Nestled against the lush backdrop of Kent Ridge Forest, Ridge View Residential College (RVRC) is the University’s first and only residential college located outside NUS University Town. Founded on the integrated themes of sustainability and workplace readiness, the College started as a one-year living-learning programme in 2014, expanding into a two-year programme in 2017 and evolving further in 2021 to align with the enhanced NUS General Education Curriculum.
This year, RVRC celebrates its 10th anniversary, a milestone that has seen learning at the residential college transcend the boundaries of the classroom, and its students playing an active role in contributing towards sustainability efforts in NUS and the community.
In line with its sustainability theme, many of the courses offered at RVRC incorporate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, allowing students to explore sustainability initiatives that help shape a future that is more sustainable and equitable for all. This is done through a multifaceted learning approach that focuses on experiential outdoor learning and collaboration with industry partners. In line with its workplace readiness theme, students are also encouraged to participate in meaningful college activities beyond coursework that diversify their interests and skillsets to help develop them into better versions of their current selves.
“Place, Programme, and People are the elements that make for memorable university experiences, and these are the elements that make for a memorable RV10,” said RVRC College Master Associate Professor Sim Tick Ngee, outlining the focus of the year-long celebration in his congratulatory message.
As part of RV10, the College’s initiative to encapsulate the anniversary celebrations, a series of commemorative events were held to strengthen the college culture and collective sense of community among its students, alumni, and staff. Here are three of the events that showcased the different but integrated aspects of life at RVRC – namely academic, student and residential life.
RVRC Symposium: Living and learning for a shared future – the RVRC way
For the first time this year, students led the planning and organising of the annual RVRC Symposium held on 24 February 2024. Some 145 participants comprising students, educators and community partners attended the Symposium which showcased the best of student and alumni achievements through panel discussions, oral presentations, and poster sessions.
Guest-of-Honour Associate Professor Adrian Loo from the NUS Department of Biological Sciences shared about the importance of education and community stewardship for youth, drawing on his extensive experience in his previous role as National Parks Board’s Group Director for Wildlife Management and Senior Director for Community Projects. Participants also gleaned insights from RVRC alumnus, Founder and CEO of Hatch Mr Victor Zhu (Science '20), who shared about his journey in building his start-up with a social mission of providing digital skills and employability programmes whilst still a student at RVRC.
The day’s programme was segmented into three key themes, namely Edu-venture, Adventure, and Venturing Beyond. Edu-venture showcased RVRC’s approach towards fostering a learning ecosystem that has addressed societal and environmental challenges, as well as student projects on real-world issues. Adventure highlighted the importance of various co-curricular and student life activities, which has helped hone students’ soft skills and provided them an avenue to give back to society. Lastly, Venturing Beyond challenged students to build meaningful initiatives that go beyond the walls of the College and beyond their time at NUS, encouraging them to champion lasting environmental and societal changes through innovative means.
Co-Chair of the Symposium’s organising committee and RVRC Senior Jason Qiu, a Year 4 undergraduate from the School of Computing, said, “It was the insightful questions posed during the presentations along with the meaningful tea break discussions that brought home the value of the engagement for the RVRC community which truly represented the vibrant learning spirit that the College embodies.”
Gala Dinner: Celebrating a decade of shared memories, experiences and achievements
The RVRC 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner on 30 August 2024 saw past and present members of the College celebrate the journey that has shaped RVRC into the unique, dynamic community it is today.
The evening began with a commemorative speech by College Master Assoc Prof Sim, who reflected on the College's decade of achievements. RVRC Rector Dr Noeleen Heyzer and RVRC’s first Director of Studies Associate Professor Lee Kooi Cheng shared about the College's indelible impact over the years while founding RVRC College Master Professor Adekunle Adeyeye recounted the strong foundation upon which the college was built, in a special video message.
Guests were also treated to a night of engaging performances, including song items by RVRC’s Jukebox and the winners of the RV10 songwriting competition, as well as an electrifying dance performance by the NUS Dance Ensemble.
A highlight at the gala dinner was the commemorative video created by RVRC students which showcased RVRC’s key milestones since its inception, evoking a deep sense of nostalgia amongst alumni, faculty and staff, both past and present, who had an enjoyable time reconnecting and reminiscing about the pivotal moments that defined their time at the College.
RVRC alumnus Zhang Xiangyu Oliver (Business ‘24), said, “It was great to reconnect with the people who made my four-year journey in RVRC memorable, and celebrate together the countless milestones of the college since inception. I’m confident that RVRC will continue to inspire the next generation in the upcoming decade and beyond!”
RVRC Day: Building bridges, strengthening bonds
Apart from sustainability, the RVRC community is also passionate about giving back to society, a cornerstone of NUS' ethos. The theme of RVRC Day – Building Bridges, Strengthening Bonds – underscored the importance of community building, not just amongst the RVRC community of students and staff, but just as importantly, with the wider community and the less privileged.
In the early morning hours of 26 October 2024, the RVRC community gathered at the Harbourfront area for Walk for Rice, a long-running signature event at RVRC to support vulnerable families. In partnership with a charity organisation, for every 300 meters walked, food donations were made to support vulnerable families, turning each step into a meaningful act of kindness. With the support of 52 RVRC students and staff, a total of 520 kilometres were clocked, making possible a donation of 1,733 packets of rice and oatmeal.
Following the charity walk, the event continued with a second segment focused on community engagement. Titled OutRidge, this initiative aimed to raise awareness for persons with disabilities (PWDs), foster inclusivity and inspire participants to take active steps toward building a more inclusive society. In addition to having the opportunity to interact with PWDs on their lived experiences and challenges, the event held at the College also featured a fireside chat with two invited speakers – Year 4 NUS student Kimberly Quek, a Deaflympic athlete who won numerous medals at international bowling competitions, and Joan Hung, a visually impaired para athlete with Team Singapore.
Additionally, participants had the opportunity to engage in interactive games at several informative booths designed by RVRC students to raise awareness about the daily challenges faced by PWDs. They also lent their support through their patronage of the food stalls set up by social enterprises that advocate for the PWD community.
RVRC Senior and Year 3 Computing undergraduate Soh Zheng Yang, Marcus, reflected, “I found the fireside chat to be eye-opening, especially when the two speakers shared about how they strive to overcome the challenges they face in pursuing their dreams. The interactive booths made me realise how adaptable PWDs have to be, to overcome the limitations of living in a society that does not primarily cater to their special needs or circumstances. I was happy to see the RVRC community come together to empower PWDs through active participation and enhanced awareness.”
As the celebrations come to a close, College Master Assoc Prof Sim, said, “The conclusion of the year-long activities held in conjunction with RV10 has brought a renewed understanding of what has shaped the College into what it is today. With this reflection comes a strong sense of optimism for the future—one where the College continues to evolve, striving towards becoming a better place that offers a more robust RVRC programme with a more united and inclusive RVRC community.”
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This article first appeared in NUS News.
