====================================
Special Program for DISCS (DISCS)
====================================
  Coordinator: Dr. Leong Hon Wai
               S15, 04-16 (772-2903)
               leonghw@iscs.nus.edu.sg


OVERVIEW
========

      "To develop/nurture a small group of 
       our top students to channel them into R&D 
       and  the Hon-MSc programme"

 * Target Students:
 	Top students (top 10-15%)
        Interested in learning new things
 	Has potential/interest for research work
        Has one or more of the above...


MOTIVATION FOR SPD
==================

 * Singapore needs more  R&D  Manpower:
 	Singapore IT Industry getting more sophisticated
 	Nation-wide push for R&D
 	Knowledge is power (as Singapore -> developed nation)

 * Large (diverse) student population:

 * Flexible  Modular  Curriculum:
 	choice of breadth   vs   depth
 	Standard  vs  Challenging  programme
        Existence of supporting programmes -- USRP, SPS, etc

 * There is room to develop research talent 


SPD PROGRAMME/CURRICULUM
========================
 * Same as for ISCS Requirement   except

 * Take S-modules
 	 eg: IC1101S, IC1102S     (possibly IC1105S in future)
 	 eg: IC2101S, IC2102S,... (in future)

 * Special Enrichment Lectures 
 	General  Problem  Solving
 	Interesting Guest Lectures

 * IC288 (USRP Programme) at end of Year 1;
 	Interesting  project work  early.

 * Early preparation for Honours/MSc pgm


BENEFITS OF SPD
===============

 * Benefits For Students:
 	Better nurturing/advice/contact with staff;
           (Problem Solving; Guest Lectures; etc)
        Better Overall Education and Training;
 	Early exposure to more challenging problem/projects;
 	Opportunity for exciting/rewarding R&D work;

 * Department is also considering
        Higher weightage given to S-modules;
        Preference given in Honours admission;


SPD-97/98 IMPLEMENTATION
========================

 * Criteria for SPD Eligibility
 	 Initial Intake			based on incoming results
 	 To continue in SPD		based on CAP  (>= 3.2^)
 	 Others to join SPD later	based on CAP  (>= 3.2^)%

 * SPD - 1997/98
         Quota of about 50 students imposed for SPD-97/98

 * Updates:
         Check out  http://www.iscs.nus.sg/~leonghw

    ---------
     ^ This is subject to updates and changes in future
     % May be required to takes some S-modules


LATEST INFORMATION
==================
 * SPD Students  for 1997/98
      Initial SPD list --  about 50+ selected students is  OUT 
         (See also Notice board on S16, level 5)
      Automatically enrolled into SPD already

 * Others who want to join SPD
      Talk to Dr. Leong Hon Wai (S15, 04-16)
      Subject to availability of places

 * SPD is a Voluntary programme
      Strongly encouraged to stay in SPD...
      Those already in can also opt to be out of SPD


LATEST INFORMATION - 2
======================
 * Automatically enrolled into  IC1101S also
      For simplicity & save on paper-work;

 * To request change
      Either opting out of SPD and/or IC1101S  
      or  to join  SPD and/or IC1101S
      Talk to Dr. Leong Hon Wai (S15, 04-16)
      Do it by Wed  23-July  3:00pm!

 * Final results released on
      Thursday,  24-July

 * Updates:
      Check   http://www.iscs.nus.sg/~leonghw


RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES
=====================================================

 * SPS (Special Program in Science)
 	Run by Faculty of Science 
 	Part of bigger Talent Development Pgm of NUS
 	Multi-disciplinary in nature

 * SPS targets our very best students

 * SPD will augment the SPS
 	Nurture remaining top students 
 	Channel into R&D and  Hon/MSc 

 * SPD  students can also join SPS.


----------------------------
(initial writeup -- June 97); Updated: July 97