NUS deepens engagement with industry, government and academia in Tamil Nadu

The National University of Singapore (NUS) deepened its engagement with India through a series of initiatives in Chennai on 28 and 29 August 2026. These included an Industry Networking Session, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NUS and Guidance Tamil Nadu, and the inaugural NUS Postgraduate Fair in Chennai, strengthening ties with industry, government, academia and prospective students.

Connecting academia and industry:

The Industry Networking Session on 28 August brought together senior representatives from NUS, the Tamil Nadu Government and industry. Apart from facilitating dialogues on emerging industry and talent needs, the session also served as a platform for participants to explore opportunities for NUS and industry to collaborate more closely in areas such as talent development, knowledge exchange and innovation.

Professor Wong Lim Soon, Acting Dean of the NUS Graduate School, highlighted the value of strengthening NUS’ engagement with India, noting that deeper connections can broaden the research questions being explored and support multidisciplinary work with wider global relevance.

Building a postgraduate talent bridge between Tamil Nadu and Singapore:

On 29 August, NUS and Guidance Tamil Nadu, the Government of Tamil Nadu’s investment promotion agency, signed a three-year MOU to deepen cooperation in postgraduate education, talent development and knowledge exchange.

The agreement - NUS’ first of its kind MOU with an Indian state government - creates opportunities for government, industry and universities across Tamil Nadu to explore collaborations with NUS on student exchanges, industry-linked projects, immersion programmes, masterclasses and seminars. It also provides a framework to explore scholarship and co-funding opportunities for Tamil Nadu students pursuing postgraduate and doctoral education at NUS.

Professor Ang Wee Han, Acting Vice Provost (Masters’ Programmes and Lifelong Education) at NUS, underscored NUS’ commitment to developing a sustained presence in Tamil Nadu and building a Master’s- and PhD-level talent pipeline, with graduates who can contribute not only to India and Singapore but to the wider ASEAN region.

Bringing One NUS to prospective students in India:

The engagements culminated in the inaugural NUS Postgraduate Fair 2026, held in Chennai, bringing 14 NUS Colleges, Schools and Faculties under one roof to showcase the breadth and depth of postgraduate education opportunities across the University.

More than 7,000 prospective students registered for the fair, with over 3,500 attendees and accompanying guests turning up on the day - demonstrating strong interest in NUS and Singapore as a destination for high-quality and advanced education.

Together, the three engagements represent an important milestone in NUS’ growing relationship with Tamil Nadu - creating connections across industry, government, universities and future students.

Organised by NUS SCALE Outreach International Unit, the Chennai engagements reflect NUS’ role as a global university: going beyond geographical boundaries to bring world-class education closer to talent, build enduring international partnerships, and create opportunities for knowledge and ideas to move across borders.