Inter-University Network (IUN)
Formed in February 2022, the Inter-University Network (IUN) is a ground-up student union collective, representing 71,000 undergraduate students from five autonomous universities in Singapore – National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), and Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). This initiative was formed to collectively tackle issues concerning undergraduates, deepen collaboration between student unions and share knowledge on student leadership.
The NYC collaborates with the IUN to allow two-way engagement and partnership between university students and the Government, advocating for youth voices and concerns to be heard in Government programmes and policies. Local universities without student unions have been involved through collaboration with the IUN via clubs and interest groups at the universities.
The NYC collaborates with the IUN to allow two-way engagement and partnership between university students and the Government, advocating for youth voices and concerns to be heard in Government programmes and policies. Local universities without student unions have been involved through collaboration with the IUN via clubs and interest groups at the universities.
IUN-Led Initiatives
Since the founding of the IUN, the NYC has been supporting the network to organise initiatives such as dialogues and forums to address the concerns of undergraduates.
University Leaders Dialogue
The University Leaders Dialogue (ULD) is an annual event hosted by an IUN member school on a rotational basis, which convenes the IUN to (i) foster knowledge sharing and management pertaining to student leadership, alongside collaboration between the student unions; and (ii) advocate for a national focus on certain issues that impact the entire undergraduate and young adult population.
In 2024, the IUN focused on the topic of cost-of-living, which was identified as a key issue of concern among undergraduate students through a dipstick survey that the IUN conducted in 2023. The IUN engaged in a panel dialogue with representatives from MoneySense and the Ministry of Finance to unpack the stressors related to the rising cost-of-living and increase awareness of key measures that the Government has put in place to mitigate its effects.
With the insights gained from the dialogue, the IUN drafted its 2024 work plan that would see the implementation of interventions that can help their peers to better cope with the cost-of-living stressors and improve their well-being. The work plan deliverables will be updated here in due time.
In 2023, the IUN convened to discuss undergraduate concerns about mental well-being, cost of living, and greater youth involvement in policy-making with Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Social and Family Development. Hear from student representatives on their key takeaways from the ULD here.
UCare Mental Health Forum
In 2022, the IUN, together with student leaders from the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), surveyed 470 undergraduate students to understand the mental health stressors among undergraduates in Singapore as its first initiative. The study culminated in a series of recommendations being put forward in the UCare Mental Health Report, including grace days for assignment deadlines and providing greater flexibility in workload and course curriculum.
The UCare Mental Health Report was presented to Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law, as part of the IUN UCare Mental Health Forum, where mental health practitioners, university administrators, and students discussed the findings and how to better support the needs of undergraduate students. Read the report here.
