NUS1 - Southeast Asia in Context

25 June 2018 – 27 July 2018
Hosted by the National University of Singapore

Southeast Asia in Context is a five-week exploration of Southeast Asia’s geographical, historical and cultural diversity. This course takes advantage of Singapore’s strategic position in offering a unique blend of classroom instruction at NUS campus with hands-on fieldwork other SE Asian countries. The lecturers are experienced teachers and researchers of Southeast Asia, who will explore themes such as Southeast Asian religion, archaeology, rural development, politics and regional integration.  The fieldtrip includes visits to magnificent ancient temples, rural agricultural communities, war memorials and a fair sampling of local village life that is well off the usual tourist track.

Visit to a Hindu temple in Indonesia

Local field trip to Malay Heritage Centre

Costs

Figures are estimates only. Click on each item for details.

Field Trip

The highlight of this course is the week-long fieldtrip to Indonesia (Jogjakarta) where students will be exposed to local cultures and will be engaged in on-site lectures by the course instructor and local experts.

Target Audience

Bachelor students

Further specifications: Those enrolled in programs relating to all aspects of Southeast Asian studies, including ASEAN, economics, culture and politics are encouraged to apply.

Prerequisites

This program is open to undergraduates from all IARU universities, regardless of academic majors. A keen interest in Southeast Asia will be beneficial to the student experience.

Non-NUS students will be assessed based on recruitment criteria and procedures administered by each participating university in consultation with the NUS Department of Southeast Asian Studies.

Delivery Method

Participants to choose 2 out of 3 following modules:

SE2218 Changing Economic Landscape of Southeast Asia

Modular Credits: 4
Class hours: 36 hours in Singapore
100% Continuing Assessment. No examinations

The Southeast Asian economies and the region as a whole have experienced a significant change in their economic landscapes in terms of high growth rates, rising income levels, improvement in the standards of living, and the changing structures of production and trade. What accounts for this transformation? We seek to answer this question by examining the experiences and problems of the various Southeast Asian economies in the context of leading development models and policies that they have pursued in promoting and developing their domestic sectors (agriculture, manufacturing and services) and external sectors (trade, foreign capital and regionalism).

This module is essentially divided into three parts. The first part presents the three M’s of growth and development – Meaning, Measurement and Models, followed by an overview and explanation of Southeast Asia’s changing economic landscape. The second part deals with an analysis of the domestic economy in Southeast Asia such as agriculture, manufacturing, banking and finance, and labour sector. The third part deals with an analysis of the external economy in Southeast Asia such as foreign trade, foreign investments, and economic regionalism.  

SE2222 Southeast Asia in Context: The Region at a Glance 

Modular Credits: 4
Class hours: 36 hours in Singapore
100% Continuing Assessment. No examinations

This module provides a broad introductory overview of contemporary Southeast Asia, surveying the region’s extraordinary diversity and ongoing sociocultural, economic, and political transformations. Focusing on the nation-states that have emerged following the second World War, the module offers an historical and anthropological perspective on the ways Southeast Asian societies have changed over time in response to the pressures of colonialism, nationalism and globalization. We will remain particularly attentive to the ways these issues shape the everyday lives and identities of Southeast Asians. SE2222 features a 7 to 9-day field trip to various religious and cultural sites in Indonesia.

MS2210 Malay Culture and Society

Modular Credits: 4
Class hours: 36 hours in Singapore
100% Continuing Assessment. No examinations

Culture is generally equated with customs, beliefs, and ideas of a particular society. Yet, in social sciences, the term remains contentious and debatable. This modules probes into what culture means to Malays. The central questions that will be asked in this module include: What are the different components of Malay culture? How does culture shape and govern the Malays? What are the dominant stereotypes about Malay culture and identity? Who are the Malay cultural elites and how do they respond to modernisation? How can we account for cultural diversity in our globalised world today? Students will be introduced to key sociological concepts related to culture and traditions. The module applies different approaches in studying culture. Students will examine the history of Malay society from the feudal era, through the colonial period, post-independence, and the contemporary era. By comparing cases studies in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the module exposes students to critical issues concerning the Malays. It covers the following issues:

• The politics of knowledge production of “Malay culture” in the context of intensified globalised forces and Islamic reformist movements
• Countering stereotypes towards the Malays
• The consumption and production of material and visual culture such as food, film, fashion and music;
• The spread of ghost stories, the supernatural and “myths” in the community
• The construction of individual and collective identities and subjectivities, as well as symbolic boundaries through taste and distinction

MS2210 will also bring students to various field trips in Singapore.

Learning Outcomes

The program seeks to cultivate:

• the ability to think about some of the historical and cultural aspects of Southeast Asia in a way that draws from one’s actual experience of travelling through the region and meeting Southeast Asian people
• the ability to utilize scholarly approaches from the fields of history, social anthropology and archaeology in contributing to debates concerning Southeast Asian topics;
• the ability to draw from a broad range of learning platforms towards demystifying some of the stereotypical depictions of Southeast Asia

Assessment

100% Continuing Assessment through class participation, presentations and essays.

Credit Equivalent at Host University & Contact Hours

4 NUS Modular Credits per module (total 8 credits)

Each module is equivalent to a 3-credit hour course under the North American credits or 6 ECTS. 

36 total contact hours (classroom) + 7-9 days of overseas field trip (excluding self-study hours)

Weekday evenings and weekends are usually kept free for optional social activities in the summer school or self-study. However, some course related local field trips may be arranged on certain weekday evenings or Saturdays.

Lecturer(s) / Tutor(s)

A/P Teofilo C. Daquila (SE2218)

Dr Andrew M. Carruthers (SE2222)

Dr Norshahril Saat (MS2210)

Accommodation

Students will be housed on-campus in single rooms.

Students should arrive by 24 June 2018 latest.

Students will be able to check in from 21 June 2018. There will be a Welcome Lunch and Registration session on 22 June 2018.

Compulsory check-out date 28 July 2018, with no option for extension.

Visa to Indonesia (for overseas field trips)

Most European and North American passport holders are eligible for Visa on Arrival in the country, with corresponding Visa Fees.  Students are advised to check with the relevant Immigration Offices in their home countries to confirm whether they qualify for Visa on Arrival.  Students may also consult the following links:

For entry to Indonesia: https://consular.embassyofindonesia.org/

Recommended Insurance(s)

Travel insurance and medical insurance from student’s Home Country recommended for international students for the programme. Travel insurance will be provided only for field trip departing from Singapore.

Further Information

Detailed course profile:

Website:  http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/fasstrack.html/

Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/nusfasstrackasia

Please contact the following:

Ms Letitia Thng/ Ms Jane Toh – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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