From 14 to 18 September 2026, 21 colleagues from three NUS research institutes in China – NUS (Suzhou) Research Institute (NUSRI Suzhou), NUS (Chongqing) Research Institute (NUSRI Chongqing) and NUS Guangzhou Research Translation and Innovation Institute (NUS GRTII) – came together at the National University of Singapore for the NUS Immersion Programme 2026. The five-day experience was designed to deepen understanding of NUS, strengthen professional networks and turn cross-campus connections into practical learning.

The programme opened with a shared immersion experience that brought participants into the NUS environment through orientation, discussions on digital tools and AI, campus and museum visits, and opportunities to experience Singapore beyond the classroom. These common activities created a foundation for conversations across institutes, functions and roles before participants moved into specialised tracks aligned with their work.

Across the Research Administration, Enterprise, Education, and Administration and Operations tracks, smaller groups engaged directly with NUS host departments. Sessions ranged from risk management and compliance, innovation and entrepreneurship, student wellbeing and career readiness, to procurement, finance and staff health and wellbeing. Rather than simply hearing how NUS works, participants could ask questions, compare practices and explore how approaches might translate to their own contexts in China.

Participant feedback was strongly positive: respondents said the programme was useful for networking and that they would recommend it to others. Their reflections also pointed to a deeper understanding of NUS culture, systems and ways of working, alongside the value of face-to-face exchanges with NUS colleagues.

The week closed with more than new knowledge. It strengthened relationships among colleagues from the three research institutes and NUS, creating a wider network for future collaboration and a shared language for bringing useful practices home. As one participant put it, the programme offered the opportunity to “learn about NUS and to communicate with colleagues from other departments” – a simple reflection that captures the spirit of immersion: learning through people, practice and connection.