The Big Read: Nerds and geeks no more, computing graduates now rule the roost

The latest graduate employment survey released by the three local universities showed that computer science graduates were among the highest paid last year, with NUS computer science graduates receiving S$4,285 - S$285 more than in 2016. Even before they leave school, computing undergraduates are snagging lucrative internships at Silicon Valley giants such as Apple and Google. Dr Jovian Lin, who is the lead artificial intelligence scientist at Dentsu Aegis Network, graduated with a computer science degree from NUS in 2009. In his work, he builds features powered by machine-learning, such as AI-powered machines to learn and understand marketing and advertising concepts. Dr Lin noted that the growth in computing jobs is due to developments in machine learning, which has become central to the product strategy of tech giants like Google, Facebook and Baidu. Over the the past two years, enrolment in NUS Computing has increased by 65 per cent to 730. Over the same period, intake size for the university's Master of Computing programme also grew by 60 per cent to about 220. In the new academic year starting in August, intake for NUS Computing's undergraduate courses will be raised to about 900 places. Despite more places opening up, it is getting more competitive to get in. Applicants applying to NUS computer science course will now require straight As to get a spot. Professor Mohan Kankanhalli, Dean of NUS Computing, say that the dotcom bubble burst in the past was a "sneak preview that went wrong" and do not think that the same thing will happen again.

The Malay Mail Online, 12 March 2018
TODAYonline, 10 March 2018