The planning for SIT as a consolidated campus started in mid-2016 when we were given a plot of land in Punggol. By then, SIT was already operating from six locations – at the Dover campus and five different polytechnics. Having a distributed campus model made it challenging to transit SIT into an autonomous university with expanded degree programmes and a growing student population. The opportunity to have a new home was therefore timely. A new campus also meant the opportunity to build SIT as an applied learning and applied research university from the ground up, literally. The new campus was to incorporate the ideals outlined in the concept paper “SIT in 2024” based on the directions given in the CUEP Report.
The Punggol Campus has been designed to create a vibrant and conducive learning environment. Through study trips, numerous workshops, and staff and student engagements, planners carefully defined spaces to reflect SIT’s commitment to innovation. Formal and informal learning spaces are strategically located to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and seamless integration among the Clusters and students. The proximity to the Punggol Digital District enables practical elements to be incorporated within the campus, allowing students to gain hands-on experience and apply theoretical concepts to tackle complex, real-world problems. This aligns with SIT's mission to produce graduates who are industry-ready and well-equipped to contribute to Singapore's economic development.
Furthermore, the Punggol campus prioritises sustainability and environmental consciousness. The design incorporates green spaces, energy-efficient infrastructure, and innovative waste management systems, making it an eco-friendly institution that has won two PUB ABC Waters Gold Certificates for “integrating them [our waterways and waterbodies] with the surrounding landscape to create multi-functional blue-green spaces for all to enjoy”*.
With the anticipated move later this year, the purpose-built campus in Punggol sets the stage for the next lap of our institutional growth.
* Quoted from Seminar on Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) – Climate Resilient & Liveable Cities: ABC Waters Certification 2022, 20 April 2022
A topping out ceremony takes place when a significant milestone is
reached in the construction process: a symbolic placing of the last beam onto the structure.
Importantly, the celebration for SIT on 22 May 2023 was to acknowledge the efforts and
achievements of our colleagues who were involved in the creation and construction of our new
home in Punggol.
Facilitating relevance and real-world experiences in pedagogy, the Punggol Campus is designed with the concept of integrating learning, teaching and application with a strong industry orientation. For both our degree and continuing education programmes, the initiatives being implemented centre around our Education and Strategic Research Domains.
Some of the initiatives are:
Built to augment learning, research, and the development of low-carbon energy solutions, MEMG enables students to better understand and conceptualise distributed energy systems while deploying and testing innovative solutions. When implemented, MEMG will be the largest private microgrid in Singapore.
While DCS is built to cool the campus, the facility is also a training ground for our students to learn about aspects of DCS maintenance and energy efficiency. Students have the opportunity to engage in projects even as SIT develops courses with industry partners for this sector.
SIT's Punggol Campus will utilise over 10,000 sensors for real-time data and monitoring, enabling integrated building management and AI analytics. Partnerships with industry will lead to research initiatives, including digital sandboxes and digital twins for the safe testing of solutions and to facilitate education and research opportunities with partner platforms.
UniverSITy aims to create a virtual replica of our new campus using emerging technologies such as virtual and augmented reality. With the removal of time and space barriers, UniverSITy is intended to make learning more immersive and engaging and provide students with opportunities to develop and pilot ICT solutions with industry partners.
Enhancing the partnership between SIT and SingHealth, the Healthcare Living Laboratory provides students with hands-on experiences in an environment where real-world problems are addressed through collaboration between researchers, industry experts and end-users.
Building on our Engineering programmes, this initiative is a collaboration with our transport agency to address operational challenges with access to facilities and engineering capabilities. It will also provide opportunities for research and development on emerging trends and technologies.
Copyright © 2024 Singapore Institute of Technology. All Rights Reserved.
