School-specific Programmes: CJC's IGNITE Programme

IGNITE is an academic programme for relatively gifted students who are placed in classes specifically for IGNITE students. There are 2 arts classes and 2 science classes; IGNITE/ELL/KI students are placed in the same class.

• Application Process:

  • Starts during orientation - the cohort is informed of IGNITE & lecturers would share more with those interested; selection is based on a personal essay describing yourself and why you want to join the programme, as well as an entry test (some candidates may be called for an interview especially in the more competitive years)

  • For science: it’s something like a selection test where they test your knowledge on the 3 sciences

  • For arts: we to read an article and write a response to it, including our views on the various points raised in the article, as well as some examples of the topic discussed (for my year, it was on the topic of globalisation)

• Benefits of the Programme:

  • Gain access to more opportunities, including IGNITE’s Residential Programme (in non-covid times), where students experience staying in an NUS hostel for a night (my year was Ridge View Residential College) - i.e. you get to experience life as an NUS student

• Here are some highlights of the 2019 Ignite Residential Programme and the activities we took part in (other years may have certain differences):

  • Attended seminars conducted by Dr Toh Tai Chong & Dr Tan Lai Yong

  • Visited places like Metta Cafe & Dignity Kitchen where staff were visually impaired / intellectually disabled etc

  • Given the opportunity to sit in for a lecture on corpus linguistics by Dr Jason Grafmiller & Dr Ruth Page from the University of Birmingham

  • Groups in the IGNITE programme also have to come up with a presentation on the key theme of the year (for 2019, it was sustainable development); for my group, our presentation topic was about clean water & sanitation, one of the UN SDGs, which we presented in front of panellists including Member of Parliament (MP) Mr Louis Ng, Mr Jason Wong and Mr Alexius Yeo

DISCLAIMER: As Covid-19 is ongoing, this programme is likely to be temporarily replaced with other activities like service learning

Article Contributor:

Claire Lim (CJC '20 | Member of CJC IGNITE Arts)