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The National University of Singapore (NUS) is collaborating with
three local polytechnics to introduce a Preparatory Programme
for its Bachelor of Computing (BComp) degree, with a
specialisation in Information Security. This programme prepares
talented students for a career in information security, by
providing them with a firm foundation in skills to prevent,
detect, respond and manage security threats, and to develop
secured systems.
The Information Security Specialisation Preparatory Programme is
open to students pursuing a diploma in information
security-related studies at Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore
Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic, who meet the admission
requirements of this preparatory programme. Polytechnic students
selected for this new preparatory programme and meet the
criteria for progression will gain admission into the School of
Computing at NUS to pursue BComp in Computer Science,
Information Systems or Electronic Commerce with a specialisation
in Information Security. They will also earn a polytechnic
diploma in information security and a Bachelor of Computing
degree in six years.
Professor Ooi Beng Chin, Dean of the School of Computing at NUS
says: “We are pleased to partner Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore
Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic in nurturing information
security specialists for Singapore. This new initiative
leverages on the strength of information security education in
the local polytechnics and NUS School of Computing, and we
believe it will appeal to students who have a keen interest to
embark on a career in the fast-growing sector of information
security technology.”The three polytechnic partners are
equally upbeat about the new preparatory programme. Mr John Tan,
Deputy Principal (Technology) and Director, School of
Information Technology at Nanyang Polytechnic says: “We are
pleased to partner with NUS School of Computing (SoC) in this
strategic initiative. There is a growing demand of information
security professionals as complex interaction of computing
devices in today's connected world poses serious security
challenges to our digital ecosystem.”
Voicing a similar sentiment is Dr Timothy Chan, Director, School
of Digital Media and Infocomm Technology, Singapore Polytechnic:
“We share the vision with the NUS School of Computing (SoC), of
attracting and nurturing talented students to pursue a career in
information security. Given the increasing cyber threats that we
face, it is timely that such an integrated programme is launched
to train students to be competent in the prevention, detection
and management of security threats."
Ms Lim Sok Keow, Director of Temasek Informatics & IT School,
Temasek Polytechnic concurs: “We welcome the launch of the
Preparatory Programme in Information Security by NUS School of
Computing (SoC). It complements the industry-endorsed skills
acquired by our students from the Diploma in Cyber & Digital
Security, enabling them to develop effective security solutions
for people and organisations. Given the increasing global demand
for IT security professionals, we believe this programme will
enhance the competence of our graduates.”
For a start, the programme will admit up to 10 students per
year. The pioneer batch of students under this programme will be
selected in April 2009, after they have completed their first
year of polytechnic studies. During their second and third year
in the polytechnic, students in the programme will attend
classes at NUS to complete two essential modules of the BComp
curriculum. When they progress to undergraduate studies at NUS
School of Computing, the credits that they have earned for the
two BComp modules in the preparatory programme will contribute
towards module exemption in NUS.
Welcoming the launch of this programme, Mr Gerard Tan, President
of the Association of Information Security Professionals (AISP),
said, "This programme will further enhance the importance,
awareness and knowledge of information security amongst students
and professionals intending to pursue a career in information
security. It is a step in the right direction to further promote
the information security profession in Singapore."
Students in the preparatory programme will take two essential
modules - Introductory Mathematics and Data Structures and
Algorithms - from the BComp course at NUS during the second and
third year of their polytechnic studies. They will receive
advance placement credits for their BComp with a specialisation
in information security when they progress to NUS. This
specialisation will equip students with critical skills in the
prevention, detection and management of security threats, as
well as in-depth knowledge and mathematical maturity in the
development of information security technology.
As undergraduates with NUS School of Computing, they can co-read
two information security modules offered by the School – CS3235
(Introduction to Computer Security) and CS4236 (Principles of
Computer Security). Normally, students need to read and obtain
credit for CS3235 before being allowed to proceed to CS4236.
Students from the new Preparatory Programme are exempted from
this prerequisite in view of the preparatory foundation that
they will have acquired. Polytechnic students will also receive
advance placement credits for relevant subjects taken as part of
their polytechnic curriculum.
The participating IT schools and the related programmes of the
three polytechnics are:
• Nanyang Polytechnic, School of Information Technology, Diploma
in Information Security
• Singapore Polytechnic, School of Digital Media and Infocomm
Technology, Diploma in Infocomm Security Management
• Temasek Polytechnic, Temasek Informatics & IT School, Diploma
in Cyber and Digital Security
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