at SUTD and the study of the arts and humanities have provided me with multi-perspective analytical skills.
Janice Tan, ISTD Alumni (Class of 2016), Senior Software Engineer, GovTech Singapore
Apart from deep technical skills, I developed a keen understanding of a universal design methodology that is necessary to tackle large, complex and abstract design problems. We were trained not to shy away from interdisciplinary problems but to embrace them. It has enabled me to traverse through leading institutions both in business (Citi) and academia (Cambridge University). It is this compatibility of SUTD’s education with the need of real businesses that the SUTD pedagogy shines.
Joshua Cheong, ISTD Alumni (Class of 2015), Product Management Lead, Parity Technologies, Ex-VP of Citibank
The deep technical emphasis at ISTD allowed me to pursue a wide variety of challenging problems.
Under the guidance of world-class faculty and inspiring peers, I was given autonomy and resources to tackle challenging problems that ignited my passion for machine learning.The creative freedom I was granted at SUTD allowed me to develop my personal interests and discover unique opportunities that would not have been available elsewhere. These experiences honed my problem-solving and design-thinking skills, allowing me to continue to shape the future of AI research.
Koh Jing Yu, ISTD Alumni (Class of 2019), Ph.D. Student, Carnegie Mellon University
I would like to highlight three aspects of SUTD. First, I found the first three common semesters to be really valuable as it gives you the space to explore various fields before deciding on one. I eventually chose ISTD as my interests lie in computer science. The modules in ISTD were rigorous and I really enjoyed the project work. Second, it is mandatory for all students to take seven Humanities Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) modules. I gained different perspectives through the various readings in the HASS modules and I found that to be really helpful for my personal and professional development. Lastly, SUTD caters time for your co-curricular activities and you are free to use that time to pursue your passion. It is the combination of these three aspects that really defined my SUTD experience.
SUTD’s postgraduate program truly stands out for its exceptional quality. What made my experience remarkable was not just the enjoyable classes, but also the passion and dedication of our professors. They went above and beyond to ensure that we were not only well-prepared academically but also equipped with the skills needed to thrive in a global environment. One of the highlights of my journey at SUTD was the opportunity to engage in broad discussions with my unforgettable international classmates. Interacting with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and perspectives enriched my learning experience and broadened my horizons. It was inspiring to collaborate with such talented individuals from all around the world, fostering connections that undoubtedly benefit my career growth.
My journey at SUTD played a pivotal role in shaping my path as an educator, enriching my understanding of the theoretical foundations of computer science as well as the practical methodologies of software engineering. Extensive exposure in a broad spectrum of subjects such as mathematics, chemistry, biology and the humanities, arts and social sciences, alongside my core studies, offered a comprehensive perspective that extended beyond the traditional confines of computer science. This enables me to approach complex problems with a rich blend of technical skill and creative insight. The project-based learning environment at SUTD seamlessly complemented this academic richness, effectively bridging theory with practical application. It fostered an approach that values empathy, diverse perspectives and fearless experimentation. Now, as a lecturer, I am dedicated to instilling these principles in my students, guiding them to face challenges with a comprehensive and adaptive mindset and to be prepared for the unexpected.
Dr. Natalie Agus, ISTD Alumni (Class of 2015), Senior Lecturer, ISTD SUTD
The interdisciplinary research environment at SUTD allowed me to easily find and discuss with experts in fields related to my research topics. Discussing with them made me more confident about the significance and impact of the research topics that I chose. The most interesting moments were discussing the results of my research or papers from top conferences with my supervisor, Prof. David Yau. His questions were interesting and challenging, these sets of questions related to the results always gave me eye-opening experiences. His amazing examples in discussion helped me realize the similarity between doing research and solving problems in real life. Last but not least, the enthusiastic help from admin staff made me feel SUTD is like my second home.
Vu Dinh Quyen, ISTD PhD Alumni (Class of 2019), Assistant Principal Data Scientist, DASTC, ST Engineering, Singapore
SUTD gave me a lot of space to pursue what interested me. In a short span of 3.5 years, I have led a rich life that stretched me in many different dimensions. I took part in sports, founded a small team to compete in Aquathlon and developed my passion in coding which I could use to solve real problems. The school gave me the space and even supported me significantly to compete in Hackathons and get research exposure from around the world. Most of the friends and faculty I have met are believers — that’s what makes the difference. We believe in our potential, and believe that we have the responsibility to make the world better, be it by design or by whatever craft we are proud of. More importantly, I met great friends and mentors that I will remember for life.
Now that I have graduated, I realise that my SUTD experience combined the realism of life with the rigour of traditional University Education. As we build and prototype things, and champion our own initiatives, we were allowed to thrive or fail on our own terms, but within the sandbox that is SUTD. Yet, amidst the scrappiness of what I was doing, I was able to learn from some of the best professors I have seen, who shared their expertise with a rare passion and patience. With their help, I manage to complete a rigorous, wide-ranging technical education in Computer Science. The kind of education that leaves you a little exhausted, but in awe, and wanting more.
Believe it or not, I have ever entertained the idea of not going to University, back in 2017 when I caught the Start-up bug. But I am so happy to have joined SUTD. For the past 3.5 years, I have grown tremendously – with my feet planted on firm technical foundation, and my eyes on the stars.
Lionell Jian An, ISTD Alumni (Class of 2020), Software Engineer, Facebook
My academic journey at CSD, complemented by my Research role at Temasek Laboratories (SUTD), was a rich tapestry of hands-on experiences, spanning from cartography studies to writing science fiction commentary, all the way to developing cutting-edge AI systems. SUTD’s comprehensive, hands-on curriculum not only sharpened my technical skills but also deeply instilled in me a profound appreciation for research. Furthermore, SUTD’s holistic approach to education and research cultivated an acute awareness of the broader impacts of technology on society and ethics. This foundation has been pivotal in guiding me to thoughtfully address and creatively solve multifaceted challenges in my research at Stanford.
Keshigeyan Chandrasegaran, ISTD Alumni (Class of 2019), Ph.D. Student, Stanford University