Nov 2004 - Nanyang Technological University

Not Your Average Graduate
Student
ma student page
Award For Best
Dissertation
The sight of a monk in a grey tunic, carrying a
large backpack on his shoulders and walking
around SCI, has raised the curiosity of many
students. Most of them react with surprise
when they realise he is actually a master’s
degree student here.
“Last semester, some would stop in
their tracks and look at me with shock,” says
Venerable Yan Xu with an amused smile, “but
this time the new students just smile at me.”
The 29-year old Buddhist monk
from China, who joined the Master of Mass
Communication course in January this year,
has even garnered some media attention. He
was featured in The New Paper, and is by now
used to people asking questions.
“It is not enough for Buddhist
monks to stay in the monastery and read
scriptures,” he explains. “The new media is
developing so fast, so we must know how to
use it to serve our members and the public
better.”
Venerable Yan Xu also feels that
the media has the potential to be a “bridge
between the Buddhist world and the secular
world.” He is already doing his part in building
that bridge by editing two local Buddhist
magazines.
Citing examples of Buddhist-themed
television and radio stations operating in
Taiwan, he hopes that with the knowledge and
experience gained at SCI, he would be able to
achieve that for Singapore, or wherever
opportunity takes him.
Indeed, the monk from the
Jiuhuashan Institute of Buddhism in China has
“gained a lot” from his time here at SCI. “I’ve
learnt to pay more attention to current issues,
media impact, and how it affects peoples’
lives,” he says.
Even though course readings “seem
never-ending”, he enjoys his classes and the
lively discussions with other students. He is
also full of praise for the SCI faculty, whom
he calls “world-class professors” with a “high
quality of teaching.”
When asked how he would respond
if his fellow monks were to ask him about
SCI, Venerable Yan Xu immediately replies, “I
would encourage them to join of course.”
He adds, “Student life is good, and SCI is
full of activity and opportunities to learn and
gain fresh ideas and cultural views from other
students of different backgrounds.” -- ML
Venerable Yan
Xu
Ms Chan Mei Yee, a 2002 Masters in Information
Studies graduate, was the recipient of the National Library
Board Award at the Convocation this year. This
award is given to the student with the best project/dissertation
in Master of Science (Information Studies)
programme.
Started in year 2000, this award of $500 is
given to one recipient every year. Ms Chan’s dissertation
was Applying Scenario-based Design and Claims
Analysis to Evaluate Usability of the National Library
Board Digital Library. It questions the usability of
digital libraries, especially since users have grown
accustomed to human librarians.
Ms Chan received her Bachelor in Business
degree from Nanyang Technological University in
1995. She is an Administrative Officer in the Department
of Computer and Information Systems at the
Singapore Polytechnic.
As part of her research, participants were
recruited to evaluate the usability of the eLibrary-
Hub, the National Library Board’s digital library, by
identifying the advantages and disadvantages of its
current design. These aspects are measured by the
ease whereby users can accomplish their tasks. Factors
include how user-friendly the site is and the speed
with which they complete the task.
The disadvantages were recorded and were
organized according to problem-solving strategies
and design guidelines. A list of recommendations to
revamp eLibraryHub was then proposed.
eLibraryHub is looking to incorporate the
suggestions to create a more efficient and user-friendly
system.
-- RW
amic
The SCI - AMIC connection
Tucked in a quiet corner on the second level of the SCI building, the modest
façade of the AMIC glass doors belies the organisation’s illustrious history
and the vital link it shares with our school.
The Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC)
has spearheaded media development and communication expertise in Asia
since 1971, commanding goodwill among industry insiders in Asia and
abroad.
AMIC has been housed in SCI since 1996, and the two share a
close partnership.
“I feel proud, of course, to be involved in AMIC’s activities, and
that we enjoy such a good working relationship.” says SCI Dean Dr Ang
Peng Hwa, who is also the newly elected chairman of AMIC.
SCI supports AMIC with substantial core funding and co-publishes
all of AMIC’s books and journals, such as Media Asia, and the Asian Journal
of Communication (AJC). Many of our faculty also participate in AMIC’s
research and activities.
As chairman, Dr Ang provides strategic direction for AMIC’s
development and daily operations. He has been working with AMIC even
before the SCI was established, and has edited and co-authored many books,
including Communication Education and Media Training Needs in ASEAN
(2000) and Mass Media Laws and Regulations in Singapore (1998).
Former SCI dean, Dr Eddie Kuo, has also been involved in AMIC
since its earliest days and together with the late Anura Goonasekera of
AMIC, founded the Asian Journal of Communication (AJC), which he continues
to edit.
Dr Kuo has also written numerous books and articles with AMIC,
such as Mirror on the Wall: Media in a Singapore Election (1993) and
the Changing Media Environment and Implications for Communication
Education (2000). Though he stepped down as AMIC chairman in July, he
continues to provide consultation and advice.
The SCI-AMIC collaboration has many positive returns for SCI.
“Helping AMIC organise conferences across Asia also gives visibility to our
faculty and raises our profile,” says Dr Ang. “Also, it’s definitely a good
thing for our faculty and students to have such a resource at our doorstep.”
Last year, the SCI and AMIC libraries were merged to form the
Asian Communication Resource Centre (ACRC), now one of Asia’s largest
collections of documents and audiovisual material on communication.
Besides SCI students and faculty, scholars from around the region can also
come to SCI to utilise the ACRC materials for their theses.
Together with the SCI, AMIC continues to contribute to media development
by initiating training programmes for media professionals across
Asia. Its international conferences and shared publications with SCI also
provide the much-needed Asian perspective on communications.
As Dr Ang reiterates, “We definitely have a good relationship, and
future cooperation looks very good for both.”
-- LC
The AMIC office
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