Since its establishment in 1996, Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), an independent graduate school and policy-oriented think tank of Nanyang Technological University (NTU), has continuously cultivated many talents who have shined in the international political arena. The school is named after Singapore's former Deputy Prime Minister S. Rajaratnam and is known as one of Asia's finest international research schools for its excellence in research and teaching.
RSIS's research is not limited to traditional international relations, but also covers multiple levels such as policy analysis and strategic research.
After its establishment in 2007, RSIS inherited and developed the research direction of its predecessor, the Institute of National Defense and Strategic Studies (IDSS). Its research covers areas such as Asia-Pacific security, conflict and non-traditional security, and international political economy, and its research results are shared with the policy community and academia through various seminars, conferences and academic publications.
As an institution committed to solving current and future challenges, RSIS offers students a variety of courses and research opportunities.
The Master's degree programme at RSIS is renowned for its focus on the Indo-Pacific region. The school currently offers four specialized master's programs and has a dual degree program with the University of Warwick in the UK, attracting students from all over the world. In addition to these formal courses, RSIS also offers a range of modular teaching for professionals in the military and public service fields.
In the RSIS education system, students not only acquire theoretical foundations, but also develop practical application capabilities.
RSIS alumni showcase their talents on the international stage, thanks to the school's strong network and resource support. The school regularly hosts international seminars, public lectures, and events such as the Asian Security Conference, which promote excellent academic exchanges and network building. These activities not only strengthened connections among participants, but also provided opportunities to engage with international policymakers.
The RSIS alumni list includes heavyweights such as Agus Yudhoyono and Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono, sons of former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as well as Loro Horta from East Timor and Hekmat Karzai from Afghanistan. These alumni have made a huge impact in their respective fields, embodying RSIS's mission of developing international leaders.
Alumni play an important role as guides and promoters within their respective countries and in international relations.
In order to further promote the combination of academic achievements and practical applications, RSIS has established a number of research centers focusing on different topics, such as non-traditional security, international political economy, etc. This diverse research direction enables alumni to play a role in different professional fields and become important policy advisors and decision makers in their respective countries.
Finally, RSIS’ success lies not only in its academic achievements, but also in how the school promotes connections with policy practice. Such standards not only attract students, but also make scholars and policy workers around the world respect the RSIS brand. This makes us wonder: Which emerging RSIS alumni will make their mark in global politics in the future?