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TDSIans
Greetings and welcome to the first issue of
TDSIans.
I am pleased to introduce to you the first issue of TDSIans newsletter –
TDSIans. TDSIans provides timely updates on the current defence and systems
technology in Singapore and keeps you updated on the happenings in TDSI. It is
not intended to be the newsletter reporting purely TDSI events and activities
but also will be a forum for fellow TDSIans and fellow defence technologists to
share their experiences on defence & systems knowledge. TDSIans will be
published half yearly.
I hope you enjoy reading it. Thank you.
Brief History of TDSI
Temasek Defence Systems
Institute (TDSI) was set up in 2001 between the US Naval Postgraduate School
and the National University of Singapore (NUS) through a Statement of Intent
(SOI) signed on 11 July 2001. Intense planning to develop TDSI's flagship
programme – the Masters Programme in Defence Technology and Systems –
followed. President of NUS, Prof Shih Choon Fong appointed the TDSI Management
Board on 15 December 2001. Between July 2001 and January 2002, TDSI led
numerous meetings with NUS Departments, IHPC, Tropical Marine Science Institute
(TMSI), DSO National Laboratories (DSO), Defence Science and Technology Agency
(DSTA), Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), Singapore Technologies
Engineering Ltd (ST Engg) and US Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) to chart the
Masters programme. The curriculum, teaching resources and student nomination
featured heavily in the planning activities. By June 2003, most of the
resources and facilities were in place and the first batch of 30 students
started lessons on 8 July 2002.
TDSI's Education
Education programmes formed the
cornerstones of TDSI's activities in the year. With the experience of the DTSC
running into its third year, the staff focused their efforts on the emerging
Masters programme and took over the administration of on-going courses from
SAFTI Military Institute.
Curriculum Development
Curriculum Changes to the DTSC
The DTSC (Defence Technology and Systems Course)
was renamed as DDTS (Diploma Program in Defence Technology and Systems) in
March 03. A new module, DTS3001, [titled “Defence Technology Systems (DTS)
Project”] is included into the curriculum with effect from the 4th DDTS.
Students will be grouped into teams of 3 or 4 to conduct a comprehensive
literature survey and a critical evaluation on a project topic of their choice.
In addition to the existing graduation requirements, students must obtain a
'Satisfactory' grade for DTS3001 to qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Defence
Technology and Systems.
Curriculum Changes
to MDTS
Two preparatory modules – DTS2701 (Engineering
Mathematics) and DTS2702 (Programming Methodology in JAVA) have been included
with effect from the second MDTS intake onwards. Students are required to
attend one of these modules.
Minor changes to the syllabi of – DTS5702 (C3&I System Architecture) and DTS5710
were made. DTS5710 has been renamed from 'Information Assurance' to
'Information Operations'. DTS5706 (Integrated Defence Development) has been
taken out of the curriculum.
Developing
the Land Systems Specialisation Track for the MDTS programme
TDSI has developed a Land Systems (LS)
specialization track to cater to the needs of students from MINDEF and the
defence industry who require strong land system knowledge and expertise. The
aim of the LS track is to allow students to be conversant with the key land
system technologies in the areas of mobility, survivability, fire power and
total system approach.
Research
Simultaneous discussion with NPS and the local
sponsors on joint research and development started shortly before the Masters
programme was launched. These matters were near fruition by the end of March
2003. The agreement with NPS is in the form of a Collaborative Research and
Development Agreement (CRADA) while that with the sponsors is in the form of
Letters of Understanding (LOU). Directing TDSI’s research is the TDSI Research
Panel.
CRADA
With TDSI's flagship MDTS programme in place,
TDSI adjusted its focus to building up collaborative research with NPS. The
first outline of a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement was
formulated towards early June 2002. It took several months of interaction
between TDSI and NUS and between TDSI and its sponsors (MINDEF Singapore, DSTA,
DSO and ST Engg) to agree to the contents of the CRADA and the signatory
parties. Since this was not the normal collaborative research between NPS and
an American organization, the CRADA was necessarily named “Non-Standard
Collaborative Research and Development Agreement” . We expect to have the CRADA
signed by July 2003.
TDSI Research Panel
Established in Aug 2002, the TDSI Research Panel
comprising Director TDSI and research leaders of NUS and the Singapore defence
community direct TDSI's research trust. The TDSI Research Panel formally sat on
27 Nov 2002 and decided among other key decisions, the project approval and
funding process. It has approved 5 collaborative projects which have come under
the CRADA.
Seminars and Conferences
Seminars and conferences offer opportunities for
ideas sharing among intellectuals, students and the industry. In the year, TDSI
organized seminars on these topics:
“Integrated Defence Development” on 19 Nov 2002
organized by TDSI. 100 participants from NUS, MINDEF, DSTA, Temasek
Laboratories and DSO participated. Topics on Lean Military, Learning from
Others, and SAF 2020 were delivered by student groups of the first MDTS
Programme and culled from MDTS's “Integrated Defence Development module”.
“Empirical Assessments of Simulation Search
Strategies” delivered by Prof Lucas of NPS to 100 participants on 29 October
2002. DSO research scientists were among the key participants. This seminar
ignited a link between DSO and Prof Lucas that has potential for greater
expansion. TDSI jointly organized this event with ISE Dept.
“Electromagnetics of the Wire Grid” and
“Antennas” conducted by Prof Valeri
Akimov from St Petersburg State Technical University, Russia in the form of 6
lectures from 8 – 15 October 2002. Academics, students and researchers from
NUS, DSO and Temasek Laboratories participated in these lectures.
Upcoming Events
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