School of Social Sciences, NTU Singapore

In celebration of Father's Day, our SSS alumni community assembled for a Terrarium Building Workshop at The Green Capsule, filled with love and connection.

Alumni and family members spent a tranquil afternoon building their own miniature gardens, sharing stories, and enjoying each other's company.

Thanks to everyone who participated and made the event so extraordinary. We hope your terrariums grow and flourish, symbolizing the love and memories we shared.

Application for PhD and MA programmes for Jan 2027 intake will open 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟏 𝐉𝐮𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝟑𝟏 𝐉𝐮𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

The intake is applicable to:

𝐏𝐡𝐃 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲
>>> Apply at: https://www.ntu.edu.sg/sss/admissions/graduate-education/applications-for-phd

and

𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 (𝐛𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡) 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 -
>>> Apply at: https://www.ntu.edu.sg/sss/admissions/graduate-education/applications-for-ma

🌟 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙎𝙎𝙎 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 – 𝘼𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙣𝙞 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨

From her days as an NTU Economics student to her impactful tenure as Deputy Director at the Ministry of Manpower, Wong Weiqi's journey has taken her from lecture theatres and tutorials to shaping conversations around Singapore's workforce and labour market.

Along the way, she has learned that careers are rarely linear, curiosity matters more than having all the answers, and the relationships built during university often stay with us long after graduation.

In this edition of Where SSS Leads, Weiqi reflects on:

✨ Why the first few years of your career are the best time to explore
✨ How AI is changing the future of work
✨ The value of curiosity and lifelong learning
✨ Why the NTU network remains one of her most valuable assets

Swipe through to read her reflections.

Football is often seen as a game that brings people together.

But what happens when questions of faith, race, citizenship and belonging enter the picture?

In 𝘋𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴: 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘐𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗞𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗿 follows the journeys of elite Muslim footballers as they navigate racism, Islamophobia, media scrutiny and public expectations while maintaining their religious identities on and off the pitch.

Through their stories, the book offers a fresh perspective on how sport can become a space of negotiation, resistance and reimagined identity in today's world.

📚 Available now at Oxford University Press.
https://tinyurl.com/dribblingdivides

We are delighted to share that 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝘆𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗵 (𝗣𝗣𝗚𝗔) has been awarded the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗛𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆 (𝗛𝗝𝗗) 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for his book, China's Rising Foreign Ministry: Practices and Representations of Assertive Diplomacy (Stanford University Press, 2024).

This prestigious award, presented by The Hague Journal of Diplomacy, honours the best book on diplomacy published between 2023 and 2025. The jury praised A/P Loh’s work as a landmark contribution, offering rare ethnographic insights into Chinese diplomacy under Xi Jinping and advancing our understanding of contemporary diplomatic practice.

👏 Congratulations to Assoc Prof Dylan Loh on this outstanding international recognition!

Thank you to the many presenters and participants who have already secured their places at the 𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗔 𝗕𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, including those who took advantage of the 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘥 registration period.

Your enthusiastic response reflects the vibrancy and strength of the Southeast Asian Studies community, and we look forward to welcoming you to NTU, Singapore, this July.

For those who have yet to register, there is still time to join this international gathering of scholars, researchers, policymakers, and thought leaders as we explore the theme "𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝘼𝙨𝙞𝙖'𝙨 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨."

Participants may also wish to consider the campus accommodation option, which offers a chance to experience life at Nanyang Technological University firsthand - immersing themselves in the vibrant academic environment and enjoying meaningful interactions with fellow conference participants throughout their stay.

With an outstanding line-up of keynote speakers, distinguished guests, and a dynamic programme ahead, we invite you not to miss this opportunity to join the conversations shaping Southeast Asia's future.

We look forward to welcoming you to NTU Singapore from 8–10 July 2026. 😊

Register here: https://seasia2026.com/registration-portal

The 𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗔 𝗕𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 marks a significant milestone as it comes to Singapore for the very first time in its 6-edition history - hosted in collaboration between the NTU School of Social Sciences and the Consortium for Southeast Asian Studies in Asia (SEASIA).

We are heartened by the strong response received thus far, with an encouraging number of applications and registrations from across the region and beyond.

A gentle reminder to participants with accepted papers to complete your presenter registration 𝗯̲𝘆̲ ̲𝟰̲ ̲𝗝̲𝘂̲𝗻̲𝗲̲ ̲𝟮̲𝟬̲𝟮̲𝟲̲.

We warmly invite non-presenting participants and members of the wider academic community to join an international gathering of scholars, researchers, policymakers, and thought leaders, as conversations unfold around Southeast Asia’s political, social, cultural, and economic futures.

Participants can also look forward to hearing from:
- Guest of Honour, 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗲
- Keynote speakers and distinguished regional voices
- Exciting programme announcements to be unveiled progressively in the lead-up to the conference

With thought-provoking panels, research presentations, and meaningful networking and collaboration opportunities, 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗔 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 promises to be a landmark gathering for Southeast Asian Studies in the region.

We look forward to welcoming both registered participants and new attendees to this important regional conversation.

📍 Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
📅 8–10 July 2026

Find out more at: https://seasia2026.com/
Register at: https://seasia2026.com/registration-portal

Real conversations. Genuine connections. Unfiltered stories.

Our SSS@NTU Masterclass & Engagement Session on 16 May was all about giving prospective students a firsthand glimpse into what life at SSS truly looks like — through the voices of those who know it best: our students, alumni, and faculty.

From candid dialogue sessions with Prof Walid and our student panel, to conversations about opportunities, student life, academic pathways and future possibilities, the afternoon was filled with curiosity, laughter and meaningful engagement.

Attendees also explored the vibrant side of SSS through our student clubs and communities, discovering the many ways students grow both inside and outside the classroom.

Thank you for spending your Saturday with us — we can’t wait to see where your journey leads next.

What a truly unforgettable and enriching evening it was ✨!

A full house and a meaningful evening of conversation as our SSS community came together last Friday, 15 May 2026, for a thought-provoking book talk on Unease: Life in Singapore Families.

The event brought together SSS alumni, students, and faculty for an engaging dialogue with Associate Professor Teo You Yenn, in conversation with Associate Professor Walid Jumblatt Abdullah. Centred on Prof Teo’s newly released book, the discussion touched on inequality, family life, parenting, care, and the everyday social realities shaping contemporary Singapore.

The warm energy carried into the evening, where guests connected over great conversations and a book sale featuring Unease and Why Palestine? Reflections From Singapore (by Prof Walid)—both recently listed among The Straits Times Top 10 bestselling books. It was heartening to see such strong interest, with many participants purchasing copies and continuing the discussion informally after the session.

The evening was not only a book talk, but also a warm gathering of the wider SSS community, reflecting the continued relevance of social science perspectives in helping us understand the world around us. Thank you to our speakers for their thoughtful sharing, and to everyone who joined us and made the evening such a memorable one.