Summer Programme (9 – 22 July 2017)

Ever wondered how Singapore grew to be such a thriving economy and enterprising city? You’ll find all the answers at NUS Enterprise’s annual Summer Programme, which we have been successfully running for the past 11 years.

Conducted over two weeks, this residential programme offers a unique opportunity for local and foreign participants to learn about how one of the smaller nations in the world has progressed from a trading port to a destination for international commerce and investment. Besides being a dynamic and globally connected city-state, Singapore is also ranked as one of the most competitive economies globally.

​Through an enriching combination of lectures, conversations with start-ups, ideation and pitching sessions, as well as visits to business and government organisations, our Summer Programme aims to provide you with a comprehensive educational experience. You will also get to get to interact with local students in a multi-cultural and cosmopolitan environment, understand how public policies are formulated and gain insights on business practices and entrepreneurship development in Singapore.

Programme Details

The NUS Enterprise Summer Programme is targeted at undergraduate students currently enrolled in university, majoring in any discipline, with a keen interest in entrepreneurship.

​Our programme will broadly cover the following:

• People, Politics and Culture of Singapore
• From Third World to First: Economic Development of Singapore
• Entrepreneurship Growth and Strategy in Singapore
• New Venture Creation Process
• Go-To-Market Strategy
• Idea Pitch
• Social Entrepreneurship in Asia
• Site visits to selected statutory boards, companies and start-ups in Singapore
• In-conversation with business leaders and entrepreneurs
• Visits to cultural and heritage sites in Singapore

Lectures will be conducted in English by faculty members from NUS, as well as government officials, business leaders and professionals.

The programme fee is SGD$2,500 (inclusive of 7% GST) and includes accommodation at a student hostel in the NUS campus, as well as breakfast and lunch on programme days. The fee does not cover airfare and airport taxes, travel insurance, visas and personal expenses. Payment is via bank draft, and is to be made payable to "National University of Singapore". 

What They Said

The Summer Programme brings… 

Learning… 
“It was such a great experience and I was completely overjoyed to the very core. NUS Summer Programme provided a lot of knowledge and it is so easy to digest, and even the lecturer or professor was so open-minded that it felt like there was no any generation gap when we had our discussion. This programme is a gathering of brilliant intellectual, where everyone from the whole world gathers around, brain-storming together and creates something that finally shakes the world. It's a really great programme and something that you guys can't miss.” 
David Kurnia, Indonesia 

“The Summer Programme is an excellent opportunity to explore Asian culture and the business environment of Singapore through learning and networking. It has the most innovative learning procedure in the middle of summer- with fascinating lectures in the morning, very interesting company visits in the afternoon and fun outdoor activities in the evenings. A great combination of education, cultural interaction and entertainment in the Lion City!”
Dimitris Frossinis, United Kingdom

Adventure…
“From the busy offices of the enterprise start-ups to the bustling footpaths of Singapore, there is never a dull moment in the NUS Enterprise Summer Programme. Every lecture, every company visit and every night out is an opportunity to explore and immerse yourself in the entrepreneurial and cultural scenes of Singapore. The programme was not only a valuable educational experience, but it has also enabled me to develop soft skills, network with some of the most innovative people I have ever met, eat good food and make diverse friendships that I will treasure for a lifetime.”
Michael Trinh Tran, Australia  

Inspiration… 
“The program gave me the very motivation to initiate my own  start up. It gave me the knowledge and the skill to structure my plan of action. Also, it helped me interact with people from different cultures, leading to a friendship that flourishes even today. bottom line is, the very fact that i have decided to go through with this initiative bears testimony to the fact that the programme worked wonders for me.

“Our startup name is nDimensions, in which we partner with schools and provide courses on entrepreneurship and also give them an online platform to discuss and validate their ideas and eventually forming an community of young entrepreneurs.”
Ajith Kumar, India 

“It was a long journey for us to come all the way from Mexico, but totally worth it. From the beginning it was an exciting opportunity, getting to learn from this country and its people was an amazing experience. It made me realize the chances we have to be better back home. Particularly in my case, being a med student gave me a different angle, and this year’s special focus on social entrepreneurship was the cherry on the top of the cake… I hope I can apply what I have learnt so that we can have the change that we need in my hometown. Though I don't have a project yet, my life plans may have changed, now that I am more aware of the needs in my society.”
Shaúl Ariel Navarro Lara, Mexico 

Global Friendships.. 
"Returning home is not always exciting, especially when you leave behind a big family that not only accepts the differences of its members but also celebrates this diversity. So was the NUS Summer Programme which became a true epitome of VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM, a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the world is one family". The Entrepreneurship Programme threw open the doors of my mind to vast expanse of creativity and innovation. It fostered in me the courage to place my dreams into action. I strongly believe these two weeks helped each one of us to grow individually as well as citizens of a global village. The main takeaway for me from this country city of Singapore is to convert your permanent disadvantage into your continuous advantage."
Dhriti Garg, India 

“This programme helps me make new friends and expand our physical connections. I met and learned different dynamic startup ecosystem in different countries. Also, we continue to talk to our customers, the startups, investors and everyone involved in startups ecosystem. This definitely helps us to improve our services and promote our company in the future.”
Kunlin Wang, China (Kunlin’s personal venture is to build a global entrepreneurship network)

A unique Singaporean flavour…
“The excellence of the programme was in encapsulating the political, economic and entrepreneurial history and ecosystem of Singapore into a single package of 2 weeks. If participating in the programme, be ready to be impressed by Singapore's architectural acumen and your hosts' hospitality; the former making Singapore what it is today, and the later ensuring that you leave after two weeks with wet eyes and a heavy heart. And the desire to join the 'entrepreneur's club' at the end of the programme is a given.”
Hamza Kamran, Pakistan