NUS Southeast Asian Studies

21/10/2026

Last week, in addition to presenting at our department’s "Voices from Southeast Asia” seminar series, students in SE3220 (Mainland Southeast Asia In-Depth) had the chance to engage with Dr Bhanubhatra Jittiang (Chulalongkorn University) about contemporary crises facing mainland Southeast Asia. The talk zeroed in on the thorny issue of scam centers, which continue to present a political-economic challenge in the region, and which enabled students to connect wide-ranging issues—from cybercrime to Special Economic Zones to the complexities of transnational law enforcement operations.

Crisis in Mainland Southeast Asia, Guest Lecture by Dr Bhanubhatra Jittiang
📅 16 October 2026
🕝 4.00 PM
📍AS4 #01-16

20/10/2026

🎤 Our Faculty in the Spotlight at TEDxSingapore 2026!

Dr Hamzah Muzaini will be among the speakers at TEDxSingapore 2026!

A cultural geographer whose research explores heritage, memory, and place, Dr Hamzah has documented the maritime histories of Singapore's offshore islands, including those that have disappeared over time.

Centered on the theme “Landing Points”, TEDxSingapore 2026 brings together speakers from diverse backgrounds to share ideas, perspectives, and experiences that inspire meaningful conversations about identity, belonging, and our connections to the world around us.

📅 Date: 24 October 2026 (Saturday)
🕑 Time: 2.00 PM – 6.30 PM
📍 Venue: Victoria Theatre, Singapore

🔗 Find out more: https://luma.com/tedxsingapore2026

Meet the full lineup of TEDxSingapore: Landing Points. 🌏

12 speakers, from a filmmaker and a linguist to a marine ecologist and a music therapist, explore what it means for a city, and a people, to land.

See you this Saturday, 24 October, 2PM at Victoria Theatre.

🎟️ Tickets still available: https://luma.com/tedxsingapore2026

15/10/2026

🌟 Celebrating Heritage, Inspiring the Next Generation!

We are delighted to share that A/P Hamzah Muzaini is among the mentors of the TF–NUS Heritage Champions Programme, an initiative that encourages students to explore and deepen their appreciation of Singapore's rich cultural and historical landscape.

The programme recently culminated in a Student Showcase, where participants presented their projects and shared insights from their learning journey.

👏 We are proud to see Dr Hamzah contributing his expertise and supporting the next generation in discovering, appreciating and preserving our shared past!

05/10/2026

Reflections from GEC1048: Death and Dying in the Human Experience course!

We had an incredible sharing session with Mr. Rahman Razali, a well-known trauma cleaner in Singapore, who shared some of the difficult and deeply human experiences he has encountered in the course of his work.

Beyond the sensory realities—the confronting sights, sensations, and smells—his stories provided deep insights into human nature at both its best and its most vulnerable. A particularly issue he highlighted was the growing problem of social isolation and loneliness, including the sobering reality of individuals passing away alone.

His sharing was a reminder of the costs of social apathy but also a powerful call to action and to strengthen our social bonds and community connections that keep us grounded and cared for.

A truly humbling session that encouraged us to think more deeply about life, connection, and empathy 💙

Photo Caption and Credit: Dr Mohamed Effendy

05/10/2026

RAMAYANA: THE EPIC — A Balinese Dance Drama 🎭

The Department of Southeast Asian Studies, NUS proudly presents its annual Balinese dance drama extravaganza — Ramayana: The Epic.

For the first time on the NUS stage, experience one of Southeast Asia’s great literary treasures brought to life through the vibrant traditions of Balinese dance and music.

Presented by students of SE2224: Unmasked! An Introduction to Traditional Dance in Southeast Asia, together with Balinese dancers and musicians, Ramayana: The Epic promises an unforgettable evening of dance, music, monkeys, demons, pomp and pageantry. 🐒👹🥁

📅 Saturday, 7 November 2026
🕖 7.00pm
📍 Lecture Theatre 13, NUS
🎟️ Tickets: $25 — scan the QR code on the poster to purchase

Come join us for a mesmerising journey into the world of the Ramayana!

With support from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Singapore and Eka Suwara Santhi Balinese Dance Group Singapore.

02/10/2026

🌏 Ready to Lead the Future of Southeast Asia?

From fieldwork and archival research to language study and immersive regional masterclasses, the MA in Contemporary Southeast Asia at NUS gives you the sharp analytical skills and cross cultural competencies needed to thrive in today's interconnected world.

Study Southeast Asia in Southeast Asia. Take your learning beyond the classroom and experience the region firsthand through its people, cultures, institutions and perspectives.

Whether you aspire to advance your career in public policy, international development, heritage management, or regional business, your journey begins here.

⏰ Don't wait until the deadline. Secure your spot early and start shaping your future today!
👇 Click the link to start your application!
🔗 https://fass.nus.edu.sg/sea/masters-by-coursework/

01/10/2026

Last Thursday, the NUS community was treated to a stimulating seminar talk presented by Dr Bhanubhatra Jittiang of Chulalongkorn University. The session outlined Dr Bhanubhatra’s analysis of Thailand’s present dilemmas for engaging with Myanmar’s multiple political stakeholders, which generated a lively discussion from a packed house of scholars and students from Southeast Asian Studies and across the humanities and social sciences. Stay tuned for next term's “Voices from Southeast Asia” seminar!

Thailand and Myanmar: The Dilemmas of Engagement by Dr Bhanubhatra Jittiang as part of our Voices from Southeast Asia Seminar Series.
📅 15 October 2026
🕝 3.00 PM
📍AS8 04-04
Register now! https://bhanubhatrajittiang.peatix.com

28/09/2026

25/09/2026

🎓 Thinking about what’s next after graduation? Come say hi! 👋

We’ll be at the NUS Postgraduate Fair 2026 tomorrow at UTown! ✨

Drop by our department booths to meet us, find out more about our postgraduate programmes, ask questions, and explore where your next chapter at NUS could take you.

📅 Saturday, 26 September 2026
📍 University Town, Stephen Riady Centre

Whether you’re already considering postgraduate studies or just curious about your options, come down and have a chat with us. We’d love to see you there! 🙌

🔗 Find out more about the NUS Postgraduate Fair:
https://lifelonglearningfestival.nus.edu.sg/human-in-the-age-of-ai

18/09/2026

🧿 Don’t say it’s quiet…

What do superstition, hospital life and coping with uncertainty have in common? More than you might think. 👀

Our Year 4 Major, Shelby Koh Mei-Yi recently presented her thesis, “Don’t Say It’s Quiet: Superstitious Beliefs and Practices as a Form of Secondary Control among Nurses in Singapore,” supervised by Dr Serina Rahman.

From avoiding certain words on shift to everyday beliefs and practices, Shelby’s research explored how nurses navigate stress, uncertainty and a sense of control within highly rationalised clinical environments.

A fascinating look at the everyday beliefs we don’t always talk about and the meanings behind them. ✨

Well done, Shelby, on your Honours Thesis Presentation! 🎓👏