CNA938 Rewind - #TalkBack: As more students use AI to write papers, should we switch to final exams rather than continual assessment?
CNA938 Rewind
A viral article explores how AI tools like ChatGPT are transforming higher education and raising tough questions about academic integrity. As students lean more on AI, should universities rethink how they assess learning? Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss with Associate Professor Melvin Yap, Associate Provost (Education and Technology), NUS.
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CNA
39 minutes ago
- CNA
Russia-linked website evades Singapore government blocking with new branding, study finds
SINGAPORE: A Russia-linked inauthentic news site that was blocked by the Singapore government last year has resurfaced in a new guise, according to a local study. Researchers from the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) found evidence that which is accessible in Singapore as of Thursday (Jun 5), shares the same operator and similar content as blocked website "While content does not appear hostile to Singapore, its creation and activation in the immediate aftermath of deactivation raises many questions," RSIS senior fellow Benjamin Ang and associate research fellow Ms Dymples Leong said. "There was no known response from the publishers of but the MHA's (Ministry of Home Affairs') action seems to have prompted them to respond by rebranding rather than shutting down." was one of 10 inauthentic sites set up by foreign actors that MHA and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) announced on Oct 22, 2024 that they were blocking. The authorities said at the time that those 10 sites could be used to mount hostile information campaigns in Singapore, although none had done so. The RSIS researchers previously uncovered links between and which is connected to 5+1 Media, a Russian communications agency. They used open-source intelligence tools to establish the link between and and share the same internet protocol (IP) address, which a reverse IP search found is associated with The country-code top-level domain ".ru" is for Russian entities. Both sites also share the same identification number for Yandex Metrika, a web analytics service that tracks and reports online traffic. The service is provided by Yandex, a Russian internet company that runs a widely used search engine. was created on Mar 24, 2023 and masqueraded as a local site by using a colloquial expression in its domain name and carrying Singapore-related news. It carried many articles that appeared to be AI-generated, as well as articles attributed to Russia's ambassador to Singapore. was created a few days after the announcement that was being blocked. "The oldest article on was dated Mar 30, 2023, even though the website was created only on Oct 25, 2024, a dead giveaway of its inauthenticity," said the RSIS duo. On they found articles by Russia's ambassador to Singapore that appear identical to those found on such as a commentary on Russia-ASEAN cooperation. But they observed that while positioned itself as a Singapore-focused news and lifestyle site, appeared to have pivoted to a focus on Southeast Asia. CNA has asked MHA whether any action is being taken against Calling for vigilance, the RSIS researchers said the blocking of the 10 inauthentic sites last year appeared to have "stopped the people behind them from targeting Singapore directly".
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
New mentoring programme for S'pore youth to develop solutions for social issues
Mr Josiah Cheng (right) from NUS presenting the university's initiative to bring digital access and digital literacy to disadvantaged groups to Senior Parliamentary Secretary Goh Hanyan at Gen2025 on June 5. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN SINGAPORE – Under a new mentoring programme, Singapore's young people are encouraged to come up with solutions to social issues such climate change and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on jobs. The Gen2050 youth action programme, launched on June 5, will provide mentoring through structured modules to the first batch of 100 students from i nstitutes of higher learning. In one of the modules, participants can receive up to $5,000 in funding for each project from the National Youth Council (NYC), which will run the programme with KPMG in Singapore and the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore. At the launch event, NYC chief executive David Chua said that even if the projects do not come to fruition, 'just the fact that (the youth) take action and go halfway is also a good outcome. That seeds something for the future that they can come to again, to take action in other ways and forms'. 'They will still gain invaluable lessons, connections and insights that will shore up their confidence,' he added. Gen2050 has four modules, where experts will cover identifying pressing social issues and analysing the scope of the problem; creating proposals and measuring the effectiveness of potential solutions; managing stakeholders; and creating compelling pitches. The module on crafting compelling pitches includes a practical section where teams can receive up to $5,000 from NYC to fund a project and pitch their ideas to industry partners. Dialogues will be held as part of a second track of the programme, giving young people an opportunity to hold conversations with policymakers and industry professionals on topics concerning youth. The dialogues and modules are collectively expected to reach more than 1,000 young people. After the participants have completed the four modules, they will develop ideas and solutions to social issues, and pitch their projects to different organisations. Seed funding will be given to selected teams, and their ideas will be piloted if they are feasible. Those who have completed the modules may be considered for other national youth leadership programmes. The programme aims to reach youth from all backgrounds, and will tap institutes of higher learning to find suitable participants. NYC will also use its links with social service agencies to find youth facing adversity who may be interested to join the programme. The team will conduct outreach events to recruit prospective applicants. (From left) President of the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore Ross Gan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Goh Hanyan and managing partner from KPMG Singapore Lee Sze Yeng at Gen2050 on June 5. