Introduction

The S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) was established in January 2007 as an autonomous school within the Nanyang Technological University. Known earlier as the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies when it was established in July 1996, RSIS’ mission is to be a leading research and graduate teaching institution in strategic and international affairs in the Asia Pacific.

Mission

• Provide a rigorous professional graduate education with a strong practical emphasis
• Conduct policy-relevant research in defence, national security, international relations, strategic studies and diplomacy
• Foster a global network of like-minded professional schools

Graduate Programmes

RSIS offers a challenging graduate education in international affairs, taught by an international faculty of leading thinkers and practitioners. The Master of Science degree programmes in Strategic Studies, International Relations, Asian Studies, and International Political Economy are distinguished by their focus on the Asia Pacific, the professional practice of international affairs, and the cultivation of academic depth. Thus far, students from more than 60 countries have successfully completed one of these programmes. In 2010, a Double Masters Programme with Warwick University was also launched, with students required to spend the first year at Warwick and the second year at RSIS. A select Doctor of Philosophy programme caters to advanced students who are supervised by senior faculty members with matching interests.

Research

Research takes place within RSIS’ five centres:

• Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
• International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
• Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
• Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS)
• Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)

Research is also conducted in the National Security Studies Programme (NSSP), and the Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme. In general, research at RSIS focuses on issues relating to the security and stability of the Asia Pacific region and their implications for Singapore and other countries in the region.

Endowed Chairs

RSIS has four endowed professorships that bring distinguished scholars and practitioners to teach and to conduct research at the School. They are:

• The S. Rajaratnam Professorship in Strategic Studies
• The Ngee Ann Kongsi Professorship in International Relations
• The NTUC Professorship in International Economic Relations
• The Peter Lim Professorship in Peace Studies

International Collaboration

Collaboration with other professional schools of international affairs to form a global network of excellence is a RSIS priority. RSIS maintains links with other like-minded schools so as to enrich its research and teaching activities as well as learn from the best practices of successful schools.

Governance

RSIS is an autonomous school within NTU. It has a Board of Governors comprising distinguished local and foreign representatives from the Government, business and academic communities, and practitioners in diplomacy and national security affairs. The Executive Deputy Chairman of RSIS is presently also the Director of IDSS.

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