4 “Can(s)” in an ideal learning environment — experience at NUS

How lucky I was that I have got a chance to study at National University of Singapore (NUS) for one semester. I was nominated by my university (University of Social Sciences and Humanities — Vietnam National University) and accepted as well as sponsored tuition fee by NUS through ASEAN Credit Transfer system (AUN-ACTs).

Learnt in two different environments from two countries, I realized many factors which NUS has to become the best university in Asia (according to Time higher education ranking 2016 and QS ranking 2016) and also which Vietnamese universities are lack of. There are four elements to form an ideal learning environment, to me: Facilitating self-learning, being able to approach research materials worldwide, diversifying learning methods, and offering favorable facilities (here I am going to introduce a model of learning environment).

You can learn yourself everywhere

It is not easy to find a learning environment suiting your demand in term of the noise, light, heights of table and chair, etc. But NUS offers a wide range of self-learning areas anywhere in school. All corridors are designed with many wood tables and chairs as well as charging stations for students. Even many public laptops are accessible in some particular places for students to study or work as fast as possible.

Besides, the university also has a system of self-learning and teamwork room equipped with public computers, or Macbooks and printing…