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Goh Hanyan, who attended the launch event, said that youth today have enjoyed stronger education and greater exposure. Addressing the young people in the audience, she said during a dialogue session: 'Being connected globally gives greater awareness and understanding of what is happening around the world, to know what problems you want to solve and what has been done out there. 'I think there is a lot of power in your hands that you can wield if you find something that you are truly passionate about.' Policymaking in the past could have seemed like a black box as the Government would roll out policies on its own, but this is no longer the case, she added. 'Now within the Government, they are giving space to bring in voices of the citizens and youth to better inform how our policies should look like,' she said. 'We have come a long way as a society – we are genuinely interested in co-creation and it is not just lip-service. .. There is funding out there, there is support. The question is, what are you interested in? And how are you intending to come up with a solution for it? ' Managing partner of KPMG in Singapore Lee Sze Yeng said that young people have the passion and energy to address pressing challenges like social sustainability and climate change. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Goh Hanyan taking a wefie with participants at Gen2050. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN National University of Singapore (NUS) undergraduate Josiah Chieng, 22, is part of a team of communications and new media (CNM) students running a programme on digital literacy. He shared his project with event attendees on June 5. CNM Connects was launched in 2020 to improve digital literacy among disadvantaged groups in Singapore. It was among projects showcased at the event as examples of student-led initiatives looking into social issues. The programme has worked with social service agencies like Allkin Singapore and Morning Star to teach children coding and AI skills. Mr Chieng, a first-year student, said: 'We hope that since Singapore is continuing to invest in AI to be a Smart Nation, no one is getting left behind.' CNM Connects plans to reach 200 people in 2025. Mr Chieng said programmes like Gen2050 are important as the youth can easily get confused or overwhelmed by the resources that are available to make their projects a reality. 'It is also in part due to our need to be perfect, as we really want our projects to be successful and make real impact, so we worry about failing because we did not make the right choices,' he said. 'Having such support from experienced professionals gives us the assurance and confidence in making mistakes, and innovating and executing our projects, as we have a safety net to fall back on for support.' More on this Topic No fixed pathways to success as education system continues to evolve: Desmond Lee Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Gamers get hold of Nintendo's hotly awaited Switch 2
TOKYO: Gamers finally got their hands on Nintendo's new Switch 2 on Thursday (Jun 5), the console that could score record early sales for the Japanese Super Mario creator. The device, which features a bigger screen and more processing power, is an upgrade to the Switch that became a global phenomenon with hit games such as Animal Crossing. The original Switch has sold 152 million units since its 2017 release, making it the third-best-selling console ever. Nintendo fans, including 24-year-old Lei Wang, a recent graduate from China, queued to collect their devices at a Tokyo electronics store on Thursday morning. He had been "shocked" to win a pre-order lottery because none of his friends had been selected. "It's basically just me who got picked ... so I don't really want to say anything" to them, he laughed. Shinichi Sekiguchi, 31, said he was so excited he forgot to bring his phone, while 33-year-old Kuro said she had taken a day off work to use her new device. "The improved graphics and the ability to play with a larger group - I think that's a big deal," she said. Serkan Toto from Tokyo consultancy Kantan Games said he "would not be surprised to see Switch 2 breaking sales records in the next weeks and months". Nintendo's online store had 2.2 million pre-order applications for the Switch 2 in Japan - an "insane number the industry has never seen before", Toto told AFP. WORTH THE PRICE? The Switch 2 has eight times the memory of the first Switch and its controllers, which attach with magnets, can also be used like a desktop computer mouse. New functions allowing users to chat as they play online and temporarily share games with friends could also be a big draw for young audiences used to watching game streamers. However, Nintendo has its work cut out to match the overall success of the original. Challenges include uncertainty over US trade tariffs and whether it can convince enough people to pay the high price for its new device. The Switch 2 costs US$449.99 in the United States, more than the original's launch price of US$299.99. Both are hybrid consoles that can connect to a TV or be played on the go. New Switch 2 games such as Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World - which allows players to go exploring off-grid - are also more expensive than existing titles. "After playing it, I think it's worth the price," Steven Paterno, a 24-year-old aspiring filmmaker, told AFP at a Nintendo launch event in New York City. He had been waiting outside the Rockefeller Center's Nintendo store for a month and a half, part of a group of around 20 die-hard fans desperate to be first in line. "I loved the original Switch, but I had to admit the Switch 2 really tops it," Paterno said. CANCELLED PRE-ORDERS Retailers in the United States, Europe and other major markets are gearing up for a rush of excited fans, with some stores opening at midnight to welcome them. "I'm very excited to pick it up at midnight," 22-year-old graduate Angel Caceres said at the New York launch event. "I'm going to be very tired after that." Supply pressures have forced some retailers to cancel orders, with Britain's Game saying it is "working hard to reinstate as many affected pre-orders as possible". Nintendo forecasts it will ship 15 million Switch 2 consoles in the current financial year, roughly equal to the original console in the same period after its release. The Switch 2 "is priced relatively high" compared with its predecessor, the company's president Shuntaro Furukawa said at a financial results briefing in May. So it "will not be easy" to keep initial momentum going, he warned.
