NUS President Urges Teaching Goals to Guide AI Use in Universities

Tan Eng Chye explained that the National University of Singapore prioritises teaching and graduate employability over research-centric rankings. While acknowledging AI's disruptive potential, he warned that pedagogy should direct AI implementation, not the reverse. NUS has been redesigning its undergraduate programmes since 2016, making quantitative reasoning compulsory and introducing AI concepts early.

He stressed the need for students to master foundational knowledge before leveraging AI, likening it to learning arithmetic before using calculators. The university also uses AI-driven role-playing simulations to expand experiential learning in disciplines such as psychology and social work. Overall, Tan sees AI as a tool to amplify, not replace, the core educational mission.