DIONG WEI CHONG
ECONOMICS & DATA SCIENCE
NTU-UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS PROGRAMME
Diong Wei Chong’s experience in the NTU-University Scholars Programme (USP) is shaping him into an all-rounder with a broad set of skills to excel in any role. The programme’s electives allow him to explore topics beyond his major and are often taught by faculty actively engaged in research. He appreciates the deeper, more current understanding of each subject.
One elective that had an unexpected impact on him was Ethics.
“We usually only think about whether something is right or wrong and don’t go beyond that. But this course taught me how to examine issues, like public scandals or newly passed bills, through a logical lens,” says Wei Chong, who now thinks more critically about such issues.
A six-day trip to study the preservation of traditional silver jewellery craftsmanship in Chiang Mai broadened his world view too. This overseas exposure programme allows first-year students to collaborate with friends from different majors to investigate multidisciplinary issues in another country.
Another course he’s looking forward to is Astronomy, which includes a one-week trip abroad. The most recent USP batch visited Thailand, where they toured astronomy laboratories and facilities, including the observatory that houses the largest radio telescope in Southeast Asia.
Wei Chong and his groupmates told the story of traditional Thai silver jewellery through an exhibit at NTU’s Lee Wee Nam Library after their trip to Chiang Mai.
Wei Chong’s four-year programme in Economics & Data Science, which draws on expertise from NTU’s School of Social Sciences, the College of Computing & Data Science, and the School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences, also prepares him for specialised roles, such as those that deal with big data or positions that use data analysis to drive economic decision-making.
His resume includes a stint as a data science intern in a Japanese maritime company, which further reinforced his interest in pursuing a career in data science. However, it’s still too early to say the ship has sailed on his career path. He intends to pursue internships in economics and in finance before deciding on the “tech route” or the “econs route”, as he puts it.
“Gaining exposure in different fields will shape my career path,” he says. “After these internships, I’ll be able to make a clear decision.”
“NTU-USP’s electives let me explore topics outside my major. The opportunities for interdisciplinary learning help me figure out what I’m interested in.”
Another key piece of his career path puzzle is on the horizon. USP students spend a semester at one of seven well-known universities in Australia, Switzerland, the UK or the US.
Wei Chong, who is bound for the University of Pennsylvania, says: “Without this NTU programme, it would be very difficult to have the chance to study at such a prestigious institution.”
This story was published in the Jan-Feb 2025 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
